Meet your 2012 Boise State football team

All things are new again for the Boise State football team this season, especially since the Broncos graduated a heaping helping of quality starters and depth. There are new faces in new places, and you will likely need a game or two until you figure out who everyone is. Here is a primer on who's who and who's new. Show your friends.

Quarterback

Joe Southwick, No. 16 - A redshirt junior, Southwick earned the right to follow in Kellen Moore's footsteps with solid spring and fall camps and the added benefit of being the most experienced QB on the roster. He is brash, smart, strong-armed, and mobile. He definitely won't replace Moore, but he can get the job done.

Grant Hedrick, No. 9 - Southwick's biggest competition this fall, Hedrick will be the team's primary backup and could see the field outside of garbage time thanks to his speedy legs and Pistol package prowess. The Independence, Oregon, native averaged nearly nine yards per carry last year in special situations.

Running back

D.J. Harper, No. 7 - The sixth year running back has starred at times for Bronco teams of the past, but knee injuries have kept him from keeping the limelight all to himself. He will be the workhorse in the Bronco backfield, so long as his knees let him. His mix of power and finesse complemented Doug Martin's power and more power nicely.

Drew Wright, No. 39 - The Vallivue High School alum was third on the depth chart last year and ran well with his garbage time carries. You may remember him from an unfortunate fumble against TCU, but he deserves to be better known as a tough, inside-the-tackles runner who is always good for three yards.

Fullback

Dan Paul, No. 47 - Paul missed all of last year with a groin injury, and the Bronco ground game will be blessed to have the senior back in the lineup this fall. He is large, in charge, and one of the best blocking fullbacks in recent Boise State history. Think Richie Brockel.

Wide receivers

Matt Miller, No. 2 - Miller should be up for the task of replacing the production of Tyler Shoemaker, given Miller's sensational freshman season of 62 catches, 679 yards, and nine scores. He worked on expanding his knowledge of the offense this offseason, so he can wreak havoc from any receiver spot.

Mitch Burroughs, No. 20 - The senior from Meridian High is a savvy, speedy Bronco wideout who knows where to find holes in the defense and how to get an extra yard. He is the Mountain West's preseason special teams player of the year for his punt return abilities.

Kirby Moore, No. 34 - Kellen Moore's younger brother, Kirby set national receiving records in high school. His breakout year with the Broncos will come, maybe this fall.

Chris Potter, No. 3 - Like Burroughs, Potter excels at finding open spaces and making defenders miss. He is equally adept at punt return, and he also provides a boost as the quarterback in some special, tricky Boise State plays.

Troy Ware, No. 83 - The redshirt freshman receiver has drawn rave reviews in a number of camps and may finally get his chance to shine on the field this season. Expect to see him along with Aaron Burks, Dallas Burroughs, and Geraldo Boldewijn when the Broncos go deep at the receiver spot.

Tight end

Gabe Linehan, No. 87 - Linehan figures to be the next in the long line of great receiving tight ends at Boise State. He had five touchdowns last year, playing behind Kyle Efaw.

Chandler Koch, No. 88 - A part-time fullback, part-time tight end, Koch fits the mold of the mauler. His blocking will keep him on the field a lot.

Offensive line

Charles Leno, No. 78 - The next in the great line of Bronco tackles, Leno is a preseason all-conference pick and a cornerstone for the Boise State line. He moved to left tackle in fall camp and will protect Joe Southwick's blind side a lot like the kid in the movie Blind Side, which is to say, "well."

Joe Kellogg, No. 61 - The most senior of Bronco linemen, Kellogg has 23 career starts to his name and is one of Boise State's most dependable blockers.

Matt Paradis, No. 65 - An 8-man football legend at Council High School, Paradis moved from defensive line to offensive line when he joined the Broncos and then moved into the starting lineup this fall when starter-to-be Cory Yriarte suffered a career-ending knee injury. For what it's worth, Paradis was Boise State's best offensive lineman in fall camp.

Jake Broyles, No. 76 - A starter at guard for the Broncos' first three games last season (a toe injury shelved him for the remainder), Broyles will be Boise State's starting right tackle versus Michigan State.

