Editor’s note: This is the fourth installment in a series breaking down Boise State’s likely starters and the top players in the Mountain West at each position.
Boise State hasn’t had a tight end who played a major role in the passing game since Jake Roh roamed the halls of the Bleymaier Football Center.
Roh caught more than 30 passes in three of his four seasons with the Broncos, including a career-best 39 catches for 410 yards and nine touchdowns as a senior in 2017. No Boise State tight end has hauled in 30 passes in a season since.
Even John Bates, a fourth-round pick in the 2021 NFL Draft , who is heading into his fourth season with the Washington Commanders, only managed a career-high 22 receptions in 2019. He finished his college career with just two touchdown catches.
Tight ends have been an afterthought in the Broncos’ passing game in recent years, but this could be a resurgent season for the position.
Matt Lauter caught just nine passes in nine starts last season, but the 6-foot-3, 240-pound redshirt junior stretched the field like like no Boise State tight end has in recent memory. He averaged 17.4 yards per catch. Roh averaged 10.5 yards a catch in 2017.
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Lauter showed a consistent ability to be a deep threat last season. He hauled in three passes for 76 yards, including a season-long 59-yard reception, at Memphis. Both of his catches against Utah State went for touchdowns, including one that covered 26 yards, and he corralled a 16-yard touchdown pass in the Mountain West championship game against UNLV.
Lauter turned nine catches into 157 yards and three touchdowns last season. His big-play ability is what caught the eye of Boise State’s coaches when he was at Torrey Pines High School in California, Broncos’ tight ends coach and co-offensive coordinator Nate Potter said.
“He’ll shock you with his athleticism,” Potter said. “He’s a big, physical kid, but he’s just as likely to run by you or make a miracle catch when you think you have him covered.”
Four-year starter Riley Smith exhausted his eligibility last fall, so Lauter is the Broncos’ clear-cut starter this year. He’ll be backed up by another talented pass catcher in redshirt freshman Matt Wagner. The 6-4, 245-pound native of Prosper, Texas, showed off his hands this spring and posted four catches for 22 yards in the team’s first scrimmage. He posted 47 catches for 592 yards and five touchdowns in 10 games as a senior at Rock Hill High in Texas.
The Broncos will likely turn to redshirt junior Luke Voorhees or Villanova transfer Mitchell Bothwell when they need an extra blocker this season. Bothwell is one of three transfer tight ends Boise State brought in this year. He appeared in 21 games but caught just two passes the past three seasons at Villanova.
Boise State also added former Colorado tight end Champion Johnson, who joined the team as a walk-on, and former LSU tight end Connor Gilbreath, who will redshirt this season.
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Projected depth chart
Starter: Matt Lauter, R-Jr., 6-3, 240, Torrey Pines High, San Diego, California
Backups: Matt Wagner, R-Fr., 6-4, 245, Rock Hill High, Prosper, Texas; Mitchell Bothwell, R-Jr., 6-5, 240, All Saints Episcopal High/Villanova, Fort Worth, Texas; Luke Voorhees, R-Jr., 6-3, 240, Pierce High, Arbuckle, California.
Sleeper: Austin Terry, R-Fr., 6-3, 240, Tumwater (Washington) High
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Mountain West TEs to watch
John Michael Gyllenborg, Wyoming — The 6-5, 245-pound junior was a preseason All-Mountain West pick after he played in all 13 games and made four starts last season. He finished with 23 catches for 360 yards and three touchdowns, including an 89-yard touchdown catch against Hawaii, which was the Cowboys’ longest passing touchdown of the season.
Broc Lane, Utah State — The 6-4, 245-pound fifth-year senior was named honorable mention All-Mountain West last season after he posted 21 catches for 208 yards and a touchdown in 10 starts. He was a three-star recruit and the No. 54 overall prospect in Arizona following his senior season at Perry High School in Gilbert, Arizona, according to 247Sports.
Jace Henry, Nevada — The 6-4, 270-pound fifth-year senior transferred to Nevada this year after four seasons at Dartmouth, where he helped the Big Green win Ivy League titles in 2021 and 2023. He caught 23 passes for 326 yards and scored four touchdowns (two receiving, two rushing) in 25 career games. The former dual-threat quarterback was named the Gatorade Alaska Player of the Year after leading Lathrop High to the state finals as a senior.
Jude Wolfe, San Diego State — The 6-6, 247-pound sixth-year senior transferred to San Diego State this year after five seasons at USC, where he caught 12 passes for 66 yards and one touchdown in 33 career games. The former four-star recruit was named to the 2018 PrepStar All-American team following his senior season at St. John Bosco in California.
Trace Bruckler, New Mexico — The 6-3, 237-pound redshirt junior played in 12 games and started 10 last season. He led the Lobos’ tight ends with nine catches for 89 yards.
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