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Boise State numerical roster countdown 2015: Day 1, Shane WIlliams-Rhodes

By Drew Roberts
Brian Losness-USA TODAY Sports

This is it. The FINAL COUNTDOWN

The months-long odyssey known as the OBNUG numerical roster countdown is again at an end. We hope you've enjoyed getting to know (nearly) every player on the roster and we hope we haven't left you confused by the ones where we didn't quite get their number right. In the past, the countdown has been my sole responsibility, but last year Jesse Baker chipped in heavily and this year Casey and Damien came to my aid. I can't thank them enough for keeping this OBNUG tradition alive. And thanks to everyone for reading and commenting on each and every one. It makes it all worthwhile. But enough rambling...the end of the countdown signals the beginning of football season, so with just ONE day left, let's take a look at the "last but CERTAINLY not least" #1 on the Bronco roster—Shane Williams-Rhodes

#1, Shane Williams-Rhodes, Senior, Wide Receiver

Stats

Height: 5'6"

Weight: 173 lbs

Hometown: Spring, Texas

High School: Klein Collins HS

How'd he get to the Blue™?

By being good at the football. Williams-Rhodes was a terror on the gridiron for his Klein Collins squad. He was named first team all-district his final prep season as a wide receiver and kick returner and was named team MVP (and captain) after accounting for 1,384 yards of offense and 19 TDs. As a junior, Williams-Rhodes was named the district's offensive MVP and to the all-district first team as well after rushing for 640 yards and 11 TDs and hauling in 43 passes for 877 yards and 9 more scores. Rated a 3-star recruit by Scout.com, he chose the Broncos over an offer from Kansas State, who I assume told him he could be the "next Darren Sproles". Boise State told him he'd get to be the "first Shane Williams-Rhodes"

Nickname

"SWR"

For those that like brevity. And no, it's not pronounced "sewer".

Look-a-like

energy ball

Ball of energy

Career Highlights

Named to 2015 Wuerffel and Hornung pre-season award watch lists. Two-time academic All-MWC performer. Played in all 14 games for the Broncos in 2014 and was named Honorable Mention All-MWC. In 2013, named Honorable Mention All-MWC as a receiver and return specialist. Appeared in 11 of the Broncos 13 games in 2013 (missed last two with an injury). Appeared in all 13 games for the Broncos as a true freshman in 2012. As a senior at Klein was named first-team all-district as a receiver and returner as well as team MVP and captain. As a junior at Klein was named offensive MVP and was a first-team all-district selection. An academic all-district selection as a junior and senior.

2015 Prospectus

It’s hard sending any of our seniors off, but it’s going to be especially hard having to part ways with the electric Shane WIlliams-Rhodes—a crowd favorite that has proven time and again that good things come in small packages. We’ve poked fun at SWR’s diminutive height a few times on this site, but only to underscore the fact that this unassuming player is really one of the brightest stars on the field for the Broncos. You just never knew where the Bronco coaches were going to put him or what they had planned for him, but you knew that they needed to get this guy on the field by any means necessary. There are plenty of SWR highlights that spring to mind when looking back on his illustrious career—this one, for instance, is still very fresh:

But we can do a Williams-Rhodes retrospective at the end of the year…let’s talk about what he has in store for his final season as a Bronco. History would dictate that once again, Shane will be "Mr. All-Purpose" for the Broncos as he is heavily utilized in the Bronco passing, rushing and kick return game. He’s been a stalwart in the punt return game for a little while, but it’s got to be eating him up inside that it was his counterpart Donte Deayon that housed a punt before he did. I think he rectifies that this season and completes the scoring trifecta. I think Shane will again lead the team in receptions as he is the best "outlet" guy we have and I think you’ll see plenty of scores from him as well. I hesitate to place an exact number, but I think it’s completely feasible that he could hit double-digits (last year he had 7 receiving TDs). Predicting stats is always dicey and with a new OC it’s even moreso, but SWR’s value to the team is about more than number of touches or scores…though he’s small, he’s a BIG talent and a HUGE unifying force on the team. As long as he’s on the field, he’s someone opposing defenses must keep tabs on at all times or they will pay dearly.

Is he on Twitter?

Yes, and he appreciates headwear recognition.

Completely made up fact

Being the only hyphenated last name on the roster had its perks...that is, until Dylan Sumner-Gardner joined the team. Now Shane has to share his hyphenated-last name discount punch card (good at all area Arby's) with DSG. Shane is not pleased.