2015 Boise State Broncos football team explained
The 2015 Boise State Broncos football team represented Boise State University during the 2015 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Broncos were led by second-year head coach Bryan Harsin and played their home games at Albertsons Stadium. They were members of the Mountain West Conference in the Mountain Division. They finished the season 9–4, 5–3 in Mountain West play to finish in a four-way tie for second place in the Mountain Division. They were invited to the Poinsettia Bowl where they defeated Northern Illinois.
Preseason
Award watch lists
Listed in the order that they were released.
Paul Hornung Award – Sr. WR Shane Williams-Rhodes[1]
Chuck Bednarik Award – Jr. DE Kamalei Correa & Sr. S Darian Thompson[2]
Rimington Trophy – Sr. C Marcus Henry[3]
Outland Trophy – Sr. C Marcus Henry[4]
Bronko Nagurski Trophy – Jr. DE Kamalei Correa & Sr. S Darian Thompson[5]
Jim Thorpe Award – Sr. CB Donte Deayon & Sr. S Darian Thompson[6]
Lombardi Award – Jr. DE Kamalei Correa, Sr. C Marcus Henry, Sr. OL Rees Odhiambo & Jr. LB Tanner Vallejo[7]
Fred Biletnikoff Award – Jr. WR Thomas Sperbeck[8]
Wuerffel Trophy – Sr. WR Shane Williams-Rhodes[9]
Walter Camp Award – Sr. S Darian Thompson[10]
Mountain West media days
At the Mountain West media days, held at the Cosmopolitan in Las Vegas, Nevada, the Broncos were picked as the overwhelming favorites to win the Mountain Division title, receiving 28 of a possible 30 first place votes.[11] Sr. C Marcus Henry and Sr. OL Rees Odhiambo were selected to the all-conference first team offense. Jr. DE Kamalei Correa, Jr. LB Tanner Vallejo, Sr. CB Donte Deayon and Sr. S Darian Thompson were selected to the all-conference first team defense.[12]
Media poll
Mountain Division
- Boise State – 177 (28)
- Utah State – 150 (2)
- Colorado State – 108
- Air Force – 90
- Wyoming – 64
- New Mexico – 41
Schedule
Schedule Source:[13]
Game summaries
Washington
See also: 2015 Washington Huskies football team.
At BYU
See also: 2015 BYU Cougars football team.
- Passing leaders: Ryan Finley (BSU): 25–38, 297 YDS, 1 TD, 3 INT; Tanner Mangum (BYU): 17–28, 309 YDS, 2 TD, 2 INT.
- Rushing leaders: Jeremy McNichols (BSU): 15 CAR, 46 YDS, 2 TD; Adam Hine (BYU): 19 CAR, 93 YDS, 1 TD.
- Receiving leaders: Shane William-Rhodes (BSU): 11 REC, 107 YDS; Mitchell Juergens (BYU): 4 REC, 172 YDS, 2 TD.
Idaho State
See also: 2015 Idaho State Bengals football team.
- Passing leaders: Brett Rypien (BSU): 8–9, 126 YDS; Michael Sanders (ISU): 21–42, 169 YDS, 1 INT.
- Rushing leaders: Jeremy McNichols (BSU): 15 CAR, 69 YDS, 3 TD; Xavier Finney (ISU): 14 CAR, 38 YDS.
- Receiving leaders: Thomas Sperbeck (BSU): 7 REC, 99 YDS; Madison Mangum (ISU): 7 REC, 98 YDS.
In the first quarter, starting quarterback Ryan Finley left the game after fracturing his right ankle. He was expected to miss eight weeks.[14] However, he did not return in the 2015 season. The last two Boise State starting quarterbacks to miss time with injuries were also from broken right ankles (Ryan Dinwiddie in 2002 and Joe Southwick in 2013).
At Virginia
See also: 2015 Virginia Cavaliers football team.
- Passing leaders: Brett Rypien (BSU): 24–35, 321 YDS, 3 TD; Matt Johns (UVA): 12–25, 199 YDS, 2 TD, 2 INT
- Rushing leaders: Jeremy McNichols (BSU): 9 CAR, 69 YDS, 1 TD; Daniel Hamm (UVA): 8 CAR, 22 YDS
- Receiving leaders: Thomas Sperbeck (BSU): 5 REC, 121 YDS, 2 TD; Taquan Mizzell (UVA): 5 REC, 59 YDS, 1 TD
Hawaii
See also: 2015 Hawaii Rainbow Warriors football team.
