The atomic clock actually says that we have just 38 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. Yes, I own a calendar, and yes, I know we're at 37, I'll have her up before midnight.
And we're off.
#38 Raphiel Lambert, CB
Boise State has brought in cornerbacks that have become running backs before, the last such standout being Lee Marks. This time around, the Broncos decided to take a different tack and bring in a running back to play cornerback. Obviously, Raphiel Lambert was well versed on both sides of the ball as a two-way stud at Jesuit High School in Portland (Oregon, not Maine), but his made a splash on the recruiting boards as a running back. He excelled at camps at Oregon State and Boise State in the summer of '07...even hinting that the Beavers were his number 1 choice. In the end, he saw the light, and verballed to the Broncos in November of 2007. Lambert signed his LOI in February as a cornerback (Coach Yates must've beaten Coach Choate in an arm wrestling match) and redshirted last season. Raphiel tweaked his knee in Spring Ball and will likely miss this year because of it, but Bronco Nation is stoked to see what this kid can do on offense, defense, and special teams.
Lambert stands 5'9" and weighs in at 185 pounds. He was named to the Tacoma News Tribune’s Western 100 after his senior year at Jesuit and the 6A Metro League Offensive Player of the Year. Lambert rushed for over 1,700 yards and 23 touchdowns while averaging nearly 7.5 yards per carry. As a junior, Lambert merely chalked up over 10 yards per carry...rushing for 865 yards on only 81 carries. He finished his prep career with 10 INTs and accounted for over 3,000 yards of offense. It's safe to say the coaches see a huge upside to Lambert's play on defense for them to overlook his impressive offensive statistics. No word on whether Lambert will seek a medical hardship this year after tearing his ACL in April, but his chances for playing time this year were limited already with Kyle Wilson and Brandyn Thompson returning. Lambert will be part of a fierce battle for Wilson's vacated spot in 2010. Lambert, Antwon Murray, Jamar Taylor, and two incoming and highly rated freshman will all compete...may the best man win.
