Boise State has already seen what a true breakout can look like.
Dylan Riley came into last season with 22 career carries and little buzz on the running back depth chart. By the end of it, he had taken over the job, piled up 1,274 yards of total offense and scored 12 touchdowns while earning second-team all-Mountain West honors. Boen Phelps followed a similar path on defense, going from six total tackles across his first two seasons to a starting linebacker role in 2025 and finishing with 66 tackles.
With the Broncos heading into their first season in the new Pac-12, those kinds of leaps are exactly what they’ll be looking for again. Three players stand out as candidates to make that kind of jump in 2026.
One of the most obvious is wide receiver Brown, who could become the top deep threat for returning quarterback Maddux Madsen in a rebuilt receiver room. The 5-foot-8, 165-pound speedster played in all 14 games as a true freshman last season and finished with six catches for 122 yards and two touchdowns.
His biggest moment came in Boise State’s 25-24 comeback win at Utah State, the one that clinched a Mountain West championship game berth. Down 11 deep in the third quarter, Brown turned the game with a 66-yard touchdown catch from backup quarterback Max Cutforth to kick-start the rally.
Brown’s speed is the kind that changes how defenses line up. He won a Texas state title in the 100 meters while at Liberty Christian High School and owns a personal best of 10.35 seconds. That kind of burst makes him a natural breakout candidate this fall.
The Broncos also have a major opening at cornerback. Jeremiah Earby and A’Marion McCoy formed the best cornerback duo in the MWC last season, and both are trying to land NFL roster spots. Jaden Mickey is expected to slide from nickelback to corner, but the other starting job should be up for grabs in camp.
Sherrod Smith is in that mix. He played in 12 games last season and made two starts, showing strong coverage skills in limited snaps. His spring was interrupted by injury, though, as he missed all of spring practice, and he’ll have to hold off transfer JeRico Washington Jr. along with returnees Demetrius Freeney and Franklyn Johnson Jr.
If Smith stays healthy, the Broncos believe he has the tools to become an all-Pac-12 player in 2026.
Then there’s Wagner, who has spent the last two seasons as Boise State’s No. 2 tight end behind Matt Lauter. Lauter, an all-MWC player, is now in the NFL, and that leaves Wagner with a much bigger opportunity.
The 6-foot-5, 250-pound tight end started 10 games last season and caught 24 passes for 251 yards and a touchdown. He also did the dirty work in the run game, helping create lanes for Riley and Sire Gaines.
A Texas product from Prosper Rock Hill High School, Wagner should see a larger role in the passing game this season.