23 Boise State
The Greatest Show on Blue Turf took a massive personnel hit in the off-season
Key Recruit
DEMARCUS LAWRENCE With the entire 2011 starting defensive line now in the NFL, opportunity abounds for the 6'3", 241-pound defensive end, who transferred from Butler Community College in El Dorado, Kans., where he had 10 sacks last fall.
Breakout Player
KIRBY MOORE There are many reasons everyone is excited for Kellen's 6'3", 203-pound kid brother, a junior, to slide into the starting slot-receiver spot vacated by Tyler Shoemaker, who set a school record with 16 touchdown grabs last year. "He's a big target," Petersen says of Moore, "and smart as a whip."
The Skinny
GONE FROM the land of Smurf Turf is one of the Broncos' most recognizable faces, four-year starting quarterback Kellen Moore, one of seven all-conference seniors and 17 starters who have moved on. "We haven't been in this position for a while," says coach Chris Petersen of the mass exodus that leaves Boise State with just five returning starters. But none of the departed will be as hard to replace as Moore, the winningest QB in FBS history. Two-year understudy Joe Southwick and true freshman Nick Patti head a battle for the position among four candidates, each of whom has one thing their predecessor lacked: "They've all got some speed," says receiver Matt Miller, "so that's gonna add a whole new dimension to our offense."
Final Analysis
FOUR STARTERS from an offensive line that allowed a nation-low eight sacks are back, and that will help the eventual QB derby winner and oft-injured sixth-year senior running back D.J. Harper, who finally has a chance to be featured. There are greater concerns on defense, where a new starting unit must be forged on the line, long a Boise State strength. The lack of continuity may be troublesome in early-season matchups with Michigan State and BYU, but Petersen has more than enough material to build a conference champ in the school's final Mountain West season.
THE VITALS
Coach Chris Petersen (7th year)
73--6 (6--1 MWC)
2011 Record 12--1 (6--1, 2nd in MWC)
Final AP Rank 8
Returning Starters Offense 3, Defense 2
2011 STATS
Total Offense (FBS Rank) 481.3 YPG (9)
Rushing Offense 171.9 YPG (40)
Passing Offense 309.4 YPG (11)
Total Defense 320.9 YPG (16)
Rushing Defense 110.0 YPG (17)
Passing Defense 210.9 YPG (43)
TELLING NUMBER 5
Points, combined, that Boise State lost by in its three defeats over the course of the past four seasons, to TCU (twice) and Nevada.
TOP PLAYERS
Offense
RB D.J. Harper
Sr., 5'9", 205 pounds
557 YDs, 9 TDs
WR Matt Miller
Soph., 6'3", 215 pounds
62 RECs, 679 YDs
RT Charles Leno
Jr., 6'4", 287 pounds
13 starts
Defense
LB J.C. Percy
Sr., 6'0", 223 pounds
48 tackles, 1 int
CB Jamar Taylor
Sr., 5'11", 198 pounds
27 tackles, 2 ints
CB Jerrell Gavins
Sr., 5'9", 169 pounds
11 tackles, 3 ints
Special Teams
PR Mitch Burroughs
Sr., 5'9", 193 pounds
18 PR, 13.3 avg, 64 longest
PHOTO
DARIN OSWALD/IDAHO STATESMAN/MCT/ZUMAPRESS.COM (MILLER)
Miller is one of only five returning starters to a team that is breaking in a new quarterback and an entire defensive line.
PHOTO
STEVE CONNER/ICON SMI (MOORE)