For two seasons, Boise State’s tight end room had a simple identity: the Matts.
Matt Lauter was the steady one, the three-year starter who worked the slot and became a dependable target on short and intermediate routes. Matt Wagner was the other half, the bigger body who mostly made his money as a blocker and helped clear the way in the run game.
Now Lauter is gone after graduating following the 2025 season, and Wagner has stepped into the opening with little hesitation. The 6-foot-5 tight end tied freshman wide receiver Rasean Jones for the team lead with four catches in Boise State’s 34-27 loss to No. 2 Oregon last weekend, finishing with 27 receiving yards and a fourth-down touchdown late in the third quarter that pulled the Broncos even at 24-24.
“I’m so proud of Matt,” Boise State head coach Spencer Danielson said Thursday. “What he can do in the run game, the physicality he brings. But then the matchup issues he creates when he’s out there - his future’s extremely bright here.”
Wagner has made it clear he wanted to become more than a blocker, and his 7-yard touchdown grab Saturday was the kind of moment that showed the work has started to pay off. The play came with Boise State trailing 24-17 late in the third quarter, facing third-and-goal from the 3 and needing more than a field goal. Wagner said Wednesday he recognized the situation as soon as he saw the personnel.
He lined up in the slot, and once he heard Maddux Madsen call the formation, he knew what was coming.
“I knew what the play was going to be,” Wagner said. “You hear Maddux (Madsen) say the formation, I didn’t need to hear the rest of the play. I knew exactly what play we’re running, and right then and there, I knew I needed to go make a play.”
The route still had to be executed, and Wagner did it. Oregon showed man coverage, he beat Ducks defensive back Koi Perich off the line, and he was open enough to lay out for a diving catch between two defenders in front of more than 57,000 Oregon fans.
“He showed what he’s capable of doing. He’s a very talented player,” Boise State offensive coordinator Nate Potter said Monday. “He deserved what he did in that game because he’s been working for not just a year, but since he’s been here.”
Wagner appears set to own the starting tight end job for the next two seasons, with no obvious challenger ready to push him off it. Even so, Boise State has more going on in the room than just one player. Freshman Keawe Browne turned heads in fall camp and saw meaningful snaps against Oregon, including a key block that helped spring Sire Gaines for a 38-yard touchdown run in the first half.
“Every guy has a skill set right now,” Potter said. “Every guy needs to continue to grow that skill set to help the team. But I think there’s a good balance, and that’s an unselfish group that’s willing to do a lot of dirty work.”
Boise State now turns to Memphis, with the Broncos set to play Saturday at 4 p.m. Mountain Time at Albertsons Stadium.
Boise State is 0-1, while Memphis is 2-0. The Tigers lead the series 1-0, and Boise State is listed as an 8.5-point favorite.
The forecast calls for a high of 83, a low of 55, humidity at 30%, partly sunny skies and a 5% chance of rain.
In Other News...
Boise State Just Took A Recruiting Hit Fans Will Notice
Boise States 2027 recruiting class took a notable early blow when Kingston Parks, a three-star wide receiver from Aledo High School in Texas, announced he is no longer committed to head coach Spencer Danielson and the Broncos. Parks had already taken a winding path to this point, first committing to Utah, then backing off that pledge before landing with Boise State, which made his departure feel especially abrupt for a program trying to build momentum on the recruiting trail.
The Broncos still have 14 known commitments in the class, and wide receiver is not completely empty behind Parks, with JIsaiah Mitchell already in the fold. Even so, losing a pass-catcher with Parks profile is the kind of setback fans notice, especially this early in the cycle, and it leaves Boise State with another position group to keep recruiting hard as the 2027 class continues to take shape. [Read more 🡒]
Dakorien Moore Is Becoming A Bigger Problem Than Boise State Saw
Oregons offense found another explosive answer against Boise State when Dakorien Moore turned a 62-yard touchdown into one of the nights biggest momentum swings. For a Broncos defense trying to settle in, it was the kind of play that quickly changed the temperature of the game and reminded everyone how dangerous the Ducks can be when their young receiver gets a clean lane.
Dan Lanning has been as impressed with Moores habits as his highlights, pointing to the receivers coachability, his effort on the less visible parts of the job and the way he handles game situations with maturity. Moore also said he is healthy and ready to go for Oregons next road trip to Oklahoma State, which is hardly comforting news for anyone hoping Boise State was going to see the last of him anytime soon. [Read more 🡒]
Boise State Just Saw The Oregon Threat That Changed Everything
Boise State spent opening night chasing Oregons passing game, and the Ducks receiver trio gave the Broncos plenty to worry about in the 34-27 loss. Evan Stewart was busy all night with eight catches for 72 yards, while the Ducks kept finding ways to stress the coverage with tempo, spacing and a passing attack that looked comfortable from the start.
Dan Lanning made it clear after the game that the wideouts and offensive coordinator Drew Mehringer were a big reason Oregons offense clicked so well. For Boise State, the bigger concern is obvious: the Ducks found enough matchup wins at receiver to keep the Broncos on their heels even with the game hanging in the balance, and the path those targets created is the part Boise State will be dissecting long after the final whistle. [Read more 🡒]