By Brian Murphy
bmurphy@idahostatesman.com
Boise State placed three players on college football's preseason award watch lists, a large decrease from previous seasons. Offensive guard Joe Kellogg (Lombardi, Outland), wide receiver Matt Miller (Biletnikoff) and running back D.J. Harper (Walker) made the lists.
The relatively few Broncos on the lists points to the number and quality of players that Boise State lost to graduation after last season. Click here to see last year's watch lists.
Maxwell Award (outstanding player)
Total nominees: 60 (full list)
Boise State nominees: None
Mountain West nominees: RB Robbie Rouse, Fresno State; QB Derek Carr, Fresno State
Other BSU opponents: QB Riley Nelson, BYU; RB Le'Veon Bell, Michigan State
Last year's winner: QB Andrew Luck, Stanford
2011 Boise State nominees: QB Kellen Moore, RB Doug Martin
Bednarik Award (defensive player)
Total nominees: 65 (full list)
Boise State nominees: None
Mountain West nominees: None
Other BSU opponents: CB Johnny Adams, Michigan State; LB Denicos Allen, Michigan State; LB Max Bullough, Michigan State; DE William Gholston, Michigan State; DE Jamie Collins, Southern Miss
Last year's winner: CB Tyrann Mathieu, LSU
2011 Boise State nominees: DT Billy Winn
Mackey Award (tight end)
Total nominees: 33 (full list)
Boise State nominees: None
Mountain West nominees: Gavin Escobar, San Diego State; Crockett Gilmore, Colorado State, Lucas Reed, New Mexico,
Other BSU opponents: Dion Sims, Michigan State
Last year's winner: Dwayne Allen, Clemson
2011 Boise State nominees: Kyle Efaw
Rimington Trophy (center)
Total nominees: 51 (full list)
Boise State nominees: None
Idaho nominees: Mike Marboe, sophomore
Mountain West nominees: Nick Carlson, Wyoming; Dillon Farrell, New Mexico; Alec Johnson, San Diego State; Weston Richburg, Colorado State; Robert Waterman, UNLV
Other BSU opponents: Trent Dupy, Tulsa; Austin Quattrochi, Southern Mississippi
Last year's winner: Jake Kirkpatrick, TCU
2011 Boise State nominees: Thomas Byrd
Ray Guy Award (punter)
Total nominees: 25 (full list)
Boise State nominees: None
Idaho nominees: Bobby Cowan, senior
Mountain West nominees: Pete Kontodiakos, Colorado State
Other BSU opponents: Riley Stephenson, BYU
Last year's winner: Ryan Allen, Louisiana Tech
2011 Boise State nominees: None
Lou Groza Award (kicker)
Total nominees: 30 (full list)
Boise State nominees: None
Mountain West nominees: Parker Herrington, Air Force;
Other BSU opponents: Dan Conroy, Michigan State
Last year's winner: Randy Bullock, Texas A&M
2011 Boise State nominees: None
Bronko Nagurski Trophy (defensive player)
Total nominees: 84 (full list)
Boise State nominees: None
Mountain West nominees: LB Travis Brown, Fresno State; CB Leon McFadden, San Diego State
Other BSU opponents: CB Johnny Adams, Michigan State; LB Max Bullough, Michigan State; LB Jamie Collins, Southern Miss; DE William Gholston, Michigan State; LB Kyle Van Noy, BYU.
