What an interesting year the Boise State Broncos had in 2023. After firing head coach Andy Avalos during the season, they went on to win the Mountain West under interim Spencer Danielson.
There’s still work to do, however, in 2024, but the top 10 returning players on the Broncos roster make for a strong group with another title on their minds.
Boise State Broncos’ Top 10 Returners in 2024
Analyzing the returning players at every school is a difficult task in the transfer portal area. As such, we’ve included transfer-portal athletes on each team’s roster page to open spring camp in addition to the rostered players from last year.
10) Kage Casey, OT
After a couple of years of inconsistent play, the offensive line stepped up last year, and the Broncos needed it. With the passing attack going through multiple quarterbacks and injuries to wide receivers, the line needed to be at its best.
Kage Casey took over one of the vacancies last year and didn’t waste time introducing himself to the Mountain West. A College Football Network All-Mountain West honorable mention selection last fall, Casey is set to rise up postseason lists this year.
9) Austin Bolt, WR
Experience hasn’t been a problem for the Broncos’ receivers, but this group must take a step forward this year. Eric McAlister, Billy Bowens, and Stefan Cobbs all depart, but the unit should be better than last year.
Guys like Austin Bolt will get more opportunities, and we’ve seen what he can do when thrown the ball.
While his sample size consists of six catches, he averaged 29.2 yards on those catches and turned two of them for touchdowns. His speed allowed him to be explosive last year, and now the Broncos hope to get him more involved in the offense in 2024.
8) Braxton Fely, DT
The defense slipped in terms of total yards per game last year, going from seventh in the country in 2022 to 72nd in 2023. Danielson and his staff want to improve in that area this year. Fortunately, they return a good core of front seven players to make that happen.
Braxton Fely remains an underrated player in the Mountain West, but he already showed flashes of his potential last year. He recorded 4.5 tackles for loss and three sacks, and he’s one player who can help the defense become a more disruptive group in 2024.
7) Prince Strachan, WR
If this offense finds new life in the passing attack, it will be one of the best in college football. With the explosive talent available to them, opposing teams better hope they don’t put it together. We already talked about Bolt, but watch out for Prince Strachan.
He only caught 12 passes last year but turned those into 274 yards (22.8 yards per catch) and two touchdowns. He’s another player with speed who can stretch a defense vertically, and that opens up the offense to a whole new realm of possibilities.
6) A’Marion McCoy, CB
This defense isn’t short on talent or experience but must take a step forward. A group that ranked 110th in pass defense also struggled to keep the ball in front of them. If that’s going to change, the secondary also must do their part. With A’Marion McCoy back in an experienced group, that should happen.
MORE: 2024 Boise State Football Roster
McCoy led the Broncos with three interceptions last year, and the Laney College transfer hopes that this year will be even better. This group will face plenty of talented passing attacks, and their quest to repeat as Mountain West champs might hinge on stopping the pass better.
5) Malachi Nelson, QB
One of the biggest additions by any Group of Five team this year, the Broncos shocked everyone by getting former five-star and USC quarterback Malachi Nelson. With Caleb Williams on the roster and the huge bowl game performance from Miller Moss, Nelson decided to take his talents elsewhere and landed in Boise.
He’ll compete with Maddux Madsen for the starting job, but many believe he’s the favorite to win that competition. With the Trojans, he completed just one pass for zero yards, but the tools he brings to the Broncos offense could transform the passing attack.
4) Roger Carreon, OG
For as much love as fans gave Ashton Jeanty and George Holani last year, the offensive line deserves a big tip of the cap too. Without them, the offense wouldn’t have experienced as much success as they did.
Roger Carreon joined Kage Casey as a player with little experience who took on bigger roles last year, and both thrived in their new positions. Carreon played in all 14 games and started in seven, but comes into the 2024 season as the undisputed starter at guard.
3) Ahmed Hassanein, DE
If the Broncos’ defense can find a few more guys to play like Ahmed Hassanein, good luck moving the ball against this team. In 2023, Boise State finished 24th in tackles for loss and 18th in sacks, and Hassanein led that charge.
The senior from Cairo, Egypt, brings a big frame to the edge of the defense, and he’s a strong player who knows how to ruin an opposing team’s game plan. Teams will key on him more this year, and his ability to help the players around him win their more favorable matchups will help the defense as a whole.
2) Andrew Simpson, LB
The Broncos have rotated linebacker players over the last couple of years, but they return their leader in 2024. Andrew Simpson had a big year in 2023, posting 66 tackles, 16 tackles for loss, 6.5 sacks, two interceptions, two forced fumbles, and two fumble recoveries.
1) Ashton Jeanty, RB
Mountain West coordinators continue to lose sleep, knowing that they must face the top running back in the conference this year. If you don’t know Ashton Jeanty’s name yet, I implore you to expand your college football horizons. You’re missing out on one of the few players who is a homerun threat on any play.
KEEP READING: 2024 Mountain West Power Rankings
Jeanty rushed for 1,347 yards and 14 touchdowns, and he also added 569 yards and five more scores as a receiver. Simply put, if Jeanty touches the ball, the defense better rally to the football. If they don’t, he’s likely putting points on the scoreboard.
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