Dylan Sumner-Gardner no longer with team

Lao Tzu (who I think was a character on Mortal Kombat) said it best, “the flame that burns twice as bright burns half as long”. I always thought that was a quote about camping preparedness but turns out it works for football too, and while Boise State has swung slightly above their weight class with recruiting of late...often it fails to work out. Such is the case for Boise State super-soph Dylan Sumner-Gardner, who served out a suspension in a 5 full games this season before returning to the lineup...only to be sidelined yet again at the end of the year with a shoulder injury. Now, a day after successful shoulder surgery, it appears DSG will not be with the team for the bowl game or in the future as he was dismissed from the squad for violation of team rules and academic struggles.

Sumner-Gardner was the highest-ranked recruit to ever sign with the Broncos when he came aboard as an early-signee with the class of 2014 (after de-committing from Texas A&M) and immediately showed his worth at safety playing as a true freshman under the tutelage of Darian Thompson. In 2015, DSG played himself into a starting role before an ankle injury ended his season. He was granted a medical redshirt for this season but was suspended the aforementioned 5 games because of academic shortcomings and the lingering effects of a 2015 brush with the law. Like many, I'd hoped that DSG would recuperate and fully realize his potential as a junior, but alas, we'll likely be left with "what could have been", as his Bronco career—like his last two seasons—has now been cut painfully short.

What this means for recruiting, which marches on toward February's signing day, and the Spring depth chart remains to be seen...but that's a discussion for another day— we're trying to have a merry Christmas over here.