The following great Broncos are the nominees for this year's Bronco Male Athlete of the Year:
Ajayi rushed 347 times for 1,823 yards (5.3 avg.) and 28 touchdowns and caught 50 passes for 535 yards (10.7 avg.) and 4 TD's to help Boise State to the Mountain West Championships and win over #10 Arizona in the Fiesta Bowl. Ajayi led the nation in touchdowns with 32, was second in rushing touchdowns with 28, was 5th in the country in all-purpose yards (168.43 per game) and 9th in the nation in rushing yards per game with 130.2. Ajayi set new school records with 1,823 rushing yards in a season and 28 rushing touchdowns. Jay was named All-Mountain West Conference and was named Second Team All-America by both USA Today and Fox Sports, Third Team All-America by the Associated Press, and Honorable Mention All-America by The Sporting News. At the conclusion of the season, Ajayi was named as a finalist for the Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Awards
Andrade set a school record (47.03) in the 400 meters during the indoor portion of the season when he finished second at the Mountain West Championships. Andrade earned All-Mountain West honors with his performance. Jordin then moved outdoors and won the Mountain West Championship in the 400-meter hurdles by 2 seconds with a time of 50.39. Andrade collected his second All-Mountain West honor. He received a third All-Conference award when he helped the Boise State 4 x 400-meter relay team to a second-place finish at the Championships with a time of 3:11.19. Andrade moved on to the NCAA Regional Championships, where he won his heat and finished second overall in the 400 hurdles with a time of 49.67. Andrade then finished second in the nation at the NCAA Track & Field Championships in the 400 hurdles, setting a new school record of 49.24 to earn First Team All-America honors. Andrade recently competed at the USA Track & Field Championships, where he qualified for the semifinals and placed 14th in the 400 hurdles.
Elliott won the 8-kilometer race at the Mountain West Cross Country Championships, assuming the lead after 4k and never relinquishing it. Elliott finished with a time of 23:38.7 to earn All-Mountain West honors and Male Athlete of the Year. Elliott finished second in the 5,000 meters at the Mountain West Indoor Track & Field Championships with a time of 14:31.45. Elliott piled up points for the Broncos at the Mountain West Outdoor Track & Field Championships, winning the 1,500 meters (3:52.30), placing second in the 5,000 (13:58.86), and taking 3rd in the 3000 (8:17.26). Elliott won All-Mountain West honors in all three events. David finished 2nd in the 1,500 at the NCAA Regional Track & Field Championships with a time of 3:42.12 to qualify for the NCAA National Championships. Elliott then ran a time of 3:45.93 at those National Championships to finish 11th, just missing a spot in the national finals.
Marks started all 32 games for Boise State and led the Broncos to the Mountain West Championship. Marks averaged 19.4 points a game and shot 231-468 from the field (49.4%), 91-118 from the free-throw line (77.1%) and 68-156 from the three-point line for a career-high percentage of 43.6%. Derrick grabbed 118 rebounds and had 96 assists, 59 steals and 14 blocked shots. Marks was a key factor in Boise State receiving an at-large berth into the NCAA National Basketball Tournament. At the conclusion of the season, Marks was named All-Mountain West Conference and Most Valuable Player in the conference. Marks also earned Honorable Mention All-America honors from the Associated Press.
Jay Ajayi, Football
Ajayi rushed 347 times for 1,823 yards (5.3 avg.) and 28 touchdowns and caught 50 passes for 535 yards (10.7 avg.) and 4 TD's to help Boise State to the Mountain West Championships and win over #10 Arizona in the Fiesta Bowl. Ajayi led the nation in touchdowns with 32, was second in rushing touchdowns with 28, was 5th in the country in all-purpose yards (168.43 per game) and 9th in the nation in rushing yards per game with 130.2. Ajayi set new school records with 1,823 rushing yards in a season and 28 rushing touchdowns. Jay was named All-Mountain West Conference and was named Second Team All-America by both USA Today and Fox Sports, Third Team All-America by the Associated Press, and Honorable Mention All-America by The Sporting News. At the conclusion of the season, Ajayi was named as a finalist for the Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Awards
Jordin Andrade, Track & Field
Andrade set a school record (47.03) in the 400 meters during the indoor portion of the season when he finished second at the Mountain West Championships. Andrade earned All-Mountain West honors with his performance. Jordin then moved outdoors and won the Mountain West Championship in the 400-meter hurdles by 2 seconds with a time of 50.39. Andrade collected his second All-Mountain West honor. He received a third All-Conference award when he helped the Boise State 4 x 400-meter relay team to a second-place finish at the Championships with a time of 3:11.19. Andrade moved on to the NCAA Regional Championships, where he won his heat and finished second overall in the 400 hurdles with a time of 49.67. Andrade then finished second in the nation at the NCAA Track & Field Championships in the 400 hurdles, setting a new school record of 49.24 to earn First Team All-America honors. Andrade recently competed at the USA Track & Field Championships, where he qualified for the semifinals and placed 14th in the 400 hurdles.
David Elliott, Cross Country, Track & Field
Elliott won the 8-kilometer race at the Mountain West Cross Country Championships, assuming the lead after 4k and never relinquishing it. Elliott finished with a time of 23:38.7 to earn All-Mountain West honors and Male Athlete of the Year. Elliott finished second in the 5,000 meters at the Mountain West Indoor Track & Field Championships with a time of 14:31.45. Elliott piled up points for the Broncos at the Mountain West Outdoor Track & Field Championships, winning the 1,500 meters (3:52.30), placing second in the 5,000 (13:58.86), and taking 3rd in the 3000 (8:17.26). Elliott won All-Mountain West honors in all three events. David finished 2nd in the 1,500 at the NCAA Regional Track & Field Championships with a time of 3:42.12 to qualify for the NCAA National Championships. Elliott then ran a time of 3:45.93 at those National Championships to finish 11th, just missing a spot in the national finals.
Grant Hedrick, Football
Hedrick steered his team to a Mountain West Championship and Fiesta Bowl win over #10 Arizona. Along the way, Hedrick completed 294-415 passes for 3,696 yards and 23 touchdowns against 14 interceptions. Hedrick finished the season with a 70.8% completion rate, best in the nation, and ranked 9th in the country with a passing efficiency of 157.2 and 14th in total offense with an average of 306.3 yards per game. He also proved to be one of the best dual threats at QB in Bronco history, rushing 155 times for 592 yards (3.8 avg.) and 8 touchdowns. Hedrick's 592 yards set a new school record for rushing yards in a season by a quarterback, while is 3,696 passing yards are the fourth-most in school history.
Derrick Marks, Basketball
Marks started all 32 games for Boise State and led the Broncos to the Mountain West Championship. Marks averaged 19.4 points a game and shot 231-468 from the field (49.4%), 91-118 from the free-throw line (77.1%) and 68-156 from the three-point line for a career-high percentage of 43.6%. Derrick grabbed 118 rebounds and had 96 assists, 59 steals and 14 blocked shots. Marks was a key factor in Boise State receiving an at-large berth into the NCAA National Basketball Tournament. At the conclusion of the season, Marks was named All-Mountain West Conference and Most Valuable Player in the conference. Marks also earned Honorable Mention All-America honors from the Associated Press.
Garrett Patton, Tennis
Patton compiled a singles record of 24-10, including a blistering 15-3 mark at #1 singles and a doubles record of 21-15. Garrett earned All-Mountain West Conference honors and led Boise State to its third consecutive Mountain West Championship and berth in the NCAA National Tennis Championships.
