This Boise State defender has been disruptive in place of record-setting starter
Boise State nickel Tyreque Jones had big shoes to fill this season.
Jones spent the past five seasons as a safety. He moved to nickel this year, replacing five-year starter Kekaula Kaniho, who set the program record last season after appearing in the 60th game of his career.
Kaniho was undersized, but he was aggressive and he found ways to make plays. The 5-foot-11, 188-pound Hawaiian racked up 207 tackles and six interceptions in his career, and also scored four touchdowns.
Jones hasn’t made his way into the end zone as many times as Kaniho, but he has been one of the Broncos’ most aggressive tacklers this season.
Aggression is needed to play nickel, Boise State coach Andy Avalos said.
“At nickel, you’ve got to be able to play against the run,” Avalos said. “You’ve got to be able to blitz and cover, and you’ve got to be able to tackle. When that guy can do all those things, it allows you to be multiple on defense.”
Jones is tied for No. 4 at Boise State this season with 4.5 tackles for loss. He has been one of the most disruptive players for offenses this season, Avalos said, and he may be in for a big day Saturday against Colorado State (5 p.m., FS1).
The 6-2, 205-pound native of San Bernardino, California, disrupted Air Force’s game plan early on last week. He tackled running back John Lee Eldridge III for a 5-yard loss on the Falcons’ first play of the game.
Jones was in Eldridge’s face again on play No. 2 when the running back fumbled a pitch and pounced on the loose ball behind the line of scrimmage, losing 2 more yards.
Those first two plays set the tone for what was a dominant defensive performance, Avalos said. Boise State limited Air Force’s rushing attack — which averaged almost 360 yards a game — to just 175 yards on the ground. The defense also forced five punts and clinched a 19-14 win with a fourth-down stop deep in the Broncos’ territory.
“That’s a huge part of the game, starting fast,” Avalos said. “That first drive on either side of the ball is a huge deal for momentum.”
Jones was an ideal fit at nickel this season because of his experience and his physical nature at the line of scrimmage, defensive coordinator Spencer Danielson said.
“If you watch the film from last weekend, he was very physical at the point of attack, and he was a violent tackler,” Danielson said. “It’s cool to see him cover a guy in the slot, who is usually one of the better receivers you’re going against, and set the edge against the run.”
Jones will have to help corral a pretty talented running back on Saturday. Avery Morrow leads Colorado State’s backfield with 500 rushing yards. He has posted more than 100 rushing yards in three straight games, and he found the end zone twice last week against Hawaii.
“He’s the main player that maybe people don’t talk about as much as they should,” Boise State defensive line coach Frank Maile said. “He’s as good as they come in this conference.”
Despite Morrow’s emergence, Colorado State’s offense is one of the worst in the Mountain West. The Rams rank last in the conference in scoring (12.9 points a game) and rushing offense (95.6 yards a game), and they’re 11th among 12 teams in total offense (267.1 yards a game).
Colorado State also has given up 29 sacks, which is the most in the conference.
The Broncos’ defenders are licking their chops, but they aren’t taking their 11-0 record in their all-time series with Colorado State or the Rams’ ugly stats for granted.
“We get every team’s best shot when they step on The Blue,” pass rusher Demitri Washington said. “We just have to do our jobs, and if we do, we’re going to make plays and have big-time games.”
COLORADO STATE AT BOISE STATE
When: 5 p.m. Saturday
Where: Albertsons Stadium
TV: FS1 (Adam Alexander, Devin Gardner)
Radio: KBOI 670 AM/93.1 FM (Bob Behler, Pete Cavender)
Records: Boise State 5-2, 4-0 MW; Colorado State 2-5, 2-1 MW
Series: Boise State is 11-0 in its all-time series against Colorado State, which dates back to 2011.
Vegas line: Boise State by 25
Weather: 56 degrees at kickoff, 0% chance of rain, 5 mph wind
