Boise State’s first fall camp scrimmage didn’t produce any public numbers or a scoreboard, but it did give Spencer Danielson plenty to sort through.
After Saturday afternoon’s work, the Broncos’ coach made clear that the staff has decisions to make before the opener at Oregon on Sept. 5. He said the team still has “a lot of things we need to grow in,” and that what happened in the scrimmage will affect the roster picture.
“We’re going to watch (Saturday’s scrimmage), and then we’re going to sit down with the staff at 5:30 p.m., and depth charts will change based on what happened today,” Danielson said. “Then we have scrimmage number two and things will be solidified. Scout teams will be picked up, and then we hit the ground running.”
The quarterback group had an uneven day, and Danielson didn’t try to sugarcoat it. He said the first couple of drives weren’t good enough, with the quarterback play tied to that start.
Fifth-year starter Maddux Madsen avoided turnovers, “operated well,” and eventually guided the offense to several scoring drives. Senior Max Cutforth showed some positive flashes as a thrower, but Danielson also pointed to “some decisions that need to be cleaned up.”
Freshman Cash Herrera is still developing, though Danielson said he has more “operational areas” to address. Freshman Jackson Taylor, meanwhile, didn’t get many reps.
If the quarterbacks were uneven, the wideouts gave Danielson reason to smile. Senior Akeem Wright, the De Anza College transfer who has been pushing toward a starting job all summer, drew the coach’s strongest praise.
“He continues to have a really, really good camp,” Danielson said. “I’d say the biggest play of the day, receiver-wise, probably had to go to Akeem. Nitro is playing at a high level.”
Danielson also singled out freshman Rasean Jones, sophomore AJ Jones and junior Cam Bates for solid performances. Still, he stressed that the receiver room remains young. Only Bates and sixth-year Ben Ford have previous experience at this level, and Ford is still working back from an ACL tear.
“They’re doing a really good job in practice, but a lot of these guys have not done it in a game yet,” Danielson said. “... We’ve got some younger cats, so I’m excited where they’re heading to.”
Up front, the offensive line is beginning to come into focus, though there’s still real competition at a couple of spots. As of Saturday, fifth-year Daylon Metoyer at right tackle, fifth-year Roger Carreon at right guard and senior Tyler Ethridge at left tackle appear to be moving closer to locked-in roles. But the left guard and center jobs are still up for grabs.
Danielson pointed to a handful of linemen who are making that battle interesting: “Jacob Tracy stepped up this fall camp and is doing some good things … Jason Steele, Carson Rasmussen, Stu (Taufa) is doing good, Zander Esty. Those are really the guys that are having high levels of competition on the offensive line.”
Tracy, a sophomore, looks like the long-term answer at right tackle behind Metoyer. At center, the competition appears to be between sophomore Stewart Taufa and senior Zandy Esty. Left guard, meanwhile, is a fight between seniors Jason Steele and Carson Rasmussen.
Danielson also addressed the status of cornerback Jeremiah Earby and defensive tackle Braxton Fely, two players whose return became possible after an early-August court order allowed student-athletes to compete in college for five years. The coach said he spoke with both before fall camp about the possibility of coming back, but hasn’t heard from either since then, leaving the last contact at least as far back as Aug. 3.
“I’m so focused on this team. I love Brax and Jeremiah, but I really don’t know what’s going to happen,” Danielson said.
“We had a conversation before we started fall camp, and I just left it at that. I told them, ‘Hey guys, let me know if anything changes or if they reach out to you. …’ I have not heard from them since that time.”
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