Boise State must replace 5-year starter on defense. Who fills this ‘complex’ position?
Standing in front of a gaggle of reporters in the lobby of the Caven-Williams Sports Complex, Boise State safety Tyreque Jones rattled off a long list of former Broncos who influenced his career.
Kekoa Nawahine, Jordan Happle and DeAndre Pierce all got credit for making him a better football player, but Jones’ tone changed and emotion began to creep into his voice as he reflected on one of his greatest mentors: former Boise State nickel Kekaula Kaniho.
“That’s my dog, man,” Jones said. “That’s another guy who led the back end with me. He is missed.”
Kaniho was a five-year starter for the Broncos, and he owns Boise State’s record for most games played, with 60. He was a three-time All-Mountain West pick, earning first-team honors in 2019, and he finished his career with 217 tackles, six interceptions, five sacks and four touchdowns.
Job No. 1 for Boise State safeties coach and co-defensive coordinator Kane Ioane this offseason is finding Kaniho’s replacement, and that work has begun in spring practice, Ioane said Monday.
“From a schematic standpoint, that position is extremely important to what we do,” Ioane said. “That guy has to have a big knowledge and understanding of the defense. Not just his piece, but all 11 pieces on the field.”
Nickel is one of the most complex positions on the field, Ioane said. Whoever fills that role has to be able to transition seamlessly from man-to-man to zone coverage, and contend with bigger, stronger players as a pass rusher and against the run.
“All those things wrapped into one individual, that’s pretty special,” said Ioane, who joined the Broncos’ staff in January 2021 after 15 years as a coach at his alma mater, Montana State.
The special individual who held down that job for the past five seasons is preparing to take the next step in his football career. Kaniho declared for the NFL Draft in December, and he is one of eight former Boise State players working out for NFL scouts at Pro Day on Wednesday.
The 5-foot-11, 188-pound native of Kahuku, Hawaii, isn’t likely to hear his name called during the NFL Draft in April, but Ioane said that doesn’t mean there isn’t a place for him in the NFL. He said Kaniho just has to rely on what made him good in college — his preparation.
“The bottom line for him is to enjoy this process, have fun with it and allow his preparation to take over,” Ioane said. “He’s a guy that has always prepared himself well for any given moment, whether it was a game on Saturday or a practice on Tuesday.”
Replacing Kaniho
Ioane said finding a new starter at nickel begins with the safeties.
“The safeties have a good understanding of everything going on around them, and they’re used to controlling the pieces around them,” Ioane said. “So it’s a natural fit for them to go in there and play that nickel position because the majority of the time they’re communicating with nickel anyway.”
Sixth-year senior Roman Kafentzis is the only player listed as a nickel on Boise State’s roster, but he’s out with an injury this spring. Redshirt sophomore safety Rodney Robinson — Kaniho’s primary backup last season — is also out because of an injury.
Ioane didn’t rule out the possibility of veteran safeties Tyreque Jones and JL Skinners seeing some snaps at nickel, but sophomore Seyi Oladipo and redshirt freshman Zion Washington have seen the most reps there in spring practice.
Both young safeties are physically impressive. Oladipo is 5-foot-11 and 195 pounds. Washington checks in at 6-2, 205. Both joined the program as three-star recruits in the Broncos’ 2021 class, but Oladipo has a leg up in terms of playing time.
Oladipo, a native of Centennial, Colorado, appeared in all 12 games last season, and it didn’t take him long to make an impact. He saw extensive playing time in the second game of the season after replacing Jones, who left the Broncos’ 54-13 win over UTEP with an injury.
Oladipo promptly recorded the first two interceptions of his career and added a tackle for loss. He was rewarded with Mountain West Freshman of the Week honors.
“He’s a guy who has felt success on the field and played in big games and big moments,” Ioane said. “He carried that confidence over into the offseason and spring ball, and you can see him growing with every rep.”
Washington, a native of Frisco, Texas, played wide receiver and safety at Reedy High in Texas, posting 43 tackles, two forced fumbles and an interception as a senior. He appeared in three games last season at Boise State.
“He’s another guy that we feel like has the physical ability and mental capacity to handle that position,” Ioane said.
Boise State spring game
When: 3:30 p.m., April 9
Where: Albertsons Stadium
Admission: Free
This story was originally published March 29, 2022 at 4:00 AM.
