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Boise State football depth chart versus Michigan State

Kevan Lee — Wed, 29 Aug 2012 22:00:16 -0000

Behold the Boise State football depth chart for the Michigan State game. It's as official as it gets until Chris Petersen decides to change it all one hour before kickoff.

OFFENSE

QB: Joe Southwick, Grant Hedrick, Jimmy Laughrea
RB: D.J. Harper, Drew Wright
FB: Dan Paul, Chandler Koch
X receiver: Matt Miller, Aaron Burks
Z receiver: Mitch Burroughs, Troy Ware
Slot receiver: Kirby Moore, Chris Potter
TE: Gabe Linehan OR Chandler Koch, Holden Huff
LT: Charles Leno, Faraji Wright
LG: Joe Kellogg, Marcus Henry
C: Matt Paradis, Spencer Gerke
RG: Michael Ames, Brenel Myers
RT: Jake Broyles, Rees Odhiambo

DEFENSE

DE: Tyler Horn OR Demarcus Lawrence
NT: Mike Atkinson, Greg Grimes
DT: Ricky Tjong-A-Tjoe, Darren Koontz
Stud end: Beau Martin OR Sam Ukwuachu
MLB: Tommy Smith, Blake Renaud
WLB: J.C. Percy, Tyler Gray
N: Dextrell Simmons, Corey Bell OR Jonathan Brown
CB: Jamar Taylor, Ebo Makinde
CB: Jerrell Gavins, Bryan Douglas
S: Jeremy Ioane, Hazen Moss
S: Lee Hightower, Darian Thompson

SPECIAL TEAMS

K: Michael Frisina, Dan Goodale
P: Trevor Harman, Dan Goodale
KO: Trevor Harman, Dan Goodale
KR: D.J. Harper, Mitch Burroughs
PR: Mitch Burroughs OR Chris Potter
Snapper: Chris Roberson, Kevin Keane

Now for some news and notes and wild speculation:

Defensive coordinator Pete Kwiatkowski promised a defensive end rotation that could see as many as five guys (Lawrence, Martin, Ukwuachu, Horn, and Kahryee Marshall) shuffling in and out. The same wil not be true at defensive tackle. Greg Grimes and Darren Koontz will play, at the whim of Coach K and not by some predetermined line shift strategy.

I find it strange not to see Faraji Wright's name in the starting lineup, but that just speaks to the depth and competition on the Bronco O-line this fall. Chris Strausser plans on throwing eight or more linemen out there, so it's not like Wright won't play. Don't be surprised to see redshirt freshman Marcus Henry and perhaps even former Fiesta Bowl star-in-the-making Brenel Myers.

The infamous ORs are few and far between on the depth chart. The aforementioned defensive end spots are ORs, but besides that, tight end is the only other spot to be a job share and that job share is more like a difference in job descriptions: Gabe Linehan catches passes OR Chandler Koch blocks.

What will the Broncos do with speedy true freshman receiver/returner Shane Williams-Rhodes? There is no wrong answer. I think he'll have a screen pass or two thrown his way.

Your turn

What did you notice about the Boise State depth chart? What spots stood out? Any surprises? Share your thoughts in the comments.

Meet your 2012 Boise State football team

Kevan Lee — Mon, 27 Aug 2012 15:00:09 -0000

All things are new again for the Boise State football team this season, especially since the Broncos graduated a heaping helping of quality starters and depth. There are new faces in new places, and you will likely need a game or two until you figure out who everyone is. Here is a primer on who's who and who's new. Show your friends.

Quarterback

Joe Southwick, No. 16 - A redshirt junior, Southwick earned the right to follow in Kellen Moore's footsteps with solid spring and fall camps and the added benefit of being the most experienced QB on the roster. He is brash, smart, strong-armed, and mobile. He definitely won't replace Moore, but he can get the job done.

