From youth to The Blue, ‘Thunder and Lightning’ ready to lead Boise State offense
Boise State football fans got a taste last year of what the next couple of seasons could look like at running back: the power and strength of 217-pounder Sire Gaines paired with the explosiveness and speed of Dylan Riley.
The duo combined for 2,201 total yards and 21 touchdowns and look set to terrorize opponents in the revived Pac-12 in 2026, with head coach Spencer Danielson planning to split carries between them in spring practice, which began Thursday.
For most high-ceiling running back prospects, the idea of splitting carries is not that appealing. That’s especially true in the age of Name, Image and Likeness, where programs are willing to open the bank for a solid RB1. Riley, a junior, admitted Thursday that other programs could have “offered me a lot more money” than what Boise State is capable of.
But look to some major college programs and the NFL, and time shares at running back are pretty common. Both of the Broncos told reporters Thursday afternoon that they have no qualms about splitting carries in 2026.
In fact, it wouldn’t even be the first time they’ve shared the load for the same team.
Way back in 2018, Gaines and Riley were running split-back formations and leaving opposing defenses bamboozled while playing for the 12-and-under Moreno Valley Falcons in the heart of Southern California.
They’d often run a play called 24 Cross Club, which would see one running back fake the handoff and take off one direction, leaving the other to storm off around the other corner into an empty defensive backfield.
“That play was money every time,” said redshirt sophomore Gaines, flashing a bright smile. “They didn’t know who had the ball.”
Other times, they’d run 28 Toss, where Gaines would be the human battering ram as lead blocker, flattening the first defender he’d see and letting Riley take off from behind him.
Riley described the pair as “Lightning and Thunder,” and although Boise State likely won’t be running two-back sets very often, the team knows it has the tools to deal with short-yardage situations and create game-changing runs.
Riley said the goal for the year is for both running backs to hit the 1,000-yard mark. On a personal note, Riley said he wants to exceed the 1,125 rushing yards he had last season. Gaines had 811 yards in 2025.
Those two are joined in the running back room by freshman Keilan Chavies and redshirt sophomore transfers Juelz Goff (Pittsburgh) and Harry Stewart III (Kansas). Goff won’t participate in spring practices because of an injury, while Danielson said the staff is working to ensure Stewart and Chavies get reps.
But ultimately, Danielson said Monday that it will be the Gaines and Riley show this spring in an offense that will need a great deal from its ground game in 2026 to keep defenses from teeing off on redshirt senior quarterback Maddux Madsen.
“At the end of the day, if (Riley) needs me to go in to take a break off him, then I’m gonna do it, and vice versa,” Gaines said.
“The running back room, the whole goal is to be the tone setter of the offense. It starts up front, and it starts with us. We know if we get the run game going early in the game, it’s 90% sure that we’re gonna come out with the (winning) outcome.”
