Football is back, Bronco fans. Well, at least for those with media passes it is. Boise State spring football kicks off today with practices for the next six weeks, culminating in the annual Spring Game on April 16.
After the jump, find out the 12 players I'm most interested in seeing, and feel free to share your favorites I may have missed in the comments.
The Idaho Statesman had the same story idea in its issue today with a list of 10 players of interest this spring.
12 players to watch at Boise State's spring practice
Kellen Moore. What will Moore work on this spring? Last year, he mastered the deep throw to go with his mastery of most everything else. This year: the option, maybe ... and Minesweeper.
Doug Martin. Man sigh.
Raphiel Lambert. With D.J. Harper out injured and Matt Kaiserman out to stud, Lambert will see plenty of carries this spring. I want to know if he's capable of being a Jarvis Hodge-type closer for the Broncos because, let's be honest, there's going to be that void in all our lives.
Allen Mooney. He of the Vegas Bowl trash talk, Mooney was also a really good linebacker, once upon a time. He should have plenty of opportunity to shine this spring with Byron Hout and Aaron Tevis out.
Geraldo Hiwat. A future Titus Young or a future Julian Hawkins?
Kirby Moore. This spring will be the first time Bronco fans have seen Moore play football since I don't know when. His last game was the 2010 Fiesta Bowl, and he was either injured or redshirting (or both) for almost all of 2010.
Michael Atkinson. Bacon was reinstated to the team a couple months back, and just in time to make Grant Hedrick his personal beanbag chair.
Jeremy Ioane. I vaguely remember him from 2010 fall camp, which just doesn't seem possible. I must be confusing him with Brad Elkin (which also doesn't seem possible).
Troy Ware. Some thought Ware would be the best player to come from Boise State's 2010 recruiting class (that person, if I remember correctly: Graham Watson). Well, Ware is coming off a grayshirt, so this spring will be Bronco fans' first chance to see him. Does Graham Watson know what she's talking about? Don't answer that.
Ebo Makinde. He was the surprise star of last spring, nearly taking a spot atop the CB depth chart headed into fall. With a CB spot open again, will this be Makinde's year? The "Year of Makinde" has a nice ring to it. Like an Ayn Rand novel.
Dextrell Simmons. The Winston Venable of 2011, Simmons will be the only member of Boise State's 2011 recruiting class to appear in spring camp.
Kyle Efaw. Can he block half as well as Tommy Gallarda could (or Chandler Koch can)?
Eight players not to watch
Nuts to you if the following players were on your spring watch list. They're out injured:
- D.J. Harper, Byron Hout, Aaron Tevis, Kharyee Marshall, Mitch Burroughs, Cedric Febis, Jonathan Brown, and Chandler Koch
In addition, Mikey Tamburo has transferred and Matt Kaiserman has retired due to concussions.
Your turn
Who is on your list of players to watch? Anyone I left off? Share your thoughts in the comments.