- Passing leaders: Brett Rypien (BSU): 19–25, 271 YDS, 3 TD; Max Wittek (UH): 7–24, 66 YDS, 2 INT.
- Rushing leaders: Jeremy McNichols (BSU): 20 CAR, 108 YDS, 2 TD; Steven Lakalaka (UH): 8 CAR, 34 YDS.
- Receiving leaders: Chaz Anderson (BSU): 5 REC, 95 YDS, 1 TD; Marcus Kemp (UH): 5 REC, 39 YDS.
At Colorado State
See also: 2015 Colorado State Rams football team.
- Passing leaders: Brett Rypien (BSU): 22–35, 339 YDS, 1 TD, 1 INT; Coleman Key (CSU): 5–19, 56 YDS, 1 TD, 2 INT.
- Rushing leaders: Jeremy McNichols (BSU): 17 CAR, 104 YDS, 2 TD; Jasen Oden, Jr. (CSU): 19 CAR, 52 YDS.
- Receiving leaders: Thomas Sperbeck (BSU): 5 REC, 178 YDS, 2 TD; Rashard Higgins (CSU): 3 REC, 42 YDS.
At Utah State
See also: 2015 Utah State Aggies football team.
- Passing leaders: Brett Rypien (BSU): 25–50, 299 YDS, 3 INT; Kent Myers (USU): 17–24, 157 YDS, 3 TD.
- Rushing leaders: Kelsey Young (BSU): 20 CAR, 60 YDS, 2 TD; Devante Mays (USU): 11 CAR, 63 YDS, 1 TD.
- Receiving leaders: Thomas Sperbeck (BSU): 6 REC, 156 YDS; Hunter Sharp (USU): 7 REC, 42 YDS, 2 TD.
Wyoming
See also: 2015 Wyoming Cowboys football team.
- Passing leaders: Brett Rypien (BSU): 22–28, 211 YDS, 3 TD; Cameron Coffman (WYO): 8–13, 70 YDS, 1 TD, 1 INT.
- Rushing leaders: Jeremy McNichols (BSU): 33 CAR, 166 YDS, 1 TD; Brian Hill (WYO): 23 CAR, 76 YDS.
- Receiving leaders: Thomas Sperbeck (BSU): 6 REC, 84 YDS, 2 TD; Jake Maulhardt (WYO): 6 REC, 76 YDS, 1 TD.
At UNLV
See also: 2015 UNLV Rebels football team.
- Passing leaders: Brett Rypien (BSU): 35–52, 469 YDS, 2 TD; Blake Decker (UNLV): 29–50, 357 YDS, 2 INT.
- Rushing leaders: Jeremy McNichols (BSU): 22 CAR, 122 YDS, 1 TD; Xzaviar Campbell (UNLV): 9 CAR, 29 YDS, 1 TD.
- Receiving leaders: Thomas Sperbeck (BSU): 10 REC, 163 YDS; Devonte Boyd (UNLV): 10 REC, 116 YDS.
New Mexico
See also: 2015 New Mexico Lobos football team.
- Passing leaders: Brett Rypien (BSU): –,, 2 TD, 3 INT; Austin Apodaca (UNM): 8–12, 172 YDS, 1 INT.
- Rushing leaders: Jeremy McNichols (BSU): 26 CAR, 128 YDS, 1 TD; Jhurell Pressley (UNM): 9 CAR, 132 YDS, 1 TD.
- Receiving leaders: Thomas Sperbeck (BSU):, ; Delane Hart-Johnson (UNM): 1 REC, 81 YDS.
Air Force
See also: 2015 Air Force Falcons football team.
- Passing leaders: Brett Rypien (BSU): 23–48, 237 YDS, 1 TD; Karson Roberts (AF): 9–16, 279 YDS, 2 TD, 3 INT.
- Rushing leaders: Jeremy McNichols (BSU): 20 CAR, 151 YDS, 1 TD; Jacobi Owens (AF): 9 CAR, 132 YDS.
- Receiving leaders: Thomas Sperbeck (BSU): 7 REC, 79 YDS, 1 TD; Garrett Griffin (AF): 3 REC, 107 YDS, 1 TD.
At San Jose State
See also: 2015 San Jose State Spartans football team.
- Passing leaders: Brett Rypien (BSU): 25–33, 197 YDS, 2 TD; Kenny Potter (SJSU): 28–41, 336 YDS, 3 TD, 2 INT.
- Rushing leaders: Jeremy McNichols (BSU): 20 CAR, 192 YDS, 2 TD; Tyler Ervin (SJSU): 11 CAR, 52 YDS.
