Boise State Football: 5 breakout candidates for the Broncos in 2017
By Zach Bigalke
One of the biggest losses from the 2016 Boise State roster was workhorse running back Jeremy McNichols. The Broncos have become something of a laboratory for developing top-tier rushers, with Doug Martin and Jay Ajayi jumping from Boise to the NFL in recent years. McNichols joined the pair as a pro when he was drafted in the fifth round of the 2017 NFL Draft by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Now Bryan Harsin, offensive coordinator Zak Hill, and running backs coach Lee Marks will look to turn sophomore Alexander Mattison into the next great Broncos back. A three-star recruit in the 2016 class, Mattison served as McNichols’ backup last season as a true freshman. In his limited time on the field, Mattison averaged nearly five yards a carry and racked up nearly 400 yards of offense.
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Entering his sophomore season, Mattison will get the majority of the carries now that space has opened up in the Boise State backfield. Even given the likelihood of splitting carries with redshirt senior Ryan Wolpin, the second-year player should get at least 200 to 250 carries in 2017. He will easily eclipse the 1,000-yard plateau and add another 20-25 receptions.
With a year under his belt, Mattison will be more comfortable and dependable in the Boise State offense. With a slew of talented backs moved on from the Mountain West, the newest Broncos back is going to break out and emerge as one of the league’s best rushers in 2017.