Hard to believe, but there are under 30 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 27 days until kickoff...so today we'll be highlighting #27 on the Boise State roster—Jeremy Avery
#27, Jeremy Avery, Senior, RB
Stats
Height: 5'9"
Weight: 173 lbs.
High School: Bellflower High School, Bellflower, CA
How'd he get to The Blue™?
As a senior at Bellflower High School, Avery was named first-team All-CIF and was the league most valuable player after rushing for over 1,800 yards and 19 TDs. Avery was also named first-team Southern Section/AAF Division VI and to the "Dream Team". .During Avery's senior year, he averaged over 165 yards/game and led the league in rushing his junior season as well. Avery was a late qualifier, which caused his offers to dwindle after his senior year, but he was able to sign late with the Broncos right before the 2006 season.
Nickname
"Peanut"
Avery's not too fond of this moniker, we're told. We're just trying to make sure he keeps that patented Boise State chip on his shoulder.
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Look-a-like
That big dude from Pirates of the Caribbean
Career highlights
Fourth-best season ever by freshman running back, rushing for 672 yards and 8 TDs in 2007. Set school record with 14.2 average yards per carry (156 yards on 11 carries) against Idaho in 2008. Named second-team All-WAC after rushing for 1,151 yards in 2009. Given the Award of Distinction by the Touchdown Club of Columbus.
Career lowlight
Introduction to Hawaii's Blaze Soares in 2007 (0:24 mark)
2010 prospectus
Avery has been an excellent back for the Broncos rushing for nearly 2,500 yards and 18 TDs over the last three seasons and chipping in another 636 receiving yards and 3 TDs, to boot. Avery has to be considered the Broncos quickest back (note that I didn't say 'fastest') and is absolutely deadly if he can get to the second level of the defense. Avery doesn't have the brute strength of Doug Martin or the all-around abilities of DJ Harper, but he packs quite a wallop for his size (5'9" is being generous, in my opinion) and isn't as easy to bring down as he might look. He's saved the Broncos bacon numerous times by breaking open games with big runs (Fresno State 2007, Idaho 2008, La Tech 2009) and is easily the Broncos best receiving back currently. Now, obviously there continues to be some debate as to whether Avery should be the starter over Martin and Harper in 2010...but wherever you land, you have to admit that Avery has earned a significant role on the Bronco offense. He rushed for over 1,000 yards last season and was named to the all-conference team, so despite the fact that some may prefer Martin's bruising runs, or Harper's end-arounds...that's all it really amounts to: preference. Any one of the aforementioned backs can break open a game and all are perfectly capable of being the go-to guy. It just depends on the team they're up against. Avery has had his fair share of success for the Broncos and whether he's the #1, #2, or #3 back this year, he'll be one of the Broncos biggest weapons and we'll miss his skill set when he moves on after this season.
Personally, I think that Avery can duplicate his 1,000 yard '09 season and I think he'll continue to be one of the Broncos' best-kept secret receiving threats. The big question mark will be number of carries. DJ Harper's injury last season ensured that the Broncos would only be working with two primary backs on the year, so with 3 healthy, proven backs in 2010, their won't be a huge surplus of carries for any one back. Thousand-yard seasons are possible for all three, but that isn't likely to happen.
Completely made up fact
Avery didn't get the nickname "Peanut" because of his stature. It's because he used to wear a top hat and monocle to practice.
