Freshman running back turns heads during Boise State’s spring game; defense comes after QB

Boise State offensive coordinator Dirk Koetter has worked with many talented running backs during his 40-year coaching career, including former Bronco Doug Martin, who played for Koetter when he was head coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Koetter knows a special ball carrier when he sees one, and he said Boise State has another rising star in freshman running back Sire Gaines.

“For a 17-year-old, wow, he’s off to a great start,” Koetter told reporters on Tuesday. “He’s very impressive, not only in terms of running the ball and yards after contact, but he’s physical in pass protection.”

Gaines graduated from high school a semester early and has been on Boise State’s campus since January. The strength he possesses in his chiseled 208-pound frame, his top speed and explosive cuts, and his workman-like mentality have stood out since his arrival, head coach Spencer Danielson said.

“No one is going to outsmart him because his success means more to him than anyone else,” Danielson said. “He is very physically developed as a 17-year-old. That’s a result of how hard he works.”

Former five-star recruits at QB and receiver look impressive in Boise State’s spring game

Boise State fans got their first look at the talented freshman on Saturday during Boise State’s annual spring game, and they didn’t have to wait long to see what he is capable of.

Gaines’ first carry of the game went for 27 yards. He finished with 45 yards on five carries, an average of 9 yards per carry. He also caught three passes for 18 yards.

“He has grown tremendously as a person and as a player since he came here,” wide receiver Prince Strachan said Saturday. “The first conversation we had was on the field while we were working. He was so focused on everything that I told him, ‘If you keep going like this, you will go far.’”

Last season’s Mountain West Offensive Player of the Year, Ashton Jeanty, will carry the load for the Broncos again this year. He led the team with 1,347 yards and 19 total touchdowns last fall.

And Gaines still has some work to do to wrest the No. 2 running back job away from sophomore Jambres Dubar, who finished the spring game with just five yards on six carries but scored on a one-yard touchdown run. Gaines has done enough to prove to the coaches that he is ready for an offensive role, Danielson said.

It all comes down to a deep backfield.

“Knowing him, I know he will take advantage of every opportunity he gets,” Danielson said.

Good for old tricks

Wide receiver Latrell Caples is focused on returning to the form he showed in 2022, when he led the Broncos with 51 catches for 549 yards. He missed last season with a torn Achilles tendon, but on Saturday he was back to his old tricks.

Caples was one of 11 players to record a catch in the spring game, and he led the team with four catches for 40 yards. The redshirt senior from Lancaster, Texas, ran crisp routes and was a consistent check-down option for former USC quarterback Malachi Nelson, who was making his debut on the Blue. Caples also got to the top of the defense and hauled in a 23-yard pass despite tight coverage.

“He’s one of the greatest leaders in our room,” Strachan said. “He is a great player who works hard and holds other players to a high standard.”

Junior college transfer Chris Marshall finished the spring game with three catches for 35 yards. Strachan caught two passes for 48 yards, and former Colorado wide receiver Chase Penry added two catches for 35 yards and a touchdown. Penry transferred to Boise State last year, but nagging injuries kept him off the field until the end of last season.

Defense wins the day

Boise State’s offense scored two early touchdowns on Saturday, but the Broncos defense rebounded to win the game.

The spring game featured a non-traditional scoring system that awarded points for things like sacks, three-and-outs, turnovers and explosive plays, as well as touchdowns and field goals. The defense won 47-29 after collecting five sacks, an interception, with linebacker Gabe Hunter returning 33 yards, and one forced fumble.

The offense was limited to 3.2 rushing yards per carry and was limited to 2 of 15 on third down.

“There are things we need to clean up from the first half in terms of offense and leverage, but I’m really proud of how (the defense) responded,” Danielson said. “It was good to see our players make the plays they missed in the first quarter.”

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Creating more pressure on quarterbacks has been the focus this spring, linebacker Andrew Simpson said. The Broncos finished last season with 36 sacks, 12.5 of which came from Ahmed Hassanein. Simpson said the defense has racked up more than 30 sacks in Boise State’s 15 spring practices this year.

Simpson, fellow linebacker Jake Ripp and redshirt freshman defensive lineman Demanuel Brown finished the spring game with one sack apiece. Junior college transfers Udoka Ezeani (linebacker) and Joseph Marsh (edge), redshirt freshman defensive tackle Michael Madrie and freshman linebacker Clay Martineau all had .5 sacks.

“We have confidence in all of our pass rushers,” Simpson said after the game. “The depth is there this year and everyone wants to get to the quarterback.”

Ripp and Madrie led the defense with four tackles each. Former Borah standout defensive lineman Trevor McKenna finished with three tackles and a forced fumble. Freshman cornerback Khai Taylor also finished with three tackles.

Freshman defensive lineman Lopez Sanusi was also disruptive. Sanusi, who came to Boise State this year from the NFL Academy in England, pressured Nelson into inaccurate throws on back-to-back plays in the red zone in the second half. He also had a tackle for a loss.

COMMENTS

▪ Jeanty limped to the sideline after scoring a rushing touchdown in the first half. Danielson said after the game that he pulled a hamstring, but it is not serious. Danielson also said cornerback A’Marion McCoy injured his ankle on Saturday, but that doesn’t appear serious either.

▪ Nathan Cardona started at center in place of Mason Randolph, who was out this spring due to injuries from last season. Tyler Keinath started at right guard in place of Roger Carreon, who was also out this spring. Hall Schmidt started at right tackle. Kage Casey was at left tackle and Ben Dooley started at left guard.

▪ Former defensive lineman JJ Tallo has moved to the offensive line and will wear jersey No. 61.

▪ Safety Zion Washington did not play because he was out of town to attend a relative’s funeral.

▪ Boise State announced that 7,137 fans attended the spring game. That is more than double the announced attendance of 3,402 last year.