Boise State roster countdown 2021: Day 46, Joel Velazquez

This is it. The last ride for Velazquez. This poor guy has had to suffer through a lot in his Bronco career...namely, by some unfortunate turn of chance, he’s had to settle for me writing every. single. one. of his Countdown articles. My deepest sympathies, Joel!

#46, Joel Velazquez, Redshirt Senior, K/P

Stats

Height: 6’0”

Weight: 227 (+5)

High School: Trabuco Hills High School, Mission Viejo, California

How’d he get to The Blue^TM?

Mr. Velazquez came our way via a 3-star ranking from Scout.com, following a high school career that had him selected to the All-CIF Southern Section Southwest Division Team as a punter in 2015, named to All-Sea View League First Team, and the Orange County Register’s All-County Third Team (as a punter). He was also a perfect 35-for-35 on PAT attempts and went 6-for-9 on field-goal attempts, sent 41 of his 54 kickoffs for touchbacks, averaged 39.4 yards over 56 punts with a long of 72. Further, he competed in shotput and discus for the Trabuco Hills track and field team, earning three varsity letters. He holds top-10 school marks in 10-lb. and 12-lb. shotput events, and in 1.6-kg discus.

Nickname

”Dropkick”

Because he’s had a fair number of punts all but one year that he’s been around campus. Which is really just dropping the ball and kicking it...whilst also trying not to get murdered by rushers. Honestly though, I just think it sounds cool because it seems like a callsign for a fighter jet. And as a child of the Top Gun era, I’m all about that.

Look-alike

Several years in a row (and I’ve still never seen the movie), but I can’t not see Wreck-It Ralph when I look at Velazquez.

FanPop.com

Career highlights

Joel does a lot for Boise State special teams. He is the kickoff specialist, but as previously mentioned, he does punt a fair amount (41 yard average in 2020), and he nailed a 52 yard field goal before halftime at UNLV a few years ago. However, as far as big-game, clutch moments, his perfect onside kick toward the end of the insane, comeback thriller against Colorado State in 2017 was probably the most memorable.

2021 Prospectus

Wale will most likely do the bulk of the punting, Dalmas will most likely kick the majority of the field goals and extra points, but Velazquez will probably handle kickoffs and do a little of both of the other things. As is tradition.

Is he on Twitter?

Yes, sir!

Completely made up fact

Before he was a member of the Broncos, Joel toured the country in disguise and entered (and won) every kick-the-ball-from-midfield-into-the-truck-bed competition he came across, winning a truck every time. He’s won 34 trucks and will be starting a dealership soon after graduation with his accumulated inventory.