13 is an unlucky number for some, which is why I wrote today's countdown while rubbing a rabbit's foot and tossing salt over my shoulder.
We've got 13 days until kickoff...so today we'll be highlighting #13 on the Boise State roster—Blake Renaud
#13, Blake Renaud, True Freshman, LB
Stats
Height: 6'2"
Weight: 235 lbs.
High School: De La Salle High School, Concord, CA
How'd he get to The Blue™?
Landing Renaud in the 2011 recruiting class was a huge coup for the Bronco defense. Playing out of California powerhouse De La Salle, Renaud was ranked as the 20th best MLB recruit in the country. As a senior, Blake was named first-team All-East Bay Athletic League—an honor he garnered as a junior as well. As a sophomore, Renaud was named second team all-conference. All told, Renaud was named to 12 different all-star teams or lists during his career, including the All-Metro team, the ESPNU 150 Class of 2011 Watch List, the CalHi Sports All-State First Team, and the Junior Class All-America Second Team. Renaud chose the Broncos over offers from Oregon State, Minnesota, and Ohio.
Nickname
"The Guillotine"
His last name is French, so what better way to honor him than by giving him the nickname of that country's most famous killing device.
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Career highlights
CalHi Sports All-State Seniors First Team in 2011. ESPN CalHi Sports All-State First Team in 2010. East Bay Defensive Player of the Year by the Contra Costa Times in 2009.
Career lowlight
Ankle injury hampered part of senior year.
2011 prospectus
Renaud is one of the most highly-touted linebacker recruits we've had since Allen Mooney and John Michael Davis. Considering, neither player is still with the program, however, he's the one that gets to set the bar. Cross your fingers.
Renaud is as pure a middle linebacker as you're gong to find. He comes in as nearly the biggest LB on the entire roster, giving up just 5 lbs. to senior Byron Hout, and probably the most ready to play of any of the defensive freshman. De La Salle, Renaud's high school in Concord, CA is widely considered one of the best prep programs in the country, so Renaud is used to playing in a Division 1 type of atmosphere. After seeing him line up in yesterday's scrimmage, I think he has what it takes to play in 2011 as a true frosh. I'll put it to you this way, I think he's probably better than Byron Hout was in 2008, when the coaches burned his redshirt to play backup DE. The main difference is that Renaud will stay at LB, and could end up on the 2nd team before too long. What stood out to me about Renaud at the scrimmage was 1) his size...he's not your prototypical Boise State linebacker, and 2) his instincts—in on lots of plays, and very disruptive. If he absorbs the playbook quickly and took full advantage of summer workouts, he should be ready to go, and I daresay we'll see him as early as week one for the Broncos. He'll be a reliever, to start with, but I expect big things from this kid. If you can't wait too long, his high school highlights should give you a good idea of what he's bringing to the table.
Completely made up fact
At the behest of Howie Long, Renaud has been eating at least 3 bowls of Quarterback Crunch a day.
