Former Boise State cornerback Jamar Taylor will try to follow the path set by his former teammates this week.
Taylor will be the ninth Bronco to play in the Senior Bowl in the past four years — and most of the others increased their draft stock at the prestigious game in Mobile, Ala.
Practices, held in front of NFL coaches, scouts and personnel staffers, begin Monday. The game is at 2 p.m. Saturday (NFL Network).
“Coming from Boise State, especially with this whole draft process, people always say the level of competition that we play isn’t up to their standard,” Taylor said. “They always talk about the SEC. I want to be a good ambassador for my family and my teammates and just show that we can roll with the best of them.”
The Broncos’ other recent participants include cornerback Kyle Wilson (2010, first-round pick), wide receivers Titus Young (2011, second) and Austin Pettis (2011, third), tailback Doug Martin (2012, first), defensive end Shea McClellin (2012, first), safety George Iloka (2012, fifth), defensive tackle Billy Winn (2012, sixth) and quarterback Kellen Moore (2012, undrafted).
The three first-round picks were not projected that high going into the Senior Bowl.
“Hopefully I can just keep the good mojo going and do the same things my coaches at Boise State taught me,” he said.
Taylor’s North team will be coached by the Oakland Raiders staff.
SMITH, PERCY PRODUCE
Linebackers Tommy Smith and J.C. Percy played in the Casino del Sol All-Star Game on Jan. 11 in Tucson, Ariz. They played for the West, which won 40-7.
Percy led the team with seven tackles; Smith tied for third with five. They started and played alongside each other much of the week, Smith said.
“It was pretty cool to be on an all-star team,” Smith said. “… I got a pick in practice. I was pretty excited about that.”
Smith, Percy, nickel Dextrell Simmons, offensive lineman Brenel Myers and fullback Dan Paul are working out with Boise State strength coach Tim Socha to prepare for the Broncos’ pro day, which is March 21.
“We went from being in a group of 50 people to five people, so it’s good,” Smith said. “We already know coach Socha. It’s like going to one of these training facilities, but we have to do nutrition on our own.”
AFCA HONORS LOCAL COACH
Bill Hickey, who lives in Hidden Springs, received the American Football Coaches Association Outstanding Achievement Award on Jan. 7 at the coaches’ convention in Nashville, Tenn.
Hickey began his coaching career in the high school ranks in 1958 and was an assistant on Notre Dame’s national championship team in 1973. He also graduated from Notre Dame.
Other stops in his career include head coach at the U.S. Coast Guard Academy and assistant positions at Army, Yale and Princeton. He also was a head coach of the Berlin Bears in the European Football League and the Princeton sprint team, which plays weight-restricted football.
Hickey coached the sprint team from 2002 to 2005 and retired to Boise in 2006 with his wife. They have children who live in the Sun Valley area.
Upon arriving, Hickey reached out to Boise State and has been a volunteer in the football program ever since.
“I just go to practice every day and have a great time observing everybody and what they’re doing,” he said. “It’s the best job in the house … volunteer spectator.”
The 77-year-old is on the Boise State sideline at home games and on his couch for road games, watching Notre Dame.
“I just love the game and love the routine,” he said of attending practice. “… I’ve never worked a day in my life.”
Chadd Cripe: 377-6398, Twitter: @IDS_BroncoBeat
