New number, fresh mindset for Boise State cornerback who is ‘more confident than ever’
Boise State cornerback Caleb Biggers is entering the fifth year of his college football career, but he’s approaching his final season of eligibility with a fresh perspective.
“One thing that motivates me is getting up every morning and being thankful I get to play football every day,” Biggers told reporters on Wednesday. “A lot of players don’t understand that when you wake up you have to thank God because he blessed you with these skills.”
A new season has brought a new jersey number for Biggers. He wore No. 26 last year but will wear No. 1 this year.
“It’s a mindset thing,” he said. “When you look good, you feel good.”
Biggers joined the Broncos last year after transferring from Bowling Green, where he started 19 games between 2018 and 2020. The 5-foot-11, 195-pound native of Baltimore is one of 10 super seniors back on the field for Boise State this season.
Eleven players opted to return this year for the extra season the NCAA offered because of how COVID-19 impacted the 2020 season, but injuries forced defensive end Shane Irwin to medically retire in June.
Biggers cracked the starting lineup early last season after fellow cornerbacks Markel Reed and Tyric LeBeauf were lost to injuries. Biggers started eight games last year, but he’s working toward an even bigger goal as fall practice rolls on: starting the season opener at Oregon State on Sept. 3.
“The leaders (on the team) are more talented than anything, and being able to compete with those guys is very rewarding,” Biggers said. “This is a new camp and a new year. I’m glad to be here competing, and I’m more confident than ever.”
Biggers’ confidence stems from a productive offseason, according to his coaches.
“How he has worked through the winter, spring ball and summer, I’m very excited about what he has the potential to do as long as he stays on that track,” Boise State defensive coordinator Spencer Danielson said. “He doesn’t say much, but he absolutely works his tail off, and you know what you’re going to get from Caleb.”
Boise State head coach Andy Avalos said Biggers came into his own late last season and was impressive in practices leading up to the Arizona Bowl, which was canceled because of the team’s COVID-19 outbreak. Avalos also said Biggers was basically a shutdown corner this spring.
“He didn’t get a lot of work in spring ball because they didn’t throw over there very much, which says something about how well he’s playing right now,” Avalos said. “He’s learning how to be efficient, how to study film, and to continue to grow and develop, and he understands our standard now.”
Biggers has plenty of competition for starting snaps at cornerback. Here’s how the depth chart could pan out for the season opener.
Starters
Caleb Biggers, 5-yr., 5-11, 195 — Biggers appeared in all 12 games and started eight last season. He posted 34 tackles and broke up five passes, and Boise State cornerbacks coach Demario Warren said he’s one of the most consistent performers.
“He does a great job with his lateral quickness, but he is consistent day in and day out, whether he’s in the meeting room or the weight room,” Warren said. “He’s going to give you everything he’s got, and he’s not going to make the same mistake twice.”
Markel Reed, Sr., 6-0, 190 — Reed backed up former Boise State cornerbacks Jaylen Walker and Avery Williams in 2019 and 2020. He broke into the starting lineup last season, but he was injured after just four starts and missed the rest of the year.
Reed missed spring ball and has been limited in fall camp as he continues to rehab, but Avalos said he is expected to be ready for the season opener. He has appeared in 25 games the past three seasons, and his length creates problems for quarterbacks, Warren said.
“He’s physical, he can get out and run and he’s one of the most competitive players on the team,” Warren said.
Top backups
Tyric LeBeauf, R-Sr., 6-2, 185 — LeBeauf joined Reed as a starter early last season, and he got off to a hot start, nabbing two interceptions and returning one for a touchdown in the season opener at UCF. He led the Broncos with three interceptions last fall, but he also dealt with injuries that kept him out of four games. He’s one of the most intelligent cornerbacks on the roster, Warren said.
“He understands techniques, and he understands why we’re running certain coverages,” Warren said. “Honestly, I think he is going to be a heck of a coach one day if he wants it.”
Kaonohi Kaniho, R-So., 6-0, 180 — The younger brother of former Boise State nickel Kekaula Kaniho, Kaonohi joined the program as a three-star recruit in 2020. He appeared in 10 games last season and started the final six opposite Biggers. He missed spring ball and has been limited in practice this fall while recovering from shoulder surgery, but he’s expected to be ready for the season opener, Avalos said.
“He’s spent enough time around his brother to know what the expectations are around here,” Avalos said. “His instincts are solid. He just has to keep progressing.”
Sleeper
Jaylen Clark, R-So., 6-2, 200 — Clark moved from safety to cornerback this spring, and it didn’t take him long to impress the coaches. The former three-star recruit from Lincoln High School in Tacoma, Washington, doesn’t have the game experience of the cornerbacks ahead of him on the depth chart, but he has the physical tools to make an impact, Warren said.
“He got rep after rep this spring because we had a lot of corners out, and he wasn’t shy about competing,” Warren said. “He’s pretty fast and moves pretty well for his size.”
This story was originally published August 12, 2022 at 4:00 AM.