Last year's winner: LB Luke Kuechly, Boston College
2011 Boise State nominees: DT Billy Winn
Outland Trophy (interior lineman: defensive tackles, offensive tackles, guards and centers)
Total nominees: 71 (full list)
Boise State nominees: G Joe Kellogg
Mountain West nominees: G Chris Barker, Nevada
Other BSU opponents: G Braden Hansen, BYU; G Chris McDonald, Michigan State; C Weston Richburg, Colorado State
Last year's winner: C Barrett Jones, Alabama (also nominated this year)
2011 Boise State nominees: DT Billy Winn, OT Nate Potter
Jim Thorpe Award (defensive back)
Total nominees: 35 (full list)
Boise State nominees: None
Mountain West nominees: CB Leon McFadden, San Diego State
Other BSU opponents: CB Johnny Adams, Michigan State, S Isaiah Lewis, Michigan State; CB Dayonne Nunley, Miami (OH); CB Deron Wilson, Southern Mississippi
Last year's winner: CB Morris Claiborne, LSU
2011 Boise State nominees: S George Iloka
Rotary Lombardi Award (lineman)
Total nominees: 145 (full list)
Boise State nominees: OL Joe Kellogg
Mountain West nominees: OL Weston Richburg, Colorado State; LB Travis Brown, Fresno State; OL Chris Barker, Nevada; OL Jeff Nady, Nevada; TE Gavin Escobar, San Diego State; and OL Nick Carlson, Wyoming.
Other BSU opponents: LB Denicos Allen, Michigan State; LB Max Bullough, Michigan State; DE William Gholston, Michigan State; G Chris McDonald, Michigan State; DE Marcus Rush, Michigan State; DE/LB Jamie Collins, Southern Miss; G Braden Hansen, BYU; LB Kyle Van Noy, BYU;
Last year's winner: LB Luke Kuechly, Boston College
2011 Boise State nominees: C Thomas Byrd, DE Shea McClellin, OT Nate Potter, DT Billy Winn
Butkus Award (linebacker)
Total nominees: 51 (full list)
Boise State nominees: None
Mountain West nominees: Jeremiah Greene, Nevada
Other BSU opponents: Denicos Allen, Michigan State; Max Bullough, Michigan State; Jamie Collins, Southern Miss; Uona Kaveinga, BYU
Last year's winner: LB Luke Kuechly, Boston College
2011 Boise State nominees: None
Biletnikoff Award (wide receiver)
Total nominees: 48 (full list)
Boise State nominees: Matt Miller
Mountain West nominees: Colin Lockett, San Diego State
Other BSU opponents: Cody Hoffman, BYU
Last year's winner: Justin Blackmon, Oklahoma State
2011 Boise State nominees: Tyler Shoemaker
Davey O'Brien Award (quarterback)
Total nominees: 34 (full list)
Boise State nominees: None
Mountain West nominees: Derek Carr, Fresno State; Cody Fajardo, Nevada
Other BSU opponents: Riley Nelson, BYU
Last year's winner: Robert Griffin III, Baylor
2011 Boise State nominees: Kellen Moore
Doak Walker Award (running back)
Total nominees: 52 (full list)
Boise State nominees: D.J. Harper
Mountain West nominees: Walter Kazee, San Diego State; Robbie Rouse, Fresno State
Other BSU opponents: Michael Alisa, BYU; Le′Veon Bell, Michigan State
Last year's winner: Trent Richardson, Alabama
2011 Boise State nominees: Doug Martin
Walter Camp Award (overall player)
Total nominees: 50 (full list)
Boise State nominees: None
Mountain West nominees: RB Robbie Rouse, Fresno State
Other BSU opponents: DE William Gholston, Michigan State
Last year's winner: Andrew Luck, Stanford
2011 Boise State nominees: Kellen Moore
Lott IMPACT Trophy (Integrity, Maturity, Performance, Academics, Community and Tenacity)
Total nominees: 42 (full list)
Boise State nominees: LB J.C. Percy
Mountain West nominees: RB Robbie Rouse, Fresno State; S Luke Ruff, Wyoming
Other BSU opponents: LB Max Bullough, Michigan State; LB Brandon Ogletree, BYU
Last year's winner: LB Luke Kuechly, Boston College
2011 Boise State nominees: Billy Winn
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MSU D
Notice the four Michigan State players on the Bednarik watch list. This is an elite defense that will provide a huge test for a somewhat inexperienced offense. I'm still convinced of a close game on the back of our defense, but it'll be tough to pull out a victory in this one. Think 2007 @ Washington.
