Boise State pulls back the curtain on Saturday for the first and only public scrimmage of the Fall. Will you be there?
Find out all the info you need for Saturday's Boise State scrimmage, and join me for a discussion of what to expect, who to watch, and what to look for. If you'll be attending the scrimmage, come and say hi. If you can't make it down, let me know what I can watch for you.
The who, what, where, when, why, and how of Saturday's Boise State football scrimmage
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Who: Kellen Moore, Austin Pettis, Ryan Winterswyk, and hundreds of other people you wish were your best friends
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What: Boise State's only public fall scrimmage of the season and your only chance to see the team in Boise until late September.
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When: Saturday, August 21, 7:30 p.m. (Gates at 6:30 p.m.)
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Where: Bronco Stadium
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Why: Why not?
- How much does it cost: Nothing.
Parking information and other specifics have yet to be announced, but when they are, I will update the post. In the meantime, just plan on parking anywhere you see space, excluding the Broadway Avenue median.
Players to watch
As the first and only public reveal of the Broncos' full roster before the season, there will be plenty to see at Saturday's scrimmage, so I suggest keeping conversation about Boise's new Whole Foods to a minimum. With so many new faces and so many faces you may have forgot, make sure you pick up a roster on your way in. Or better yet, print off this one that I made for you just in case some guy makes off with an armload of the other ones.
Download Boise State's numerical roster (pdf)
Now, about those players to watch, here are the five whom I'm most excited to see.
Jeremy Ioane, true freshman safety
Ioane is the incoming recruit with the most buzz, so yes, this is a total cop out choice. But hey, have you seen his highlight tape? I rest my case.
Byron Hout, junior middle linebacker
There was a moment during the spring scrimmage where I was pretty sure it was no longer safe to have Byron Hout on the field. He was playing with an intensity that made me fear for Michael Coughlin's health. Word is that nothing has changed since then as Hout has continued his hot play through Fall Camp. Might he knock Jarvis Hodge into last week? And how cool would that be since my birthday was last week and Jarvis Hodge did not buy me a present?
Grant Hedrick, true freshman quarterback
Hedrick is the future, once Joe Southwick is done being the future and provided that Jimmy Laughrea isn't more of the future. At any rate, I have yet to see Boise State's newest QB phenom, who apparently has been tearing it up in fall practice, so I am understandably antsy. Hedrick is a passer and a runner, but hopefully not in the Jared Zabransky way that makes me nervous. We'll see, I guess.
Jamar Taylor, sophomore cornerback
When coaches aren't singing the praises of Drew Wright, they are singing the praises of Jamar Taylor, the Brandyn Thompson to Brandyn Thompson's Kyle Wilson. Or so it seems. The battle to fill the vacant CB spot is presumably between Taylor and Jerrell Gavins, but that race could be over by Saturday night.
Tyrone Crawford, junior defensive end
By all accounts, Crawford is a beast. I'll be the judge of that.
What players will you have your eye one? Any that you've been waiting all summer to see? Let me know in the comments.
Five questions for Boise State's Saturday scrimmage
Question No. 1: Who gets to snap the ball to Kellen Moore?
Moore will be on the first team, and his center is likely the leader at Fall Camp's new hottest position battle (cornerback was so mid-to-late-June). Will it be Joe Kellogg or Thomas Byrd?
Follow-up questions: Who will be starting at left tackle? Who will be starting at cornerback? Who will be starting at linebacker? Who will be starting at punt returner? Who will be starting the wave? (Note: Please do not start the wave.)
Question No. 2: What's become of Derrell Acrey?
Acrey had the best spring of his Boise State football career. Not so much in the fall. At least, that is how I choose to read things since Acrey's name has been completely absent from any and all camp reports. Where he plays and how he plays on Saturday may give us the best indication of where Acrey stands in the Bronco LB mix.
Follow-up questions: Anyone heard from Kirby Moore? Is J.C. Percy still alive? Will Malcolm Johnson be back?
Question No. 3: Will the offense rush for positive yards?
The Broncos totaled zero rushing yards in last week's scrimmage, thanks in part to sack yardage but mostly thanks to the Bronco defense being awesome. Certainly, the Bronco defense will remain awesome, but will the Bronco offense be any better? Since the running game was a focus of practice all week, I should hope so. You do not want to get Bryan Harsin angry. Things will get said and feelings will get hurt.
Question No. 4: Can Kyle Brotzman make a field goal from the left hash?
No one has seen Brotzman kick since the Fiesta Bowl, so Saturday will be Bronco Nation's first opportunity to sit and judge whether or not Brotzman can be trusted this fall. No pressure. It's only the fate of my world on his shoulders.
Follow-up questions: Can Boise State go an entire scrimmage without a fumbled center-QB exchange?
Question No. 5: Will Aaron Burks and Geraldo Hiwat be rotating with the first team?
I want them to, you want them to, but do Boise State coaches want them to? I imagine that the BurrPott combination will continue to see a lot of reps with the first team, but there could also be some room to slip GeraldBurks into some plays with the ones. Imagine the exaggerated roster predictions I would write about that.
OBNUG's scrimmage plan
I will be at the scrimmage on Saturday, taking furious notes and trying very hard not to correct the person behind me who thinks Jeron Johnson is Jason Robinson. Come find me and say hello if you want. But don't expect me to have an opinion on Boise's Whole Foods.
After the scrimmage, I'll hustle home to get a recap and reaction post up, probably long after most of you have gone to sleep. But for those in Hawaii, you are in for a treat. If you cannot attend the scrimmage, let me know if there is anything or anyone you want me to check out, and I'll get it done for you.
Your turn
Will you be attending Saturday's scrimmage? What players and positions will you be watching most closely? Anything you want OBNUG to cover for you? Share your thoughts in the comments.