Boise State numerical roster countdown 2015: Day 16, Taylor Pope

We're just over two weeks from kickoff and just over two days from the Fall Scrimmage. Dust off your tailgating britches! Since we have 16 days left until the opener, today we'll look at #16 on the Bronco roster—Taylor Pope

#16, Taylor Pope, Junior, WR

Stats

Height: 6'0"

Weight: 183 lbs

High School: La Quinta High School, La Quinta, CA

How'd he get to the Blue™?

A multi-sport standout, Pope accumulated high school letters like most of us accumulate inches on our waistlines, racking up ten throughout his high school career. While on the football field, Pope moonlighted as quarterback, throwing for 1,414 yds and 12 touchdowns and rushing for 963 yds and 10 touchdowns as a two-year starter on offense. On the defensive side of the ball, he totaled 58 total tackles and four interceptions during his junior and senior campaigns. After his prep career, Boise State offered him a spot as a preferred walk-on which he gleefully accepted.

Nickname

"Straight Dope"

Cuz he's the TRUTH.

Look-a-like

Vinny Perretta (shown below in the highlight I'm sure most fans remember best)

Career Highlights

Appeared in 10 games for the Broncos in 2014, primarily on special teams. Played in one game for the Broncos in 2013, catching one pass for seven yards. In high school, Pope's letterman's jacket must have been quite heavy after earning ten letters total: three in football, three in basketball, and four in track and field. On the gridiron, Pope was a two-time first-team All-Desert Valley League and All-Desert Sun honoree.

2015 Prospectus

1 reception. 7 yards. Thus far that's been Pope's contribution to the Bronco offense (and that was two years ago). One might be tempted to surmise that future receptions just aren't in the cards for the junior walk-on. Heck, I'd be extremely tempted to do just that—especially given that all of Pope's 2014 stats were of the special teams tackle variety. However, I just can't shake this feeling that Pope still has a role to play in this Bronco offense. Sure, he was left off the initial wide receiver two-deep, and is probably not a huge threat to the job security of the dynamic trio of Williams-Rhodes, Sperbeck, and Anderson, but Pope has flashed some real skills at wideout of late...both at the Spring game and in Fall Camp. I think Pope will definitely be called upon to put some extra special in the Bronco special teams, but I think he'll also get off the two year schneid in the passing game and see some valuable minutes. I look at Pope and think he could well be a receiver in the vein of Troy Ware—whose career was cut short due to injury. Pope isn't the biggest or fastest wideout on the team, but he is a good route runner, shows some good hands and I think is good enough to warrant a few offensive packages or at the very least some late game targets. It's somewhat rare to last as long as a walk-on as Pope has, but that only makes me more confident in his commitment and desire to contribute to this team. Walk-ons are historically hungry players and that can often lead to some inspired play. I hope this is the year where all that toil and effort pay off for Taylor.

Is he on Twitter?

Movie night on the blue with the team #yeetyeet

— Taylor Pope (@_Tpope16) August 19, 2015

Take it from here, Urban Dictionary...

Completely Made Up Fact

Taylor Pope is sometimes confused with the Pope tailor...one of only two people in the world to know the pontiff's inseam.