Grant Hedrick, No. 9 - Southwick's biggest competition this fall, Hedrick will be the team's primary backup and could see the field outside of garbage time thanks to his speedy legs and Pistol package prowess. The Independence, Oregon, native averaged nearly nine yards per carry last year in special situations.

Running back

D.J. Harper, No. 7 - The sixth year running back has starred at times for Bronco teams of the past, but knee injuries have kept him from keeping the limelight all to himself. He will be the workhorse in the Bronco backfield, so long as his knees let him. His mix of power and finesse complemented Doug Martin's power and more power nicely.

Drew Wright, No. 39 - The Vallivue High School alum was third on the depth chart last year and ran well with his garbage time carries. You may remember him from an unfortunate fumble against TCU, but he deserves to be better known as a tough, inside-the-tackles runner who is always good for three yards.

Fullback

Dan Paul, No. 47 - Paul missed all of last year with a groin injury, and the Bronco ground game will be blessed to have the senior back in the lineup this fall. He is large, in charge, and one of the best blocking fullbacks in recent Boise State history. Think Richie Brockel.

Wide receivers

Matt Miller, No. 2 - Miller should be up for the task of replacing the production of Tyler Shoemaker, given Miller's sensational freshman season of 62 catches, 679 yards, and nine scores. He worked on expanding his knowledge of the offense this offseason, so he can wreak havoc from any receiver spot.

Mitch Burroughs, No. 20 - The senior from Meridian High is a savvy, speedy Bronco wideout who knows where to find holes in the defense and how to get an extra yard. He is the Mountain West's preseason special teams player of the year for his punt return abilities.

Kirby Moore, No. 34 - Kellen Moore's younger brother, Kirby set national receiving records in high school. His breakout year with the Broncos will come, maybe this fall.

Chris Potter, No. 3 - Like Burroughs, Potter excels at finding open spaces and making defenders miss. He is equally adept at punt return, and he also provides a boost as the quarterback in some special, tricky Boise State plays.

Troy Ware, No. 83 - The redshirt freshman receiver has drawn rave reviews in a number of camps and may finally get his chance to shine on the field this season. Expect to see him along with Aaron Burks, Dallas Burroughs, and Geraldo Boldewijn when the Broncos go deep at the receiver spot.

Tight end

Gabe Linehan, No. 87 - Linehan figures to be the next in the long line of great receiving tight ends at Boise State. He had five touchdowns last year, playing behind Kyle Efaw.

Chandler Koch, No. 88 - A part-time fullback, part-time tight end, Koch fits the mold of the mauler. His blocking will keep him on the field a lot.

Offensive line

Charles Leno, No. 78 - The next in the great line of Bronco tackles, Leno is a preseason all-conference pick and a cornerstone for the Boise State line. He moved to left tackle in fall camp and will protect Joe Southwick's blind side a lot like the kid in the movie Blind Side, which is to say, "well."

Joe Kellogg, No. 61 - The most senior of Bronco linemen, Kellogg has 23 career starts to his name and is one of Boise State's most dependable blockers.

Matt Paradis, No. 65 - An 8-man football legend at Council High School, Paradis moved from defensive line to offensive line when he joined the Broncos and then moved into the starting lineup this fall when starter-to-be Cory Yriarte suffered a career-ending knee injury. For what it's worth, Paradis was Boise State's best offensive lineman in fall camp.

Jake Broyles, No. 76 - A starter at guard for the Broncos' first three games last season (a toe injury shelved him for the remainder), Broyles will be Boise State's starting right tackle versus Michigan State.

Michael Ames, No. 54 - All the way back in 2009, Ames started eight games for Boise State at tackle. Injuries and miscellany kept him off the field and out of the starting lineup for the past two falls, but this season the Centennial grad will get the start at guard against the Spartans.

Faraji Wright, No. 75 - One of Boise State's most enjoyable personalities, Wright competed for a starting spot in spring and fall and will provide great depth at tackle for the opener and beyond. Don't be surprised to see him in the starting lineup before the season is over.

