Lewis Commits to Boise State

Boise State received its third commitment of the year and its second this week as talented defensive back Brandon Lewis (5-11, 180) of Pleasant Grove High School in Elk Grove, California gave his verbal.  Lewis is regarded as one of the top ten cornerbacks in the West and joins Khalil Oliver as a defensive back in the 2014 recruiting class. Quarterback Jalen Greene committed to Boise State earlier in the week.

Lewis had 45 tackles, eight pass deflections, two interceptions and three blocked field goals as a sophomore in 2011.

Boise State One of 14 Schools with a First Round NFL Draft Pick in Three of Five Years

Like everything else, even the talent evaluation-challenged NFL is catching up to the most successful college football team since 1900.  With first-round selections in 2008, 2010 and 2012, Boise State is tied for eighth in the nation with three first-round picks in the last five years.  The Broncos are one of 14 schools with that distinction.  Boise State also ranks 10th in the nation with four first-rounders in the last five years.

NFL All-Pro Ryan Clady was selected in the first round of the 2008 Draft, while Kyle Wilson was a first-round choice of the Jets in 2010 and Doug Martin and Shea McClellin were each taken in last year's first round.

Alabama has promoted a player to the NFL in each of the last five years and also leads in total first-rounders with 11.  Boston College, Florida, Illinois, LSU and USC have featured first-round choices in four of those years, while Baylor, Boise State, California, Iowa, Missouri, Ohio State, Oklahoma State and Tennessee are tied with first-rounders in three of those years.  Georgia, Florida State, Michigan, Mississippi State, Nebraska, Penn State, Pittsburgh, Purdue, Rutgers, Texas, Texas A&M, Virginia, Virginia Tech and Wisconsin have featured first-round choices in two of the five years.

I bring this up because more and more, the talk is that Boise State cornerback Jamar Taylor will be a first-round choice in this year's NFL Draft.  Can the Broncos make it three of four years and four years in the last six?    

USC is second in total first-rounders in the last five years with 10 and then it's a big drop-off to Florida with six.  Baylor, Boston College, Illinois, LSU, Missouri and Oklahoma State have five first-rounders in the last five years while Boise State, California, North Carolina, Ohio State, Oklahoma and Tennessee have four each.

Boise State Piles Up Titles in All-Idaho Cup

Luke Schafer tied for first in the pole vault today with a vault of 15-1.  Boise State doing well in the All-Idaho Cup.  Jordin Andrade took first in the 400 in 47.57, while Bryce Bergevin won the 800 with a time of 1:52.29.  Daveon Collins (10.70) and Mackenzie Flannigan (12.13) swept the 100 in men's and women's, respectively while Marissa VanderMalle captured the steeplechase in 10:31.77.

Jessical Bottleberghe, Yvonne Bennett, Megan Kelley and Chelsey Washington teamed to win the women's 4 x 400-meter relay for the Broncos.

Malnes Wins 110 Hurdles

Justin Malnes continued the day of celebration at Ed Jacoby Track, capturing the title in the short hurdles in a time of 14.40.

Bronco Women's 4 x 100 Relay Team Comes Through

The Boise State women's 4x 100 relay team won today, with Yvonne Bennett, Shannon Jacobs, Megan Kelley and Chelsey Washington combining for a time of 47.39.

Post Wins Hammer

Matt Post continued his winning ways, taking the title in the hammer throw at the All-Idaho Cup track meet at Dona Larsen Park in Boise.  Post dominated the event, winning by over 21 feet.

Bronco Harriers Win Four On Opening Day of Idaho Cup

This is an exciting time in the Treasure Valley.  Spring is in the air, there's plenty of awesome sunshine, the spring sports are in the air, and Bronco fans got to witness the debut of the track at Dona Larsen Park.

Boise State is hosting the All-Idaho Cup at the Park, and Bronco student-athletes celebrated the opening with four victories yesterday.  Jordan Andrade, fresh off his record performance in the 400-meter hurdles last week, won the event with a time of 50.93, while Chase Sexton won the discus with a heave of 170-feet, 4-inches.  Coach J.W. Hardy's team also took titles in both the men's 200 (Daveon Collins with a time of 20.86) and the women's 200 (Mackenzie Flannigan in 24.05).

Emily Funkhouser took second in the 400-meter hurdles with a time of 1:00.91, the third-best outdoor time in Lady Bronco history.  The fact that she recorded a historic school time and still didn't win (Idaho State's Hayli Worthington was first) shows how far the program still needs to go.

Bronco fans got an added bonus as they got to witness former NCAA decathlon champion Kurt Felix in the javelin competition.  Competing as an "unattached" athlete, Felix won the event with a toss of 228-9, more than 19 feet in front of the closest competitor.

Action concludes today at Dona Larsen with field events getting underway at 10 this morning and running events commencing at 12:20.  The "All-Idaho Cup", though, is a bit deceiving--schools from Utah and Washington are also there for the festivities.  Join us today  for a great day of Bronco track!

Home Run Gives New Mexico 7-6 Win

With losses to Big Sky schools earlier in the year, prospects were dimmed for the Mountain West season and today, Boise State lost 7-6 despite leading 3-0 and getting what appeared to be a three-run homer in the top of the seventh that would have given them a 7-6 lead.  The two teams will meet again tomorrow and Sunday in the opening series of conference play.

Mackenzie Whyte Homer

Would have been a 7-6 game on a three-run homer, but Whyte passed Weir on the basepath.  It results in a second out instead, with Whyte on first.

Weir Single Makes It 6-4

Makenna comes through to score Glover making it 6-4.

Boise State with Two On, One Out in 7th

A Glover single and Bridges walk brings the tying run to the plate in Boise State's last shot.  It would be tough to swallow to lose this one after leading 3-zip.

Sac Fly Makes It 6-3

Lela Work trying to put out the fire in the New Mexico Sixth.

Two On, Nobody Out in Lobo 6th

New Mexico has a losing record but they've got the best of the Lady Broncos thus far.  Boise State went out to a 3-0 lead, but that didn't hold up.  The Lobos have runners on the corners with no one out.  Boise State trailing 5-3, as those three runs in the fourth are the sum of their output.

Three Consecutive Extra-Base Hits Sends Patton to the Dugout

Rebecca Patton was pitching solid through four, then the roof came in, as the 16-23 Lobos exploded for three straight extra-base RBI's.  They have runners on the corners with one out and the score tied.

Patton Pitches in the Fifth

A Lobo double play ended the Bronco threat in the top half of the inning.  New Mexico now bats in the bottom of the fifth.

Boise State Threatening for More

A Tara Glover double and a walk have set Boise State up for more damage in the top of the fifth.  The Broncos lead 3-0.

Wild Pitch and Palmer Single Score Two More

The Lady Broncos now with a 3-0 in the Mountain West opener at New Mexico.  Boise State batting in the top of the fourth with two out.

Whyte Breaks the Tie

Mackenzie Whyte doubled off the wall to score Bridges and give Boise State a 1-0 lead in the fourth.  Makenna Weir, who walked, stopped and third.  The Broncos have no one out with runners on second and third.

Bridges Gets Broncos Started in Fourth

Devon Bridges singled to start the Bronco fourth, her second hit of the day.  Devon is the only Bronco with a hit as Boise State bats.

Boise State & New Mexico Scoreless

Boise State and New Mexico are scoreless in Albuquerque.  New Mexico will bat in the bottom of the third.