Last year, the Boise State football team's kick-return units were reliably productive.
This year, special teams coach Jeff Choate hopes to produce more game-changing plays.
The Broncos will break in a new set of returners this season led by sophomore wide receiver Titus Young and the four tailbacks who are competing for carries in the backfield - senior Ian Johnson, sophomores Jeremy Avery and D.J. Harper and freshman Doug Martin.
"We just might be more explosive on every return opportunity,"
Choate said.
Young certainly thinks so. He gave fans a taste of his ability with a 52-yard kickoff return in the Hawaii Bowl.
He is competing with senior wide receiver Vinny Perretta for the punt-return job. Both will get opportunities, but if Young proves steady handling the ball his elusiveness will give him the edge.
"I believe I'll be the guy,"
Young said. " I expect to take a couple of those back to the house for touchdowns."
The Broncos lost all three regular returners from last year.
Safety Marty Tadman averaged 11.4 yards per punt return. The Broncos averaged 12.3 yards as a team - eighth in the WAC, but 22nd in the nation.
Cornerback Rashaun Scott averaged 23.1 yards per kickoff return before he was injured.
Safety Austin Smith replaced him in the Hawaii Bowl and delivered an 89-yard touchdown - the Broncos' first kickoff return for a TD in nearly three seasons. As a team, the Broncos averaged 24.7 yards per return - good for third in the WAC and 10th in the nation.
"To be consistent at it is what you're really looking for,"
Choate said. "Obviously, I'd like to take three or four back to the house, but we finished last year No. 10 in the country in kickoff-return average and that was our goal. And our goals certainly haven't diminished at all."
The Broncos also hope to build on their success covering and blocking kicks - another area where the personnel will be quite different.
Boise State led the WAC in net punting, was second in kickoff coverage and blocked 11 kicks. Gone are special-teams stalwarts Ia Falo, Orlando Scandrick, Scott and Smith.
In their place, perhaps, step freshmen Aaron Tevis (linebacker), Hunter White (linebacker), Travis Stanaway (safety) and Martin.
If they can't get the job done, Choate will need to use more starters.
"That's the story behind the story on special teams for us,"
Choate said. "We've had the huge, huge luxury of having guys like Ia Falo, Rashaun Scott and Austin Smith, who were big contributors for us on special teams and didn't have to be every-down guys on defense. That's going to be a huge deal for us - who steps into those roles for us."
At least safety Ellis Powers, the special teams player of the year, returns. However, he is expected to play more on defense this year and coaches don't want to overuse him.
"He brings a little edge to us on special teams,"
Choate said. "He understands the importance of it and takes pride in it."
