Boise State’s 38-24 win over South Dakota left plenty to clean up, but it also produced a handful of clear standouts. A few Broncos made their mark in a game that had its share of rough edges, and they earned the kind of recognition that comes with changing the feel of a matchup.
Rasean Jones was the headliner. The true freshman has wasted no time looking like Boise State’s top target, and against South Dakota he backed that up with eight catches for 95 yards and a touchdown.
Maddux Madsen keeps leaning on him for big plays, and Jones has handled that role like a veteran. For a player who arrived with serious spring and fall camp buzz, he may already be surpassing it.
Canaan Moore also deserves a nod. Kickers rarely get the spotlight unless something goes wrong, but Moore keeps giving Boise State steady production.
He was perfect on all four of his field-goal tries, with a long of 39 yards, and he also went 13-for-13 on extra points. That consistency helped him win the job over Colton Boomer, and it has made him one of the more reliable pieces on a special-teams unit that has had its ups and downs.
On defense, Boen Phelps turned in another strong showing. The former walk-on safety led the Broncos with five tackles and added a tackle for loss and a quarterback hurry.
He has become a key face of Boise State’s improved tackling, and the way he is playing now suggests he may be drawing NFL attention before long. His rise has been one of the more interesting storylines on the roster.
Kyle Hall rounded out the group after stepping into his first career start in place of Derek Ganter. The junior-college transfer had seen only a small role through the first two games, but he was pressed into the lineup and held up well. Hall finished with three tackles and a tackle for loss, and his biggest play came late in the fourth quarter when he broke up a fourth-down pass in the end zone that could have tied the game for South Dakota.
Honorable mention goes to Lopez Sanusi, whose numbers do not jump off the page - four tackles and one tackle for loss this season - but whose impact is showing up on film. He played 25 snaps against South Dakota, tied for the second most among Boise State’s interior defensive linemen, and continued to bring energy and disruption in the middle. That kind of presence is helping ease some of the concern around the Broncos’ interior depth.
In Other News...
Boise State Has One Road Edge That Could Decide This Test
Boise State gets one last non-conference test Saturday at 1:30 p.m. Mountain time, when it heads to Waldo Stadium to face Western Michigan and a defense that has made a habit of keeping scores down. The Broncos are walking into a matchup that should tell them plenty about where they stand before the schedule turns fully toward league play.
Western Michigans defense has been the calling card, allowing an average of 16 points per game and giving Boise State a clear road challenge to solve. For the Broncos, the trip is about more than finishing the non-conference slate cleanly, because this is the kind of game where field position, discipline and a few key plays can swing everything. [Read more 🡒]
Ashton Jeanty Just Gave Boise State Fans A New NFL Reason To Watch
Ashton Jeantys first few weeks with the Raiders have already given Boise State fans another Sunday connection to follow, and Week 2 added a little something different. In a 26-14 road win over the Chargers, the former Bronco handled 21 carries and added four catches, continuing to fit into Las Vegas offense as more than just a straight-ahead runner.
The most eye-catching moment came on a flea-flicker, when Jeanty completed a pass to Kirk Cousins that turned into a 27-yard gain and helped set up a touchdown. For Boise State followers keeping tabs on the NFL pipeline, it was the kind of play that stands out even in a busy slate, especially with other former Broncos also turning in their own performances around the league in Week 2. [Read more 🡒]
Boise State Is Walking Into A Bigger Test Than Western Michigan's Record Shows
Western Michigans record says 2-1, but Boise State is preparing for a team that feels a lot closer to undefeated. The Broncos are getting ready to face the defending Mid-American Conference champions, and Spencer Danielson has taken note of a roster that brings back plenty of key pieces from last season and leans on a rushing attack that can control a game if it gets rolling.
For Boise State, the challenge goes beyond the standings and into how quickly its defense can adjust to a physical opponent with real continuity. Western Michigans controversial loss to Michigan still hangs over the matchup, and Danielsons view of the Broncos from Kalamazoo is clear enough: this is not a trip to treat lightly, even if the record says otherwise. [Read more 🡒]