Boise State numerical roster countdown 2015: Day 82 Thomas Sperbeck

We've got 82 days until Boise State opens with Washington. Lets talk about breakout star -- Thomas Sperbeck

#82, Thomas Sperbeck, Junior, WR

Stats

Height: 6'

Weight: 176 lbs

High School: Jesuit HS, 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 (or so we thought at the time). 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

"Superb"

Look-a-like

Nicholas Brendon of Buffy the Vampire fame.

Career Highlights

Made an appearance in all 14 games in 2014. Started eight. Valiantly stepped into Matt Miller's spot when Miller went down in the Air Force game. Was second on the team with 51 receptions, first in yards at 877. Threw for a touchdown to Grant Hedrick against Fresno State. What is kind of interesting is that he *only* had three touchdowns amongst all those receptions. Was the offensive MVP for the Fiesta Bowl with twelve receptions and 199 yards.

2015 Prospectus

After the "big three" of Sperbeck, Williams-Rhodes, and Chaz Anderson, the race for other receivers opens up. With the medical retirement of Shipley and Ware tearing his ACL, that leaves 14 receivers on the active roster. Two are true freshman (Bryan Jefferson and Akilian Butler). Harsin has stated that Rick Smith will be with the team and available to go, with no reason to disbelieve that statement, we can only assume he'll be competing for playing time. There is a lot of potential with Cottrell signing, adding a little bit of experience (albeit juco) to the line up.

There is no reason to expect anything less than awesome numbers for Sperbeck. (Maybe except for opposing teams will ALSO be on the lookout for him.) Replacing one of the all-time greats in Miller isn't easy. And Sperbeck filled a role of "guy who just makes plays" last year, and was probably voted "Most Dependable" for his high school year book superlatives. Sperbeck got snubbed both in all-MWC honors and post-season awards despite 199 receiving yards in the Fiesta Bowl (I am guessing it was the lack of a touchdown) and my guess is he will right both wrongs. Phil Steele has projected Sperbeck as a 3rd team all-MWC selection. Whoever the starting quarterback will be, he will have an opportunity to get Sperbeck his numbers!

Is he on Twitter?

Does not appear so.

Completely made up fact

Ever the entrepreneur, Sperbeck is biding his time at Boise State until he can open his own chain of retail shops that only cater to the most elite of elites: other Sperbecks. It's a SPERBECK thing, so, you wouldn't understand.