Physical runner, flashy receiver steal show as Boise State holds spring scrimmage No. 2
Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty ended his freshman season on a high note after setting a Frisco Bowl record with 178 rushing yards in the Broncos’ 35-32 win over North Texas.
The sophomore has carried the momentum from that performance into this year. Broncos head coach Andy Avalos said Jeanty was the star of the team’s second spring scrimmage on Saturday.
The highlight of his impressive performance was a 15- or 20-yard run that moved the chains and got the Broncos out of a tough situation where they were backed up deep in their territory. He also broke a long run on a scoring drive late in the first half, Avalos said.
Jeanty, who racked up 821 rushing yards and seven touchdowns last fall, ran over a couple of defenders and hurdled one, Avalos said.
The 5-foot-8, 206-pound native of Jacksonville, Florida, will be a crucial complement to starting running back George Holani again this season.
Holani has been limited in practice this spring as he recovers from a shoulder injury. He returned this year after posting 1,157 yards and 10 touchdowns on the ground last season. It was the second 1,000-yard season of his career.
He and Jeanty are both poised to have big seasons, which is a good thing — Avalos said having multiple options in the backfield is a must.
“In this game, you’ve got to have two running backs, if not three,” he said. “It’s a long season, and it’s a physical game.”
Avalos said Saturday’s scrimmage was back-and-forth. The offense converted on a couple of third-and-short situations, and the defense came up with a play in the backfield in one fourth-and-short scenario.
The Broncos’ passing game was explosive in the first scrimmage, but Avalos said the defense clamped down on many deep throws on Saturday.
“The corners did a better job of being in position on the final phase in some of those plays,” he said. “And sometimes it just comes down to giving the wide receiver a shot to make a play on the ball.”
Here are more of Avalos’ takeaways from the second spring scrimmage. Boise State’s annual spring game is Saturday.
▪ Jeanty wasn’t the only young player who looked impressive. Freshman wide receiver Prince Strachan caught four passes, including a deep shot on a double move that left him wide open.
Strachan, the younger brother of Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Michael Strachan, sat out last year as a gray shirt. He joined the Broncos in January, and the 6-5, 196-pound native of Freeport, Grand Bahama, has been impressing Avalos since he first stepped on campus.
“I just love his work ethic, who he is and how he shows up here every day,” Avalos said.
▪ Sixth-year senior Stefan Cobbs also caught a deep pass on Saturday, Avalos said. Cobbs missed two starts and was in and out of several games with nagging injuries last season. He’s one of eight super seniors taking advantage of the extra year of eligibility the NCAA offered because of COVID-19.
▪ Quarterback Taylen Green’s command of the offense was impressive during a two-minute drill late in the first half. He moved the chains with a couple of explosive runs and capped the drive with a touchdown pass to tight end Matt Lauter.
Green went 8-2 as the Broncos’ starter last season, and he was named Mountain West Freshman of the Year. He finished with 2,042 yards and 14 touchdowns through the air and 586 yards and 10 touchdowns on the ground.
▪ The Broncos’ quarterbacks did a good job of spreading the ball around on Saturday. Avalos said as many as 10 players caught passes.
▪ Sixth-year senior DJ Schramm is out this spring as he recovers from injuries suffered last season, so redshirt sophomore Andrew Simpson and redshirt freshman Dishawn Misa have been taking most of the starting reps at linebacker this spring, Avalos said.
Misa joined the Broncos last year as a four-star recruit. Simpson played in all 14 games and made three starts at middle linebacker last season, finishing with 29 tackles and three sacks.
This story was originally published April 1, 2023 at 6:55 PM.
