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Boise State numerical roster countdown 2015: Day 9, Mercy Maston

By Drew Roberts
Brian Losness-USA TODAY Sports

We're into single digits on the countdown and I am starting to smell barbecue (that, or I'm having a stroke). With 9 days left until UW comes to town, let's take a gander at #9 on the Bronco roster—Mercy Maston

#9, Mercy Maston, Senior, CB

Stats

Height: 5'11"

Weight: 208 lbs.

High School/College: Bakersfield HS/Bakersfield College

How'd he get to The Blue™?

You may not realize it, but Maston is actually one of the higher profile recruits the Broncos have landed of late. He was somewhat off the radar for two years at Bakersfield CC (Tyrone Crawford's old JC stomping grounds), but the Broncos would've loved to have landed him directly out of high school when we were competing with the likes of UCLA, ASU, WSU, Fresno State, and Colorado State for his services. Maston ended up choosing San Jose State following his prep career—a school where his uncle Louis Wright had once excelled before becoming an NFL all-pro. Alas, the Spartan story, never really began for Maston and he became a bit of a recruiting free agent after 2 seasons at Bakersfield. His last season at Bakersfield, he helped lead the squad to a CCCAA Championship and posted 68 tackles, 2 INTs and 2 fumble recoveries. The second go-round, the Broncos beat out Nevada, UW, and Arizona for his services.

Nickname

"The Mastodon"

Named after the extinct proboscidean or the heavy metal band. Your choice.

Look-a-like

I'm still seeing some SDJ in there (beneath the extra bulk)

Career highlight

Appeared in all 13 games for the Broncos in 2013, with four starts. CCCAA Championship in 2012. Led team with 10 tackles in championship game. Led Bakersfield HS to CIF Championship appearance in 2010.

2015 prospectus

2014 was probably a rough year for Maston, as he had to watch the Broncos regain their championship form from the sidelines, but receiving a medical redshirt and another chance play out his senior year has to be a good salve for the versatile DB. Maston has good size, instincts and experience to be able to play nearly anywhere in the secondary, but this season he appears to be closely tied to the nickel spot. I like this move for Maston, who has good cover skills, but also the requisite size to come up and fill assist against the run.

When the first depth chart of the year came out during MWC media days, it looked like Maston would be fending off Kam Miles for starting nickel reps, but now it looks like secondary journeyman and serial knee-injurer Chanceller James will be nipping at his heels. To be honest, I think the first scenario played more into Maston's favor because I think James is one healthy season away from being a big-time star on the Bronco D, but Maston is still going to get his looks and will have plenty of opportunities to make an impact for the Broncos. Now that the 4-2-5 defense is officially "back", I'm eager to see another Bronco defender rise to the level of play that Ellis Powers and Winston Venable set during their time playing nickel because that's a vital position—especially when it comes to playing spread offenses and option teams (which we definitely will play this year). Maston gets an opportunity that many don't get—another crack at his senior season, and with a year acclimating himself to the new coaching style and schemes, I think he'll do great...as long as he can pry some PT away from James or make the most of his specific personnel packages.

Is he on Twitter?

Completely made up fact

Mercy fronts a ska band in his spare time called Mercy and the MasTones.