Boise State Football: 5 reasons why Broncos will struggle in 2017
By Zach Bigalke
1. Who will be Brett Rypien’s targets after losing top 2016 receivers?
Part of the reason why many are still bullish on Boise State’s 2017 prospects is because of the return of quarterback Brett Rypien. The junior, a nephew of former Super Bowl MVP Mark Rypien, enters his third season as the Broncos starter. He was dynamic in 2016, averaging 9.6 yards per pass attempt.
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But Rypien will be working with a new receiving corps after watching many of his favorite targets leave after last season. Thomas Sperbeck, the team leader in receptions and yards, has graduated from Boise State. Also gone is Chaz Anderson, a vital cog in the passing game after he moved from defense to offense as a sophomore.
Rypien does have both tight ends, Jake Roh and Alec Dhaenens, back from last season. He will also still have another year to target Cedrick Wilson, the junior-college transfer who led the team in touchdown receptions in 2016. But losing Sperbeck is going to be painful, and the departure of McNichols eliminates another safety valve for the Broncos.
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A new group includes Sean Modster, A.J. Richardson, and Akilian Butler. If the trio fails to pan out, there is little depth behind them in the receiving corps. Rypien could be in for a long season as he tries to bolster his draft stock and become the next Bronco quarterback to win a major bowl game.