Fall Previews 15 of 63: Boise State

Boise State:

Head Coach: Bryan Harsin (12-2)
2014 Record: (12-2, 7-1 MWC)
Basic Offense: Multiple
Basic Defense: Multiple
Starters Returning: 19 (9 Off., 8 Def., 2 Spec.)
Starters Lost: 6 (2 Off., 3 Def., 1 Spec.)

Offense: 

The Boise State Broncos have a recent quarterback history that is second to none in the G5 ranks with Jared Zambrasky, Kellen Moore and even outgoing starter Grant Headrick. One thing that the Broncos doe not have at the quarterback spot heading into the upcoming season is experience. Redshirt sophomore Ryan Finley (12-27/161/2TD) is the favorite of many this season to take over the starting spot after seeing very limited playing time as a redshirt freshman in 2014. Finley has the size and arm strength to continue the run of quality quarterbacks for Boise State. Alas, things are just not that simple in the real world with the Bronco coaching staff declaring the quarterback race wide open with fellow redshirt sophomore Thomas Stuart, redshirt freshman Alex Ogle and true freshman Brett Rypien all in the mix. Rypien is an interesting study as he is the nephew of Super Bowl winning quarterback Mark Rypien. He was a highly sought 4-star recruit that has a chance to earn playing time and even push for the starting spot. The good part about the quarterback race is that everyone is a redshirt sophomore or younger. The bad part is that everyone is young and all four quarterbacks will not end their careers at Boise State due to a desire for playing time.

Jeremy McNichols

It is bad enough to have to replace a talented starting quarterback, but it is even worse when an all-american running back is added to that mix. As is the care of running back Jay Ajayi who declared for the NFL draft and was taken by the Miami Dolphins. Sophomore Jeremy McNichols (17/159/1TD rushing, 15/155/1TD receiving) has emerged heading into fall as the projected starter. McNichols came in as a freshman in 2014 and found a role as a pass catcher and occasional rusher that gave an extra dimension to the Bronco offense. Boise State saw their backfield improve even more as redshirt senior Stanford transfer Kelsey Young is the projected backup. Young's brother Cory is a redshirt freshman in the Broncos backfield as well. Redshirt juniors Devan Demas (25/173/2TD) and Charles Bertoli (9/24/0TD) could also see some playing time this fall in the Boise State backfield.

Jake Roh

In a case of the rich getting richer, Boise State heads into the 2015 season with two redshirt and one true freshman tight end that are 6-4, 6-4, and 6-5 and all very talented but will see very little of the playing field due to such a talented position group. Redshirt sophomore Jake Roh (35/408/2TD) was an honorable mention All-MWC pick last fall and heads into the 2015 season with huge expectations. His ability to open the middle of the field helped open up the entire Boise State passing game and I wouldn't be surprised to see him end the season with 50+ catches this fall. Redshirt senior Holden Huff (10/128/0TD) is a large man at 6-6 that is good both on the line blocking and in the passing game and will be needed to give Roh a breather as well as in two tight end sets. Redshirt senior Jake Hardee and redshirt sophomore Alec Dhaenens (2/4/0TD) should see some playing time as well with Brennyn Dunn, David Lucero, and Chase Blakley all looking for playing time.

Thomas Sperbeck

Going into the 2014 season, Thomas Sperbeck (51/877/3TD) had caught five total passes with things looking to go in a similar fashion. One injury later, Sperbeck turned into an excellent receiver and earned a spot on the Biletnikoff Award Watch List heading into the 2015 season. Sperbeck is the starting X-Receiver with redshirt freshman AJ Richardson earning the backup role. On the other side at the Z-Receiver slot, redshirt junior Chaz Anderson (21/456/2TD) will occupy the role. Anderson is a big play threat on any play of the game with a 21.7 yards per catch average last fall. The 5-10, 181 pound receiver is not the traditional tall deep threat but is lightning quick and can turn any pass into an a long touchdown. JUCO transfer Austin Cottrell is the backup for Anderson. In the hybrid running back/receiver H-Back position, senior Shane Williams-Rhodes (68/585/7TD) was excellent in 2014 with 68 catches and 179 yards rushing on 15 carries. Williams-Rhodes also returned punts and was an Honorable mention All-MWC selection in 2014. Redshirt sophomore DJ Dean must be ready to step into the rotation after playing in only four games in 2014. There is lots of depth for Boise State with over ten more receivers on the roster looking for playing time on offense or special teams.

