By Chadd Cripe
ccripe@idahostatesman.com

Linebacker used to be the glamour job in the Boise State defense — producing stars like Andy Avalos, Korey Hall and Colt Brooks.

This year, it’s the forgotten position as the Broncos have switched to a three-safety package to deal with spread offenses.

Still, senior weak-side linebacker Kyle Gingg (33 tackles) and sophomore middle linebacker Derrell Acrey (32 tackles) rank 3-4 on the team in tackles and have helped the Broncos prevent the big run play with sure tackling.

The linebackers’ role this year?

“Tackle in space,” Gingg said. “That’s the whole theory behind the spread offense, to get people in space. … (Defensive coordinator Justin Wilcox), every week says, ‘Tackling will be big for you this week.’ ”

Gingg is starting to miss the more traditional offensive systems — two backs, one or two tight ends and plenty of running between the tackles.

“I haven’t really felt like I got hit that much lately,” Gingg said. “… I kind of like power football.”

San Jose State is yet another spread team, with an offense similar to Southern Miss and Bowling Green. Wilcox said he’s never seen so much carryover from week to week in terms of how the Broncos are defending opponents — a sign of how rapidly the spread offense is sweeping the nation.

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Boise State tailback Ian Johnson returns to Spartan Stadium this week for the first time since suffering a partially collapsed lung two years ago that left him in a San Jose-area hospital for five nights.

Johnson has four career touchdowns against San Jose State. He rushed for 149 yards in the game two years ago.

“I want to leave something more than just my lung this time,” Johnson said. “I want to leave it all on the field, but come back healthy, 100 percent and with another win.”

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San Jose State brothers Carl and Duke Ihenacho held a teleconference with the media Wednesday. The call included reporters from ESPN.com and USA Today.

Carl, a junior defensive end who started playing football as a high school senior, is tied for the national lead in tackles for loss and leads the WAC in sacks. Duke, a sophomore linebacker who started playing football as a high school junior, is tied for the national lead in interceptions.

Duke joined the football team at Serra High in Carson, Calif., first. He convinced Carl to join him.

“He was real persistent,” Carl said. “We have been playing basketball for most of our lives. … He finally convinced me one day. I went out and ran around and enjoyed it, and ever since then I’ve been playing.”

The brothers had been interested in football earlier, but their mother was not a fan of the sport.

“When you’re 16, a junior in high school, there’s not much your mom can really say to not have you play football,” Duke said. “I was at the point I was old enough, I was physically strong enough to withstand the physical contact of football. It was a decision I made by myself.”

Duke, who was a well-known recruit unlike his brother, followed Carl to San Jose State. He wanted to play with his brother and trusted Carl’s recommendation.

Now they’re reaping the rewards of that decision.

“I sit down with my brother and talk to him — ‘Five years ago, could you have pictured us playing football, playing together, leading the NCAA in categories?’ ” Carl said. “We laugh about it. It’s fun.”

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Some interesting notes from special teams/running backs coach Jeff Choate:

-- San Jose State’s punting stats don’t look good, but that’s because the Spartans often punt in the opponent’s territory in an attempt to win the field-position battle. That plays to the Spartans’ defensive strength. They have pinned 17 of 41 punts inside the 20.

-- The running back rotation has settled into a format that likely will continue — split carries between Johnson and Jeremy Avery, with D.J. Harper and Doug Martin operating in a two-tailback group.

Choate liked what he saw from Johnson last week when he got a rare chance to run behind a fullback.

“Ian probably ran as hard as he’s run since ’06 on some of those (plays),” Choate said.

Johnson also served as the personal protector on the punt team last week, replacing injured tight end Richie Brockel. Harper dominated as a jammer on the punt-return team and Martin, for the second straight week, was honored as the Broncos’ special teams player of the week.

“That’s the best thing I can say about being at Boise State, when you’ve got kids like that,” Choate said.