Tasselho,
Boise State has upgraded its' program and recruiting immensely since 2007. No comparison. Michigan State will not see the kind of speed on the Boise State team for the rest of 2012.
Pffttt....
What about Wisky? Michigan? The Huskers?
Wisky=slow,
Michigan has Denard Robinson, Huskers have Rex Burkhead. Spring testing showed that Boise had two players at 4.28 seconds in the forty, and numerous players in the mid-to high 4.3s. Not bragging, just saying.
tass
The Broncos will prove to be superior.
BAA# 7192421
"TheBroncosWillProveSuperiorily....
WIIIIIIDE RIGHT!!!!" Superfulously WIDE RIGHT!!!! GOOOOOODale at SUMTIN!!!! MOVE THE POSTS to da RIGHT!!!! Richfrog ALWAYS RIGHT, right "you da man" BroTCUman? RIGHT ON!!!
§ Shear and udder genious
"superiorily"
All together now, idolts ...
Richfrog...
I have nothing against TCU, but a-s-s-holes like you make it difficult to root for them.
I hope you choke on a chicken bone.
Rfrog
approximately 1 year ago somebody on this site claimed the Broncos to be the "flagship" of the MW. Do you disagree?
BAA Member # 7192421
Oh no!
Will the collective psyche of bronco nation be able to handle this misdeed? Can't wait to hear the excuse machine start up. Wait for it...5, 4, 3, 2, 1...
I dont think you'll hear any Boncos making excuses
It sounds kinda like you're the one with some issues.
No worries dude...the season starts in 5, 4, 3, 2, 1....
No Excuses
Just bulletin board material....
Bring IT
The Boys in Blue...on the Blue...say BRING IT! Gee is that a zit on your nose or have you had it stuck somewhere? Swipe it off.
Typical
Boise State snub, looks like we'll be sneaking up on people yet again. We'll see what this all means when we play the well represented Michigan State team. My cut on Boise State players for the Maxwell: D.J. Harper, RB and Matt Miller, WR; for the Bednarik: Michael Atkinson, DT.
4 Ducks listed.
There will be more Ducks on other lists coming up in the next few days. That's for sure.
GO DUCKS!
If he can stay healthy...
and if BSU can muster a decent passing game, DJ Harper is gonna turn some heads this year.
I'm with you
Keeping my fingers crossed that DJ can stay healthy. After what he's been through, he deserves it. Really gonna need that solid rush game until the new QB gets comfortable. As for the watch lists... fahgettaboudit! If you didn't turn heads last year you're not on it this year. We have so many newbies, where do you start? Just remember, "not known" doesn't mean "not good."
It is a little surprising in
It is a little surprising in that many of the new starters are household names given that BSU rotates it's players pretty well.
All the Better
With all the DRAMA in college football right now...it will be nice to see the Bronco "OKG's" quietly go about crushing each opponent with quiet dignity.
Ya.....
Ya!
Nuts!
You donks are nuts! Michigan State is going to run your team into the ground!
¿ Try again,
McAuliffe. Your sentiment has been echoed before ... to no avail.
Maybe
A lot of things are possible. It's possible that you may be more respectful toward a school that kicks the c*ap out of your school but it's not likely right? Michigan State should be a top 10 team this year. Boise State isn't ranked and probably won't be ranked unless they beat MSU. If I were a betting man and a Big 10 homer I would say MSU should be 10 - 14 point favorites. If I see that many points given to BSU, I'll take BSU + the points every time. I think the game will be similar to the Virginia Tech game... 3 or 4 points either way. So lets ask this, if BSU gets beat by MSU, how much worse would the Vandals get beat by the same team? For the Vandals any record above .500 is considered a record year, for the Broncos failure to win the conference is a disappointing year. A loss to MSU won't be devastating cause they will still be the favorites to win their conference.