Marcus Henry

How can a team replacing a starting quarterback and running back still be considered the class of the MWC and one of the top 25 teams in the nation? When they return 64 of a possible 70 starts from the offensive line is a good start. Led by 2014 1st team All-MWC selection Marcus Henry (26 career starts), the offensive line is loaded with an incredible array of experience and talent. Henry is on the Lombardi, Outland, and Rimington Award Watch Lists. Mason Hampton is the backup and saw action in all 14 games last fall as a redshirt freshman. Moving to left tackle, 2014 2nd team All-MWC selection Rees Odhiambo (17 career starts) will anchor the blindside. Odhiambo is on the Lombardi and Outland Award Watch Lists and should have a chance at seeing his name called in the 2016 NFL draft. Redshirt sophomore Eli McCullough (1 start) saw game action last fall and should be a more than capable backup. At left guard, redshirt junior Mario Yakoo (15 career starts) is sturdy at 6-4, 329 pounds and could work his way to all conference honors in the upcoming season. Redshirt sophomore Andrew Tereck is the odds on favorite to earn the backup role. At right guard, Travis Averill (17 career starts) is looking to take his play to another level after an excellent 2014 season. Averill will break 40 career starts before his career is over with Boise State. Redshirt freshman Troy Bacon will step in to the role of backup for Averill after redshirting in 2014. At right tackle, redshirt junior Steven Baggett (15 career starts) will handle starting duties once again. Baggett played and started in 13 games, missing one with injury, and could also break the 40 start plateau before his career ends. Redshirt sophomore Archie Lewis is the backup after making five starts for last fall due to injury.

Defense: 

Kamalei Correa

With a dominant offense, the Boise State weakness has to be the defense, right? Not on the defensive line it isn't this fall. The Boise State defensive line returns 47.5 tfl and 27.5 sacks from last season. Those numbers are just not fair to everyone else with 2014 1st team All-MWC honoree Kamalei Correa Jr. (59 tkl, 19 tfl, 12 sacks) leading the way at the Stud position. Correa will play a combination of linebacker and pass rusher and his 12 sacks in 2014 show he can get to the quarterback a lot. The Broncos have an excellent backup in Gabe Perez Jr. (29 tkl, 7.5 tfl, 3.5 sacks) with the duo combining for 26.5 tfl and 15.5 sacks last fall. At defensive end, there is a bit of a battle with Tyler Horn (4 tkl, 1 tfl, 1 sack) holding the top spot but Sam McCaskill (26 tkl, 4 tfl, 2.5 sacks) and Rondell McNair (5 tkl, 2.5 tfl, 1.5 sacks) fighting for playing time. Alle three are productive players and will see the playing field this fall. It will be interesting to see how that rotation works. In the middle, senior Armand Nance (36 tkl, 6 tfl, 2.5 sacks) will be the opening night starter at nose tackle. Fellow senior Justin Taimatuia missed 2014 to injury but was very good in 2013 with 29 tackles and a sack. At defensive tackle, the Broncos roll out senior Antoine Turner (13 tkl, 1.5 tfl) with Tutulupeatau Mataele, and Elliot Hoyte RS-Jr. (16 tkl, 4 tfl, 3.5 sacks) playing the backup roles. Robert Ash (5 tkl, 2 tfl, 1 sack) should also find his way into the rotation.