Defensive line

Michael Atkinson, No. 99 - The lone senior starter on the defensive line, Atkinson has placed himself well - through offseason workouts and steady improvement - for a big senior year. He has already been drafted in the CFL draft, and he may hear his name called in the NFL Draft next April.

Ricky Tjong-A-Tjoe, No. 43 - One of Boise State's Netherlands players, Tjong-A-Tjoe was solid in relief of Billy Winn and Chase Baker last season, registering a pair of sacks.

Demarcus Lawrence, No. 8 - A junior college transfer, Lawrence looks like he could have the instant impact of JC transfers of the past like Winston Venable. In his first offseason with the Broncos, he showed enough spark to be named a co-starter alongside Mountain View High DE Tyler Horn.

Beau Martin, No. 53 - Another transfer defensive end, Martin came over from Colorado State - Pueblo where he was his conference's freshman of the year. He followed that up by being named Boise State's Defensive Scout Player of the Year last season as he redshirted. He will share job duties with Sam Ukwuachu, a whirling dervish of a defensive end.

Linebackers

J.C. Percy, No. 48 - A former walk-on from Blackfoot, Idaho, Percy has been a staple of the Bronco linebacking corps since his redshirt freshman season. Even with splitting duties year after year, Percy has 177 career tackles, including two finishes as the team's No. 2 tackler. A smart, driven player, Percy is a pillar in the middle of the Bronco D.

Tommy Smith, No. 33 - An Atlanta native, Smith played behind Byron Hout last year and has provided excellent special teams and linebacker depth for the past three seasons. He gets the start at middle linebacker and will give way to true sophomore Blake Renaud as needed.

Nickel

Dextrell Simmons, No. 6 - Simmons was part of a national championship winner at Blinn Junior College before joining the Broncos last season. He played in fits and starts at the nickel spot, but earned the starting role this fall.

Cornerbacks

Jamar Taylor, No. 5 - One of Boise State's best NFL prospects, Taylor has been a cog in the Bronco secondary since playing as a true freshman in 2008. His career highlight came last year in the Vegas Bowl when he took a pick 100 yards for a score. His athleticism and speed are two of his best qualities.

Jerrell Gavins, No. 4 - A transfer from the Miami, Florida, area, Gavins was on pace for a season of destiny last fall before destiny got the better of Gavins' knee in practice. Despite playing in only three games, he led the team in interceptions. Teams may go after him based on his small size (Gavins is 5-foot-9), but as he showed last year, that would be a mistake.

Bryan Douglas, No. 1 - The redshirt sophomore started one game last year at corner (vs. San Diego State) when the Broncos were very corner-needy. His offseason has been stellar. He was seen running with the ones at the fall scrimmage, wearing jersey No. 1, which Boise State reserves for special players or special-to-be players.

Safeties

Lee Hightower, No. 29 - As a true freshman last season, Hightower came on late in the year to save the Broncos at the corner spot. His skills are a more natural fit at safety, where he excels in pass coverage and big hits. He is a future star for the Broncos if he isn't already one.

Jeremy Ioane, No. 10 - One of Boise State's most highly touted recruits (Ioane famously turned down an offer from Notre Dame), Ioane gets his shot with the starting defense this fall. The sophomore Hawaii native is a big hitter who plays big in games. He started against Georgia last year before getting subbed out. Don't expect the same to happen this fall.

Punter

Trevor Harman, No. 14 - Harman has one of the strongest legs on the team (he doubles as the team's kickoff specialist).

Kicker

Michael Frisina, No. 84 - Frisina was 3-for-4 on field goals last year and beat out former starter Dan Goodale in camp.

Boise State football's biggest weight gainers and weight losers of the offseason

Kevan Lee — Mon, 25 Jun 2012 15:00:49 -0000

The Boise State football roster has been updated online with weights and measures for all 98 players on the team (Chadd Cripe counted). Good thing for me and you, I saved the previous roster, so we can see who gained / lost what over the offseason. Pound analysis, coming at you.

