Following first-time vibe, Eatonville left tackle Kyle Cox chooses Boise State University as football destination

Going into the summer months, Kyle Cox's senior-season plate in football had two primary helpings.

One side of it got cleaned up Friday.

Cox, the left-side anchor along the Cruisers' offensive line, gave Boise State University a verbal commitment to be part of its 2023 recruiting class.

Now, Cox can focus on the other goal: Finishing the deal on a Class 1A state championship next fall.

"That was kind of the goal making this decision as early as I did," said Cox, a member of SBLive WA's all-state team at left tackle last fall. "I did not want the pressure of it during the season. I wanted to get it out of the way."

The 6-foot-6, 270-pounder made Boise State his first unofficial visit last March, and he immediately liked what he saw.

"That was the first time I went to a school, and it had that special feeling to it," Cox said. "They were transparent and personable. They sold it well."

After that, other colleges, in Cox's mind, had to play catch-up to the Broncos.

Nobody did.

And Cox visited campus again last weekend, just to confirm his instincts.

"I told my parents a couple days before I left that it this goes well, I want to go there," Cox said. "And they were preaching the same stuff. They are not messing around."

On Friday, Cox announced his pledge on social media, making him the first Eatonville lineman to go to an NCAA Division I school since Josh Dunning signed with Washington State University in 1990.

"Today was just the day," he said.