FIVE BY FIVE: Twenty-five notes as Boise State gets ready to open fall camp

The season inches closer for the Boise State football team.

The Broncos open fall camp next week, with coach Spencer Danielson holding his preseason press conference Monday and the team officially opening practice on Wednesday.

Over the course of the next month, the Broncos will be working to build towards the season, which officially kicks off Aug. 31 at Georgia Southern. Here are five notes in five different categories — a total of 25 — as Boise State gets prepared for the season.

FIVE KEY POSITION BATTLESWhile fall camp will provide everyone on the team a chance to climb up the depth chart, some position battles will be in the spotlight.

Quarterback: Really, it has to start here. Maddux Madsen is returning after getting significant playing time before a season-ending injury in 2023, but will battle USC transfer Malachi Nelson for the 2024 job.

Wide Receiver: The Broncos will be deep at receiver with Austin Bolt and Prince Strachan returning, 2022 leading receiver Latrell Caples returning from an injury that kept him out in 2023 and incoming transfers Chris Marshall and Cameron Camper expecting to make impacts on the offense.

Right Tackle: Broncos return four starters on the offensive line, but have to replace Cade Beresford. Hall Schmidt, Kyle Cox and junior college transfer Daylon Metoyer are all expected to be in the mix.

Safety: Like at the wide receiver position, Boise State has a lot of experience it can throw into the safety rotation. Ty Benefield, Rodney Robinson, Kaonohi Kaniho, Zion Washington, Seyi Oladipo and Alexander Teubner are all back for the Broncos.

Second Tight End: Matt Lauter will start at tight end, but the Broncos have traditionally liked involving multiple tight ends. Mitchell Bothwell transferred in from Villanova, while Luke Voorhees, Matt Wagner and Austin Terry could all compete for playing time.

FIVE KEY PLAYERSThese five players will look to shine brightest for the Broncos as they chase a Mountain West title and a spot in the expanded College Football Playoff

Ashton Jeanty: Boise State’s best shot at competing for a Heisman Trophy since Kellen Moore, the running back was third in the nation with 1,916 all-purpose yards a season ago.

Ahmed Hassanein: The preseason Mountain West Defensive Player of the Year will look for another big year at defensive end after recording 12.5 sacks in 2023, including a stretch of nine straight games with at least 0.5 sacks.

Andrew Simpson: Linebacker was a force at linebacker last season, recording 16 tackles for a loss and coming up with four takeaways.

Alexander Teubner: Boise State’s leading tackler last season returns for his sixth season as a Bronco. He had 85 tackles last year, as well as an interception and fumble recovery.

Whoever starts at quarterback: Be it Maddux Madsen or Malachi Nelson, whoever runs out under center in Statesboro, Georgia, will have the task of leading an offense with high expectations placed upon it.

FIVE (NON-FORMER FIVE-STAR) TRANSFERS

A lot has been written about former five-star recruits Malachi Nelson and Chris Marshall, but they are far from the only transfers who should make an impact for the Broncos.

Cameron Camper: The wide receiver was limited to eight games in both his seasons at Indiana, but made the most of the time he got in, catching 63 passes for 854 yards am

Jeremiah Earby: The cornerback started in three games at Cal last season and impressed coaches and teammates throughout spring practices.

Tavion Woodard: Coming from Ball State, where Boise State hired co-defensive coordinator and safeties coach Tyler Stockton out of, Woodard had 83 tackles and 11 sacks in four seasons at defensive end.

Daylon Metoyer: The 6-foot-4, 315-pound offensive lineman was a JUCO All-American at Mt. San Antonio (Calif.) College despite playing in just five of 11 games last season.

Connor Gilbreath: He played tight end at LSU, used mainly for blocking in short yardage situations, but is listed as an offensive lineman on Boise State’s roster. At 272 pounds, he’s one of the smallest linemen on the roster, but has proven he can block against SEC defenses.

FIVE UP-AND-COMING PLAYERS

These players will be looking to take the next step this season and play a bigger role in 2024.

Jake Ripp: The sophomore should get into linebacker rotation after a spring which he impressed filling in for an injured Marco Notarainni.

Chase Penry: Injuries limited the wide receiver to four games in 2023, but Colorado transfer looks to make his mark in 2024.

Gabe Hunter: The defensive end started four games in 2023, but injuries limited him to two games last season. He’ll look to make an impact in his senior year.

Tyler Wegis: Wegis is another senior defensive end who can have a big season for the Broncos after missing the last ten games last year, his first season after transferring from Utah.

Matt Wagner: The redshirt freshman tight end appeared in four games for the Broncos late last season, but didn’t record any catches. He’ll have a chance to take the next step with the graduation of Riley Smith.

FIVE QUOTABLES

Five quotes from players and coaches from the offseason.

Ashton Jeanty on Heisman chances: “As a little kid, you always dream of things like that. But I’m focused more on winning. If that comes along, it will come along with team success. It will take great play from other players to help me get there.”

Spencer Danielson on paying for a spot in the playoffs: “That’s why you come to Boise, you come to Boise State to win championships and play in the NFL. We just got a long way to go, but I’m excited for the pathway.”

Andrew Simpson on playoff chances: “Ultimately, the highest goal for me is a national championship, if we can. But that’s just the mentality you got to have as a team.”

Offensive coordinator Dirk Koetter on Malachi Nelson learning the Boise State playbook since transferring in from USC: “You can see his ability as a grower, it shines through. Just learning how everything is done at Boise State has been an adjustment, but he’s working on it.”

Latrell Caples on wide receiver depth: “It’s going to be hot competition. I talked to the guys before we even got into winter workouts about how there’s a lot of positions that we don’t know who’s where. We’re here to compete, but also to help each other.”