4 weeks. That's it. Push through the pain, Bronco faithful...we can make it.
We've got 28 days until kickoff...so today we'll be highlighting #28 on the Boise State roster—Dillon Lukehart
#28, Dillon Lukehart, True Freshman, LB
Stats
Height: 6'0"
Weight: 200 lbs.
High School: Eagle High School, Eagle, ID
How'd he get to The Blue™?
Lukehart was a nowadays ultra-rare "Idaho de-commit" as he first jumped on a Vandal offer not knowing if the more coveted Bronco scholly would materialize—it did, and he dropped the Vandals like hot rocks, in the process, scarring Dave Tester for life. Lukehart was first-team all-state as a running back and defensive back as a senior and voted SIC Offensive Player of the Year after rushing for 1,824 yards and 26 touchdowns. On the defensive side of things, he racked up an impressive 106 tackles his senior year as well. As a junior, Dillon ran for 1,049 yards and 20 TDs.
Nickname
"Bravehart"
They'll never take his FREEDOM!
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Look-a-like
Bo Duke (formerly of Hazzard County)
Career highlights
SIC Offensive Player of the Year in 2010. First team All-SIC on defense in 2010. Offensive and Defensive All-State (first team). Voted Eagle High School Athlete of the Year.
Career lowlight
2011 prospectus
Well, we do know one thing so far about Lukehart...he won't be grayshirting. The Broncos have made grayshirting local boys a bit of a custom as of late, but upon Fall Camp opening on Thursday, the team announced that only one 2011 signee will be donning the grayshirt, and TE Hayden Plinke is that player. I guess we know one more thing about Lukehart, actually, and that is he's been asked to play linebacker for the Broncos instead of running back, which, by my estimation is a good thing since we currently have 47 (give or take) running backs on the roster. Linebackers, especially in the middle of the field have all of the sudden become scarce, so it will be nice to have Lukehart there for depth alone.
So, when and where will we get a glimpse of what the local boy can do? Probably not this year, if I'm reading the tea leaves correctly. At present, we'll have a healthy Byron Hout back at MLB for one more season, and the pre-season depth chart has him being backed by the very capable Tommy Smith. Of the 2011 signees at LB, I'm sure one will get some PT due to necessity, and I think that LB will be Blake Renaud. He's got a bit of a size edge on Lukehart and played in a program that plays on a high level—De La Salle. Lukehart honestly might be a better athlete than Renaud, and he might even be asked to play OLB...but I don't think that call comes until 2012 when the world comes to an end Byron Hout and Aaron Tevis have both graduated. Lukehart is a scrappy kid with Bronco roots and I know he'll succeed once he gets his shot. I'd just be surprised if "his shot" didn't come at the tail end of a nice, relaxing redshirt season.
Completely made up fact
The key to Lukehart's on-field success is simple: offseason training with Schute from Vision Quest.