- Receiving leaders: Thomas Sperbeck (BSU): 6 REC, 45 YDS; Billy Freeman (SJSU): 7 REC, 109 YDS, 1 TD.
Northern Illinois–Poinsettia Bowl
See also: 2015 Northern Illinois Huskies football team and 2015 Poinsettia Bowl.
- Passing leaders: Brett Rypien (BSU): 29–40, 377 YDS, 3 TD, 1 INT; Ryan Graham (NIU): 7–21, 38 YDS.
- Rushing leaders: Jeremy McNichols (BSU): 19 CAR, 93 YDS, 2 TD; Joel Bouagnon (NIU): 8 CAR, 16 YDS.
- Receiving leaders: Jeremy McNichols (BSU): 5 REC, 96 YDS, 1 TD; Kenny Golladay (NIU): 3 REC, 12 YDS.
Boise State out-gained Northern Illinois 654–33 in total yards. Boise State had 2 more first downs (35) than Northern Illinois had in total yards.
Scores by quarter
All opponents
Mountain West opponents
Post-season awards
Mountain West Freshman of the Year
Brett Rypien – Fr. QB (first Boise State player to win MW freshman of the year award)
Mountain West first team
Offense
Brett Rypien – Fr. QB
Thomas Sperbeck – Jr. WR
Marcus Henry – Sr. OL
Rees Odhiambo – Sr. OL
Tyler Rausa – Jr. K
Defense
Darian Thompson – Sr. DB
Mountain West second team
Offense
Jeremy McNichols – So. RB
Jake Roh – So. TE
Defense
Kamalei Correa – Jr. DL
Donte Deayon – Sr. DB
Mountain West honorable mention
Tyler Horn – Sr. DL
Tanner Vallejo – Jr. LB
Mario Yakoo – Jr. OL
Award Reference:[15]
Notes and References
- Web site: Watch List. Louisville Sports Commission. February 25, 2015. August 27, 2015.
- Web site: 2015 Pre-Season Watch Lists For The Maxwell and Benarik Awards. Maxwell Football Club. July 7, 2015. August 27, 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150821200129/https://maxwellfootballclub.org/news/2015-pre-season-watch-lists-maxwell-and-benarik-awards. August 21, 2015. dead. mdy-all.
- Web site: 2015 Fall Watch List. Rimington Trophy. July 8, 2015. August 27, 2015.
- Web site: FWAA > News > Outland Trophy Watch List . Sportswriters.net . July 10, 2015. August 27, 2015.
- Web site: Bronko Nagurski Trophy Watch List. Football Writers Association of America. July 10, 2015. August 27, 2015.
- Web site: Jim Thorpe Award Names 2015 Preseason Watch List. National College Football Awards Association. August 27, 2015.
- Web site: 2015 Rotary Lombardi Award Watch List Announced. Rotary Lombardi Award. July 14, 2015. August 27, 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150723062535/http://www.rotarylombardiaward.com/index.php/15-news-2015/74-2015-rotary-lombardi-award-watch-list-announced. July 23, 2015. dead. mdy-all.
- Web site: 2015 Biletnikoff Award Watch List. Tallahassee Quarterback Club Foundation, Inc. July 22, 2015. August 27, 2015.
- Web site: 2015 Watch List. All Sports Association of Fort Walton Beach. December 12, 2014. August 27, 2015.
- Web site: 2015 Walter Camp Player of the Year Preseason Watch List Announced. Walter Camp Football Foundation, Inc.. August 10, 2015. August 27, 2015.
- Web site: Boise State, San Diego State, Picked to Win 2015 Mountain West Football Divisional Titles. Mountain West Conference. July 28, 2015. August 27, 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150831151148/http://www.themw.com/news/mwfb-15-predicted-order. August 31, 2015. dead. mdy-all.
- Web site: 2015 Mountain West Football Preseason All-Conference Team. Mountain West Conference. July 28, 2015. August 27, 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150831134404/http://www.themw.com/news/mwfb-15-preseason-allconf. August 31, 2015. dead. mdy-all.
- Web site: 2015 Boise State Broncos Football Schedule. FB Schedules. March 8, 2015.
- Web site: Boise State QB Ryan Finley likely to miss eight weeks with broken ankle | NCAA Football . Sporting News . 2015-09-21 . 2015-12-24.
- Web site: MW . Mountain West Announces 2015 Football All-Conference Teams and . Themwc.com . 2015-12-24 . https://web.archive.org/web/20151208154339/http://www.themwc.com/news/mwfb-15-allmw . December 8, 2015 . dead . mdy-all .