Michael Ames, No. 54 - All the way back in 2009, Ames started eight games for Boise State at tackle. Injuries and miscellany kept him off the field and out of the starting lineup for the past two falls, but this season the Centennial grad will get the start at guard against the Spartans.

Faraji Wright, No. 75 - One of Boise State's most enjoyable personalities, Wright competed for a starting spot in spring and fall and will provide great depth at tackle for the opener and beyond. Don't be surprised to see him in the starting lineup before the season is over.

Defensive line

Michael Atkinson, No. 99 - The lone senior starter on the defensive line, Atkinson has placed himself well - through offseason workouts and steady improvement - for a big senior year. He has already been drafted in the CFL draft, and he may hear his name called in the NFL Draft next April.

Ricky Tjong-A-Tjoe, No. 43 - One of Boise State's Netherlands players, Tjong-A-Tjoe was solid in relief of Billy Winn and Chase Baker last season, registering a pair of sacks.

Demarcus Lawrence, No. 8 - A junior college transfer, Lawrence looks like he could have the instant impact of JC transfers of the past like Winston Venable. In his first offseason with the Broncos, he showed enough spark to be named a co-starter alongside Mountain View High DE Tyler Horn.

Beau Martin, No. 53 - Another transfer defensive end, Martin came over from Colorado State - Pueblo where he was his conference's freshman of the year. He followed that up by being named Boise State's Defensive Scout Player of the Year last season as he redshirted. He will share job duties with Sam Ukwuachu, a whirling dervish of a defensive end.

Linebackers

J.C. Percy, No. 48 - A former walk-on from Blackfoot, Idaho, Percy has been a staple of the Bronco linebacking corps since his redshirt freshman season. Even with splitting duties year after year, Percy has 177 career tackles, including two finishes as the team's No. 2 tackler. A smart, driven player, Percy is a pillar in the middle of the Bronco D.

Tommy Smith, No. 33 - An Atlanta native, Smith played behind Byron Hout last year and has provided excellent special teams and linebacker depth for the past three seasons. He gets the start at middle linebacker and will give way to true sophomore Blake Renaud as needed.

Nickel

Dextrell Simmons, No. 6 - Simmons was part of a national championship winner at Blinn Junior College before joining the Broncos last season. He played in fits and starts at the nickel spot, but earned the starting role this fall.

Cornerbacks

Jamar Taylor, No. 5 - One of Boise State's best NFL prospects, Taylor has been a cog in the Bronco secondary since playing as a true freshman in 2008. His career highlight came last year in the Vegas Bowl when he took a pick 100 yards for a score. His athleticism and speed are two of his best qualities.

Jerrell Gavins, No. 4 - A transfer from the Miami, Florida, area, Gavins was on pace for a season of destiny last fall before destiny got the better of Gavins' knee in practice. Despite playing in only three games, he led the team in interceptions. Teams may go after him based on his small size (Gavins is 5-foot-9), but as he showed last year, that would be a mistake.

Bryan Douglas, No. 1 - The redshirt sophomore started one game last year at corner (vs. San Diego State) when the Broncos were very corner-needy. His offseason has been stellar. He was seen running with the ones at the fall scrimmage, wearing jersey No. 1, which Boise State reserves for special players or special-to-be players.

Safeties

Lee Hightower, No. 29 - As a true freshman last season, Hightower came on late in the year to save the Broncos at the corner spot. His skills are a more natural fit at safety, where he excels in pass coverage and big hits. He is a future star for the Broncos if he isn't already one.

Jeremy Ioane, No. 10 - One of Boise State's most highly touted recruits (Ioane famously turned down an offer from Notre Dame), Ioane gets his shot with the starting defense this fall. The sophomore Hawaii native is a big hitter who plays big in games. He started against Georgia last year before getting subbed out. Don't expect the same to happen this fall.

Punter

Trevor Harman, No. 14 - Harman has one of the strongest legs on the team (he doubles as the team's kickoff specialist).

Kicker

Michael Frisina, No. 84 - Frisina was 3-for-4 on field goals last year and beat out former starter Dan Goodale in camp.