Camp notes: defense making up for lost time

The defense is typically ahead of the offense during the first few days of fall camp. But six-interceptions ahead? That's just showing off.

According to the reports from the morning session, the Boise State D got to Bronco quarterbacks six times, which is nearly half as many interceptions as the defense had all of last year. Who all got a pick? Here's the list.

• Derrell Acrey
• Brandyn Thompson
• Derrell Acrey again
• Keith McGowen
• George Iloka
• Aaron Tevis
• Chadd Cripe

Of note from the various camp breakdowns, Dave Southorn reports that Jeremy Childs still has it, Cripe reveals that Andrew Woodruff has lost 35 pounds, and Brian Murphy picks a fight with Graham Watson. Perhaps we can get media credentials to that.

If you are curious about hearing an Ian Johnson interview, the Press-Tribune has the audio up on its site. We'll be updating this post with any breaking news throughout the afternoon.

Broncos ranked by Rivals.com

Thanks to an alert reader, we found out that Boise State has been ranked #35 in the country by Rivals.com. Their countdown, which began appropriately enough at the bottom with Utah State and Idaho, has been going on for weeks now, and we had been anxious to see where Rivals would place the Broncos. And really, we can't complain. If BSU started the season at #35, there would have a good opportunity to move up into the top 25 in just a few weeks' time.

The Rivals preview was pretty standard, but it surprised us with its thoroughness. A George Iloka mention? Hailing the virtues of Vinny Perretta? Knowing who Brandyn Thompson is? We half expected an ESPN.com-style fluff piece featuring a follow-up of Ian Johnson's marriage and a take on the strong cornerback duo of Orlando Scandrick and Kyle Wilson.

But Rivals really stole our heart with this line:

If we've learned one thing the past 10 seasons, it's never to doubt Boise State – no matter what issues the program faces.

You can say that again. Although, if one were to learn two things from the past 10 seasons, the other might be that Fresno State never finishes ahead of the Broncos. Perhaps it will take Rivals 11 years to learn that one.

Boise State preview [Rivals.com]

OBNUG Roster Update: Cornerbacks

Spring football gets OBNUG in the mood to speculate, so over the next few weeks, we will be making blind guesses as to who will be starting for the Broncos in the fall. We’ll do it position-by-position. Today: Cornerbacks.

Cornerbacks

Ideal candidate: a young Deion Sanders


Worst candidate: Jabba the Hutt


Actual candidates: Kyle Wilson, Garcia Day, Brandyn Thompson, Keith McGowen, Antwon Murray

OBNUG's pick: Wilson, Thompson. Obviously, Kyle Wilson is a shoe-in for one corner position, and we feel that Thompson will make good on the promise he showed last year and earn the other spot. We were expecting big things from Garcia Day this season, and we could still see him make an impact as a nickel back.

Rivals' WAC spring preview

The good folks at Rivals.com previewed the top stories for WAC spring football, and they seem to be giving Fresno State entirely too much credit. Join the club.

The WAC has provided BCS "interlopers" each of the past two seasons – with Boise State in 2006 and Hawaii in '07 – and Fresno State could be that team this fall. Fresno only has a few holes to fill this spring. That's not the case for Boise and Hawaii.

Thank goodness WAC championships aren't won in the spring.

There were a few Bronco items in the preview article; the first is Rivals' take on one of the WAC's big position battles:

The Broncos need to find a new quarterback, with Bush Hamdan, Nick Lomax and Mike Coughlin the contenders. Still, unless the Broncos can find four new starters for their offensive line, the quarterback is going to be running for his life. Nate Potter and Matt Slater look as if they will get first shot at the tackle spots.

We liked their pick for an emerging player:

Boise State CB Brandyn Thompson: Starting CB Orlando Scandrick left early for the NFL, and Thompson – who played a lot as a true freshman last season – looks as if he'll step into Scandrick's vacated spot. Thompson was one of five true freshmen to play for Boise last season.

Plus, the whole thing never mentioned Ian Johnson once. Impressive.

WAC Spring Preview [Rivals.com]