Top 10 players with something to prove in the 2012 Boise State football season
by Kevan Lee on Dec 29, 2011 8:00 AM PST
in Boise State football
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The 2012 Boise State football season will be filled with opportunity, hopefully in the form of BCS riches and Craig James termination jokes, and most definitely in the form of Bronco players with a chance to shine. Here is my list of the top ten with something to prove next season.
No. 10 - Jake Van Ginkel. The kicker who was supposed to save the Broncos from Brotzman history repeating itself failed to do so. He got beat out by a pair of kickers whom Bronco fans are pretty sure they could beat in one of those halftime kicking contests. Will Van Ginkel stake a claim to his kicking throne this season? Goodness, I hope so.
No. 9 - Kharyee Marshall - A couple seasons ago, Marshall was a Dwight Freeney clone who wreaked havoc in the backfield at Bronco practice. Since then, he has been Mr. Cellophane. The Broncos need edge rushers in 2012. Badly.
No. 8 - Dan Paul. After missing a year with a redshirt-worthy injury, Paul will be back with a vengeance in 2012. People might die.
No. 7 - Geraldo Boldewijn. Thanks to a pimping Toyota Camry, Boldewijn got a late start on The Year of Geraldo. His final numbers were less than expected, but he has a chance to break out all over again in 2012 now that Tyler Shoemaker is out of the way.
No. 6 - Brenel Myers. Someone will have to replace the indomitable Nate Potter at left tackle, and Myers will definitely be in the running. He was projected as the next Ryan Clady way back in Boise State's 2010 Fiesta Bowl. That hasn't happened yet, unless Clady got outperformed in the middle of his career before blossoming. And I don't remember it that way.
No. 5 - Mike Atkinson. Mr. Canadian Bacon is the best Boise State defensive lineman remaining, and he was the sixth-best one just a few days ago. That's quite a jump to make, not unlike the jump from Canadian loonies and toonies to good old American silver dollars.
No. 4 - Gabe Linehan. Boise State has a history of producing stellar tight ends, and Linehan has showed flashes that he could be next in line.
No. 3 - Jay Ajayi. Despite some bowl prep problems, Ajayi remains the running back of the future, whenever that future may be. D.J. Harper is the man for next year, and Ajayi will find himself battling with Malcolm Johnson for playing time behind The Harp.
No. 2 - Jeremy Ioane. The Hawaiian super prospect was supposed to take Boise State by storm when he arrived on campus. His career thus far has been less storm and more inversion. He'll have a shot at a starting safety job in 2012, and all of Bronco Nation is holding its collective breath.
No. 1 - Either Joe Southwick, Grant Hedrick, Jimmy Laughrea, or Nick Patti. One of these guys will be the next Boise State starting quarterback, provided there are no Air Buds or Keanu Reeves planning on showing up.
Your turn
What players do you think have something to prove in 2012? Who should have been on the list that wasn't? Share your thoughts in the comments.
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Good List
I think Geraldo should be a lil higher. Everyone was expecting alot from him this year to no avail. That could have been the Shoemaker Affect but all he seemed to do this year is catch screen passes.
I have yet to see anything that makes me expect anything from GB
He’s pretty tall I guess.
by nerdglasses on Dec 29, 2011 10:55 AM PST up reply actions
At spring practices...
and both the scrimmages, GB was like a highlight reel. The kid can play, I think he just lacks the overall experience and confidence it takes to be successful in game situations. In the spring scrimmage he hauled in a 51 yard pass from Southwick I believe, and he has the speed to do that consistently, he’s just gotta get comfortable.
"Moore took a knee. It was an act of mercy. Boise State didn't need style points. It had proven itself the superior program long before." - Andy Staples, SI.com
how have people been pronouncing Laughrea?
i’ve been pronouncing it “Loff-ray” but when I hear people on the radio say it, sounds like “Lock-ray”. Am I saying it wrong? Are a bunch of other people wrong? Help me. when i root for [future Boise State QB] I don’t want to say it wrong and look foolish.
My QB has an AWARD named after him. How about yours?!
Twitter: @damienbsu
I believe it's pronounced..."no Moore."
The battle for hierarchy is more intense the lower the class.
by kcam on Dec 29, 2011 9:15 AM PST up reply actions 6 recs
What you did there.
I see it.
My QB has an AWARD named after him. How about yours?!
Twitter: @damienbsu
Lor-ee-uh
this is the way I’ve heard it more than a few times.
by BrickCityBronco on Dec 29, 2011 11:17 PM PST up reply actions
According to the Boise State Football 2011 Yearbook
It is pronounced “LOCK-ray”.
To find this booklet, go here: http://www.idahostatesman.com/boisestatefootball/
Click on “2011 Boise State football media guide” – it takes a few seconds since it is 190 pages long.
Go to bottom of Page 11
Interesting enough, it points out that Grimes is pronounced “GRIMES” and Hout is pronounced “HOUT”.
"I say, if you have 4 Quarter Backs, play em!" Quote from BCS fan Uncle Eddie
Uncle Eddie is a few dimes short of a Buck. We are down to loose change.
