Tevis replaces Acrey in Broncos' lineup

The Boise State football team has shaken up its linebacker corps for the season opener Saturday against Idaho State.

Sophomore middle linebacker Derrell Acrey, who had been penciled in as the starter since the spring, is out of the starting lineup.

Freshman Aaron Tevis (6-foot-3, 214 pounds), a promising, athletic player, is in — listed as the starting strong-side linebacker on the team’s first depth chart, released Sunday.

The inclusion of Tevis means that senior Kyle Gingg (5-11, 203) will start at middle linebacker and senior Tim Brady (6-1, 204) will start at weak-side linebacker.

Gingg started in the middle last year but spent most of this year practicing on the weak side, where he played in 2006 and was more comfortable.

Brady started on the strong side last year and practiced there nearly all year. The coaches have tried to make the strong and weak positions interchangeable in recent years.

Senior Dallas Dobbs, the starter on the weak side last year, is the backup on the strong side. He spent most of this year practicing in the middle.

Other notes about the depth chart:

-- Sophomore Mike Coughlin is listed as co-backup quarterback with senior Bush Hamdan. Coaches had indicated that Hamdan was the clear choice as the backup.

-- True freshman Jamar Taylor is a backup at cornerback and will play this year. True freshman George Iloka is listed as a backup safety, but coach Chris Petersen has said he isn’t sure if Iloka will play.

-- Walk-on wide receiver Tyler Shoemaker of Mountain View High is the backup slot receiver, behind senior Julian Hawkins.

-- Tailbacks Jeremy Avery and Doug Martin are listed as the kickoff returners.

The full depth chart is attached to our news story at IdahoStatesman.com.

WHAT!?!

I have read several articles this year that state, both Ging and coaches, MLB was not the right fit for him. They said weak side LB was a better fit for him. Now he is the starting MLB. I rarely criticize coaches cus they know who the best payers are on the field but this is a contridiction to what they have been saying all year, and what we witnessed last year. Ging got pushed around and was inaffective at MLB. I was hoping to see someone with fire and size (ACREY) move into that position this year. Something must have happened. Possibly Acrey is hurt and they want to rest him with Idaho state. I just hope this is the depth chart for that game. DT projected starters for that game also worry me. I am happy to see Tevis on the field, I was very excited to see him play when we got him. I guess I was just hoping for some of these young guys to step up because if I have to see another defense like last years I am going to throw up. I thought Acrey looked awesome in all scrimmages.

Don't Panic

Don't forget that the ISU is the Broncos' powderpuff opener. Expect to see fourth-stringers playing in this game. It's basically the equivalent of preseason in the NFL; teams rarely put their best foot forward, but instead use it as a chance for the new players to prove themselves in a real situation.

As a fan, I'd much rather see what these unproven freshman can do with a clean scoreboard, rather than throwing them in during the second half against an exhausted D1AA (or whatever it's called now) team that will likely be 3 touchdowns or more behind. Let the superstars stay rested for the games against Oregon and beyond.

It's called the non-BCS lunch bunch?

Small

Why are the linebackers so small, 214, 203, 204lbs. What!
Small will not get it done against good schools, Oregon is going to run all over these little players. Good thing you play in the WAC, and play ISU. Feel free to have a real schedule.

I'd LOVE to be that small myself...instead of 280.