Constantly amazes me that,
Constantly amazes me that, in spite of their success on the field, the Bronco fans insist on running the Vandals in the ground in what would appear to be an attempt to elevate themselves. Up until Steve, not one mention had been made of Idaho nor any comments made by traditional Idaho posters. What gives? Just bask in your glory and rise above it all.
bystander
You got it backwards...mikwilch is a known vandal poster. It doesn't matter and Steve shouldn't of responded. It's two schools going in opposite directions.
Ahhhh
Hit a nerve did I? Show a little respect and the comments go away. But the Vandal faithful can't help themselves now can they when it comes to referring to BSU as the "Donks" or "the JC" or a number of other names targeted toward BSU?
You forget, Broncos also
You forget, Broncos also start crying the instant you insult their program without provocation. Bronco Nation is largely uneducated and just love to cry "Vandulls", since it's how they were raised. Kind of like how kids with parents in prison are likely to follow suit.
Fact of the matter is, for four years, the Broncos really had a Golden A Team. That class has moved on though, and I don't think that BSU has that well of a put team put together as compared to previous years.
Nan
I just think the typical Bronco fan has an inferiority complex...they all strive to be what the UI is and stands for...in the meantime we can certainly be proud of Bronco football...education isn't really all that important...so just relax and enjoy the ride.
BAA # 7192421
Whoa now sportswasfun...
Put down the $8 bottle of Rum.
Nice comment!
Made my day! lol
JL
Come on dude...be honest...BSU isn't about academics...its all about sports...particularly football and this makes all Idahoans proud.
BAA Member # 7192421
When was the last time you were on campus?
You're a little too old to be vndls parrot, don't ya think?
What campus???
I only noticed a few buildings and a large football and basketball complexes. Funding is paying for the facilities that are really important.
BAA Member 7192421
Are you serious dude?
At least be original. Or funny.
JL
I'm serious...my Aunt taught English for years at BSU and each year she was teaching in some rented building. I have many friends who attended BSU and recieved fine educations but they attended class whereever the class was available. I learned the only thing you can count on is where the football and basketball games were played. I'm fine with that...bye the way the last time I was on campus was for the TCU game.
BAA Member # 7192421
When was that?
Was this before or after 1974?
What an idiotic statement, SIF
When was the last time you were on the BSU campus? There are buildings going up all over that have everything to do with classrooms and NOTHING to do with football. The Nursing building is only a year old, and the new Economics/Business building is ready. There is always some new education building going up.
RMSanford - You can build a blorange football if you want to
I see where SIF has a BAA Member Number. Apparently he knows more about Boise's State University football than you do. Unless of course you too, have a BAA Member # and you have just been forgetting to disclose it. If you don't belong to the BAA, just let us know and we wil post instructions for you as to how to join and get your own BAA Member Number. It is real easy and does not require a lot of thinking.
Yes, I have seen the new construction of the practice football field and track by Carl's Jr. hamburger joint on Broadway. It is a very nice facility.
BSU needs to keep up the good work and keep building more football practice facilities.
I have also been thinking that BSU could come up with some type of degree for the manufacture and engineering of footballs. I am guissing many thousands of jobs could be created for Boise people to make a very vast array of footballs from car radio antennae toppers to real footballs to ice chexsts that look like footballs to camper trailers and RV's that look like big footballs.
There really is no limit as to how big the pie could get for BSU if they gave up the constant quest for public acknowledement and recognistion that BSU actually has an academics or two, and focused on what BSU is good at - being a Football Factory.
Let's turn those classrooms into factory outlets for Bronco Football Products, Inc.
Go Broncos
VNDL
BAA Member # 63799
PS - Why not turn classrooms into sewing areas and BSU could make hats, hoodies, sweats, jersies, and a whole line of Bronco Gear. Why give that money up to some other middle man and Canadien and Chinese company. If BSU has as much business knowledge and expertise as some posters on these boards proclaim - why doesn't BSU corner the market on the production of Bronco Gear?
