Boise State’s Matt Lauter wanted to be nation’s top tight end. How’s he doing?
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- Matt Lauter leads Boise State tight ends with 10 catches for 103 yards, 1 TD
- Offensive shift drops run plays to 51% as tight ends gain receiving targets
- Coach Nate Potter expands playbook to highlight tight end versatility in 2025
Less than two months ago, just days into the start of Boise State football’s fall camp, redshirt senior tight end Matt Lauter was asked about being one of the best tight ends in the country.
His response:
“Yes, sir, 100%.”
Three games into the new season, the Idaho Statesman asked Lauter whether he’s living up to the standard he set for himself.
“I feel like I’m in a good place,” he said — and then there was a brief pause, before he fell into a list of things he wants to improve.
“I need to work on my finish and how I finish during plays so scouts at the next level can see I have that in me. I think they’re always looking at staying attached to a block and being able to finish that defender.
“And then passing game-wise, just being able to practice to a high ability, so I can go out there and win versus man and find zones versus zones.”
Lauter is tied for the team lead with 10 receptions, and has 103 yards and one touchdown for a Broncos squad that is running the ball at a high level now and has featured a balanced passing attack. His yards don’t rank among the top 17 tight ends in the country — as far down as NCAA statistics go — but many of the players above him have played one more game.
Lauter plays a significant role in the run game, including a huge block that opened a hole for sophomore running back Dylan Riley to break free for his fifth touchdown against Air Force last weekend.
Lauter’s blocking talents were honed last season when the offense primarily ran through running back Ashton Jeanty. Last season, 57.2% of Boise State’s plays were on the ground. Through three games this season, that number has dropped to 51%.
New offensive coordinator Nate Potter, the tight ends coach at Boise State since 2022, has increased their involvement in the passing game this season. Lauter and redshirt sophomore backup tight end Matt Wagner have combined for 15 catches and 157 yards so far. Through three games last season, those numbers stood at 11 receptions for 123 yards for the position.
“I think Nate does a great job with play calling, and then obviously he’s my coach, so he’s trying to get the tight ends in positions where they can succeed,” Lauter said. “It’s definitely fun, and I’m having a lot of fun playing football this year.”
Potter believes that Lauter has more to offer this season, and said there already have been some plays where the tight end’s yardage total could have been higher.
“I think there’s still a lot there,” Potter said. “But he does surprise people with his ability to run after the catch, and I love it. That’s always the goal for any tight end: not to get tackled by the first guy.”
One play Lauter gets hyped for and would like to see even more of is the tight end screen, which features the offense showing pass protection to the defense before setting up a short swing pass to a guy with blockers in front.
“It’s pretty much explosive every time,” Lauter said. “And if it’s not, if the defense reads it well, we’ve got to turn them into explosive plays. We’ve got to get yards.”
Boise State vs. App State
- When: 5:30 p.m. Saturday
- Where: Albertsons Stadium (33,000, turf)
- TV: FS1 (Noah Reed, Robert Smith)
- Radio: KBOI 670 AM/KTIK 93.1 FM (Bob Behler, Pete Cavender)
- Records: Boise State 2-1; App State 2-1
- Series: Boise State leads 1-0
- Vegas betting line: Boise State by 16.5
- Weather: 85 degrees, sunny, 0% chance of rain
