Boise State football player Michael Atkinson arrested on DUI charge

Boise State football player Michael Atkinson was arrested early Wednesday on a charge of driving under the influence, according to the Ada County Sheriff’s Office.

Atkinson, a 20-year-old freshman defensive tackle from Windsor, Ontario, also was charged with leaving the scene of an accident. Both charges are misdemeanors.

Atkinson was arrested by Boise City Police and booked at 4:19 a.m. He has been released from jail.

According to a police report, Atkinson struck a barrier at Vista and Canal streets in Boise at 1:15 a.m. A witness saw the accident and approached the car. Atkinson walked away from the accident, leaving his car, according to the report.

Police picked him up a few blocks away from the accident scene. Atkinson had a blood-alcohol level of .15 and .17, according to the report. The legal limit is .08, however Atkinson is not 21.

An initial court date is set for Aug. 12, according to Ada County Sheriff's.

Boise State athletic department spokesman Max Corbet said the university is aware of the situation and is following the department's student-conduct policy.

The arrest puts Atkinson's playing status for the season opener against Oregon in jeopardy. The Broncos host the Ducks on Sept. 3 in Bronco Stadium.

Boise State opens training camp Aug. 5.

The 6-foot, 320-pound Atkinson emerged as a promising player during fall camp last August, and again during camp this past spring. He was last season's Scout Team Defensive Player of the Year.

“We’re expecting big things,’’ coach Chris Petersen said in an Idaho Statesman article in April. “If he can continue to work like he has been working, he’s going to be something interesting to watch.’’

The former hockey player made his football debut as an eighth-grader. As a senior, the two-way player rushed for 963 yards and seven touchdowns on offense, blocked seven kicks on special teams and had 7.5 sacks on defense.

Boise State defensive line coach Pete Kwiatkowski watched Atkinson’s highlight tape and noticed “just how dominating he was.’’

Several of those highlights are still available on YouTube.

“You’d see this big 300-pounder run with the ball and how quick his feet were and how he was making guys miss,’’ Kwiatkowski said. “It was pretty amazing.’’

The Canadian has earned the nickname “Bacon’’ at Boise State because of his nationality and bulk.

“He's still got a long ways to go — mentally, emotionally, pushing himself through the tough parts, learning how to play the position,’’ Kwiatkowski said. “He’s making strides. He’ll get it — not as fast as I’d like him to, but he'll get it.''