Boise State football has made a name for themselves in the last decade as a constant contender from the group of five conferences, forming some quality teams over the last few years.
But it’s beginning to seem like the BSU formula for developing players isn’t widely accepted at the pro level.
This last week, defensive back Orlando Scandrick and defensive back George Iloka were cut from their respective teams, the Washington Redskins and Cincinnati Bengals — and they are just the latest former Broncos unable to find lasting success in the professional world.
Zack Kellogg
Could this be a sign that Boise State is making college ready players who can’t find success at the next level?
The program has sent off a number of successful athletes in the past. The “50-3” Broncos team from the 2008-2011 season boasted highly touted talent with the likes of Kellen Moore, Austin Pettis, Titus Young, Doug Martin, Kyle Wilson and Shea McClellin.
One thing all these players share except for one? They are no longer playing with an NFL team, except for Martin, currently the third running back on the Oakland Raiders depth chart.
Moore, who was consistently at the top of the Heisman race during his collegiate time, is now the quarterback coach for the Dallas Cowboys after going undrafted. He was later picked up by the Detroit Lions before being cut, then signed with the Cowboys.
McClellin was drafted in the first round by the Chicago Bears and signed with the New England Patriots, but was unable to stay healthy and was released with a year still left on his contract. Pettis and Young were both standout wide receivers who helped create one highly talented and explosive offense, but were unable to find lasting success with their former teams, the former St. Louis Rams and Detroit Lions, respectively. Pettis was unable to maintain a high level of play to warrant keeping him on a 53-man roster and Young had more than enough instances of immature and criminal behavior, leading to his NFL demise.
A number of former Broncos have yet to see what path their NFL career takes them on. Recently drafted players, such as Tanner Vallejo and Jeremy McNichols, are too young to see what their NFL careers will entail.
There is also the case for Philadelphia Eagles running back Jay Ajayi. Although he was able to grab the Super Bowl win with his team this past season and is an above average player, his former team, the Miami Dolphins, traded him to a stacked team due to his lack of production this during the season. Going to a stacked, Super Bowl bound team will make almost any player look good.
There have been two bright spots for the program’s next level players, and those are defensive ends Demarcus Lawrence and Tyrone Crawford, who are both with the Dallas Cowboys, and have been rare bright spots on a somewhat lackluster Dallas defense.
Boise State received national recognition for their college success, but with the new contracts that players have been receiving from NFL franchises for their stellar play and level of pro readiness, could this lead to more recruits avoiding the Broncos to go to a university that makes more pro ready players that could lead to high playing contracts in their pro careers?
Only time will tell what will come of this program.
A previous version of this column misstated Orlando Scandrick’s position.
Zack Kellogg can be reached at [email protected]
Ron Reynolds
The Arg applauded UI's move back to minor league football and now we're taking pokes at the only major college football program in the State? BTW, for a G5 school, BSU gets more than it's share of players into the NFL, far more than we will ever have esp. now that we're in the Big Sky FCS. But, as some of the Big Sky fans say, it's where we belong.
Mr. Vandal
Typical Donkey fan. Still care too much what people think about your precious University. BSU is just an also ran in the big picture. Why do you care what the UI's student paper writes about BSU? Yeah, it's a poorly written article, so what? Do I agree with it? Mostly no. It's an opinion piece!! Go cry and insult elsewhere.
broncofans
The writer should just delete this article as his name is now forever attached to this horrible piece on the internet. Prospective employers will see this someday.
Greg
Dude.....seriously?? You pick two guys to go after? What about current first team Denver Broncos center Matt Paradise? What about first round draft pick Kyle Wilson currently employed by New Orleans Saints? What about first round pick and nine year veteran Ryan Clady? Have you bothered to research the average career length of NFL players? You do realize Orlando Scandrick (whom I am personally not a big fan of) lasted quite a while in the N F L right? Most Power 5 programs have not had as much success getting players into the NFL as Boise State let alone the rest of collegiate football programs. And Leighton Vanderesch was just the latest first round example. This article definitely reeks of penis envy. Embarrassing and pathetic. And I think that even logically minded Vandal fans would have to agree.
Brian Richards
Garbage.
Idaho Native
The purpose of a college football team is not necessarily to be a producer of NFL talent nor is that quality a sole (or necessarily important) measurement of success. However, it is logical to assume having a program which does place a significant number of players into the NFL (or other professional leagues) is a positive marketing element for the football program at any school and perhaps a positive bit of publicity for the school itself (and likely aids recruiting). According to ESPN, BSU currently has 22 players in the NFL. UI is listed as having 5 players in the NFL. Although your article is flawed on many levels (there are errors as to the number of years players have in the NFL, the average career is a little over 4 years and thus some of the players you cite have had relatively lengthy careers by NFL standards, you seem unaware the impact the salary cap has on the movement of players who have met the median service years, and BSU is well above average for placing players into the NFL). Fortunately, as the NCAA PSA states, "most NCAA athletes will go on to careers outside their sport". This bodes well for both schools who generally have good APR rates. Do not fret. Maybe next year both schools can claim Tony Lashley as a former player in the NFL. You know, like Gus Johnson in the NBA.
University Place
One should ask why any student at the University of Idaho would bother to write an article about former Boise State football players in the NFL. The rivalry died a long time ago. Both schools are good schools. Neither should care much about the other. Football should be the least of thier concerns.
All American
Dude, you are so wrong, Scandrick was in the NFL for nearly a decade and has re-signed with another team already as well as Iloka. You sound a bit bitter as the Vandulls have been sent back to the Big Sky to play the likes of Montana and Montana State. Terrilble inaccurate artical:(
Embarrassed for UI
Wow... Just wow. Where to start? You know, there are just too many errors and faulty analylitical points n this article to even to begin to critique it. I'd worry much less about the ability of Boise State at placing players in the NFL (who depite your naive opinion is actually amazing at it), and more about your own university for obviously admitting a student who writes like a Jr. High remedial English student, and allowing him to publish such an amazingly horrible, error riddled article. How embarrassing for a University with designs on being the flagship of anything. A high school paper editor wouldn't publish this.
Bill Eisinger
This is an insipid piece of writing. The first examples of Scandrick and Iloka (you also have his position listed incorrectly) as arguments for your thesis are absurd...Scandrick is a 10 year veteran and Iloka (who has already been picked up by the Vikings) is in his 6th season....by any measure in the NFL, those are pretty decent careers given that the average career is less than 4 years according to the NFL Players Association. You also neglected to mention Ryan Clady...multiple year pro bowler and one of the best offensive tackles to play the game. I’m a life long Vandal and have no love for BSU sports but this article seems petty and contrived...I think Vandal fans would be celebrating in the streets if our players enjoyed even a fraction of this success.