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Wednesday Weekly…July 30, 2025.
As fall camp moves into Day 3 (and it’s still July), we’re talking the Boise State offensive line. And where we may have thought there was one position battle, there are two. The obvious one: left guard, where All-Mountain West Ben Dooley has graduated. Injuries last season provided Tyler Keinath a lot of opportunities on the O-line, beginning right out of the gate at Georgia Southern, and he’s a prime candidate at that spot. But the Broncos like what Jason Steele has done, and they’ve moved him to guard. Keinath is limited in practice right now, so Steele is getting big-time reps at left guard. The not-so-obvious battle is at right tackle, where Hall Schmidt started most of last year. Daylon Metoyer has been making a strong push there, though, so that is one to watch. To be sure, the Broncos’ depth is paying dividends.
LOOKING FOR QB2
One of the underrated storylines is at quarterback. With Maddux Madsen the clear-cut starter for the first time in his career, who’s going to back him up? As the old adage goes: whoever it is will be one play away from taking snaps. Redshirt freshman Kaleb Annett had a solid showing in the Broncos’ spring game, throwing the only touchdown pass of the day. The scholarship QB from Newport Beach was 6-of-10 for 77 yards. But coach Spencer Danielson says the No. 2 spot is up for grabs in fall camp, noting that former Skyview High star Max Cutforth, who walked on two years ago, is right in the mix. Cutforth is the only quarterback other than Madsen who’s thrown a pass in a game—he was 2-for-2 against Portland State last year.
THIS ONE GOES WITHOUT SAYING
You’ve got the running backs, of course, with Ashton Jeanty gone. The battle is supposed to begin between Sire Gaines, Malik Sherrod, Breezy Dubar and Dylan Riley. Gaines would seem to have the edge, but he hasn’t been on the field for the first two practices of fall camp due to what are called “soft tissue” issues. Gaines has worked so hard to get back—it’s a bummer that he isn’t yet. So the starting job looks to be wide open. It’s hard to forget Sherrod’s dazzling 65-yard touchdown run in the Spring Game. And he might be the most confident guy on the team. Dubar got some clutch carries in relief of Jeanty last year, and Riley has wheels.
MADSEN COMMANDS THE ROOM
So whose team is this? Last year it was Ashton Jeanty’s. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out whose it is now. This is the first year that Madsen hasn’t had to look over his shoulder, and he’s a different guy now, according to Danielson. “This is his team,” the coach confirmed. “He’s grown a ton in the offseason. He’s in the best shape of his life.” Danielson says Madsen has always been counted out, and now he can be counted on. Speaking of leadership, Maddux doesn’t have to do it all. Last season, Jeanty was the unquestioned centerpiece. But just like there’ll be a committee in the Broncos’ running game this year, it could be leadership by committee.
THE RETURN OF NO. 90
It’s emotional for Danielson to have Braxton Fely back on the roster. Fely entered the transfer portal in early April. It was especially wrenching for Danielson, who had officiated Fely’s wedding ceremony last summer. He returned to Boise State less than a month later. But Fely is very much back in the good graces. In fact, he spoke to the team at the beginning of summer and apologized for leaving. It’s all part of one of Danielson’s favorite words, “retention.” And he probably doesn’t get enough credit for coaching retention. It’s one of the first things he talked about at the presser. “How many teams in the country didn’t lose any coaches?” Danielson asked, noting that Dirk Koetter is still a senior offensive analyst.
THE ARRIVAL OF NO. 20
We know the most of the names in the Boise State secondary this year, like A’Marion McCoy, Jeremiah Earby, Ty Benefield, Zion Washington and Davon Banks. But what unfamiliar names might we hear called as the season unfolds? Keep your eyes out for Jayden Mickey, the transfer defensive back from Notre Dame. And it’s not just because he’s making a return to South Bend with the Broncos on October 4. Word is that Mickey was one of the defensive standouts during summer conditioning. He has played at a very high level, and it shows in practice. Mickey spent three seasons with the Fighting Irish and appeared in 25 games, highlighted by a 43-yard pick-six against Pittsburgh two years ago. Danielson says Mickey is getting a look at nickel (he has been a cornerback).
A THROWBACK TOP 25 RANKING
Sports Illustrated isn’t what it was. Remember when SI’s preseason Top 25 used to come out, and we were all-eyes and all-ears? Well, SI still exists, and right now they’re counting down—and revealing a new team every day. When they opened the No. 21 envelope, it was Boise State. SI’s preview of the team includes quite a statement: “In an age where teams are largely unknown from one August to the next, it speaks volumes that we have a good idea of what to expect out of the Broncos.” Most of the team is back, and that just doesn’t happen these days in the Group of 5. SI talked about Danielson’s 15-3 record, noting that “all three of his career losses while in charge were to current Big Ten programs and two came to fellow CFP opponents.”
AFTER 57 YEARS: BRONCOS-TROJANS
The Maui Invitational will provide Boise State hoops with its best resume-building opportunity before Mountain West play this next season. Last year it was the home win over Clemson, although that wasn’t quite enough to propel the Broncos into the NCAA Tournament. They now know that they’ll open their first trip to Maui against USC, and that would be a nice Quad 1 win if they can get it. Boise State needs to get something out of this tournament. This will be the first time the Broncos have faced Trojans coach Eric Musselman since his Nevada days. In fact, it’ll be the first time the team has ever played USC. And in case you’re wondering—former Bronco Chibuzo Agbo, who transferred to USC last year, is out of eligibility. The game is set for November 24 and will be telecast on ESPN2.
JORGENSON FINISHES ON A HIGH NOTE
There was a terribly tough go down the stretch for Matteo Jorgenson at the Tour de France. The low point was Stage 16, the one with the infamous climb up Mont Ventoux, where the Boise High grad finished 115th, his second-worst result of the Tour. Then Jorgenson was 83rd in Stage 17, regarded as a flat course. He dropped from fifth place overall to 20 h and was short on opportunities to make any move back up. But Jorgenson finished strong, including a fifth-place finish in the Stage 21 finale at the Champs Elysees in Paris. His overall ranking ended up 19th. “No excuses, no regrets,” said Matteo. His main role, though, was to help his team win—and Team Visma/Lease A Bike did indeed finish first.
BOISE’S GODFATHER OF MINOR LEAGUE SPORTS
There’s a special pregame ceremony coming up at the Boise Hawks game Wednesday night, as they honor Bill Pereira, the one-time owner of Diamond Sports who recently passed away. Pereira was responsible for the building of Memorial Stadium 36 years ago, and he helped make the Hawks a thing in the 1990s. Then he spearheaded the Idaho Sneakers of World Team Tennis in 1994 and was involved in the formation of the Idaho Steelheads in 1997. Hope you can make it out there for the game against the dreaded Missoula Paddleheads.
This Day In Sports…brought to you by HARMON TRAVEL…official sponsor of Boise State athletics.
July 30, 2017: Adrian Beltre of the Texas Rangers becomes the first Dominican player in major league history to record 3,000 hits. Beltre, one of the most prolific doubles hitters of all-time, indeed hit one of those to reach 3,000 in a 10-6 loss to Baltimore. The 38-year-old third baseman, in his 20th season, was the 31st big leaguer to hit the milestone. Beltre was only the third player in the club who played primarily third base, joining George Brett and Wade Boggs. And do you remember? Beltre was a Seattle Mariner in the late 2000s.
(Tom Scott hosts the Scott Slant segment during the football season on KTVB’s Sunday Sports Extra and anchors four sports segments each weekday on 95.3 FM KTIK. He also served as color commentator on KTVB’s telecasts of Boise State football for 14 seasons.)
