Editor's note: This is the fourth in a series of stories previewing the Boise State football team by position. Tuesday: Wide receivers.

The Boise State football team should have a fine collection of tight ends this season.

What coaches want is one dominant, complete player to emerge - and they have a candidate.

Junior Tommy Gallarda.

Gallarda is the only player in the group with the combination of size (6-foot-5, 249 pounds) and athletic ability (he was primarily a receiver in high school) to clear a path for the running backs and make linebackers nervous in the passing game.

"He's one of the No. 1 guys who we're looking at that we're hoping he's going to be able to take the next step," coach Chris Petersen said. "We've seen what it does when we have a dominating tight end on the line of scrimmage."

That last happened in 2006, when Derek Schouman helped tailback Ian Johnson become a Heisman Trophy candidate with his devastating blocks and added 29 catches. Schouman now starts for the Buffalo Bills.

Tight ends coach Chris Strausser used another example of what Gallarda could be - former Fresno State tight end Bear Pascoe. Pascoe, who also is in the NFL, was an integral part of the Bulldogs' powerful run game last year while grabbing 40 receptions.

"He wasn't a huge stretch-the-field guy, but he was a big target," Strausser said. "If Tommy can just be in that mode of competing for the ball when it's in the air and being a big, physical guy, there's no reason he can't catch a lot of footballs."

Gallarda, who started much of last season because of an injury to Chris O'Neill, was renowned for his receiving ability when he was recruited out of Brea, Calif. He spent his first three seasons in Boise learning how to block - the tight ends are a critical piece of the Broncos' run schemes - and bulking up.

This year, he has worked extensively on his receiving skills. He only had six catches last year.

"I'll be a little more balanced and give more contributions to both (the run and pass games)," he said.

The Broncos complement Gallarda with sophomore receiving threat Kyle Efaw, senior tight end/fullback Richie Brockel and sophomore fullback Dan Paul.

Efaw, who also was known for his receiving talents coming out of Capital High, has struggled to gain weight. He's still a bit light for the blocking assignments but he presents serious matchup problems in the pass game.

"Kyle, obviously, is the athlete of the group," Brockel said.

Brockel is the swingman. He is a strong blocker and sneaky receiving threat at fullback, but he also will play tight end - his original position. He makes it difficult for defenses to know how the Broncos will line up because of his dual role.

Brockel spent much of last season at tight end because he was banged up and O'Neill was out. He has six career touchdown catches.

"I like coming out of the backfield," Brockel said. "I like getting a little running head start. You sort of see the whole play happen from the backfield. It makes things a little more fun."

Paul, who moved from linebacker to fullback last season after O'Neill got hurt, is more prepared for his role this year. He might even play a little tight end.

Redshirt freshman tight end Chandler Koch, who missed much of fall camp with an injury, likely will get into the rotation eventually, too.

"They're a good mix of guys who are physical and great receivers, too," sophomore linebacker Hunter White said. "They bring both aspects to the game."