CHRIS POTTER, WIDE RECEIVER

Potter has enjoyed a career year as a senior, with a chance to catch more passes this year (25 so far, third on the team) than in his first three years combined (27). He has been particularly productive the second half of the season with 18 catches in the past six games.

Potter also is a strong punt returner and a wildcat quarterback.

“The last few years, just watching him has been a pleasure,” quarterback Joe Southwick said. “I love watching him return punts. I always try to get to the very end of the sideline to watch him do his thing. ... He’s contributed a lot to this receiving crew this year. He’s kind of been a security blanket for me.”

Said Potter: “The last four years have been awesome, but I think this year will definitely stick out in my memory.”

JOE SOUTHWICK, QUARTERBACK

Southwick gets a chance to end his tumultuous first season as the starter with some serious momentum. He played well in the final three regular-season games but still hasn’t shown that he can dissect a high-end defense.

Southwick was 53-for-75 (70.7 percent) for 624 yards in the closing three-game stretch — good for a stellar 171.35 rating.

He still hasn’t won over the fans, some of whom wonder if he can retain the job for 2013, but that could change with a bowl win.

“It’s really been an awesome experience for me,” Southwick said. “There’s been some trials for me this season, going through this year and being a quarterback in this town. My teammates have done an awesome job supporting me, telling me that we’re going to get better, that we’re going to keep winning games.”

DARIAN THOMPSON, SAFETY

When the Boise State football team lost starting free safety Lee Hightower to suspension in late October, the Broncos ranked eighth in the nation in pass defense and seventh in pass-efficiency defense.

Five games later, with Thompson playing free safety as a redshirt freshman, they’re tied for fourth in pass defense and seventh in pass-efficiency defense.

In other words, it was a seamless transition — and that hasn’t been the case with personnel changes in the secondary in recent years.

“I do take pride in that, being able to step in and having the older guys count on me just as much as I count on them and knowing that we haven’t missed a beat,” Thompson said.

He is sixth on the team with 25 solo tackles (34 total) this season and tied for first with three interceptions.