It's rainy today, but the countdown is warm and dry. Come on in.
We've got just 96 days until a Bronco storm hits East Lansing, but #96 has yet to be officially assigned on the Bronco roster, so here's my best guess—Demarcus Lawrence
#96, Demarcus Lawrence, Sophomore, DE
Stats
Height: 6'4"
Weight: 248 lbs.
High School/CC: Butler Community College via Silver Bluff HS, Aiken, SC
How'd he get to The Blue™?
Lawrence took a roundabout path to The Blue™, but man, are we glad to have him. In Lawrence's senior season at Silver Bluff High School (in former Bronco Antwaun Carter's hometown of Aiken, SC), he recorded 97 tackles and 3 sacks from the defensive tackle position. Then, Lawrence headed to NJCAA power Butler Community College in Kansas where he helped the Grizzlies to a #2 ranking in the final football polls a year ago. Lawrence was also named an NJCAA All-American and All-Jayhawk conference as he racked up 66 tackles (27 for loss) and 10 sacks. Lawrence chose the Broncos over offers from Clemson, Kansas State, Middle Tennessee State, Ole Miss, South Carolina, South Florida and Tennessee.
Nickname
"Tank"
I have it on pretty good authority that this is Lawrence's actual nickname. How 'bout that?!
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Look-a-like
Dwight Howard
Career highlights
Earning first-team JC Gridwire, second-team NCJAA All-America, and All-Jayhawk Conference honors at Butller CC. Helping lead Butler to the Region IV Championships.
Imaginary highlight
In the 2011 NJCAA Regional Championships, Demarcus recorded 12 sacks...from the sidelines with his FlipCam.
2012 prospectus
Lawrence's arrival in Boise couldn't have come at a better time. With the departures of the Broncos' starting two DEs and top backup to the NFL, Boise State has suddenly found itself going from an riches to rags at the position. Not that our current crop of DEs are "rags' mind you...but none of the returners have any significant playing time under their belts. Tyler Horn, Kharyee Marshall and part-time DT Darren Koontz virtually represent all the playing experience at the position (Nick Alexander is rumored to be transferring to Portland State). Lawrence's impact should be immediate. If you were at the spring game, you probably saw a lot of Lawrence...he was all over the field—very disruptive—and made me take notice the way that former JC transfers Winston Venable or even Tyrone Crawford did. In short, Lawrence is a beast. I don't think it's a stretch at all to say that he could be an all-conference performer his first year with the Broncos, and maybe more importantly, will fill a gaping hole in the Bronco D. Pencil Lawrence in at a level 1 starter on the DE rotation and watch this Fall to see who lines up opposite him. Darren Koontz and Tyler Horn are probably even money bets at this point, but redshirt frosh Samuel Ukwuachu will play a lot and could work his way up the chart if his Fall is as productive as his Spring. Either way, Lawrence will get his and I'd expect 30+ tackles on the season and at least 5 sacks.
Completely made up fact
Lawrence's previous school, Butler Community College is actual a trade school for butlering.
A 1990 grad.