Former walk-on wants to be next Boise State QB. Here’s his chance to shine
For the first time since 1992, an Idaho-born quarterback will lead Boise State out onto the football field this weekend.
Redshirt sophomore Max Cutforth, a Nampa native and former Skyview High School QB, will start in place of the injured Maddux Madsen as the Broncos (6-3, 4-1 Mountain West) travel to Southern California to take on San Diego State (7-2, 4-1) with first place in the conference on the line.
Boise State coach Spencer Danielson confirmed Monday that Madsen would miss this weekend’s game after he suffered an ankle injury in the loss at home to Fresno State two weeks ago, but he was optimistic that his starting QB would return by the end of the season.
If it were up to Cutforth, there’d be no rush for Madsen to get back to full health, because the former walk-on visualizes himself playing well enough to be a starter for the Broncos for a couple of years. “Absolutely,” he said when asked that question.
“That’s what I’m here for. I’m here to play. I’m here to compete,” Cutforth said. “And this is just another stepping stone toward that goal.”
For that to happen, Cutforth will have to play a helluva lot better against the Aztecs than he did against Fresno State on Nov. 1.
Cutforth entered the game midway through the first quarter after Madsen’s injury and ended his day 14-of-29 for 106 yards, a touchdown and two interceptions in the 30-7 loss at Albertsons Stadium. He led the Broncos on a 50-yard touchdown drive in the second quarter, but with throws going wide and into the blue turf, otherwise looked like a deer in headlights as the Broncos produced a historically low 192 yards of offense.
The coaching staff shielded Cutforth from criticism following the game. Danielson said Monday that the entire offense didn’t execute against the Bulldogs — the team had 91 rushing yards and averaged 3.1 yards per carry — while offensive coordinator Nate Potter said he didn’t put Cutforth “in the position to succeed.”
Coming off a bye week, that excuse is off the table. Cutforth and Potter will have had two weeks to prepare for a San Diego State defense that has shut out three teams and yielded only 118 points on the season — with last weekend’s shocking 38-6 loss at Hawaii producing a big chunk of those. Despite that setback, the Aztecs’ defense still ranks No. 6 in the nation for yards allowed per game (261.8).
On the coaching side, Potter said the time has been spent “figuring out what Max does best.” For Cutforth, it’s been about watching as much game film as possible and knowing the game plan “inside and out.”
Realistically, the game plan could end up with Boise State primarily relying on the ground attack.
Cutforth’s arm strength is a big part of his game, but his farthest connection against Fresno State was for just 16 yards. San Diego State’s defense is balanced, ranking 13th in the nation for passing yards allowed (168.7) and 10th in rushing yards allowed (93.1). Potentially playing in wind and rain could mean that the Broncos try to rely on their running backs to take some pressure off the QB.
“It’s not how can Max all of a sudden be an elite quarterback — which he will play well — but we have to be more efficient in all phases of our offense,” Danielson said. “We have to be able to run the football efficiently. That’s a DNA part of our team.”
With no concrete timeline on Madsen’s return, Saturday might not be Cutforth’s only chance, but if he wants to make a big impression, it’s the biggest game he might ever see in college.
Boise State at San Diego State
- When: 8:30 p.m. MT Saturday
- Where: Snapdragon Stadium (35,000, grass), San Diego
- TV: CBS Sports Network (Rich Waltz, Robert Turbin)
- Radio: KBOI 670 AM / 93.1 FM (Bob Behler, Pete Cavender)
- Records: Boise State 6-3, 4-1; San Diego State 7-2, 4-1
- Series: Boise State leads the series 6-4
- Betting line: San Diego State by 2.5
- Weather: 58 degrees, rain, 70% chance of rain
