Boise State senior quarterback Kellen Moore joined a select group of Broncos on Monday when Playboy announced that he was part of the magazine’s prestigious Preseason All-America team.
Moore earned the Anson Mount Scholar/Athlete award. Playboy will make a donation (amount undisclosed) to Boise State’s general scholarship fund as part of the award.
Moore, who graduated with a communications degree in 3› years and is pursuing his master’s, is the third Bronco to make the Playboy All-America team. Offensive tackle Ryan Clady (2007) and cornerback Kyle Wilson (2009), the previous honorees, became the first two NFL first-round draft picks in school history.
Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck was named Playboy’s All-America quarterback.
Playboy also released its Top 25, ranking the Broncos No. 2 — behind Oklahoma. Oregon, Stanford and LSU round out the top five.
The magazine’s 55th annual College Football Pigskin Preview is on newsstands now.
SPOTLIGHT ON … DE TYLER HORN
Horn grayshirted after graduating from Mountain View High in Meridian last year but was so impressive in spring ball that he opened fall camp as the fourth end. If he stays there, he could play extensively this season.
“I have a lot to learn,” Horn said. “Experience is kind of everything out there. I’m just trying to soak it up every day.”
Horn (6-foot-4) worked out with the Broncos in summer 2010 but didn’t join the program until January.
He weighed about 225 pounds in high school and bulked up to 260 before joining the team.
“It was really good for me,” he said of grayshirting. “Especially at defensive end, you need to be pretty big and physical.”
Horn said he tried “to think as little as possible” during spring ball. That strategy worked.
“As little as he knew about schemes or techniques or the eye progression or whatever, he could play with bad technique and he just didn’t get blown up,” defensive coordinator Pete Kwiatkowski said.
MONDAY’S CAMP IMPRESSIONS
• Sophomore defensive back Quaylon Ewing-Burton made interceptions in both practices and has been a playmaker at cornerback and safety during camp. Backup quarterback Joe Southwick engineered a scoring drive in the afternoon, using his legs to buy time and find open receivers.
• Coach Chris Petersen, for the second straight year, made the Broncos endure a practice in the Caven-Williams Sports Complex after watering the field and cranking the heat to create a hot, humid environment. It was so uncomfortable that the outside air felt cool.
MEANWHILE, AT NEVADA …
Coach Chris Ault says the Wolf Pack won’t miss a beat with senior Tyler Lantrip replacing Colin Kaepernick at quarterback this year.
“People are going to be surprised,” Ault told the Reno Gazette-Journal. “We’re not backing off. And we’re still going to be running the ball with this guy. I’m really pleased with him. He’s earned the right. He’s earned the opportunity.”
Nevada plays at Boise State on Oct. 1.
