Offseason tracker: Which Boise State players declared for NFL Draft? Who is returning?
The transfer portal and extra eligibility because of COVID have made keeping up with college football rosters a full-time job.
Let us help simplify it. Keep reading to find out which Boise State players have declared for the NFL Draft, which players are transferring and which Broncos plan to run it back for another year.
Boise State coach Spencer Danielson offered some clarity about players with the option of returning for another year during early signing day in December, saying he has offered an open invitation to any seniors who still have eligibility and want to return. That includes cornerback Markel Reed, safety Alexander Teubner, defensive tackle Michael Callahan, running back Tyler Crowe, kicker Jonah Dalmas, offensive lineman Ben Dooley and defensive tackle Sheldon Newton. Only a few of them have announced their intentions publicly.
Here’s a look at which Boise State players are coming and which are going.
Coming back
CB Markel Reed — Injuries have been a constant theme in Reed’s career. He suffered a season-ending knee injury in Boise State’s 2022 opener at Oregon State and underwent his third surgery in three years. The sixth-year senior told reporters in November that he plans to return, even though he was limited to 10 games by injuries this season and was in and out of the lineup even when healthy.
S Alexander Teubner — Teubner had to replace NFL-bound safety JL Skinner. He got off to a rocky start and was a liability at times in coverage, but he ended the season as one of the Broncos’ most consistent tacklers. He also showed more than one ball carrier that he isn’t afraid of violent collisions. Teubner earned honorable mention All-Mountain West honors with a team-high 85 tackles to go along with an interception and five pass breakups.
DT Michael Callahan — Callahan became a consistent starter as a fifth-year senior this season. The 6-4, 292-pound native of Yorba Linda, California, played in every game and finished the year with 19 tackles and one sack.
RB Tyler Crowe — A local product from Skyview High in Nampa, Crowe announced on Dec. 28 that he’s coming back for a sixth year at Boise State. The former walk-on was limited to nine games because of injuries this season. He carried the ball just 10 times for 37 yards.
Crowe is a short-yardage back who will find himself blocking more often than carrying in a packed backfield that returns leading rusher Ashton Jeanty, promising sophomore Jambres Dubar and speedy back Kaden Dudley, who moved from receiver. The Broncos also signed two explosive high school running backs in December: Sire Gaines and Dylan Riley.
K Jonah Dalmas — Dalmas announced on Jan. 5 that he is returning in an effort to add to his already record-setting career. The fifth-year senior already owns Boise State records for career field goals (80), field goal percentage (.889) and field goals in a season (26). He only needs four field goals to break the Mountain West career record, which former Nevada kicker Brandon Talton set last season. Dalmas needs to hit 18 field goals to break the NCAA career field goal record, which former N.C. State kicker Christopher Dunn set with his 97th field goal in 2022. Dalmas hit 24-of-27 field goals with a long of 56 yards last season.
OL Ben Dooley — Danielson confirmed Tuesday (Jan. 9) that Dooley is returning for his sixth season. The 6-5, 300-pounder has played in 31 games and started 24 since 2020. He has started at right tackle and right and left guard. Dooley focused on guard the past two seasons, but he has struggled with injuries both years. The native of Fallon, Nevada, missed eight games with a foot injury in 2022. He missed four games last season. Dooley’s return could prove to be huge for the Broncos, who also return starting guard/center Mason Randolph, guard Roger Carreon and left tackle Kage Casey.
DL Sheldon Newton — Newton joined the Broncos last year after three years at Northern Arizona. Danielson confirmed Tuesday (Jan. 9) that he will return this year for fifth season of his high school career. The 6-3, 326-pound native of San Jacinto, California, played in all 14 games for the Broncos last year, lining up primarily at nose tackle, where he spit time with senior Herbert Gums, who is also expected back this year. Newton finished last season with 22 tackles and 4.5 tackles for loss.
Seniors aren’t the only players announcing if they’re staying or going these days thanks to the transfer portal and the allure of NIL money. Here are some underclassmen who have announced they plan to return.