Biggest Gainers

Biggest Gainers
Name	Pos	Ht	Old	New	Diff
Greg Dohmen	OL	6.3	262	293	31
Faraji Wright	OT	6.3	275	299	24
Greg Grimes	DT	6.0	268	291	23
Kyle Sosnowski	TE	6.2	223	245	22
Robert Ash	DL	6.3	259	280	21
Tyler Horn	DE	6.5	253	273	20

Biggest Losers

Biggest Losers
Name	Pos	Ht	Old	New	Diff
Chris Roberson	LS	6.0	241	219	-22
Darren Koontz	DT	6.3	280	266	-14
Jeff Worthy	DT	6.3	289	280	-9
Jamal Wilson	FB	5.11	240	233	-7
Charles Leno	OT	6.4	294	287	-7
Demarcus Lawrence	DE	6.3	248	241	-7

More heft talk after the jump ...

In all, 21 players gained at least 10 pounds between roster updates. Weight gain was definitely the favored form of poundage for the Broncos as you could count the significant weight losers on two hands. The full list is available in a Google Doc if you're interested.

Let's have more fun with weight, shall we? Here are the heaviest people on the Boise State football team. Muscle weighs more than fat!

Heaviest
Name	Pos	Ht	Wt
Adam Sheffield	OL	6.3	323
Mario Yakoo	OL	6.4	320
Chris Tozer	OL	6.4	315
Michael Atkinson	DT	6.0	311
Joe Kellogg	OG	6.3	303

Notable:

Mario Yakoo is a true freshman, meaning look out, Earth. He has room to grow.
Spencer Gerke gained 11 pounds to join the 300-pound club, giving Boise State six total three-billers.
Michigan State has 12 300-pound players.
Ricky Tjong-A-Tjoe and Rees Odhiambo lost five and four pounds, respectively, to fall below the 300-pound mark.

And now for the little guys.

Lightest
Name	Pos	Ht	Wt
Donte Deayon	CB	5.9	155
Michael Frisina	PK	5.5	158
Chris Potter	WR	5.9	160
Shane Williams-Rhodes	WR	5.7	160
Chaz Anderson	CB	5.10	164

Three of the five on this list are true freshman who will likely bulk up a bit once they arrive on campus and find there's a Chick-fil-A. And yes, Michael Frisina is short. He has two inches the wrong way on Josh Borgman and Shane Williams-Rhodes (both 5'7").

For the record, the tallest players on the roster are three 6'5" guys: OG Jake Broyles, DE Tyler Horn, and TE Holden Huff.

Additionally ...

Speaking of Horn, he packed on 20 pounds of extra weight and now weighs 270.
Blake Renaud will be playing linebacker at 250 pounds.
Dan Paul gained 14 pounds, probably of pure muscle, and really is just toying with us all now. More muscle, Dan Paul? Really?

Your turn

What do you think about these weights and measurements? Who are you excited to see this fall? Share your thoughts in the comments.

Re-guessing the Boise State football depth chart prior to the spring game

Kevan Lee — Mon, 09 Apr 2012 15:01:05 -0000

Information about the ins and outs of Boise State spring football practice has been tight, rendering any predictions of a Bronco two-deep depth chart as highly speculative at best and miles off at worst. I'll let you decide where my depth chart falls on that scale.

After the jump, I make an attempt to name a starter and a backup at each position, including the quarterback spot, about which I know nothing. It will be fun, like taking an SAT study course from a method actor who played a professor on a soap once.

Feel free to agree, disagree in the comments.

Note: The Boise State spring game is this Saturday, April 14, at 5:00 p.m. Read all about it here at OBNUG or spend the $7.00 and watch for yourself live and in person.

