The Boise State football team welcomed 11 walk-ons into fall camp, and if you are at all versed in the history of Boise State walk-ons, you may know that any one of these guys (or more) could turn into Bronco football legends. Get to know them now so you can brag to your friends that you knew NFL Hall of Famer Brennyn Dunn when he was a non-scholarship Boise State freshman.
Here are some bios from each of Boise State's newest non-schollies.
RB Jamel Hart - South Hills HS, California
The Los Angeles product was a 1,000-yard rusher at South Hills HS, and were he faster, he might have had a ton more interest than what he got. Boise State knows what to do with under-recruited players, especially the kind like Hart with football skills and a determined playing style. At 5-foot-10, 173 pounds, he could develop into a Jarvis Hodge-like thumper before his career is said and done.
Hart's older brother Justin played at USC with Pete Carroll.
CB Trey Corta - Homedale HS, Idaho
Corta was a do-everything player for Homedale, starting at quarterback and defensive back and returning kickoffs and punts. He was named 3A second-team as a DB his senior season and was given preferred walk-on status by the Broncos (essentially a dibs on a roster spot, but no scholarship).
Corta's Homedale team faced 2013 Boise State recruits and Fruitland teammates Joey Martarano and Alec Dhaenens twice last year, losing big time in both games.
WR Jackson Reed - Timberline HS, Idaho
Reed earned MVP honors at Boise State's summer camp in 2011, and he turned down an offer from Carroll College in Montana (six-time NAIA national champions) and interest from Idaho State to join the Broncos. Idaho State envisioned Reed as a tight end, so the possibility exists that the 6-foot-4, 215-pounder might grow into a different position with the Broncos.
WR Taylor Pope - La Quinta HS, California
Pope was an all-league quarterback at La Quinta High in Southern California, a defensive stalwart, and a really good basketball player. He will be catching passes for the Broncos, which is okay by him. The 6-foot-1, 180 pound Pope is a huge Denver Broncos fan, and so is half of the state of Idaho, so he's got that going for him.
RB Charles Bertoli - St. Helena HS, California
The Napa County football player of the year, Bertoli rushed for 1,200 yards and 29 touchdowns his senior season. He'll provide some camp depth at the running back spot and, at 5-foot-11, 180 pounds, may figure into the special teams mix when his Bronco career begins. Just look at him light this poor guy up and then bench press 355 pounds.
LS Jake Holsteen - Mediapolis HS, Iowa, via Ellsworth CC
I can't tell you much about Holsteen except that he played tight end and longsnapper at Ellsworth. Hope that's enough. There are videos, if you're interested.
LS Kevin Keane - Moorpark HS, California, via Ohio Wesleyan
Same goes for Keane as it did for Holsteen, except replace "tight end" with "center" and there are no videos.
OL Shane Wickes - McQueen HS, Nevada
The 6-foot-3, 250 pound lineman definitely has the body type to play his way onto the Bronco O-line. His highlight tape is available on Hudl.
OL Kellen Buhr - Capital HS, Idaho
Buhr was an all-Idaho center at the highest level of Idaho high school football. He blocked for a 1,000-yard running back and 1,000-yard quarterback and was part of some great Capital teams. Capital grads tend to do pretty well for the Broncos (Jarrell Root, Kyle Efaw, et al).
TE Avery Westendorf - Cole Valley Christian HS, Idaho
You may recognize Westendorf's name from a celebratory FanShot earlier this year when the news broke that he turned down a full ride at the University of Idaho to walk on at Boise State. This, people, is what a role model looks like.
Westendorf was so set on this opportunity that he passed up a full-ride from the University of Idaho. In fact, he even politely declined a free trip up to Moscow to tour the campus.
Westendorf is 6-foot-5, 265 pounds - before BSU strength coach Tim Socha has even touched him. He is a beast and will hopefully continue to be so long into his Bronco career.
He is also now an O-lineman, as Cripe reported yesterday. Yeah, that's about right.
TE Brennyn Dunn - Preston HS, Idaho
According to our intrepid Eastern Idaho newspaper reporter and OBNUG reader zelf, Dunn turned down scholarship offers from Utah, Utah State, Weber State, and Idaho State to take a preferred walk-on spot with the Broncos. I'll let zelf take it from here:
He is a complete beast and a freak athletically (does high jump, sprints, hurdles and relays in track as well as plays on the basketball team at Preston) ... I bet he will sit out this year as either a redshirt or grayshirt, but then find a place on special teams. Eventually, I think he will contribute nicely as a tight end and be another one of the unsung, great local players that Boise State seems to always get.
Your turn
What walk-on are you most excited to see at the Boise State fall scrimmage? Which one do you think will have the biggest impact on the program? Share your thoughts in the comments.