By Chadd Cripe
ccripe@idahostatesman.com

True freshman cornerback Jamar Taylor will play this season, coach Chris Petersen said Thursday.

Taylor (6-foot, 185 pounds) will provide depth in the secondary. Junior Kyle Wilson and sophomore Brandyn Thompson are slated to start at cornerback. Sophomore Keith McGowen and Taylor are the backups. Freshman Cedric Febis is a backup safety/cornerback.

Taylor has had a solid fall camp and received some practice time with the first team in the past week.

Taylor is the only freshman who joined the team this month who definitely will play, Petersen said. The coaching staff still is evaluating a few other players. For example, the Broncos might need to play one of the offensive tackles, Faraji Wright or Tom Swanson, to provide depth depending on how left tackle Nate Potter bounces back from knee surgery.

The coaches also haven’t decided whether to play linebacker Daron Mackey, a junior-college transfer who has looked impressive at times but has a redshirt year available.

Meanwhile, three of the six freshmen who joined the team in January will play — defensive end Shea McClellin, defensive tackle Chase Baker and linebacker Dan Paul. Wide receiver Mitch Burroughs and running back Matt Kaiserman will redshirt. Safety George Iloka is still being evaluated.

Burroughs, a Meridian High product who has played well in camp but is stuck behind seven returning contributors, was hoping to play this year.

“It’s tough right now,” he said, “but it will probably be good in the long run. It’s kind of hard when you have such a loaded position.”

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While all of us waited eagerly to find out who the starting quarterback would be, the announcement Wednesday that freshman Kellen Moore won the job wasn’t a big deal in the locker room.

The players found out by rumor and word of mouth. They were off most of Wednesday. Players said they were confident Moore or senior Bush Hamdan could do the job.

“We had no clue,” sophomore tailback D.J. Harper said of the announcement. “… I just found out (Thursday) morning when I showed up to meetings.”