We began this category last year because freshmen are beginning to be "impact players" for Boise State in several sports. This year, there are no less than 10 deserving student-athletes in this category:
Jay Ajayi (football) rushed 84 times for 548 yards and four touchdowns last season. His 6.7 yards-per-carry average broke John Smith's 40-year-old record of 6.57.
Holden Huff (football) stepped up when Gabe Linehan was injured and caught 17 passes for 250 yards (14.7 average) and four touchdowns.
Maddie Krentz (gymnastics) was fifth in floor exercises and bars against Southern Utah with scores of 9.80 and 9.875, respectively. She then scored 9.825 on bars, good for 10th at the Western Athletic Championships, as she helped Boise State capture the team title. Krentz was honored as the WAC Freshman of the Year.
Devin Madsen (swimming & diving) was second in both the 100-yard and 200-yard backstrokes against #13 Arizona, and won both backstroke events against BYU. She was third in the 200-yard backstroke at the Missouri Invitational. Madsen helped the Boise State 200-yard medley relay team set a school record and set an individual mark of 1:57.56 in the 200-yard backstroke to finish fifth at the Mountain West Conference Championships. Madsen was also sixth in the 100-yard backstroke.
Samantha Martin (women's golf) had six Top 25 finishes this season, which already ranks seventh in school history. She finished ninth at the Mountain West Championships, helping Boise State to a second-place finish.
Thomas Tenreiro (tennis) finished the season with a 23-3 record, and won his last 18 matches in a row. Thomas's play was a key reason Boise State won the Mountain West Conference and fought #23 Clemson to the wire in the opening match of the NCAA Tournament before falling 4-3.
Darian Thompson (football) was credited with 28 solo tackles and 43 overall, and picked off three passes for 19 yards, recovered a fumble, and had six pass deflections.
Mikey Thompson (basketball) averaged 7.9 points per game for the Broncos. He hit 83-216 of his field goal tries (38.4%), was second on the Broncos with 25-57 shooting from three-point land, and connected on 47 of 67 free throws (70.1%). Thompson also averaged 2.4 rebounds per game, had 41 assists and 17 steals as Boise State finished tied for fourth in the tough Mountain West Conference and earned its first at-large berth in the NCAA Tournament.
Makenna Weir softball) had 42 hits in 142 at bats this season, including 11 doubles and four home runs. She batted .296 on the season and drove in 31.
Sam Wicks (swimming & diving) won the 50-yard freestyle against Denver and the 100-yard backstroke against Wyoming and helped the 200-yard medley relay team win against BYU. Wicks anchored the record-breaking 200-yard medley relay team and set an individual school record when she swam the 100-yard backstroke in 53.93 to finish fifth at the Mountain West Conference Championships.
Jay Ajayi (football) rushed 84 times for 548 yards and four touchdowns last season. His 6.7 yards-per-carry average broke John Smith's 40-year-old record of 6.57.
Holden Huff (football) stepped up when Gabe Linehan was injured and caught 17 passes for 250 yards (14.7 average) and four touchdowns.
Maddie Krentz (gymnastics) was fifth in floor exercises and bars against Southern Utah with scores of 9.80 and 9.875, respectively. She then scored 9.825 on bars, good for 10th at the Western Athletic Championships, as she helped Boise State capture the team title. Krentz was honored as the WAC Freshman of the Year.
Devin Madsen (swimming & diving) was second in both the 100-yard and 200-yard backstrokes against #13 Arizona, and won both backstroke events against BYU. She was third in the 200-yard backstroke at the Missouri Invitational. Madsen helped the Boise State 200-yard medley relay team set a school record and set an individual mark of 1:57.56 in the 200-yard backstroke to finish fifth at the Mountain West Conference Championships. Madsen was also sixth in the 100-yard backstroke.
Samantha Martin (women's golf) had six Top 25 finishes this season, which already ranks seventh in school history. She finished ninth at the Mountain West Championships, helping Boise State to a second-place finish.
Thomas Tenreiro (tennis) finished the season with a 23-3 record, and won his last 18 matches in a row. Thomas's play was a key reason Boise State won the Mountain West Conference and fought #23 Clemson to the wire in the opening match of the NCAA Tournament before falling 4-3.
Darian Thompson (football) was credited with 28 solo tackles and 43 overall, and picked off three passes for 19 yards, recovered a fumble, and had six pass deflections.
Mikey Thompson (basketball) averaged 7.9 points per game for the Broncos. He hit 83-216 of his field goal tries (38.4%), was second on the Broncos with 25-57 shooting from three-point land, and connected on 47 of 67 free throws (70.1%). Thompson also averaged 2.4 rebounds per game, had 41 assists and 17 steals as Boise State finished tied for fourth in the tough Mountain West Conference and earned its first at-large berth in the NCAA Tournament.
Makenna Weir softball) had 42 hits in 142 at bats this season, including 11 doubles and four home runs. She batted .296 on the season and drove in 31.
Sam Wicks (swimming & diving) won the 50-yard freestyle against Denver and the 100-yard backstroke against Wyoming and helped the 200-yard medley relay team win against BYU. Wicks anchored the record-breaking 200-yard medley relay team and set an individual school record when she swam the 100-yard backstroke in 53.93 to finish fifth at the Mountain West Conference Championships.
