It’s Taylen Time!
As Taylen Green, starting quarterback for Boise State, enters his second season with the Broncos, the quest for a breakout season is on.
There is no doubt that Green had a phenomenal season and defied the odds last year.
In the midst of a season full of coach firings, quarterback transfers and adversity, Green was able to put up outstanding numbers during his freshman year.
Green had 2,042 yards passing with a completion percentage of 61.25%. He also notched 24 touchdowns on the season, 14 of which came from passing and the other ten from rushing. He was just one of nine quarterbacks in the nation to register at least 10 passing and 10 rushing touchdowns in 2022, and the only freshman to do so.
To conclude the 2022 season, Green was awarded the Mountain West Freshman of the Year. Green was also recognized as an All-Mountain West Honorable Mention and received a myriad of recognitions throughout the season, with two Mountain West Offensive Player of the Week awards and four Mountain West Freshman of the Week awards.
To round out his season of awards, Green was selected as a part of the College Football News Freshman All-America Second Team and was awarded Offensive MVP for the Frisco Bowl.
All signs suggest that this year will be Green’s breakout year.
Coaching Staff
Bush Hamdan, offensive coordinator and quarterback coach, was hired in early December 2022 by head coach Andy Avalos, and will be looking to come into this season and make a change.
Hamdan is no stranger to the Blue turf.
The former Bronco quarterback played at Boise State from 2004-2008, and will be returning to the Blue after garnering 14 years of coaching experience.
The former Bronco went on to coach a variety of different teams during his tenure, but is just coming off a stint with three years at Missouri.
Last year, the rocky start to the season seemed to loom over the remainder of the season.
With the transfer of former quarterback, Hank Bachmeier, and the firing of former offensive coordinator, Tim Plough early in the season, the drama that ensued at the beginning of the season gave way to an incredibly rocky start for the 2022 season.
However, the 2023 season seems to be much more promising. As Hamdan is stepping into his new role as offensive coordinator and quarterback coach, Green will have a more functional and dependable coaching staff this year.
“As long as he’s not turning it over, we let him do whatever he wants,” Hamdan said. “For him [Green], it’s critical for him to not do too much…let the game come to him. He naturally, with his abilities, can create explosive plays.”
Experience
As a freshman, Green exceeded all expectations, from being a hardly known backup quarterback, to freshman sensation, Green’s career is only on the rise.
Entering the 2023 season as a redshirt sophomore, the quarterback knows exactly what it takes to lead a team back to the Mountain West Championship game.
Though the turnout for last season wasn’t what anyone had hoped for, as they lost to Fresno State in the Mountain West Championship game, the opportunity for this upcoming season seems sky high.
As Green looks forward to his second season with the Broncos, he sees a variety of tools at his disposal.
“I feel like I run the ball well,” Green said. “Distributing the ball to my receivers and just taking that next step in leadership role and taking command of this offense…the communication with the o-line and with the running backs and the receivers…I tell them what I need out of them and they tell me what they need out of me.”
Offensive Weapons
The offensive side for the Broncos seems to be stronger than ever.
The Broncos offense will return nine starters, along with Green as an experienced quarterback.
Boise State has a solid running back group with George Holani and Ashton Jeanty, as well as a deep receiving core.
Though the Broncos will feel the sting of the loss of Latrell Caples due to a season ending knee injury, the Boise State offense still has Stefan Cobbs, Eric McAlister and Riley Smith.
Boise State also returns Garrett Curran, Mason Randolph, Cade Beresford and Ben Dooley. These four will serve as a critical part to this center, and as spring and summer training has unfolded, these Broncos seem ready for the challenge.
With the combination of receiver depth on the roster and the undoubtable chemistry between Holani and Jeanty, there is a solid group that defines this offense in what could be a very productive season for the Boise State offense.
Pre-Season Expectations
Coming into this season, the Boise State football program has high expectations.
The Broncos were voted to clinch the Mountain West Championship title with 28 first-place votes and 433 total points, while Air Force was selected to finish in second place and Fresno State was picked third.
As the Mountain West eliminated its two-division format prior to this season, the Mountain West Championship game will consist of the two teams with the highest winning percentage in the league and will meet on Dec. 2.
To go along with the high team expectations, Green has been added onto three watchlists already.
The three lists that the quarterback has been named to is the Davey O’brien Award watchlist, Maxwell Award watchlist and is a Walter Camp Award candidate.
There seems to be no limit to what Taylens Green’s success can be on the field, and as the season unravels, watching this highly anticipated player take reins of the Boise State football team.
