The atomic clock actually says that we have just 86 days until the Ducks hit the blue turf (hard).
So, today we'll continue our countdown by briefly highlighting the Bronco player with the jersey number that corresponds with the number of days remaining till the opener. Sorry there isn't a more clear and concise way to explain that.
And we're off...
#86 Chandler Koch, TE
After two straight days of tightend profiles...today, you'll be lucky enough to get another. It seems that we've got enough depth at the position to give people the bends *rimshot*. Anyway, today's featuree is one that Bronco Nation has been waiting a long time to see. Chandler Koch is one of the fist handful of commits from the newly (thank God) established recruiting hotbed of Texas. Koch comes to the Broncos from Flower Mound, Texas...which despite its soft name produces a fair share of Division 1 athletes. The 6'3" 220 lb. Koch excelled on the gridiron there and was generally regarded as a top 3 recruit at his position in the entire Dallas/Fort Worth area. Koch, who redshirted in 2008, has 3 years ahead of him under the Moore Administration. This bodes well for young Koch.
Koch was a first team All-Conference performer his junior and senior years at Flower Mound, and despite being somewhat lightly used, still accounted for 37 receptions and 580 yards in the two seasons. Koch's relative lack of receptions his junior and senior years no doubt speak to the nature of the offense that was ran at Flower Mound...and keep in mind that he still garnered All-League honors, so Koch's game clearly has more to it than just ball-catching. If his pass and run-blocking comes along like it should...he will solidify a spot in a stacked TE rotation. Koch, Tommy Gallarda (more on him tomorrow), Sean King, Kyle Efaw, Richie Brockel and a handful of talented newcomers all bring more speed, size and strength to the role than ever before. The personnel sets and motion packages available to the Broncos this year could make your head spin. Kellen Moore's head is not spinning...he's got this.