The former Boise State basketball player, Kobe Young, is returning to his old team again—but this time, he’ll be making headlines in a new sport. It’s not every day we see an athlete switch sports at the college level, but Young has made a massive transition, and now everyone will recognize him as a football player, not just a basketball player.
Yes, you read that right. The former Cal State Fullerton transfer is now making headlines for becoming a wide receiver, despite his background as a hoops star.
Boise State’s Kobe Young Breaks Barriers with Switch from Basketball to Football
Kobe Young, who previously played two seasons with the Broncos before transferring to Cal State Fullerton, has now secured a football scholarship to play as a wide receiver for Boise State.
BREAKING: Former Bronco men’s basketball player Kobe Young is returning to Boise State… TO PLAY FOOTBALL!
Young texted head coach Spencer Danielson a few weeks ago asking for an opportunity. After working out for wide receiver’s coach Matt Miller, the Broncos decided to offer… pic.twitter.com/FwctKpTZQV
— Jay Tust (@KTVBSportsGuy) May 26, 2025
Jay Tust, a sports director from the Boise area, reports that Young’s return to Boise State began with a message to head coach Spencer Danielson. Young told him he wanted to switch sports and give football another shot.
After showing off his skills in a workout with wide receivers coach Matt Miller, the coaches were impressed enough to offer him a spot on the team. Just like that, his athletic path is getting ready to make a major turn.
At 6’7″ and 208 pounds, Young brings rare size to the field. But this move isn’t completely out of the blue. Back in high school, he was a three-star wide receiver prospect. In fact, he was ranked the No. 31 recruit in Washington in the Class of 2021. He had offers from schools like the Army and Central Washington, but chose to chase a basketball dream.
“I haven’t touched the gridiron in five years,” Young said in an interview. “But when I went and worked out with (wide receivers coach Matt) Miller, he said that he was impressed with how good I was for not having on cleats for so long. That’s obviously a good sign, and I’m willing to work as hard as it takes.”
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Young will enter the 2025 season as a fourth-year senior and still has a redshirt year available. His timing couldn’t be better—Boise State needs depth at wide receiver. Outside of Latrell Caples, who had 38 catches, 473 yards, and five touchdowns last season, the position group is thin. Young’s arrival might just be what the Broncos need.
Given his previous status as a three-star wide receiver, his position is quite mid-tier, but the shift from basketball to football is something truly fascinating.
He has one year of eligibility left, but he also has a redshirt year available, which could allow him to extend his college football career if needed. Hopefully, during this time, he will develop into a top prospect for the NFL Draft soon.
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