Boise State hasn’t had a 1,000-yard rusher since 2019. Here’s why that’s about to change
Boise State running back George Holani enjoyed a breakout season as a freshman with 1,014 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns, but 2019 also marked the end of a streak that was near to the Broncos’ hearts.
Holani’s freshman campaign extended Boise State’s streak of seasons with a 1,000-yard rusher to 11 in a row. The Broncos haven’t had a running back come close to that many yards the past two seasons.
“There are very few programs in the country that can win without running the ball,” Boise State offensive coordinator Tim Plough said. “There are even fewer that can win consistently.”
Boise State ranked last in the Mountain West with 107.1 rushing yards a game in a tumultuous 2020 season, which was shortened to seven games because of COVID-19.
The Broncos were also without Holani for most of the year after he was lost to a knee injury in the second game of the season.
Things didn’t get much better in the first half of last season. With Holani again hampered by an injury — this time a hamstring — the Broncos struggled to run the ball, averaging just 87.5 yards a game, which ranked No. 120 in the country.
Holani returned to full health after the bye week, and the numbers improved. He posted three straight 100-yard rushing performances last November, including 117 yards in a win at Fresno State.
Boise State finished last season ranked No. 9 in the 12-team Mountain West with 120.4 rushing yards a game. In 2019 — the last time Holani was healthy for a full season — the Broncos ranked No. 5 in the conference with 167.3.
A lot of things have to go right for a Boise State running back to crank out 1,000 yards this season, the first of which is Holani staying healthy.
The Broncos have a chance to return to dominance on the ground and start a new streak this year, though. Here are three reasons why.
A bigger, badder Holani
There’s no denying that Boise State’s offense is simply a different beast when Holani is on the field. He has seven career games with at least 100 rushing yards since 2019. The Broncos are 7-0 in those games.
“Everyone has seen what makes George special: his vision, change of direction, strength and speed,” Plough said. “What’s not as obvious is the effect it has on a defense when he simply lines up in a different position.”
By all accounts, Holani is healthy this fall, and Boise State’s coaches are taking measures to ensure he stays that way. The redshirt junior is taking full part in practice, but he didn’t get much live work in the team’s scrimmage on Saturday. That isn’t likely to change this weekend in scrimmage No. 2.
Holani changed his eating habits this offseason, cutting out chips and sweets. He’s obviously spent some time in the weight room, too.
The 5-foot-11 native of Bellflower, California, is listed at 208 pounds on the Broncos’ roster, but he looks much more defined than he did a year ago, especially in his upper body. Those muscles have translated into power at practice, Boise State football coach Andy Avalos said.
“We’ve all seen what George can do in terms of breaking tackles and making people miss,” Avalos said. “But when George practices, he is violent.”
Holani must be extra motivated to put on a show this season. He’s saying all the right things about taking it day by day and focusing on winning a Mountain West championship, but running back is a physically demanding position that doesn’t usually come with a long shelf life.
There’s a very real possibility that Holani bolts for the NFL after this season, and he’s going to want to show scouts he’s still a workhorse running back.
Holani’s coaches said a lack of motivation has never been an issue for him, but they also said athletes of his caliber are dangerous when they have something to prove. Imagine an NFL star in a contract year.
“I think we’re all excited to see what George does this year,” said Boise State run game coordinator Nate Potter, who also coaches tight ends. “He’s a dynamic athlete, he works hard and he wants to win. That’s a dangerous combo.”
Quality depth
Boise State might actually be OK if Holani is once again bitten by the injury bug this year thanks to some newcomers in the backfield.
Former Utah State running back Elelyon Noa — the younger brother of linebacker Ezekiel Noa — joined the program last month. He came in with two seasons of college football under his belt, and he was second on the team at Utah State last season with 597 rushing yards.
Freshman Ashton Jeanty enrolled early at Boise State and has been with the program since January. He looks physically impressive, and running backs coach Keith Bhonapha said he looked explosive in workouts this summer.
Jeanty rushed for 1,843 yards and 31 touchdowns and added 42 receptions for 803 yards and 10 more scores last year at Lone Star High School in Texas.
Former walk-on Tyler Crowe should fill the role of short-yardage back, which opened when Andrew Van Buren transferred to Portland State for his final season of eligibility.
An O-line full of savvy vets
Boise State’s offensive line is full of returning starters, including left tackle John Ojukwu, who is heading into his fifth season as a starter on the line. He replaced former Bronco Ezra Cleveland, who is now a Minnesota Viking, at left tackle in 2020.
Guards Garrett Curran and Ben Dooley, guard/center Will Farrar have all played a lot of football the past two seasons, and center Kekaniokoa Holomalia-Gonzalez is back after missing last year because of a mysterious ailment.
The Broncos also added an experienced lineman to the mix this offseason in Washington State transfer Cade Beresford, who started games at guard and tackle for the Cougars. He’s expected to start at right tackle for Boise State, and he’s already made an impact on his teammates.
“He’s an older guy, so he’s got that leadership and that experience on the field,” Dooley said. “We were down a few tackles (this spring) so it was good for him to step in and be the man for us.”
The results speak for themselves. Boise State’s offensive line helped pave the way for what Avalos called an impressive rushing performance in the team’s first scrimmage of fall camp on Saturday.
Opening a few more rushing lanes and starting a new streak of 1,000-yard rushers is a challenge the linemen at Boise State are taking personally, Ojukwu said.
“We know what the standard is here, and we know it hasn’t been good enough the past couple years,” he said. “We’re going to do everything in our power to make sure that doesn’t happen again.”
This story was originally published August 15, 2022 at 10:10 AM.
