Petersen doesn't expect a trend in early exits
The Boise State football program has joined the national trend with two juniors leaving for the NFL this month - the first and second players in school history to do so.
However, coach Chris Petersen does not expect the early departures to become a trend.
Left tackle Ryan Clady, a projected first-round pick, and cornerback Orlando Scandrick, a projected fourth- or fifth-round pick, announced this week that they are headed to the NFL. A third junior, tailback Ian Johnson, checked his stock with the NFL, but will return for his senior year.
Petersen addressed their decisions publicly for the first time Friday, when he held a postseason/pre-recruiting press conference.
"We've got two unique situations," Petersen said. "One being Clady's, that he's truly a first-round pick. And we've got another guy that - most guys that are graded fourth or fifth round aren't going to go out."
The Broncos did not make a passionate pitch to keep the two players, Petersen said, fitting with one of his mottos: "You have to kill your own snakes in life."
"We tried to point out the pros and cons," Petersen said. "But I really believe that if a guy is not all about being here that that's a problem for everybody in the long run."
Clady, Petersen said, is a top-flight prospect. The three-year starter was a consensus All-American.
"I wish I was his agent," Petersen said. "Ryan's a special guy, just in terms of having the physical tools. He's a smart football player. It just really seems like he'll have a long, productive career."
Scandrick, he said, is a player still on the way up. Scandrick, also a three-year starter, never earned All-WAC honors. He has great speed and made an impact as a junior with four blocked kicks and two critical forced fumbles.
"Orlando's got tremendous talent," Petersen said. "His best years are in front of him."
'CAGED TIGERS'
Boise State's early bowl game meant a lot of downtime for the players and coaches.
The Broncos, who finished 10-3, lost to East Carolina in the Hawaii Bowl on Dec. 23. Coaches don't begin recruiting until next weekend and players don't report for the first team meeting of 2008 until Jan. 21.
"A lot of us have been like caged tigers," Petersen said of the coaching staff. "I've got sticky notes all over my house and office on things we need to change and get better at. Every coach I talk to is the same way. We've got a lot of energy in us to get going."
The staff has not had time to discuss as a group the changes that need to be made this year, but Petersen has some general ideas - more physical practices and more emphasis on creating turnovers among them.
The staff was together Friday for the first time since the bowl game.
"We were kind of setting our agenda," Petersen said.
ASSISTANTS STILL HERE
Petersen has not lost a member of his staff yet, he said while knocking on a wooden table, but he expects the offers to come rolling in.
"This is usually the time when the vultures start circling," he said. "There's no question every year there will be at least a few guys with other job opportunities. Right now, we're holding tight."
BRONCOS IN SUPER BOWL?
Petersen has some rooting interest in the NFL playoffs. He talked to friend and former Boise State coach Dirk Koetter on Friday.
Koetter, who was fired by Arizona State after last season, is the Jacksonville Jaguars' offensive coordinator. The Super Bowl is in Glendale, Ariz., this year.
"That would be interesting if he went back to Arizona for the Super Bowl," Petersen said.
Petersen said he hasn't talked to former linebacker Korey Hall, who is a rookie fullback for the Green Bay Packers. Former Bronco Daryn Colledge is also on the Packers.
"I'm anxious to do that after those guys win the Super Bowl," Petersen said.
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