Hard to believe, but there are under 60 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 54 days until kickoff...so today we'll take a look at #54 on the Boise State roster—Michael Ames
#54, Michael Ames, Sophomore, OL
Stats
Height: 6'4"
Weight: 281 lbs.
High School: Centennial High School, Meridian, ID
How'd he get to The Blue™?
Ames was a two-year letterman at Centennial High and as a senior was named second-team all-state and first-team All-Southern Idaho Conference. Ames also eamed All-SIC honorable mention during his junior season. Ames recruitment out of high school was anywhere from "light" to "non-existent" and he embarked on a two-year church mission. Upon his return, he found he still had a passion for the game, and a viewing of the 2007 Fiesta Bowl that he'd missed while away prompted him to walk on to the Bronco football team.
Nickname
"Willie"
I just wanted an excuse to post this picture.
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Look-a-like
Left wing zealot turned right wing zealot Stephen Baldwin.
Career highlight
Career lowlight
That's not his girlfriend.
Jus' kiddin'. The smooch in question came from his fiancée, Tess Tracy.
2010 prospectus
Ames surprised everyone last year when, as a 22-year old walk-on, he was tabbed by ESPN's Bruce Feldman as number 8 on his "10 breakout players from spring practice" article. This wasn't a non-BCS article either...it was for all of Division 1, so naturally, the reaction from Bronco Nation was: "who?" Ames virtually came out of nowhere to not only land on Feldman's list, but then proved Feldman right by getting the start against one of the Pac-10s best DEs in Boise State's season-opening game against Oregon last year. Ames hadn't played in a football game in five years, but performed well against Will Tukuafu, allowing the big DE to make one measly tackle against the Broncos (and it wasn't a sack). So, what happened from there? Well, Ames wasn't the fixture at right tackle that many expected, and although he saw action in 10 games in '09 and got 8 starts, by year's end it appeared that Garrett Pendergast had overtaken the promising talent. Things got more murky when, after a Pendergast injury in bowl-prep, Ames wasn't the "go-to" guy for the Broncos, who elected to give Brenel Myers, a converted guard, his first start in the Fiesta Bowl (lining up opposite All-American Jerry Hughes, no less), instead of the more seasoned Ames. Now Ames could find himself 2nd or 3rd on the right tackle depth chart going into Fall Camp, depending on the strength of Pendergast's ankle. Brenel Myers appears to be the odds-on favorite to win the gig this Fall, but Ames could always pull another miracle out and surprise the fans and pundits alike. I certainly wouldn't count the kid out—and I use the term "kid" loosely, Ames may be 30 by the time he graduates.
Completely made up fact
Ames' two year mission? Steal the Declaration of Independence.