Hard to believe, but there are under 80 days until the Broncos storm the Capital to take on the Hokies. As you may remember, last summer I embarked on the Herculean task of counting down a different roster spot for each remaining day until kickoff. So far this year, we're batting a thousand, so drop me notes of encouragement now and again so I can find the strength to get through the next couple months without breaking the streak.
We've got 76 days until kickoff ... so today we'll be taking a look at number 76 on the Bronco roster—Jake Broyles
#76, Jake Broyles, RS Freshman, OT
Stats
Height: 6'4" or 6'6" depending on who you ask
Weight: 257 lbs.
High School: Foothill High School, Henderson, NV
How'd he get to The Blue?
By having more pancakes than an IHOP. For your edification, a "pancake block" is when an offensive lineman flattens or knocks an opposing lineman to the ground. Jake Broyles had 95 (!) of these over the span of his junior and senior seasons at Foothill High. For his efforts, he was named All-Sunrise League, first-team MaxPreps All-State, and team MVP and Rivals.com called him one of the "best pure tackles" in the state of Nevada. And if you think that Broyles was all brawn and no brains in high school, think again—he maintained a 4.45 GPA...which is possible, apparently. A few words about Broyles from ESPN, perhaps?
Broyles displays some athleticism as an offensive lineman. He has a great frame and is an impressive looking football player. Comes out of stance square and with a good flat back with legs underneath him; fits well into the base block.
Broyles considered Brown, Prineceton, UNLV, and Fresno State, but as far as I could tell, Boise State was the first to extend a scholarship, which he gladly accepted.
Nickname
"Flame Broyler" [fleym broi-ler]
D-lineman are going to get cooked.
Look-a-like
Career highlights
55 pancake blocks as senior at Foothill HS. Received Borque Award of Merit. Named Team MVP, all-league and all-state as a senior. Maintained GPA that many thought existed only in theory.
Career lowlight
Being served a pancake of his own by Shea McClellin in the first Spring scrimmage.
2010 prospectus
If Broncosports is correct about Broyles' weight (and they rarely are), he's hopefully enrolled in the Spencer Gerke Eating Academy this summer, as he'll need to probably pack a few more lbs. on before the season starts. A mobile and athletic specimen at left tackle, Broyles should be right in the mix for playing time, but he's got to get through Faraji Wright, Charles Leno, and Zach Waller first. The last we checked, Faraji Wright and Zach Waller possessed the most girth of the group, with Waller having the edge in the experience category. Leno and Broyles would probably be considered the more athletic duo, with the edge on speed and footwork likely going to Leno. So now we have what will shape up to be one of the most hotly contested position battles of Fall Camp...youth vs experience, size vs speed. How it will all pan out is a mystery, but I'm guessing that all involved will be better for having pushed each other. My gut says that Faraji Wright and Charles Leno will be the front-runners, with Waller or Broyles falling into the 3rd spot...but as we've discussed before, the O-line starters are hardly ever set in stone and I'd expect all to get their opportunities to shine. One thing that is clear, however—there is little room for error among any of the tackle hopefuls, so when camp opens, they'd better be ready to go. I have a feeling that with Broyles' brains, he knows exactly what he needs to do.
Completely made up fact
So he can see, Broyles wears specially-made quadfocal glasses. These allow him to read, drive, do micro-surgery, and see the Hubble space telescope.