Andrew Browning, Senior • defensive tackle

A friend's dad sent a mass e-mail to schools across the country when Browning was a senior at Lake Oswego (Ore.) High.

Boise State was the only Division I-A school that bothered to pursue the lead.

Browning walked on at Boise State in August 2002. He earned a scholarship within a year. He moved into the starting lineup as a sophomore. And he was named an All-WAC first-teamer and Academic All-America second-teamer as a senior.

Browning led the Broncos with 8› sacks this season.

"I just knew deep down I could do it," said Browning, who is 6-foot, 278 pounds. "I felt like all I needed was the opportunity to prove myself. Boise State was the place that gave me that chance.

"I got tired of people telling me I couldn't."

Ia Falo, Junior • special-teamer

Falo's passion for football landed him anunlikely spot on the Boise State roster three years ago. His fearless play allowed him to stay.

Falo — a 5-foot-7, 163-pound special-teams dynamo — started on the Broncos' kickoff, kickoff-return, punt and punt-return units this season.

He finished with 14 tackles, including two against Oklahoma in the Fiesta Bowl.

"He's the poster child for heart and courage," BSU coach Chris Petersen said of the smallest Bronco.

Falo, who is from Mountain Home, weighed 143 pounds when he arrived at BSU. He got into sports as a boy to deal with his ADHD — attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder.

He has become such an integral part of the team that opponents design their kick-return schemes around blocking him. Falo also was named a captain for 2007.

"I love to hit," he said. "There's nothing that scares me about the hitting. I don't care how big you are. Basically, the biggest guy can be knocked down — you just have to find a way."

Kyle Wilson, Freshman • cornerback

Wilson, who was suspended for the first three games, emerged as a starter the second half of the season, replacing senior Quinton Jones.

Wilson broke up three passes Oct. 21 against Idaho (one was negated by a pass-interference penalty) and made a team-high 11 tackles Nov. 1 against Fresno State, his first college start.

He was named the Broncos' defensive player of the game both times.

Wilson also made an interception on his first college play, Sept. 23 against Hawaii, stripped a Nevada running back from behind and led the team with 10 tackles in the Fiesta Bowl.

"We're excited about where he's headed, and it all starts with his attitude," defensive coordinator Justin Wilcox said. "He plays with a little bit of a chip on his shoulder. … He's not going to get in awe of anybody."

Jeff Cavender, Junior • right guard

Cavender started every game for the third straight season.

And for the second straight year, he learned a new position.

Cavender started all 12 games at right tackle in 2004, all 13 games at center in 2005 and all 13 games at right guard in 2006.

Where he lands in 2007 is anybody's guess.

His trifecta is a rarity in college football.

"You don't see anybody else doing it because I don't think a lot of people can do it," BSU coach Chris Petersen said. "The other part of it is, I don't think a lot want to do it. … He's a good athlete and he's smart. Those two things always give you a lot of flexibility."

Not only did Cavender play three positions in his first three seasons, but he spent the past season playing for two people. His twin brother, Pete, sustained a season-ending Achilles' injury during summer conditioning.

As a tribute to his brother, Jeff, gave up his own jersey number and wore Pete's No. 64 for the entire season.

Legedu Naanee Senior • wide receiver

Naanee came to Boise State in 2002 because the Broncos offered to let him play quarterback.

He leaves as an All-WAC wide receiver possibly bound for the NFL.

"His best years are probably in front of him," BSU quarterback Jared Zabransky said. "I see that guy playing a lot of years in professional football. He's definitely a big-time receiver."

Naanee finished third on the team with 35 catches for 541 yards and first with six touchdown catches.

His biggest play of the year was a 61-yard touchdown catch and run against Idaho. He stiff-armed safety Shiloh Keo to turn a promising play into a touchdown.

Naanee, who is 6-foot-2, 228 pounds, has received an invitation to the NFL Scouting Combine. He switched to receiver late in his sophomore season, realizing he wasn't going to play at quarterback.

"I was sitting at home one day and said, ‘I'll try it,' " Naanee said. "I don't know why receiver or where it came from. I tried it and it worked out."

