LAS VEGAS — He won’t be the face of Boise State football.

He won’t even appear on the stat sheet, barring a freak play.

But nobody on the team that opens fall camp next week has started more games than senior left guard Joe Kellogg, who is at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas this week along with senior cornerback Jamar Taylor and coach Chris Petersen for the Mountain West media days.

Kellogg and Taylor have 22 career starts; no other Bronco has more than 13.

“I’m getting sore really easily — I’m one of the old guys now,” Kellogg said Monday. “… It really couldn’t have worked out any better (at Boise State). Boise’s been great to me. It’s just been a great experience overall.”

Kellogg has been a largely anonymous member of the team until now. He started one game as a freshman in 2009 before breaking into the starting lineup during fall camp in 2010. He has started 21 of the past 26 games, but was overshadowed by former line leaders Nate Potter and Thomas Byrd — not to mention all those skill players.

This summer, Kellogg (6-foot-3, 303 pounds) has found his name on the watch lists for the Outland (interior linemen) and Lombardi (linemen) awards and is one of just a handful of players who enter camp with their starting spots locked up.

Over the next two days, he’ll go through about as many interviews as he has during his entire career.

“I’m really excited to be here,” Kellogg said. “It’s a great opportunity.”

The spotlight is something new for Kellogg, who is a bit of a throwback. In an era when Boise State is competing with the major conferences for its players, Kellogg — like many of the stars of a decade ago — didn’t have any other offers to play major college football. He won two state titles at Saguaro High in Scottsdale, Ariz.

The slight didn’t dent his confidence much.

“Boise State’s a great team and they had a great program before I got here, so I kind of figured they did their homework and saw something in me,” he said.

It did provide motivation.

“It’s been my work ethic,” Kellogg said of the key to his success. “I feel like I’m always trying to prove people wrong, whether it’s high school or college. I’m just so thankful that Boise State was able to see what they saw in me and gave me a chance.”

Kellogg is the longest-serving cog in what should be an experienced line. Junior Charles Leno Jr. started every game at right tackle last year, senior Cory Yriarte started most of the season at center and senior Faraji Wright, the likely left tackle, has starting experience. Several former starters are in the running at right guard.

“We have juniors and seniors who are going to be starting this year,” Kellogg said. “I really like how it’s coming together. It’s going to be a good fit.”

Kellogg hopes the line can continue its trend of ranking near the top of the nation in sacks allowed despite the change of quarterback — the Broncos were first last year, third in 2010 and first in 2009 —and provide a reliable ground game.

Personally, he wants to stay on the field.

He has missed five starts over the past two seasons with an array of short-term knee and ankle injuries. He sat out spring ball this year, too.

“My main goal for the season would just be to stay healthy,” Kellogg said. “… Just do whatever it takes to help the team win. We’ll see what happens — I’m just hoping for a great season.”

Chadd Cripe: 377-6398,Twitter: @IDS_BroncoBeat

START CHART

Here are the active leaders in career starts at Boise State:

OL Joe Kellogg 22

CB Jamar Taylor 22

OL Charles Leno Jr. 13

TE Gabe Linehan 13

OL Cory Yriarte 11