Spring football for Boise State will have a much different feel in 2011. The Broncos needed to replace only three starters last year, which produced a very anticlimactic spring session.
This year, about half of the starting positions are open -- including high-profile spots at safety, nickel, wide receiver (two), cornerback and kicker.
The turnover was so limited last year that the redshirt freshman class produced few contributors. All of those players -- plus a handful of redshirts from last year and four January enrollees -- will have a chance to compete for playing time this spring.
"Last year was an extremely rare situation," coach Chris Petersen said last month. "This is more indicative of how it really is -- especially when you have a good team. You're going to lose some good players. What's going to happen is some of the younger guys -- the guys who haven't played and the guys who are incoming -- are going to have to help us out."
For the third straight year, the Broncos will spend their offseason thinking about a season opener that is one of the most high-profile games of September. The Broncos open Sept. 3 against Georgia in Atlanta -- and they hope to build on defeats of Oregon (2009) and Virginia Tech (2010) in previous openers.
The team is 38-2 in three seasons with quarterback Kellen Moore at the helm. Moore returns for his senior year and is surrounded by experience with one huge exception -- he lost star wide receivers Austin Pettis and Titus Young. Tailback Doug Martin and most of the dominant defensive line also return.
TOP OF THE CLASS
DT Jeff Worthy (Whittier Christian HS, La Mirada, Calif.): Worthy turned down most of the Pac-10 to play for the Broncos. Most years, he'd be a shoo-in to play, but the Broncos return seven of their top eight defensive linemen and might be able to redshirt him.
RB Jay Ajayi (Frisco Liberty HS, Plano, Texas): He rushed for more than 2,200 yards as a high school senior -- after committing to Boise State. He stayed firm in his commitment and likely will join the tailback rotation as a freshman.
WR Troy Ware (Vista HS, Oceanside, Calif.): He grayshirted from the 2010 class and could be a factor immediately at wide receiver, where the Broncos lost two standouts. He's 6-foot-2.
K Jake Van Ginkel (Upland HS, Upland, Calif.): He's expected to take over the field-goal duties right away. The Broncos rarely offer scholarships to kickers until they've proved themselves, but they are believers in Van Ginkel.
