By Chadd Cripe
ccripe@idahostatesman.com

Former Boise State defensive coordinator Brent Guy has been fired toward the end of his fourth season as the coach at Utah State.

Utah State will hold a press conference at 11:30 a.m. Monday, Guy said on the WAC coaches conference call.

By Chadd Cripe
ccripe@idahostatesman.com

Watching warmups Saturday afternoon at the Kibbie Dome, it appears sophomore Kevin Sapien will replace senior Jon Gott at right guard to give the Broncos their ninth line combination in 10 games this season.

The rest of the line apparently will be Matt Slater at left tackle, Andrew Woodruff at left guard, Thomas Byrd at center and Nate Potter at right tackle.

Gott is one of two linemen — Woodruff is the other — who have started every game this season.

By Chadd Cripe
ccripe@idahostatesman.com

Senior Julian Hawkins is the quiet leader and feel-good story of the Broncos’ wide receiver corps.

Hawkins, who was academically ineligible in 2005 and couldn’t participate in fall camp that year, expects to earn his communications degree next month. He is fourth on the team with 19 catches for 229 yards and the first two touchdowns of his career.

Last week, he used a stiff arm to create a 46-yard reception — the longest catch of his career, topping a 42-yarder on his first college play in 2006.

Boise State has picked up an oral commitment from a Nevada offensive tackle, according to the Las Vegas Sun newspaper.

Jake Broyles (6-foot-6, 250 pounds) of Foothill High in Henderson, Nev., committed after visiting last weekend.

“The crowd atmosphere was just ridiculous,” Broyles told the Sun. “They sell out no matter who it is. Everyone in that town is a Boise State fanatic.”

Broyles has played varsity for three seasons. Boise State was his first scholarship offer, Foothill coach Marty Redmond told the Sun.

By Chadd Cripe
ccripe@idahostatesman.com

Boise State freshman tailback Doug Martin has very little experience playing defense.

Martin played linebacker for the last three games of his high school career because a starter was ineligible. That was all the defense he had played until last week, when he got a few plays as a spy linebacker for the Broncos against Utah State.

Martin expects to have a role on defense again this week against Idaho.

By Chadd Cripe
ccripe@idahostatesman.com

Even though the vast majority of players in this week’s Boise State-Idaho game didn’t grow up in Idaho, they know plenty about the rivalry.

It’s a tradition passed down from veteran players, coaches and even the fans.

Here are a few players’ thoughts on the rivalry, which Boise State has dominated recently with nine straight wins:

By Chadd Cripe
ccripe@idahostatesman.com

Boise State freshman defensive end Jarrell Root will miss the rest of the season with a broken leg, coach Chris Petersen announced Monday.

Root was injured during Saturday's game against Utah State.

Root, who is a regular contributor as a backup, has nine tackles, 2.5 sacks and a pass breakup. He played at Capital High.

Freshman Byron Hout likely will help fill the void caused by Root's injury.

By Chadd Cripe
ccripe@idahostatesman.com

Boise State will use its eighth different offensive line combination of the season for Saturday’s game against Utah State.

Sophomore Kevin Sapien is out of the lineup with an injury. Sapien had been playing right guard and right tackle.

The starting line for the Utah State game is sophomore Matt Slater at left tackle, senior Andrew Woodruff at left guard, freshman Thomas Byrd at center, senior Jon Gott at right guard and freshman Nate Potter at right tackle.

By Chadd Cripe
ccripe@idahostatesman.com

Boise State has gained another oral commitment from a Capital High football player.

Offensive lineman Bryant Thomas (6-foot-2, 250 pounds) committed to the Broncos on Thursday, he told Jesse Zentz, our Varsity Extra blogger.

Thomas plays guard at Capital. He played tackle earlier in the season.

“He’s a fantastic athlete,” Capital coach Todd Simis said. “I think he has the movement and feet you see in skill positions. He’s just bigger.”

Thomas was fired up by the prospect of playing for the Broncos and coach Chris Petersen.

By Chadd Cripe
ccripe@idahostatesman.com

Boise State sophomore middle linebacker Derrell Acrey quietly is making a run at leading the team in tackles this season.

Acrey, who had 12 tackles last week against New Mexico State, has 52 tackles on the season. He’s third on the team, but just two tackles behind leader Jeron Johnson.

“I expect, by the end of the season, to be up there,” said Acrey, who was limited by injury for a couple games. “I expect the DBs to get a lot of tackles, but me playing hard, playing fast to the ball, I expect to gain on them.”