‘It’s not about me’: This Boise State running back embraces his role, excels in red zone
Boise State running back Andrew Van Buren always assumed he’d end up playing linebacker at some point in his career.
He played running back and safety at Chaminade Prep in California, but most of his time was spent in the backfield — even though he was already pushing 230 pounds by his senior year and knew he was only going to get bigger.
Every year since he joined the Broncos as a three-star recruit in 2018, Van Buren expected to get approached by one of his coaches about moving to defense, he said. But it never happened.
Instead, the 240-pound senior has carved out a role as one of the top goal line running backs in the Mountain West. Van Buren led the conference with eight rushing touchdowns in seven games last season, and he’s tied for fifth this year with seven TDs.
He isn’t carrying the ball 20 times a game or breaking off 80-yard touchdown runs, but Van Buren knows his carries are vital.
“It’s not about me. It’s about the team,” Van Buren said. “It’s just going out there and doing what I can to help the team win. Whether that’s kicking field goals or snapping the ball, whatever I can do to help the team win, I’ll do it.”
Van Buren is one of 24 seniors Boise State will recognize before its final scheduled home game of the season against New Mexico on Saturday (7 p.m., FS1). He hasn’t decided what he wants to do after college football, but he plans to approach Saturday’s game as if it’s his last time playing on the blue turf in Albertsons Stadium.
“The last four years have been amazing,” Van Buren said. “The people that I’ve met, that’s what I’m going to miss the most. So I want to cherish these last few moments I have left here with these guys and see where the future takes me.”
Boise State’s coaches did meet with Van Buren before this season, but not about switching to defense. Offensive coordinator Tim Plough said he sat down with the back during fall camp to make clear what his role in the offense was going to be. He said Van Buren embraced it wholeheartedly.
“All he’s done is thrive in that role and take it upon himself to be great in that role,” Plough said. “When he was asked to do more, he did more. That’s why he’s part of our leadership group, and I know our guys get excited for him when he gets to go in there and thrive in that role.”
Van Buren’s role is to use his big frame to pick up tough yards. Whenever the Broncos need to convert on third-and-short or have the end zone in their sights, he’s going to get the ball.
The Broncos’ jumbo package with him in the backfield has been especially effective this year. It includes 295-pound defensive tackle Scott Matlock lining up as an extra tight end on the same side of the line as 310-pound left tackle John Ojukwu.
“I know they’re going to do their jobs, so if I don’t do my job and get in the end zone, that’s going to be a shame,” said Van Buren, adding that scoring in the red zone comes down to mentality. “It’s who wants it more, and I definitely want it more every time I’m down there.”
Five of Van Buren’s seven touchdowns have been scored on runs of 3 yards or less. He broke free for an 11-yard touchdown run against Air Force, and his 12-yard TD scamper that sealed the Broncos’ 23-13 win over Wyoming last weekend was his longest of the season.
Van Buren called that score one of his favorite moments on The Blue. It was set up by pass rusher Demitri Washington’s interception and gave the Broncos a two-possession lead with a little more then seven minutes left in the game.
Van Buren’s longest run of the season covered just 22 yards, but he has had the ball in his hands in several key situations.
“Everybody has a role, and Drew is just one of those type of guys that we know in a big-time situation, he’s going to get the job done,” Boise State running backs coach Winston Venable said. “Drew has taken ownership of his role and done it at a really elite level.”
The native of West Hill, California, has posted a career-high 66 carries this season — surpassing his 62 rushing attempts while filling in for injured starter George Holani last season. Van Buren is third on the team with 209 rushing yards.
Filling the role of a short-yardage back is quite the departure from what Van Buren did in high school. He carried the ball 224 times for 1,259 yards as a senior and finished his career with 2,205 yards and 37 touchdowns on the ground. In a game against Junipero Serra his senior year, he had 312 yards rushing and five touchdowns on more than 30 carries.
Van Buren’s job isn’t to carry the load anymore, though, and he’s fine with that.
“It’s all about will and wanting to get the job done, no matter what the job is,” Van Buren said. “It’s about the team and growing as a human and a man. That’s what I’m really proud of.”
NEW MEXICO AT BOISE STATE
When: 7 p.m. Saturday
Where: Albertsons Stadium
TV: FS1 (Alex Faust, Petros Papadakis). That’s channel 146 on Sparklight, 219 on DirecTV and 150 on Dish Network.
Radio: KBOI 670 AM/KTIK 93.1 FM (Bob Behler, Pete Cavender)
Records: Boise State 6-4, 4-2 MW; New Mexico 3-7, 1-5 MW
Series: Boise State is 10-1 against New Mexico, and the Broncos have won four straight in the series. The Broncos and Lobos didn’t play last season because of COVID-19.
Vegas line: Boise State by 27.5
Weather: High of 47 degrees, 9% chance of rain, 7 mph winds
This story was originally published November 17, 2021 at 3:28 PM.
