Believe it or not, today we'll be taking a look at the first O-lineman of the countdown. 9 of the next 10 will also be representing the Bronco O-line, so the next week or so will be a veritable big, slow guy marathon.
We've got 79 days until kickoff ... so today we'll be taking a look at number 79 on the Bronco roster—Bronson Durrant
#79, Bronson Durrant, Junior, OG
Stats
Height: 6'3"
Weight: 260 lbs.
High School: Marist High School, Eugene, OR
How'd he get to The Blue?
Durrant played in the shadow of behemoth Charles Siddoway at Eugene's Marist High. Siddoway, who played alongside Durrant at tackle, brought lots of recruiters to Marist, among them, Bronco coaches, who also got a good look at Durrant. Both linemen were offered by the Broncos...Siddoway went to Cal, Durrant came to the Blue. While at Marist, Bronson was a three-year letterman and helped his team to two state championships. He was named second-team All-Sky-Em league as a senior despite suffering a season-ending injury in game 7 that year. In fact, Durrant never was able to fully tip his hand at how good he could have been in high school after injuries shortened both his junior and senior years of ball. Obviously, the coaches saw enough from healthy Durrant to offer him a scholly, to go along with his offer from Portland State. He accepted Boise State's—big surprise.
Nickname
"Bubba"
I have it on fairly good authority that this is actually Durrant's nickname. When a perfectly good nickname already exists, who am I to force a new one on the masses?
Look-a-like
USA Soccer goalkeeper Tim Howard
Career highlights
Won two Oregon state championships at Marist High School. Saw action in five games for the Broncos in 2009. Played in eight games in 2010.
Career lowlight
Being made of some highly breakable porcelain-like material whilst in high school.
2011 prospectus
Durrant's playing time has steadily increased since stepping onto campus with the class of 2008—that's good. I don't know if he'll crack the two-deep on the depth chart this year—that's bad. Durrant seems to have done all the coaches have asked of him during his time in Boise, beating a path between guard and center and back again. At one point in time, he was considered center Thomas Byrd's chief back-up, but seems to have been usurped by converted D-lineman Matt Paradis in the Spring. He's probably even less of a threat to start at guard this season, as Joe Kellogg and Jake Broyles seemed to be drawing the most fanfare in camp, and their backups/rivals at the positions are likely Chuck Hayes and Faraji Wright. Where this leaves Durrant is anyone's guess. Will he take a run at Thomas Byrd or one of the presumptive guards? I think he'll land back at center this season, if I had to bet money. He seems to have the most experience there and I'm not convinced that Matt Paradis will stay put. Byrd, a senior, has had a solid Bronco career, but has been bit by the injury bug making depth at center important, on top of which, if there's an inexplicable return to the wild snaps of 2009, a shake up at the position can't be too far away.
Completely made up fact
During the 2010 Nathan's Coney Island Hot Dog Eating Competition, Durrant polished off 52 frankfurters. Durrant was in Boise at the time, watching the event on ESPN.