Boise State is set to unveil its official two-deep depth chart on Monday, and with the Broncos opening the 2026 season at Oregon on Saturday, Sept. 5, there are still a few spots that haven’t fully settled yet.
After last weekend’s scrimmage, head coach Spencer Danielson said several jobs on the two-deep remained up for grabs. So before the official release drops, here’s a final projection for how Boise State could line up in Week 1 on offense, defense and special teams.
On offense, the Broncos bring back six projected starters, led by quarterback Maddux Madsen and running back Dylan Riley. Wide receiver Ben Ford also returns, along with left guard Jason Steele, right guard Roger Carreon and right tackle Daylon Metoyer.
The departures on that side of the ball are significant, with five starters gone: wide receivers Chris Marshall and Latrell Caples, tight end Matt Lauter, left tackle Kage Casey and center Mason Randolph.
One of the bigger question marks in the projection sits on the line, where Darren Morris, senior OR Qumonte Williams Jr., sophomore are listed.
Defense comes with its own set of returning pieces and holes to fill. Boise State is projected to bring back five starters there: defensive end Max Stege, nose tackle David Latu, edge rusher Jayden Virgin-Morgan, linebacker Boen Phelps and defensive back Jaden Mickey.
But six starters are gone from that unit, including defensive tackle Braxton Fely, linebacker Marco Notarainni, cornerbacks A’Marion McCoy and Jeremiah Earby, plus safeties Ty Benefield and Zion Washington.
Another position battle appears in the secondary, where Sherrod Smith, junior OR JeRico Washington Jr., junior are both in the mix.
Special teams looks far more stable. The Broncos are projected to return kicker Colton Boomer and punter Oscar Doyle. Departing from that group are long snapper Mason Hutton and kick and punt returner Malik Sherrod.
In Other News...
Boise State Has An Unlikely New Starter For Its Biggest Early Test
Boise States defensive front has a new face in a key spot heading into one of its biggest early tests, with Mikaio Edward confirmed as a starting defensive tackle this season. The Central Washington transfer earned the job after impressing coaches with his footwork and leverage, a pretty notable rise for a player arriving from a smaller program and then forcing his way into the conversation along the Broncos interior.
Edwards path has become one of the more interesting personnel developments on the roster, especially because Boise State coaches and the player himself have already spoken publicly about his role and development. For a team that will be leaning on its line play early, his emergence adds both depth and intrigue, and it leaves a real question about how much of that winning performance can carry over once the games start to matter most. [Read more 🡒]
Boise State May Have One Edge Oregon Wont Enjoy Facing
Boise State gets an early measuring-stick game in 2026 when it opens against Oregon, a team sitting second in the preseason polls and stocked with national recognition on ESPNs preseason top 100 list. The Broncos have only one player on that list, but the conversation around this matchup is not just about star power or rankings. It is about whether Boise State can lean on one of its clearest strengths and make the Ducks deal with a part of the game that can wear on even elite teams.
The backfield has become the center of that discussion, with Dylan Riley and Sire Gaines both back in the fold and drawing strong reviews from Spencer Danielson in fall camp. Boise State also has more proven depth behind them now, which gives the staff more options as it prepares for a season opener that will tell a lot about where this roster stands. Oregon may bring the flash, but the Broncos could have a trench-level edge that makes this one more interesting than the rankings suggest. [Read more 🡒]