Boise State’s passing game is heading into 2026 with the same big question it carried a year ago: who is going to be the Broncos’ leading receiver?
That uncertainty says plenty about where the room stands right now. Last offseason, Bronco Nation News asked who would lead Boise State in catches, and the answer ended up being Latrell, who finished with 51 receptions for 617 yards in what was described as a remarkably underwhelming year for the Broncos’ receiver group. This time around, the picture looks even more open.
The turnover has been significant. Caples is gone after graduating, and so are the third- and fourth-leading receivers Matt Lauter and Chase Penry.
Chris Marshall, Boise State’s second-leading receiver, transferred to Arkansas. Matt Miller also left the wide receiver job to become offensive coordinator at Washington State.
In response, Boise State brought in Alvis Whitted from NC State’s staff, added transfers from the FCS and JUCO levels, and welcomed multiple freshmen who could push for immediate roles.
Ben Ford sits near the top of the list of possible answers. In 2025, he caught 21 passes for 325 yards and five touchdowns while missing seven games with injury.
Even with that missed time, he was on pace to lead Boise State in receiving yards, and he stood out as a dependable target for Maddux Madsen. Ford showed he could work downfield and operate in the middle of the field, with 10 of his catches coming 10-plus yards downfield and 15 arriving between the numbers.
If he’s healthy, he looks like the favorite. But that’s the catch: Spencer Danielson has not yet said Ford will be ready for the start of fall camp, and any delay would seriously dent his chances.
Matt Wagner is another name to watch closely. He had 24 catches last season, the most of any returning player on the roster.
With Matt Lauter gone, Wagner should see a much larger workload, and if he can match Lauter’s 2024 line of 47 catches for 619 yards, he could wind up as the team’s top receiver. He also comes out of spring camp with plenty of momentum.
The player who could change the entire conversation is Rasean Jones. The true freshman from Rocky Mountain High School impressed almost immediately in spring, and the buzz around him was loud.
If that upside shows up right away, he has a real chance to become Boise State’s WR1 and a dangerous outside threat. The reason he’s not higher on the list is simple: he’s still a freshman, and there are usually growing pains that come with that.
Cameron Bates is another breakout candidate worth keeping in the mix. A year ago, he was the spring standout being talked up as a possible breakout receiver, and he turned that into a productive season with 17 catches for 302 yards and a touchdown.
He wasn’t quite a star yet, but he wasn’t far off Ford or Wagner in production either. With a bigger role, Bates could take that next step in his junior year.
Akeem Wright brings the biggest mystery. He arrives from De Anza College after a huge junior season that produced 59 catches, 1,173 yards and 12 touchdowns.
His spring started slowly, but by the end of camp he was flashing highlight-reel grabs almost every practice. Boise State has had success finding JUCO receivers who become stars, and Wright could be the next one.
There are also a few longer shots. Darren Morris transferred in from Southern University at the FCS level and gives the Broncos speed and experience. His numbers there weren’t eye-popping, but he led the team in receiving as both a sophomore and junior, so his role in Boise State’s offense could be bigger than just a vertical threat.
Brown, a true freshman last season, produced one of the year’s memorable plays with a diving touchdown catch against App State that knocked his helmet off and caused him to break his nose. At 5-foot-8 and 165 pounds, he isn’t the biggest target, but he’s a sharp route runner and one of the fastest players on the team. Jumping from 6 catches to 60 would be a stretch, but he should keep carving out a role.
Qumonte Williams Jr. is another name to file away. The true sophomore didn’t record a catch last season, but he played in all 14 games, ran 35 routes and was targeted four times.
At 6-foot-5, he’s a huge target who moves better than you’d expect for that frame. His route running and ball skills still need work, but if everything clicks, he has a path to becoming a major contributor sooner than most would expect.
In Other News...
Boise State Is Already Earning Serious Playoff Respect Again
As Boise State gets ready for its first season in the revived Pac-12, the early preseason respect is already rolling in. The Broncos are being viewed by sportsbooks and multiple polls as the top Group of 6 program, which matters more than ever now that the highest-ranked team from that tier can punch a College Football Playoff ticket. Across the national landscape, Boise State keeps showing up as the standard-bearer for that race, even as the exact placement varies from one preseason ranking to the next.
Josh Pate is the most bullish of the bunch, slotting Boise State inside his top 25, while other outlets have the Broncos a little lower but still clearly ahead of the rest of the Group of 6 pack. CBS Sports, Phil Steele and ESPN FPI all have Boise State leading that chase in their own way, with UNLV and others trying to close the gap. The bigger question now is whether the Broncos can turn that preseason belief into the kind of season that keeps them in the playoff conversation all fall. [Read more 🡒]