With the defense and offensive line loaded, expectations are that this team will win the Mountain West, have a chance to go undefeated and contend for another New Year's Six bowl slot. – Chadd Cripe
Editor's note: This is the fifth in a series previewing each of the opponents BYU, Utah and Utah State will face this season.
The matchups
Boise State at BYU, Sept. 12
8:15 p.m. MDT, TV: ESPN2
LaVell Edwards Stadium, Provo
Boise State at Utah State, Oct. 16
7 p.m., TV: CBS Sports Network
Maverik Stadium, Logan
Replace a legendary head coach with one of his proteges, and the Boise State program just keeps making national waves.
That's what happened in 2014, when Bryan Harsin took over for Washington-bound Chris Petersen and led the Broncos to a 12-2 record, a No. 16 ranking in the final Associated Press poll and, perhaps most importantly, a 38-30 victory over Arizona in the Fiesta Bowl.
It was the third time since the 2006 season that Boise State has won the Fiesta Bowl, and the Broncos, who opened fall camp Thursday, are favorites to earn the Group of 5 slot in a New Year's Six bowl game again this season.
There are big gaps to fill on offense, with the departures of running back Jay Ajayi, a fifth-round draft pick of the Miami Dolphins, and quarterback Grant Hedrick, but the Broncos are still the team to beat in the Mountain West and will provide stiff tests for BYU and Utah State.
The Deseret News caught up with Chadd Cripe, Boise State football beat writer for the Idaho Statesman, to find out who are the leading candidates to start in the offensive backfield and what the Broncos plan for an encore after last year's Fiesta Bowl win.
DN: Which players are in line to replace Jay Ajayi and Grant Hedrick in the starting lineup?
CC: The quarterback race remains open. Sophomore Ryan Finley was definitely the frontrunner after spring ball, but he was arrested for resisting/obstructing shortly after that, which put some uncertainty around him. (In late July, Harsin said Finley likely would not be suspended.) True freshman Brett Rypien improved through the spring and will be one of the most intriguing players in fall camp. At running back, sophomore Jeremy McNichols was an explosive tailback/receiver hybrid last season. He's the expected No. 1 tailback this year, but there's a lot of competition. Kelsey Young transferred from Stanford this summer and joins his brother, redshirt freshman Cory Young.
DN: What are the expectations for the program after another Fiesta Bowl season?
CC: With the defense and offensive line loaded, expectations are that this team will win the Mountain West, have a chance to go undefeated and contend for another New Year's Six bowl slot.
DN: Beyond those expected to replace Ajayi and Hedrick, who are some other players to watch on offense?
CC: Wide receiver Thomas Sperbeck had an incredible season last year, but he didn't have a catch until Matt Miller was injured at the end of September, so he didn't get noticed nationally. He still finished with 877 yards and was the Fiesta Bowl offensive MVP. Shane Williams-Rhodes and Chaz Anderson also are dynamic receivers, and Jake Roh is coming off a productive freshman season at tight end.
DN: Who are the players to watch on defense and special teams?
CC: The defense is loaded. End Kamalei Correa led the Mountain West in sacks, linebacker Tanner Vallejo was the defensive MVP of the Mountain West title game and the Fiesta Bowl and cornerback Donte Deayon and safety Darian Thompson rank in the top three nationally in career interceptions among active players. Linebacker Ben Weaver should have a big year, and two former four-star recruits join the mix in the secondary, Dylan Sumner-Gardner and Kam Miles. Kicker is the only major question on special teams, with Tyler Rausa taking over the job.
DN: What major question marks does the team need to solve in fall camp?
CC: Quarterback and tailback are the two big issues. But for as talented as the defense is, the unit was inconsistent last year. It allowed far too many big plays. The defense might need to carry this team early in the season, so it needs to show more consistency.
Email: bjudd@deseretdigital.com; Twitter: @brandonljudd