Today we'll enjoy a brief respite from the Bronco D-line and hit up one of the more interesting spots on the defense of late—linebacker. To recap: each day we're highlighting the Bronco player with the jersey number that corresponds with the number of days left till kickoff. Got it? Good.
We've got 94 days until kickoff...so today we'll be taking a look at number 94 on the Bronco roster—Byron Hout
#94, Byron Hout, Senior, LB
Stats
Height: 6'0"
Weight: 240 lbs.
High School: Lake City High School, Coeur d'Alene, ID
How'd he get to The Blue™?
As one of the most highly coveted Gem State recruits that have come along in a while, the Broncos were lucky to land Hout in their 2008 class. Byron was a three-year letterman at Lake City High School where he was named first-team all-state and 2006 5A Idaho Player of Year by Idaho Statesman. He was also named Idaho Gatorade Player of Year as a senior after notching 80 tackles (20 for loss), three interceptions, seven forced fumbles, five fumble recoveries, 10 hurries, a touchdown and a partridge in a pear tree. Besides the Broncos, Hout had offers from Washington, Idaho, Idaho State, and Eastern Washington.
Nickname
The Hout [
thuh Howt]
Other proposals have been made after the...unpleasantness, but The Hout seems to be the one they always lead back to. It's origins are shrouded in mystery, but I think it might have come about by adding "the" in front of his last name.
Look-alike
A bear
Career Highlights
As a true freshman in 2008, registered 6 tackles for loss and 4 sacks. Interception and 62-yard return (complete with spin moves!) in 2008 Poinsettia Bowl. Named to All-WAC academic team as frosh. Registered 6.5 tackles for loss and 2 sacks in 2009. 34 tackles and a sack in 2010 in 8 full games of action.
Career Lowlight
Hmmm. Can't think of one off the top of my head. Weird.
2011 Prospectus
Byron Hout has been contributing since the moment he first stepped on campus. The coaches burned his redshirt a few games into 2008 and Hout still came away with 27 tackles (6 for loss), four sacks, a forced fumble, a fumble recovery, a quarterback hurry, an interception, a PBU and was named WAC Defensive Player of the Week for his play in the Idaho game. Following a true freshman year like that is a tall order...and yeah, Hout's '09 didn't get off to the best start, but he was able to tack on another 27 tackles (6.5 for loss), 2 sacks, and another PBU. Last season, Hout was moved to middle linebacker—a position which some insisted was a more natural fit. Hout may have proved them right, registering 34 tackles and a sack before suffering a season ending injury against Idaho. Hout's run at MLB looked rather pedestrian for someone possessing his football IQ, but after his departure, opponent rushing numbers went through the roof, showing that his move to middle linebacker wasn't just a token gesture. The Broncos need Hout on the field any way they can.
In 2011, Byron Hout might just be one of the most important players on the field for the Broncos. The departure of Allen Mooney and the graduation of Derrell Acrey will leave the Broncos extremely thin at MLB...so much so, that true freshman Blake Renaud could easily land on the 2-deep. Renaud's supposed to be one heck of a player, but the Broncos don't want to head into SEC country with the slightest chink in their armor, and a true freshman starting at middle linebacker could be just that. No, the Broncos need Hout healthy when they hit Georgia on September 3rd, and it could be one of the keys to the game. I don't think I'm the only one that's expecting big things from Hout in 2011. The Broncos haven't really had a force in the middle since the Korey Hall era and I think that Hout is dying to leave his mark on one more defensive position. I predict Hout will finish in the top two in tackles this season and end his Bronco run with an all-conference year.
Completely made up fact
When Hout was home on Summer vacation, he did a cannonball into Lake Coeur d'Alene. The water displaced formed Lake Pend Oreille.