Christmas Vacation is almost over.
The only thing the BCS has to fear is fear itself and Blue is the color of fear.
by Trapperpk on Dec 29, 2011 9:28 AM PST reply actions 1 recs
Eddie wants to know what happened to Mr. Fiskers over the Holiday.
Some smells funny about the Christmas tree when went to the garbage.
The only thing the BCS has to fear is fear itself and Blue is the color of fear.
the crapper was full!
Kickers...whatya gonna do.
by Boise State of Mind on Dec 29, 2011 8:13 PM PST up reply actions
Dextrell Simmons
The dude is all over the place and has the ability to be lights out. I have a feeling he is going to have a huge year next year….I think I said that last off-season too!
The Bulldogs had no answers, so they called timeout. And at that moment, every single person in the stadium knew that Georgia was in over its head. It was instant singularity of Boise State's greatness.
-Kevan Lee
I think we all had high expectations of Simmons...
Because we expected him to be the next Winston Venable.
I am the BSU Guru. I know everything and anything about BSU, just ask me. Although I may need a minute…and an internet connection.
Kirby Moore
Now that his star brother will be off the field, Kirby will make his mark. Sorry, its just a brother thing.. Its a lot easier mentally to play with your brother, rooting for you, than, lets say "Boise St’s super quarterback ( his brother) on the field amazing everybody all the time….just sayin.
If you ever wanted to see Boise St play...may be a good chance. Love em or Hate em, they are always interesting; and now, no matter where you live, "They're Coming To Your City"
Not just brothers...
Oh, the trials and tribulations of being the youngest. Don’t get me started. Woe is the born baby of the family.
"Grateful to the friends and the circumstances that enabled me to be a Bronco. I'm just glad I lived to see these days." SeniorChief
Doubt it was because they were brothers...
More like he was stuck behind a major logjam at receiver.
I am the BSU Guru. I know everything and anything about BSU, just ask me. Although I may need a minute…and an internet connection.
Top 10 players
Southwick will be the man.Velocity,accuracy and smarts.
Sorry, I must have been watching someone else named Southwick.
The guy I was watching did absolutely nothing to impress.
"Boise State football is now a Fargo winter. You know what's coming, and that information does you no good whatsoever". Matt James / The Fresno Bee
by blue4areason on Dec 29, 2011 4:21 PM PST up reply actions
You know...
It’s kind of funny the way we all jump to conclusions. Southwick may or may not be the guy, we cannot judge that on a limited amount of playing time in a vanilla offense, whose primary objective was to run out the clock.
I am the BSU Guru. I know everything and anything about BSU, just ask me. Although I may need a minute…and an internet connection.
by BSU Guru on Dec 29, 2011 4:41 PM PST up reply actions 1 recs
The kicker
BSU must have a reliable kicker. Whoever it is?
I'm not a huge Southwick fan
But I’d hate to see him start this year and then sit his senior year. Doesn’t seem fair to the kid.
He won't...
With the way the coaches operate, if he starts next year, and does well, he will start his senior year as well, no matter the amount of highly regarded prospects at quarterback coming in.
I am the BSU Guru. I know everything and anything about BSU, just ask me. Although I may need a minute…and an internet connection.
Dallas Burroughs
He is the fastest kid on Boise State’s roster and they played him as a TruFrosh even though he hadn’t had a ton of time in the system up that that point. This tells me the Boise State Coaching staff believes he can/will be an impact player sooner rather than later. I see him adding a Darren Sproles like element to the Boise State offense where he’ll be able to catch the ball out of the slot, maybe run some fly, and get up the crease for some big plays. Plus, we may see him on Kick Returns, Punt Returns, or (what seem like) gift returns. At this point, I almost expect bigger things out of him than Jay Ajayi. Until Ajayi realizes that he’s got to play by the rules (i.e. pay for clothes before taking them from the store) I don’t know who in their right mind would think that he is putting in the necessary amount of work to earn a spot on the field.
by SetincichMotion on Dec 29, 2011 3:09 PM PST reply actions
Umm...
Not to be rude, but how the hell would you know if Ajayi is putting in enough work to earn a spot on the field. Just because he made a stupid decision does not mean he’s not a hard worker. Maybe he is, maybe he isn’t, that’s honestly for the coaches to decide, regardless of any stupid decisions made off the field.
I am the BSU Guru. I know everything and anything about BSU, just ask me. Although I may need a minute…and an internet connection.
by BSU Guru on Dec 29, 2011 4:16 PM PST up reply actions 1 recs
Guru
That isn’t a rude question at all and totally valid. My point was- and I think history supports me here- the Boise State staff has generally been good about looking at their athelets in a wholistic sense. All I was saying was: if the kid is making such poor choices off the field, I would expect someone like Burroughs would be a more likely candidate to “break out” than Ajayi as Ajayi’s self discipline seems reasonably questioned when he can’t follow societal rules. Are you honestly telling me you don’t question an individual’s self-discipline when they behave in such a manner as to blatantly disregard simple social rules like paying for clothing?