RB Ashton Jeanty — Jeanty gave Boise State fans an early Christmas present when he announced his plans to return in early December. The sophomore led the Broncos with 1,347 rushing yards and 19 total touchdowns (14 rushing, 5 receiving) and was named Mountain West Offensive Player of the Year. The 5-9, 210-pound native of Jacksonville, Florida, has posted 2,168 yards and 21 touchdowns on the ground in two seasons as a Bronco.
LB Andrew Simpson — Simpson has been a pleasant surprise on the Broncos’ defense the past two seasons. He has posted 9.5 sacks in two years, including 6.5 in 2023. He was named second-team All-Mountain West after he finished the season ranked No. 3 on the team with 66 tackles and No. 2 with 16 tackles for loss. Simpson announced on Jan. 1 that he’ll be back for his redshirt junior season.
Declared for the NFL Draft
RB George Holani — Holani capped his five-year career at Boise State with 138 yards and two touchdowns on the ground in the Broncos’ loss to UCLA in the LA Bowl. Holani ranks No. 6 all-time at Boise State with 3,596 career rushing yards. The 5-11, 210-pound native of Bellflower, California, has two 1,000-yard seasons on his resume. He tallied 1,014 rushing yards as a freshman in 2019 and 1,157 in 2022.
Holani finished the final season of his college career with 748 rushing yards and seven touchdowns after missing several games with injury, and injuries hampered him in his time at Boise State.
Holani declared for the draft on Dec. 19. He is hoping to follow a long list of family members to the NFL. He is probably Boise State’s best chance to extend its streak of 14 years with at least one player picked in the NFL Draft.
OL Cade Beresford — Beresford also has a shot at extending the NFL Draft streak for BSU. Beresford declared for the draft on Christmas Eve. The 6-foot-6, 308-pound native of Woodinville, Washington, transferred to Boise State in 2022 after four seasons at Washington State. He started 27 consecutive games at right tackle for the Broncos the past two years and was a two-time All-Mountain West pick, earning first-team honors in 2023.
OL Ethan Carde — Carde transferred to Boise State in 2023 after he spent three years at Texas Tech and one at Coffeyville Community College in Kansas. The 6-8, 311-pound native of Tampa, Florida, appeared in 12 games for the Broncos last year, playing both left tackle and left guard.
WR Billy Bowens — Bowens finished his six-year playing career at Boise State with 77 catches for 1,024 yards and five touchdowns. The 6-1, 200-pound native of Redlands, California, posted career highs in receptions (32), receiving yards (462) and receiving touchdowns (4) in the 2022 season. He hauled in 28 passes for 383 yards and a touchdown in 2023.
Transferred
QB Taylen Green — Green replaced former Boise State starter Hank Bachmeier in 2022 and finished the season with an 8-2 record as the starter. Green was in an out of the lineup in 2023, and he eventually lost his starting job to redshirt freshman Maddux Madsen. He was back under center after Madsen was injured in his first start, and Green finished the season as the Offensive MVP of the Mountain West championship game.
Green entered the transfer portal shortly after the season ended and landed at Arkansas, where he has a chance to replace KJ Jefferson as the Razorbacks’ starter. Jefferson announced Monday that he is transferring to UCF.
WR Eric McAlister — McAlister was clearly Boise State’s No. 1 receiver in 2023. He had a team-high 47 catches for 873 yards and five touchdowns when he left the team in early November. He tried to rejoin after Andy Avalos was fired and Danielson was named interim coach, but that was denied. The Texas native eventually landed at TCU, which also happens to be where Avalos was hired as defensive coordinator.
Edge Kivon Wright — Wright transferred to Boise State last year after one season at Boston College. He never really caught on with the Broncos and appeared in just four games. Wright hopped back into the transfer portal last month and has three years of eligibility left.
LB Brett Tommasini — The former standout at Eagle High transferred to Boise State in 2023 after he spent two seasons at the University of Idaho. He did not appear in any games for the Broncos.
C Nikolai Bujnowski — Bujnowski joined the Broncos last year after three seasons as a walk-on at Virginia Tech. He appeared in all 14 games for Boise State last season, contributing primarily on special teams. He has two year of eligibility remaining.
This story was originally published January 3, 2024 at 2:44 PM.