Ryan Clady, Sophomore • left tackle

Clady shifted from right tackle to left in the offseason to replace the departed Daryn Colledge, a second-round NFL Draft pick. Clady, a massive 6-foot-6, 319-pound sophomore, will join him soon — possibly as the Broncos' first-ever first-round selection.

"It's a very calming feeling when you've got a beast like that on your backside," quarterback Jared Zabransky said. "You know it's going to take something very special coming off that edge to beat him."

Clady, a first-team All-WAC selection and a second-team All-American this year, combines his strength with deft footwork and athleticism. The Broncos consider him a weapon, using him to pull or get out in front of screens. On the game-winning 2-point conversion in the Fiesta Bowl, Clady polished off two defenders.

Having inherited a shy side from his late mother, Clady doesn't say much.

"He doesn't say a word on the field, not a word. And that's scary. The guy that kicks your butt and then won't say a word is more intimidating than any guy that just talks trash all the time," center Jadon Dailey said.

Derek Schouman, Senior • tight end

Schouman, an Eagle High graduate, emerged as an offensive force during his true freshman season, catching four touchdowns, including the game-winner in the 2003 Fort Worth Bowl. But nagging injuries limited his effectiveness throughout his sophomore and junior years.

Schouman's senior year began with a hamstring injury early in fall camp, but he rebounded to become an important part of the Broncos' passing and rushing attacks.

"He flies under the radar most of the time," tight ends coach Scott Huff said. "But what that guy does for us in the run game, whew boy, it's impressive."

Schouman, an All-WAC selection, finished his career with a bang. He caught a game-high eight passes, including an overtime touchdown in the Fiesta Bowl. Plus, he helped clear the way for the game-winning 2-point conversion.

"It seems like every year you put in a lot of hard work, so your senior year you couldn't ask for anything better," Schouman said.

Schouman is one of five BSU players who have been invited to the NFL Scouting Combine in February, joining Jerard Rabb, Legedu Naanee, Gerald Alexander and Jared Zabransky.

Colt Brooks, Senior • linebacker

After a career spent in the shadows of more famous teammates, the former Bishop Kelly quarterback found the spotlight during his senior season.

Brooks, a second-team All-WAC performer, set career highs in sacks and interceptions and scored his first career touchdown on an interception return against Utah.

"It's not a big deal as long as I'm contributing to the program," Brooks said. "I don't have to be the star."

Brooks, who walked on to the Bronco program in 2002, typifies Boise State's hard-nosed, blue-collar approach.

"He might not be the biggest, fastest, strongest, best linebacker that's ever walked on the football field," coach Chris Petersen said. "But he plays as good as most of them."

Jadon Dailey, Senior • center

Fittingly, the most unlikely Bronco enjoyed the team's unlikely season the most. Dailey, a 5-foot-11, 285-pounder from Phoenix, arrived in Boise after a detour-laden path — one that left him as a bank teller at Wells Fargo and a junior-college student.

It ended with Dailey flexing his muscles and then making snow angels in the end zone after the Fiesta Bowl.

"When I wake up in the morning, it's like, ‘Wow, I'm still here.' It's a good feeling," Dailey said.

The shortest — and most vocal — of the Broncos' offensive linemen, Dailey assumed a leadership role in the middle. And he finished his career, one that began only when a friend convinced him to give football another chance at Phoenix College.

"It's the cherry on top of my sundae," Dailey said. "It's everything I've ever worked for, everything I've tried to be."

Marty Tadman, Junior • safety

Unheralded among the many Bronco stars, Tadman made as many important plays as any of them.

In Boise State's narrow escape against San Jose State, it was Tadman's 44-yard punt return that set up the game-winning field goal. He returned an interception 98 yards for a touchdown against Louisiana Tech, punctuating that blowout.

And in the Fiesta Bowl, Tadman, the defensive player of the game, picked off two passes — one in the end zone and one that he returned for a touchdown.

"My goal every time the ball is thrown my way is I want to get the interception. I'm not really satisfied with a pass breakup or a big hit or making the tackle," Tadman said. "If I don't make the interception, I messed up."

By thinking big, the unassuming Tadman ended up delivering big.