Bold = likely starter

* = out for spring

OFFENSE

Joe Southwick	D.J. Harper	Dan Paul
Nick Patti	Drew Wright	Chandler Koch

Mitch Burroughs	Matt Miller	Kirby Moore	Gabe Linehan
Dallas Burroughs	Geraldo Boldewijn	Chris Potter	Chandler Koch

Faraji Wright	Joe Kellogg*	Cory Yriarte*	Jake Broyles*	Charles Leno
Chris Tozer	Spencer Gerke	Matt Paradis	Brenel Myers	Rees Odhiambo
***
DEFENSE

Demarcus Lawrence	Ricky Tjong-A-Tjoe	Mike Atkinson	Samuel Ukwuachu
Darren Koontz	Greg Grimes	Justin Jungblut	Tyler Horn

Tommy Smith OR	J.C. Percy
Blake Renaud	Tyler Gray

Jerrell Gavins*	Corey Bell	Jeremy Ioane	Lee Hightower	Jamar Taylor
Ebo Makinde	Jonathan Brown	Taylor Loffler	Hazen Moss	Bryan Douglas
***
SPECIAL TEAMS

Michael Frisina	Trevor Harman	Joe Southwick	Trevor Harman	Chris Roberson
Dan Goodale	Dan Goodale

Mitch Burroughs	Mitch Burroughs
Dallas Burroughs	Chris Potter
Drew Wright
Jerrell Gavins

Footnotes ...

If Nick Patti is indeed Boise State's second-best quarterback, is it worth burning his redshirt for spot duty of an injured or ineffective Joe Southwick?
I took Jay Ajayi off the depth chart with great trepidation. Tell me he's going to go the way of Malcolm Johnson. Please, guys?
Do you believe the Kirby Moore hype this spring? A small part of me thinks Chris Potter will find a way into the starting lineup, but that small part of me does not blog.
That's a pretty good-looking offensive line, when healthy. Agree?
When not healthy, does the depth at offensive tackle give anyone else the heebie jeebies?
Samuel Ukwuachu: Starter. I'll probably need more convincing, but it sounds good for now.
As an ode to depth charts of yore, I went with the popular OR designation at linebacker. Kyle Gingg-Dallas Dobbs shout out!
I have no idea how the nickel battle is going, but I hear more about Corey Bell than anyone else.
Sure felt good to put Jeremy Ioane's name in a starting lineup.

Your turn

What do you think I got right and what do you think I got wrong? Share your thoughts in the comments.

Five players with the most to gain during Boise State spring ball

Kevan Lee — Mon, 12 Mar 2012 15:00:07 -0000

Spring football is here? Spring football is here!

The Boise State football team begins spring practice this morning with a roster full of new faces and a coaching staff full of new faces. First team drill: the name game, followed by trust falls, followed by actual football practice. With so many Boise State stars off to NFL pastures, the new guys will have a chance to make a big splash this spring and set themselves up well for fall ball. Here are five with the most to gain over the next month or so of spring practice.

Jeremy Ioane - The sophomore safety has become rather an enigma inside Bronco Nation for his stellar high school recruiting tape and spurning of Notre Dame and his relative lack of anything since he arrived in Boise. A good spring, though, and all our worries are forgotten. We have short-term memory spans due to all the College Football Live we watch.

Demarcus Lawrence - The JUCO defensive end arrived on campus in January, a la fellow successful JC transfers like current Chicago Bear Winston Venable. Plus, the top three returning defensive ends from last year are gone, so you can bet Lawrence will get a hefty amount of reps. Time to put that associate's degree to work.

Tomorrow: Five players with the most to lose (football-wise, not weight-wise)

Drew Wright - D.J. Harper will be the starting running back, provided his mechanical knees hold. And Jay Ajayi figures to be the backup. But don't count out Wright just yet, unless you promised never to count him in for anything again after his fumble last year. Hear me out: Ajayi is still recovering from his ACL injury last year and will be limited this spring. Malcolm Johnson left the team, which is code for "screwed the pooch one too many times." If Wright has a good several weeks, he could put distance between himself and the other No. 2 candidates.