Tanner Vallejo

Showing a nickel look with the Stud playing a hybrid linebacker/defensive end role, the Broncos just need two competent linebackers to make tackles. Boise State has more than competence at linebacker with junior Tanner Vallejo (100 tkl, 16.5 tfl, 3 sacks) earning 2nd team All-MWC honors in 2014. He is one of the better linebackers in the nation that gets very little publicity but his 16.5 tackles for loss is astounding for a middle linebacker. Redshirt sophomore Joe Martarano (42 tkl, 1 tfl) will see playing time as well in the middle. At weakside linebacker, Ben Weaver (62 tkl, 3 tfl, 2 sacks) and Tyler Gray (61 tkl, 5.5 tfl, 2 sacks) will battle in fall camp for the position. Weaver made 12 starts at WLB last fall but is not as good versus the passing game as Gray. Both are excellent linebackers and should both see significant playing time for the Broncos in 2015.

Darian Thompson

The Broncos, not surprisingly, have a very strong secondary led by senior free safety Darian Thompson (71 tkl, 5 tfl, 7 INT). The 2014 1st team All-MWC honoree is the leader of the Bronco secondary and is a ball hawk with seven interceptions. Thompson has NFL level ability and could be one of multiple Broncos drafted in the 2016 NFL draft. Redshirt sophomore Cameron Hartsfield (9 tkl) saw limited duty and should see most of his action on special teams as an understudy to Thompson. At cornerback, the Broncos return senior Donte Deayon (46 tkl, 2 tfl, 1 sack, 6 INT) as well as junior Jonathan Moxey (33 tkl, 1 INT). Both are excellent in the passing game with Deayon, a 2014 2nd team All-MWC selection, showing an innate ability to find the ball in the air and force turnovers. Redshirt junior Raymond Ford is the current backup at both cornerback spots. At the other safety spot, there could be a bit of a battle between sophomore Dylan Sumner-Gardner (19 tkl, 1 tfl) and redshirt junior Chanceller James (36 tkl, 2 tfl). Both saw playing time last fall and are ready to see a significant jump this fall. The two are listed as both on the first team and we may end up well into fall camp before one takes the starting job. Nickelback is the biggest question mark with a battle between redshirt senior Mercy Maston and redshirt sophomore Kameron Miles. Neither player saw any action last fall and will have significant pressure on their shoulders this fall as a starting nickelback.

Special Teams: 

Boise State punter Sean Wale is back for his junior season after punting 66 times in 2014 for a 42.0 average, a long of 63 yards, 20 punts inside the 20 yard line, and 14 punts over 50 yards. Wale has the leg to flip the field on Broncos opponents and keep the field position game in favor of Boise State. Questions abound in the kicking game as junior Tyler Rausa is the projected starter after only taking and making one PAT attempt last fall. He will be handling the field goal and kickoff duties this fall.

Overall: 

In previous seasons of breaking in a quarterback for the the first time, the Broncos have struggled in the early portion of the season before getting the machine rolling and dominating the second half of the schedule. The biggest difference this fall is an offensive line that is talented and very experienced leading the way.

Boise State opens the season with a visit from Pac-12 foe Washington for a Friday night matchup. Washington and Boise State are very evenly matched overall but the experience of the talented Broncos will be the difference as Boise State gets a statement win to start the season over a Washington team that will surprise people this fall. Eight days later, the Broncos make a trip to Provo to face a tough BYU squad led by a healthy Taysom Hill. This game should be closer than last season's 55-30 win but Boise State is the better team overall and will make enough plays to win and go to 2-0.

After an easy win over Idaho State, Boise State travels to Virginia and should be able to dispose of the Cavaliers as long as they handle the cross country road trip in decent condition. Starting conference play at 4-0 overall, Boise State should demolish a weak Hawaii squad before a tight win at Colorado State to set up a huge October game versus Utah State. The Broncos and Aggies should match up extremely tight in this game and I just have a feeling that Utah State finds a way to get it done in dropping Boise State to a 6-1 overall record.

Boise State should roll through the next three games (Wyoming, UNLV, and New Mexico) before getting revenge on Air Force for a 28-14 loss last fall. A season ending win over San Jose State will get Boise State to 11-1 and a spot in the MWC title game. A win in that game plus another bowl win and I see Boise State going 13-1. Prediction: 13-1.