BAA Member
My money goes in to actually taking cla-sses. I don't need to get a BAA Member # to show my support for the school. My attendence in cla-ss is support enough.
Is the Statesman ever going to fix their idiotic "Language Nazi" crap? Look at my words and tell me which ones I had to amend to get past that stupid censor.
FFS!
No.
Come again!
----------
You fry wants with that?
Can he say that?
How does that make it past the Statesman morality censor?
I pwn her
----------
You fry wants with that?
RM Supports academics and not Bronco Football
I understand you pay tuition of academic clas$es which does not support the athletic side of Bronco Fotball (the qathletics side supposedly contributes money to the academic side but the academic side contributes no money to the athletic side - in fact the athletic side has had to borrow money from the academic sided/oriented Foundation at exhorbitant interest rates.
Bronco Football is supported via donations to the Bronco Athletic Association, which funds schollies and other things to benefit the football players.
I think it is great that you have your priorities focused on the academic side of BSU.
I differ from you in my priorities are on supporting the Bronco Football Team and donating money to help the Bronco Football Team win games. The academic side of BSU is of no concern to me and I view it as an unecessary drain on fiscal resources that could be used at BSU to support the reason for BSU's existence, in the first place: the Bronco football team
Possibly your attending clas$es at BSU is enough of a level of support for you. It is strictly your choice. As it is my choice to advocate supporting atletics at BSU and specifically the Bronco Football Team by becoming a member of the BAA.
I know you are aware of the fact that more Vandals are members of the BAA than people connected now or ever with BSU.
Vandals and the BAA have built the Bronco Football Team into the national powerhouse that they currently are and Vandals will continue to support the BAA and the Bronco Football Team to a greater level than Broncos.
Go Broncos
VNDL
BAA Member # 63799
Thanks RM
Given the fact that 11% of BSU's athletic revenue comes from student fees. I'm thinking you do your part
RM
Doing his part to better himself and society through the avenues of higher education and contributing to Bronco athletics at the same time. I'd call that a Win-Win.
§ Geez, tfunk
Does that mean I've done my part?
Not done yet, either. Have one going to grad school starting this fall. Does that count?
razor
It counts. And then some.
1960
You are to smart to make that dumb of a comment.
You might want to check out the almost $80M in academic buildings that have gone up in the last coupe of years.
Yes, Education is Meaningless at BSU - no football value
I am not one to get into discussions about the level of academics at BSU, one way or another. If it is average, so be it. If is not so good, then also, so be it.
It is what it is.
All I know is that BSU would be better off by having no academics at BSU and focusing efforts on growing as a nationally recognized college football power. BSU has made great gains toward that distinctiobn.
With a few minor improvements; i.e., getting rid of the library and making more football practice facilities on campus more people could be able to be able to have practice facilities to someday be walk-ons for the Broncos.
Imagine a campus where the 2,000 students were all football majors and concentrated on the Bronco play methedology. Then the good ones could try out for the Broncos during the summer months. The best could be put on the team and the others could be used for parking lot attendants and stadium support staff during the home games.
I just don't see where academics has contributed one iota toward whether or not the Football Broncos actually win football games.
I can see where the Football team contributes to the academics at BSU by bringing in millions of dollars that are used to buy chemicals and other stuff like dead frogs and rats for labs - BUT: Has academics EVER contributed ANYTHING toward whether or not the Football Broncos have EVEER won any games?
Of course the anser is NO.
Bottom Line - academics just sucks precious resources from the BSU Football Broncos while giving nothing in return except a library with a bunch of books that don't have many pictures.
Go Broncos.
VNDL
BAA Member # 63799
PS - If you have not done so yet and you want to support the Bronco Football Team - please join the Bronco Athletic Association. At least your dollars contributed there won't be wasted on buying flowers for the pointless graduation ceremonies BSU holds as an opportunity for the Bronco Band to practice before the football season by playing 'Pomp and Circ@mstance'.
VNDL
Did you read that I've been called your parrot????
BAA Member # 7192421