Robert Ash and Jeff Worthy - The two heralded redshirt freshmen defensive tackles will get work behind Ricky Tjong-A-Tjoe and Mike Atkinson this spring, and they could be part of the rotation come fall. Or they could be another James Michael Davis and Allen Mooney. We'll see.

Jimmygrant Patti-Laugh - The amalgam of Grant Hedrick, Jimmy Laughrea, and Nick Patti can do no wrong this spring. There will be no decision made on a starting quarterback, so they can't lose the job. They all trail Joe Southwick in the imaginary depth chart, so there's no pressure to stay on top. If anything, the spring will give one of the three a chance to play his way into the top of the QB competition going into the fall. Which one do you hope it is?

Your turn

What players do you think have the most to gain in spring practice? Would you like to see Drew Wright as the No. 2 running back? Which non-Southwick quarterback do you prefer to see do well? Share your thoughts in the comments.

The Boise State football pre-spring depth chart of guesses

Kevan Lee — Fri, 09 Mar 2012 18:00:16 -0000

Boise State football spring practice begins Monday morning, and we should have our first highly speculative, highly breathless reports no later than Monday noon. Bronco Nation is nothing if not unhealthily addicted to football.

Speaking of football addiction, I took it upon myself to create a Boise State depth chart going into spring football. It is incomplete in parts and horrendously wrong in others, but it's a start. Let me know where you agree or disagree in the comments.

Bold = Likely starter

OFFENSE

Joe Southwick	D.J. Harper	Dan Paul
Grant Hedrick	Jay Ajayi	Jamal Wilson
Jimmy Laughrea	Drew Wright
Nick Patti

Mitch Burroughs	Matt Miller	Kirby Moore	Gabe Linehan
Dallas Burroughs	Geraldo Boldewijn	Chris Potter	Kyle Sosnowski
Aaron Burks	Troy Ware		Chandler Koch

Faraji Wright	Joe Kellogg	Cory Yriarte	Jake Broyles	Charles Leno
Michael Ames	Spencer Gerke	Matt Paradis	Brenel Myers	Michael Ames
***
DEFENSE

Demarcus Lawrence	Ricky Tjong-A-Tjoe	Mike Atkinson	Tyler Horn
Nick Alexander	Greg Grimes	Darren Koontz	Kharyee Marshall

Tommy Smith	J.C. Percy
Blake Renaud	Travis Saxton

Jerrell Gavins	Jonathan Brown	Jeremy Ioane	Lee Hightower	Jamar Taylor
Ebo Makinde	Dextrell Simmons	Taylor Loffler	Hazen Moss	Bryan Douglas
Josh Borgman	Corey Bell	Dillon Lukehart	Darian Thompson
***
SPECIAL TEAMS

Dan Goodale	Trevor Harman	Joe Southwick	Trevor Harman	Chris Roberson
Michael Frisina	Dan Goodale
Jake Van Ginkel

Mitch Burroughs	Mitch Burroughs
Dallas Burroughs	Chris Potter
Drew Wright
Jerrell Gavins

Disclaimer: Boise State has not released an official spring depth chart, so consider this whole thing made up. Like a Robb Akey game plan! Thank you. I'll be here all week.

Best of ... position battles

Slot receiver - Kirby Moore vs. Chris Potter

Is this the year that Kirby Moore makes good on his high-school-football-star potential now that he's rid of that dead weight of a brother? Will Chris Potter outperform expectations once again since those expectations are based on the fact that he weighs less than a Jonas brother?

Quarterback - Joe Southwick vs. Grant Hedrick vs. Jimmy Laughrea vs. Nick Patti

Will we know anything more about the QB race by the spring game?.Is it just going to come down to sudden death cake walk like everyone expects it to?

Center - Cory Yriarte vs. Matt Paradis

Is Yriarte ready to fill Thomas Byrd's shoes and traditional center girdle? How much has Paradis grown since last season - I mean both in girth and in talent?

