Gabe Linehan’s family has loyalty to a certain program to the north, but once the Boise State Broncos came calling, he couldn’t say no.

Linehan, a 6-foot-4, 205-pound athlete out of Banks (Ore.) High, verbally committed to Boise State for the 2009 recruiting class, becoming the ninth recruit confirmed by the Idaho Press-Tribune to commit so far in the cycle for next year.

“I went to the high school camp there this summer and felt just really welcomed,” Linehan said. “I kicked it off great with the coaches, and that was huge.”

If his name sounds familiar to Idaho football fans, it’s because his uncle is former Vandal quarterback Scott Linehan, now the St. Louis Rams’ head coach. Linehan’s father, Ron, was a three-time All-Big Sky pick at linebacker at Idaho.

Playing for a school like Banks, which is a 4A school (Oregon goes up to 6A), Linehan wasn’t playing in a place high on the recruiting radar. He was able to perform well in camps in California, and the one last month in Boise.

“My brothers always told me, if you’re good, they’ll find you,” Linehan said. “Being an athlete from a small program isn’t always easy, but I was able to get into camps, and that helped. I think my name helped a little bit, too.”

Linehan’s oldest brother, Josh, played on the offensive line at Oregon State, and his brother Cole is a senior defensive tackle at Oregon. Gabe Linehan said he had strong interest from Oregon State and Washington State.

Though he lacks the weight of a most Division I tight ends, it’s clear the Linehans have no problem being able to get bigger.

“They told me it’s amazing what you can do with a redshirt year,” Gabe Linehan said. “I want to put on about 40 pounds. Once I get into that program at Boise State year-round, that’s all I’ll be doing — football and eating.”

Verbal commitments are non-binding, and recruits who graduate next year can’t sign until February.