Boise State numerical roster countdown 2016: Day 17, Austin Cottrell

We are now down to 17 days to Boise State kickoff. A time of reflection and mediation. Or we could talk about football. On that note, let us talk about—Austin Cottrell.

#17, Austin Cottrell, Junior, WR

Stats:

Height: 6’ 2”

Weight: 202 (+2)

High School: Mountain Ridge HS, Glendale, AZ / Scottsdale (Ariz.) CC

How'd he get to the Blue™?

Austin Cottrell does not have much of a recruiting profile. But he did do some good while in high school. He caught 15 passes for 260 yards with four touchdowns for Mountain Ridge High School. In Scottsdale Community College he hauled in 12 passes, 108 yards and a touchdown. The staff also wanted to add a bit of height to the roster. Before Garrett Collingham (6’ 4) switched to receiver and Cedric Wilson (6’ 3”) joined the squad Cottrell was the second tallest receiver behind Brock Bar (6’ 3”). So things kind of worked out for him and the school.

Nickname

“Boom Boom”

Anyone here see the mid-70’s show “Welcome Back, Kotter”? If you did not, you should check it out some time. A young John Travolta is hilarious in that show. Anyway, whenever I hear Austin Cottrell’s name, I hear it in the same way Freddie “Boom Boom” Washington would say Mr. Kotter. So this is my homage to that classic show.

Look-a-like

I said it last year, and I am doing it again, but Big Papi.

Career Highlights

Aside from the noted high school and JUCO highlights above, his touches last year were kind of sparse. Last year was in 10 games. He had one catch and a lateral that, well, did not end as nicely as we would have preferred. Those two touches of the ball equated to 70 yards. I look forward to seeing this part increase.

2016 Prospectus

2016 looks to be a big year for the Broncos on the offensive side of the ball. They have a QB that is going to be good (well, not as good as Kenny Potter). With that goodness comes an opportunity for the offense to do some special things in the passing game.

As it stands, the no. 1 receivers are pretty set: Thomas Sperbeck, Chaz Anderson, and Cedric Wilson. The receiving corps is largely untested outside of Sperbeck and Anderson. While we have been hearing a lot of good things about Wilson out of camp, this is still his first year at Boise State.

So that means that Mr. Cottrell is going to have to be in the mix for the the second round of receptions. That being said, as the upperclassman of the bunch, Mr. Cottrell will be stepping up for the Broncos and making those catches. Had things ended a little better during the New Mexico game we would be talking about how he came through in the clutch—which he almost did. He was this close. But this year he should be able to provide some quality plays for the Broncos and be able to sub in admirably.

Is he on Twitter?

Ah you betcha. In with the good air, out with the bad.

Completely made up fact

After his college days, Mr. Cottrell plans on working for the British parliament. That is because it is illegal to die in the parliament. Being a law abiding citizen, that means Mr. Cottrell only has one of two choices: live forever (he would never leave the building, obviously), or risk getting a state funeral. The former is what I gather he will get.