Left tackle - Faraji Wright vs. Michael Ames

Is the Michael Ames Era here? Wasn't Faraji Wright a guard at one point? Am I fooling myself because the correct answer to any Boise State offensive line position battle is "the guy no one realized was still on the roster"?

Defensive end - Demarcus Lawrence vs. Tyler Horn vs. Kharyee Marshall vs. Nick Alexander vs. Others

What can we realistically expect from Demarcus Lawrence, I mean besides 20 sacks and an All-American team appearance? Does the Idaho Press-Tribune have its mildly inappropriate Tyler Horn headline puns ready? "Defensive line feeling Horn-y," anyone? Where did we put Kharyee Marshall - oh, never mind, there he is, he was just standing sideways.

Middle linebacker - Tommy Smith vs. Blake Renaud

How long can Tommy Smith stay healthy, considering only 33 percent of his bones are his? Is Blake Renaud God's gift to linebackers starting this season or next?

Free safety and strong safety - Jeremy Ioane vs. Lee Hightower vs. Taylor Loffler vs. Hazen Moss vs. Dillon Lukehart vs. Others

Does everyone still have their hopes way up for Ioane like I do? Lee Hightower is a sure thing, right? What is the difference between Loffler and Moss and Lukehart?

Kicker - Michael Frisina vs. Dan Goodale vs. Jake Van Ginkel

Sigh?

Your turn

What position battles are you most excited to see? Anything you would change with the depth chart? Share your thoughts in the comments.

Boise State spring practice questions: What will the new-look defensive line look like?

Kevan Lee — Wed, 07 Mar 2012 16:01:24 -0000

We are t-minus four days and counting from the start of Boise State spring practice on Monday (huzzah!), and among the many empty places in our hearts and souls that football will fill, spring ball will also answer a glut of open-ended questions that were left open when the final Vegas Bowl ball was tossed in December. Questions like ...

Who is going to play on the defensive line?

The sixth- and seventh-best players last year are the two most likely to start this season. Defensive tackles Mike Atkinson and Ricky Tjong-A-Tjoe figure to ascend the depth chart by virtue of their combined 46 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss, and two sacks and their combined 615 pounds of humanity. Pencil the Canadian and the Dutchman into the starting lineup. Then get out your invisible ink to start making guesses at DE.

Related: Who starts at quarterback in Boise State's spring game?

The defensive end candidates include:

Demarcus Lawrence - JC All-American at Kansas's Butler Community College, has Tyrone Crawford written all over him
Tyler Horn - Last year's No. 4 defensive end, which matters now because Nos. 1-3 are gone-zo
Kharyee Marshall - The former Next Big Thing who impressed with his speed and quickness not to mention his invisibility when viewed at profile; currently labeled an injury risk in present iterations of NCAA video games
Nick Alexander - Redshirt junior who once went by Nicholas (that shows you how much I know about his football skills)
Robert Ash - A crown jewel in the jeweled crown of Boise State's 2011 recruiting class, redshirted last season
Justin Jungblut - Most often a defensive tackle, stands 6'4" and weighs 273 pounds, which is pretty good size and shape for a DE
Samuel Ukwuachu - Redshirt freshman, weighs 215 pounds
Darien Barrett - True freshman, weighs 215 pounds
Sam McCaskill - True freshman from Sheldon High in Eugene

We could also see do-it-all defensive linemen like Rory Connop (Canadian) and Elliot Hoyte (British) compete at end or the Broncos could go the Ryan Winterswyk route and convert a safety to play line. Jeremy Ioane, anyone?

Your turn

Who do you think will fill the two defensive end spots? How do you feel with Tjong-A-Tjoe and Atkinson in the middle? Make your picks in the comments.

What type of NFL prospect is Boise State known for?

Kevan Lee — Tue, 28 Feb 2012 16:01:10 -0000

Penn State has a reputation as Linebacker U for its assembly line production of NFL-ready linebackers like Lavar Arrington, Navorro Bowman, and others. And for as long as I can remember, if Boise State was football-position-U for anything it would have been defensive backs. But are times a-changing?

