If you were expecting to see Jamar Taylor here, don't panic...he's still on the roster, but has changed to #5. We'll see you in a few weeks, Jamar.
We've got 21 days until kickoff, but that number is currently vacant, so today I'll be highlighting a random, as-yet-unhighlighted player—Joe Southwick
#21, Joe Southwick, Sophomore, QB
Stats
Height: 6'1"
Weight: 197 lbs.
High School: San Ramon Valley High School, Danville, CA
How'd he get to The Blue™?
Southwick was named first-team all-state and first-team all-conference as a senior at SRVHS after he passed for 3,781 yards and 36 TDs. As a junior, Southwick was a second-team all-conference pick after throwing 35 TDs and passing for 3,185 yards.Southwick was rated a 3-star recruit by Scout.com and fielded scholarship offers from Nevada and San José State.
Nickname
"Southie"
Mark Wahlberg approves.
nl
Look-a-like
Sorry, bro.
Career highlights
Named Boise State's Offensive Scout Team Player of the Year in 2009. Played in 8 games as a redshirt freshman in 2010 and completed 17 of 24 passes with a TD. This TD:
Career lowlight
Watch the entire clip above. Southwick almost needed an oxygen tent after catching up with Potter in the endzone to celebrate.
2011 prospectus
Kellen Moore's position is in less jeopardy than Chris Petersen's, so I'm not here to pontificate about who will be the starter in 2011. Of some small intrigue, however, is who Kellsy's primary backup will be this season, as that player will have the inside track on the starter spot in 2012, or as we'll now refer to it, Year 1 A.K. So far, this Fall, Southwick seems to have taken that next step and locked onto the 2 spot early in Camp. Daily reports seem to indicate that Southwick has shaken off a somewhat rocky Spring and really improved both his knowledge of the Bronco offense and his decision making skills. Also, they haven't let Shea McClellin near him, which has calmed his nerves quite a bit.
Southwick has a live arm, and seems to have a lot of poise and a high football IQ.—and whatever he lacks in the latter department, I'm sure he'll absorb from Kellen through a complicated osmosis process. He should be the primary back-up this season, but I wouldn't be surprised to see some special packages drawn up for the speedy Grant Hedrick. Southwick should get the majority of the garbage time snaps, and unlike last season, I think the coaches will be more comfortable letting him air the ball out and get some experience hitting his receivers. He'll likely be #1 next Spring, but Elite 11 QB Nick Patti looks like he'll be graduating early, and his arrival, along with Jimmy Laughrea's ascension will create quite the quarterback race. The next starter will need to be the most Kellen-like quarterback from a group of QBs that are unlike him in most every way. Thankfully, this year we only need to worry about the backups holding the clipboard securely.
Completely made up fact
Before moving to Boise, Southwick had never eaten an Idaho Spud. Unfortunately, this was the one he attempted to eat his first go 'round:
"From my cold, dead paws..."