I am in no way hoping for anything but great things from Ajayi, and I sincerely hope he gets his act together and behaves in such a way as to demonstrate he is worthy of the hype and free education that has been bestowed upon him… both on and off the field.
We all make mistakes- and perhaps that incident was just a mistake or misunderstanding- let’s hope so.
And if such is the case- I hope you are right and he’s been busting his tail in the weightroom and practice field.
But to suggest that behavior off the field isn’t an indicator of what one can expect on it would be just plain naive.
by SetincichMotion on Dec 30, 2011 11:58 AM PST up reply actions
You might have missed the point of the question
A bad decission off the field does not necessarily equate to poor practice or workout or film room habits. I agree that you made an unwarranted leap from “shoplifter” to “lazy.”
If I remember being 18 or 19 correctly, the only generalization about kids that age (of the male persuasion – can’t make any claims about the females cuz I’ve never understood them anyway) that is usually accurate is “dumb.”
But maybe that was just me.
--To my brothers of FOOL (Fraternal Order of Offensive Lineman - Medio, turpis et arcu agro usque)
Ajayi Not Ready
The reason Jay didnt travel for the bowl game had nothing to do with his arrest for stolen walmart sweatpants, it had to do with his missing rehab assignment after rehab assignment. SO the first writer was correct, he needs to get it figured out and put the work in so he can be ready to reap the rewards…
Thanks BWarbis... some validation is always nice
Blorange and BSU Guru— I think you two both missed the point of what I was saying.
I didn’t say I knew Ajayi hadn’t been working hard in the weight room. I said that my experience has always been that a lot of the kids who aren’t disciplined off the field and outside of football also aren’t disciplined on the field or in the weight room.
That said, I sincerely hope that as BWarbis says above Mr. Ajayi gets it figured out and decides to do the work necessary to help the program that his trying to help him.
by SetincichMotion on Jan 5, 2012 1:23 PM PST up reply actions
I honestly don't think it matters who the next quarterback is...
The guy will be good. The system that we have here is what makes us so good. You could plug anybody into the system and they would do well. Every once in a while a player transcends the system and becomes great, like Kellen Moore. If Jared Zabransky could lead us to undefeated seasons, so could Joe Southwick, Grant Hedrick, Jimmy Laughrea, and Nick Patti.
I am the BSU Guru. I know everything and anything about BSU, just ask me. Although I may need a minute…and an internet connection.
I totally agree Guru
These guys are capable or they probably would’nt be here. Im just excited to see them compete for the job.
Rec on Paul
Beastman… manbeast… BackerCrusher… TackleBlaster… (can’t think of anything to go with noseguards)
Even if there are no autopsies resulting from his play, there will most definitely be broken bones and broken wills
--To my brothers of FOOL (Fraternal Order of Offensive Lineman - Medio, turpis et arcu agro usque)
One more thought
I was thinking that Boise could use a good " feature back" much like Alstott was at Tampa Bay years ago. If you have a big punishing running back that’s even half way effective, it will force the Defense to really respect the run game. That draws the LBs up and really opens up the middle of the field. IMO of course. Don’t get me wrong? I luv Paul, but he’s not that kind of back. When I was younger, I saw coaches solve this problem by converting a LB with really good hands to this position. ( Just and idea Coach Pete) Besides? Martin was a DB if memory serves? He turned out to be a damn good RB!
Dougie was originally a RB
Converted to DB, then back to TB.
by KyleWilson01 on Jan 1, 2012 7:04 AM PST via mobile up reply actions
Ricky TAT
On the list I’m thinking Mike Atkinson should be replaced by Ricky TAT or at least side by side. Ricky has heaps of talent and ability and now that Baker and Billy Winn are gone it’s his (and Canadian Bacon’s) turn to wreak havoc in the trenches.
I was Dr. Jrig. Now I'm JRig. Next I'll just be ig.
"It takes no talent to give great effort" -Chris Petersen
"It's hard to imagine a more complete football team than Boise State" - Kirk Herbstreit
"Watch the point, catch the fat." - Larry Fitzgerald
by JRig on Dec 30, 2011 3:55 PM PST reply actions 1 recs
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2012 Boise State Football Schedule
@ Michigan State  |
Fri 08/31 | 6:00 p.m. MT |
| Miami (OH) | Sat 09/15 | 2:00 p.m. MT |
| BYU |
Thu 09/20 | TBA |
| @ New Mexico | Sat 09/29 | TBA |
| @ Southern Miss | Sat 10/06 | TBA |
| Fresno State | Sat 10/13 | 1:30 p.m. MT |
| UNLV | Sat 10/20 | 1:30 p.m. MT |
| @ Wyoming |
Sat 10/27 | 1:30 p.m. MT |
| San Diego State | Sat 11/03 | 8:30 p.m. MT |
| @ Hawaii | Sat 11/10 | 5:00 p.m. MT |
| Colorado St. | Sat 11/17 | 1:30 p.m. MT |
| @ Nevada | Sat 12/1 | TBA |
