It's summer. It's the weekend. Why do I want to stay indoors? Oh yeah.
We've got jut 63 days until kickoff, but that number has yet to be officially assigned, so today I'll arbitrarily assign it to a incoming freshman. Today, we'll highlight—Thomas Sperbeck
#63, Thomas Sperbeck, True Freshman, Safety
Stats
Height: 6'
Weight: 185 lbs.
High School: Jesuit High School, Carmichael, CA
How'd he get to The Blue™?
Sperbeck's verbal was a bit of a surprise for many because of it's timing (mid-December) and the fact that he was listed as a QB through most recruiting services and the Broncos were supposed to be stocked in that department for the year (Ryan Finley). It was then that we learned that Sperbeck was also a better-than-average safety at Jesuit and would be bringing his athleticism to the defensive side of the ball. Furthermore, Sperbeck was named MaxPreps' All-Sac-Joaquin Section First Team as an athlete, and led his squad in rushing, tackling, passing, and scoring as a senior. Not bad. Sperbeck was rated a 3-star prospect by Scout.com and held offers from Colorado State, San José State, and Army.
Nickname
"Spurs"
And if his name is actually pronounced like I'm assuming...all the better.
Look-a-like
Actor Michael Fassbender
Career highlights
Named MaxPreps All-Sac-Joaquin Section First Team in 2012. Named Sacramento Bee All-Metro First Team on offense in 2012. Sac-Joaquin Section Delta River All-Purpose Player of the Year in 2012.
2013 prospectus
I'm inclined to think that Sperbeck would be a prime redshirt candidate, unless he can impress coaches enough to warrant some small bouts of playing time...and even then, I think it would be more special teams-oriented like Corey Bell's true frosh baptism. I like what I've seen from Sperbeck's defensive highlights—he reacts very well, chooses good pursuit angles, and doesn't hesitate to come up and lay a hit on the ball-carrier. I think in a year he'll provide great depth at the safety position—strong safety, most likely—and should be a key contributor on special teams as well. Of late, Boise State has placed a much greater emphasis on recruiting "athletes" than in years past—guys that can line up in multiple spots, so don't be surprised if Sperbeck is tried out in different areas as well. There's plenty of evidence to suggest that the fastest, most football-savvy players will end up playing one way or another, and I think Sperbeck definitely fits that bill.
Completely made up fact
Pretty big changes have been made at Sperbeck's Jesuit alma mater lately. Up until last year, their football uniforms looked like this:
