Boise State numerical roster countdown 2016: Day 43, Joe Provenzano

Just 43 days until the Broncos hit the Bayou State. Today let's take a look at #43 on the Boise State roster—Joe Provenzano

#43, Joe Provenzano, Sophomore, LB

Stats

Height: 5'11"

Weight: 216 lbs.

High School: Damien High School, La Verne, CA

How'd he get to The Blue™?

He spurned the Huskies (not those ones). Provenzano was a lean, mean tackling machine at La Verne's Damien High School, where he racked up an impressive 193 tackles in the final two years of his four-year varsity career. His offer list was short, but after the Boise State coaching change, he started to hear from the Broncos, who didn't yet have a scholarship available, but wanted him to come and try to earn his spot. In the end, Provenzano had offers from Northern Colorado and Northern Illinois, but chose to take a preferred walk-on spot at a more northern school—our Boise State Broncos.

Nickname

"Joe Pro"

Not to be confused with this:

Look-alike

Former Bronco linebacker Josh Bean

Career highlights

Selected first team all-conference, first team all-area and team captain as a senior in 2013. Voted LB of the Year by team in 2012 as well as honorable-mention all-conference.

2016 prospectus

I really hope that this year Joe Pro can carve out a niche on the Boise State football team. This will be his third year with the program, and as far as I know he has yet to receive a scholarship or playing time and you'd hope his loyalty would pay off with one or the other. Personally, I think he could be a dynamic special teamer until some more linebacker slots open up, and considering that we lost both 2015 LB signees (Marquis Hendrix AND Drew Berger), the departures of Vallejo and Weaver at years end will loom a tad larger. Provenzano isn't quite as big as he was listed upon his initial walking on the squad (6'1" 223 lbs), so he's not the biggest LB around, but we've made do with slightly smaller types in the past and Provenzano could surprise some people and nab some playing time. I still don't think he sees the field much this year unless the aforementioned special teams niche materializes in the fall, but if he sticks around, I think next year he'll have a real opportunity to show his stuff. Boise State has a rich history of turning walk-ons into stars and there's no reason to think Joe can't be one of those success stories.

Is he on Twitter?

Y does pasta get soft in boiling water and eggs get hard

— JOE PRO (@Prov42) May 21, 2016

Yes, and he's here to blow your mind.

Completely NOT made up fact

Joe's little brother Nick will be joining him on The Blue this fall as the two attempt to live out their blue and orange dreams together. Brothers don't shake hands...brothers gotta hug.