Take yesterday's NFL Combine for instance. The Broncos had three defensive linemen participating in drills - Billy Winn, Tyrone Crawford, and Shea McClellin - and depending on whom you ask, all three could be among the Top 75 prospects in the Draft and be off the board before Day Two comes to a close. Then look at the future: Mike Atkinson, Ricky Tjong-A-Tjoe, and others are next down the pipe.

Has Boise State's signature NFL export changed?

You may as well add offensive linemen to the discussion, too. Daryn Colledge and Ryan Clady are already NFL stalwarts, and Nate Potter could very well join them.

Wide receivers? Austin Pettis and Titus Young did their best to start that trend, and I have a feeling like Matt Miller might follow suit in three (hopefully not two) years.

Tight end hasn't treated the Broncos too shabbily, either, with guys like Derek Schouman and Jeb Putzier.

All things considered, for me the real debate comes down to whether the Broncos are a DB factory or a DL factory. And George Iloka is my swing vote. In a year when Boise State graduated its best defensive line in ever, the Broncos just also happened to turn out the top free safety in all of college football. And next year, Jamar Taylor and Jerrell Gavins will be NFL Combine stars. Then watch out for Lee Hightower and Co. after that.

I believe Boise State is still Defensive Back U. For now. We'll see how new position coaches Jimmy Lake (DBs) and Andy Avalos (DL) take things from here.

Your turn

What do you think Boise State is best known for in NFL circles? How do you see things going in the future? Share your thoughts in the comments.

Poll

What type of NFL prospect is Boise State best known for?

Defensive backs

412 votes

Defensive linemen

73 votes

Offensive linemen

150 votes

Wide receivers

40 votes

675 votes | Poll has closed

Five big questions for Boise State's 2012 season opener against Michigan State

Kevan Lee — Sat, 24 Dec 2011 16:00:10 -0000

We are only 251 days away from Boise State's 2012 season opener against Michigan State, so we better get going on our passive-aggressive fear-mongering. The Broncos visit East Lansing on August 31, and there are plenty of questions to be answered between now and then. Here are five of the big ones.

Who will be Boise State's starting quarterback?

The Broncos will have an open, four-way competition for starting quarterback this spring and fall. Junior-to-be Joe Southwick, sophomore Grant Hedrick, redshirt freshman Jimmy Laughrea, and true freshman Nick Patti will all be in the mix. Expect QB info to be guarded like a national secret and for Bronco fans to speculate wildly about the smallest details.

Where will Boise State be ranked?

The Broncos figure to finish no worse than No. 7 in the final polls, so the question will be how far pollsters drop Boise State once they realize that Kellen Moore and the entire defense is no more. The Broncos should still be a preseason Top 25 team ... on everyone's ballot but Craig James'.

Will Coach Pete be around?

Of course he will! /nervous laughter

The concern would come during the NFL's annual coach purge should someone like Oregon's Chip Kelly get a job in the pros. For the time being, there are no other jobs that Coach Pete seems interested in taking, so save your breath, Penn State.

Will the Broncos be favored to win?

Michigan State will be no pushover next season, and with the game in East Lansing and with the Broncos suffering from massive attrition at key positions, the line for this game will be very, very interesting. I say this as a concerned citizen of Bronco Nation and not as a degenerate gambler.

Who will get Boise State's first sack?

It won't be Shea McClellin, Tyrone Crawford, Billy Winn, Chase Baker, or Jarrell Root as all five of BSU's top five defensive linemen will graduate. The best reserves are Mike Atkinson and Ricky Tjong-A-Tjoe, and beyond that, it is anyone's guess who's lining up on the D-line in August.

Your turn

What quesitons do you have for the Broncos' season opener next year? What are you looking forward to? What are you dreading? Share your thoughts in the comments.