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Spring scrimmage previews new look Bronco football squad
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With the NBA and NHL playoffs going on, many Boise State football fans might think of their sport as a distant blip on the horizon. After all, Boise State doesn’t open the season until September 1st at South Carolina and the first home game is September 8th against Washington State. However, avid blue and orange fans got a chance to view their beloved squad in action on Saturday during the annual spring scrimmage.
Things will certainly be different for the Broncos next year. Former head coach Dirk Koetter has moved to the PAC-Ten, replaced by Dan Hawkins. Two-time Big West Conference player of the year, Bart Hendricks, takes his quarterbacking skills to the NFL, while Boise State heads to the Western Athletic Conference looking to step into college football’s upper echelon. This fifteenth and final spring practice gives fans of the program a glimpse of the team’s future stars.
The first team offense got off to a shaky start. Junior cornerback, Randy Selden began the scrimmage with a big hit on Brock Forsey’s kick return. The defense was able to hold the Broncos’ new starting quarterback, Ryan Dinwiddie, to one first down before the starting offense was forced to punt. Sophomore safety, Wes Nurse broke through the line and blocked the kick, giving the second team offense the ball with a chance to score. Seizing the opportunity, B.J. Rhode threw a 19-yard touchdown pass to senior Brian O’Neal as the second team offense was able to score first.
Dinwiddie was able to answer his next time on the field. Despite overthrowing a couple of receivers with his cannon arm, the sophomore was able to hit running back David Mikell on a 46-yard screen pass and answer with a score of his own.
Dinwiddie followed his first touchdown with a 62-yard bomb to Junior Billy Wingfield, and the few fans in attendance erupted with joy. Prior to finishing his afternoon, the six-footer from Elk Grove California was able to drive his team the length of the pitch before a Seldon interception ended the threat. Despite playing a limited number of snaps, the young quarterback was impressive, finishing his afternoon with five completions on nine attempts and two touchdown passes.
The passing game looked strong early in the year. Eight different receivers caught passes. Along with Dinwiddie, Rhode and freshman Michael Sanford threw the ball well. Junior receiver, Jay Swillie was consistently open, as was Jeb Putzier.
In addition to the strong play of Hendricks’ hier-apparent, the defense had a strong spring outing. They were able to hold running backs David Word and Donny Heck to 47 yards on 18 carries. Along with a good game from Selden, Junior-College transfer, Chauncey Ako had a strong scrimmage with a pick of his own. The linebacker from out of Santa Rosa Junior College looks to add strength to an already strong group.
Shaunard Harts, a safety for last year’s Bronco team, was the twelfth selection in the seventh round of the NFL draft by the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday. Hendricks meanwhile, went undrafted over the weekend and will now have to play his hand in the NFL’s free-agency market over the next several months.
Josh Jordan
