Boise State has produced five first-round NFL Draft picks. Is STUD Curtis Weaver next?
When the Dallas Cowboys selected him No. 19 overall in the 2018 NFL Draft, former Boise State linebacker Leighton Vander Esch became the fifth player in program history to be picked in the first round.
On April 23, the Broncos may add one more name to that list.
Former STUD Curtis Weaver announced in January that he would skip his senior season, and the Mountain West’s career sacks leader was immediately viewed as a first-round talent.
“When you look at his game, it’s built for the NFL,” ESPN draft analyst Todd McShay said earlier this month during the State Farm All-Star Football Skills Challenge. “It’s not just speed, it’s not that long, angular guy. It’s power and quickness and relentlessness. … I think he’s going to make an immediate impact and everyone will know his name two or three years from now.”
In 2008, former left tackle Ryan Clady was the first Boise State played taken in the first round when the Denver Broncos selected him No. 12 overall. He was followed in 2010 by cornerback Kyle Wilson (No. 29, Jets). In 2012, the Broncos produced two first-round picks: defensive lineman Shea McClellin went No. 19 to the Bears and running back Doug Martin was picked No. 31 by the Buccaneers.
Weaver led the Mountain West and ranked No. 5 in the country last season with 13.5 sacks. He wasn’t in the first round of McShay’s or fellow ESPN draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr.’s latest mock drafts, but Weaver is one of four former Boise State players at the NFL Scouting Combine this week at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, and he has a chance to cement himself as one of the first 32 picks in the draft with a strong performance.
Here’s a look at the former Broncos who will compete this week in Indianapolis.
Curtis Weaver
Height: 6-foot-3
Weight: 265 pounds
Position: DE/OLB. Remember that Weaver showed up at Boise State as a 290-pound defensive tackle before shedding the weight when the Broncos moved him to STUD. If he goes to a team that runs a 3-4 defensive scheme, he’ll likely stand up as a pass-rushing outside linebacker. If he gets dropped into a 4-3 scheme, he could line up as a traditional defensive end or bump inside and pressure quarterbacks up the middle.
Career highlights: Weaver knows how to get to the quarterback. His 34 career sacks, which rank No. 2 all-time at Boise State, prove it. He posted 23 of those sacks over the past two seasons, and he leaves the Broncos with 46.5 career tackles for loss. Weaver is a three-time first-team All-Mountain West pick, and in 2019 he was named conference Defensive Player of the Year and an All-American by nine different organizations.
Draft projection: Rounds 1-3
Ezra Cleveland
Height: 6-6
Weight: 310
Position: OT. Coming out of Bethel High in Washington, Cleveland was rated a two-star prospect by Rivals.com. He started 40 career games at Boise State over the past three seasons and began getting some draft buzz while earning first-team all-conference honors in 2018. As with many young offensive tackles, Cleveland could bump inside to guard early in his career, but he has the athleticism to block a defensive end one-on-one on the edge.
Career highlights: Cleveland earned first-team All-Mountain West honors in 2018 and 2019. Last season, he was part of an offensive line that opened holes for a 1,000-yard rusher for the 11th year in a row.
Draft projection: Rounds 2-4
John Hightower
Height: 6-1
Weight: 189
Position: WR. Hightower was an accomplished sprinter on the track team at Riverdale Baptist High and Hinds Community College, and his speed was his calling card when he arrived at Boise State in 2018. But the Landover, Maryland, native evolved into a complete route runner the past two seasons with the Broncos. His skills as a kickoff returner may be what gets him on the field the soonest. Last season, he ranked No. 3 in the Mountain West with 24.6 yards per kick return.
Career highlights: In two seasons at Boise State, Hightower caught 82 passes for 1,447 yards and 14 touchdowns and averaged 17.6 yards per catch. Last fall, he earned second-team all-conference honors as a wide receiver and kick returner after leading the team with 943 yards and eight receiving touchdowns.
Draft projection: Rounds 5-7 or undrafted free agent
John Molchon
Height: 6-5
Weight: 318
Position: OL. Molchon has the size, strength and mentality to be a road-grader when it comes to blocking in the run game. Because of injuries last season, he started at left guard and both tackle spots, so he has some positional versatility.
Career highlights: He started 42 career games at Boise State and, last fall, Molchon helped the Broncos produce a 1,000-yard rusher for the 11th straight season. He was an honorable-mention All-Mountain West pick in 2017 and earned first-team all-conference honors the past two years.
Draft projection: Rounds 5-7 or undrafted free agent
This story was originally published February 26, 2020 at 11:27 AM.
