2021 Boise State Broncos Preview and Predictions

(Photo Credit: Troy Babbitt/Wyoming Athletics)

Key Players Returning:

QB Hank Bachmeier, RB Andrew Van Buren, WR Khalil Shakir, WR C.T. Thomas, TE Riley Smith, OC Kekaniokoa Holomalia-Gonzalez, OG Garrett Curran, OG Jake Stetz, OT John Ojukwu, DE Isaiah Bagnah, DE Shane Irwin, DT Scott Matlock, NT Divine Obichere, LB Ezekiel Noa, LB Riley Whimpey, CB Markel Reed, NB Kekaula Kaniho, SS J.L. Skinner, PK Jonah Dalmas, and PT Joel Velazquez.

Key Players Departing:

OT Nick Crabtree, DE Sam Whitney, and CB/RS Avery Williams.

Top 10 Recruits:

3 Star Recruits: 
RB Cyrus Habibi-Likio (Oregon transfer), LB Jai Jones (Dallas, Texas), OT Will Farrar (Texas Tech transfer), OG Mason Randolph (Yorba Linda, California), LB Rejhan Tatum (Oklahoma City, Oklahoma), TE Kurt Rafdal (Nebraska transfer), WR Eric McAlister (Azle, Texas), LB Andrew Simpson (Bellflower, California), LB James Wilborn (Avon, Connecticut), and S Zion Washington (Frisco, Texas).

2020 Results:

G01   UTAH STATE  W  42-13
G02   at Air Force  W  49-30
G03   #9 BYU  L  17-51
G04   COLORADO STATE  W  52-21
G05   at Hawaii  W  40-32
G06   at Wyoming  W  17-9
MWC  vs. #24 San Jose State  L  20-34

Team Info:

2020 Overall:  5-2 (2nd in MWC)

Home:  2-1
Away:  3-0
Neutral:  0-1
MWC:  5-0
Non-MWC:  0-2

Head Coach:  Andy Avalos

Boise State:  0-0
Career:  0-0
Bowls:  0-0

Returning Statistical Leaders:

Passing:  Hank Bachmeier (96-157, 1150 yards, 61.1%., 7.3 avg., 6 TD, 2 INT)
Rushing:  Andrew Van Buren (111 car., 382 yards, 3.4 avg., 8 TD)
Receiving:  Khalil Shakir (52 rec., 719 yards, 13.8 avg., 6 TD)
TD’s Scored:  Andrew Van Buren (8)
Sacks:  Shane Irwin (6)
Tackles:  Riley Whimpey (61)
Interceptions:  Tyric LeBeauf/J.L. Skinner (1)
Pass Deflections:  Kekaula Kaniho (7)
Tackles For Loss:  Riley Whimpey (7.5)
Forced Fumbles:  Shane Irwin/Ezekiel Noa (1)
Kick Returns:  C.T. Thomas (1 ret., 4 yards, 4.0 avg., 0 TD)
Punt Returns:  Kekaula Kaniho (1 ret., 44 yards, 44.0 avg., 0 TD)
Kicking:  Jonah Dalmas (7-8 fg/fga., 88%, 30-31 xp/xpa., 51 pts.)
Punting:  Joel Velazquez (22 punts, 901 yards, 41.0 avg., 6 in20)

Projected Offensive Starters:

QB:  19  Hank Bachmeier  (JR)
RB:  24  George Holani  (JR)
WR:  5  Stefan Cobbs  (RS JR)
WR:  2  Khalil Shakir  (SR)
WR:  6  C.T. Thomas  (RS SR)
TE:  3  Riley Smith  (RS JR)
LT:  70  John Ojukwu  (RS SR)
LG:  69  Garrett Curran  (RS JR)
OC:  55  Kekaniokoa Holomalia-Gonzalez  (RS JR)
RG:  68  Jake Stetz  (RS SR)
RT:  66  Ben Dooley  (RS SO)
KR:  2  Khalil Shakir  (SR)
PK:  35  Jonah Dalmas  (SO)

Projected Defensive Starters:

DE:  55  Shane Irwin  (RS SR/TR)
NT:  90  Scale Igiehon  (SR)
DT:  99  Scott Matlock  (RS JR)
DE:  30  Isaiah Bagnah  (RS SO)
LB:  7  Ezekiel Noa  (RS SR)
LB:  44  Riley Whimpey  (RS SR)
NB:  28  Kekaula Kaniho  (RS SR)
CB:  8  Markel Reed  (JR)
CB:  22  Tyric LeBeauf  (RS JR)
FS:  21  Tyreque Jones  (RS SR)
SS:  00  J.L. Skinner  (JR)
PR:  2  Khalil Shakir  (SR)
PT:  46  Joel Velazquez  (RS SR)

Team Grades:

Offense

Quarterbacks:  C
Running Backs:  B
Wide Receivers:  B
Offensive Line:  B

Defense:

Defensive Line:  B
Linebackers:  A
Secondary:  C

Special Teams:

Kick Returners:  C
Punt Returners:  C
Kickers:  A
Punters:  C

Schedule:

09/02 
at UCF Knights  |  First meeting between schools.

09/10  UTEP MINERS  |  Boise State leads the series 5-0.  The Broncos won (47-31) the last meeting between schools in 2004.

09/18  OKLAHOMA STATE COWBOYS  |  Boise State won (21-44) the only prior meeting between schools in 2018.

09/25  at Utah State Aggies  |  Boise State leads the series 20-5.  The Broncos are 7-1 since renewing the series in 2013, and their last series loss (26-52) was in 2015.

10/02  NEVADA WOLF PACK  |  Boise State leads the series 30-13.  The Broncos are 6-0 since 2011, and they won (31-27) the last meeting between schools in 2018.

10/09  at BYU Cougars  |  Boise State leads the series 7-4.  The Broncos are 5-4 since renewing the series in 2012, and their last series win (21-16) was in 2018.

10/16  AIR FORCE FALCONS  |  Boise State leads the series 6-3.  The Broncos won (49-30) last season’s meeting between schools, and their last series loss (20-27) was in 2016.

10/30  at Colorado State Rams  |  Boise State leads the series 10-0.  The Broncos have won each of the prior ten meetings, dating back to 2011, by an average of 21.2 points per game.

11/06  at Fresno State Bulldogs  |  Boise State leads the series 15-7.  The Broncos are 6-3 since 2011, and their last series win (24-17) was in 2018.

11/12  WYOMING COWBOYS  |  Boise State leads the series 14-1.  The Broncos are 9-1 since 2011, and their only series loss (28-30) was in 2016.

11/20  NEW MEXICO LOBOS  |  Boise State leads the series 10-1.  The Broncos are 8-1 since 2011, and their only series loss (24-31) was in 2015.

11/26  at San Diego State Aztecs  |  The series is tied 3-3.  The Broncos lost (13-19) the last meeting between schools in 2018.

Predictions:

Home:  5-1
Away:  1-5
Neutral:  0-0
MWC:  3-5
Non-MWC:  3-1

Overall:  6-6 (4th in MWC Mountain)