Boise State opens the season Friday on national TV against Michigan State in East Lansing. Seems familiar does it not? Another season opener another ranked opponent. Though the scenario sounds familiar, the feel is very different. The “50-3″ squad is gone, and most fans and media alike find themselves questioning exactly who and what is this Boise State team? I myself have been thinking about that very question, and I think I might have found at least one answer. That answer is this Boise State team is fast, headlined by WR Dallas Burroughs. Dallas came out of high school with a blazing 100 meter record of 10.34. To put into perspective how fast that really is. That is only .76 of a second slower than the fastest time Usain Bolt the fastest man on the planet has ever ran. Add to that his 40 time reported by idahostatesman.com this spring of 4.28, and I think you get the idea of how fast this WR really is. And he is just the first of many fast players on this team. CB Ebo Makinde this spring also posted a 40 yard dash of 4.28 matching that of what most people think is the fastest player on the Boise State roster. Then you have these times also posted in the spring, 4.33, 4.36, 4.37 and 4.37 held by CB Jamar Taylor, WR Aaron Burks, WR Geraldo Boldewijn and NB Hilton Richardson. Geraldo Boldewijn was also a track star running the 100 meter in high school in 10.84 seconds. Oh, and I almost forgot starting RB DJ Harper and CB Jerrell Gavins. DJ Harper according to idahostatesman.com again, still runs the 40 yard dash in 4.4 despite two major knee surgeries. Then you have Jerrell Gavins who didn’t run this spring due to injury, who has ran the 40 in a 4.34 in past springs.
If you haven’t figure it out, the bottom line is this team is fast. Granted, speed won’t win you football games, but it certainly won’t hurt you either. Perfect example of how speed can change a game is when DJ Harper broke off a 71 yard run against Virgina Tech. Speed is the ultimate equalizer, and Boise State has plenty of it and that might be important come Friday night. Michigan State will be the bigger team, and they will come with a very physical style of football. Ultimately, Michigan State will come at Boise State and try to wear them down in the trenches. Boise State might have the perfect counter to that though and that is speed on the edges and in the backfield. So as we look for answers as to what this “new” Boise State team is. I give you this, and this they are a team with a lot of speed. Combine that speed with the coaching of Chris Petersen, and I like our chances.
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