Here are 6 under-the-radar Boise State football players to watch as fall camp rolls on

Boise State linebacker Brandon Hawkins has dreamed about running onto a college football field as a starter since he was a kid.

He’s having a hard time believing his time may have come.

“I’m just trying to go out there every day and maximize my opportunity,” Hawkins told reporters on Monday, “but it’s still so cool to think about having this opportunity in front of me.”

Hawkins, a redshirt senior, has been biding his time at Boise State, backing up former five-year starter Riley Whimpey and making the occasional splash on special teams. He has a chance to step into the spotlight this season as Whimpey’s replacement at weakside linebacker. It’s not an opportunity he’s taking lightly.

“It felt like a long summer, but it went by quick and it’s good getting back out there and putting the pads back on,” Hawkins said. “Once you put shoulder pads on, it feels like the real day one.”

Hawkins appeared in all 12 of Boise State’s games last season. Most of his snaps were on special teams, and he blocked the first punt of his career in the Broncos’ win over Colorado State.

The native of Georgetown, Texas, saw the most extensive playing time of his career in the Broncos’ season finale at San Diego State. Replacing Whimpey, who was injured in the game, he posted a career-high seven tackles and the second sack of his career. It was the first time Hawkins got to the quarterback in a game since his redshirt freshman year in 2019.

Hawkins isn’t alone in vying to fill the spot that was vacated after Whimpey exhausted his eligibility last season. He’s competing with another veteran, who also happens to be his roommate: redshirt senior DJ Schramm.

Schramm backed up middle linebacker Ezekiel Noa last season, but he appeared in every game, mostly on special teams. The native of Fresno, California, finished with a career-high 24 tackles and posted the first sack of his career.

Hawkins and Schramm both enrolled early at Boise State, in 2018, and they’ve lived together since arriving on campus. There’s no animosity between them even though they’re competing for the same job, Hawkins said, but he also said playing side-by-side as starters would be a dream come true.

“It’s fun seeing how he’s grown and how he’s pushed me the whole time and how I’ve pushed him,” Hawkins said. “He’s a stronger, bigger guy than me, and I’m the faster guy.”

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Former edge rusher Isaiah Bagnah and redshirt freshman Andrew Simpson are also competing for time at weakside linebacker, Boise State defensive coordinator Spencer Danielson said. Bagnah was second on the team with six sacks last season, and he posted three in 2020.

Hawkins and Schramm are among the players who are not household names yet, but are competing to play significant roles this season. Here’s a look at four more to keep an eye on this fall.

QB Sam Vidlak, R-Fr., 6-0, 195 — Vidlak joined the program in January after transferring from Oregon State — the Broncos’ season-opening opponent on Sept. 3 — and he impressed the coaching staff right away with his arm strength, accuracy and ability to absorb the playbook, Boise State offensive coordinator Tim Plough said.

Fellow redshirt freshman Taylen Green, a 6-foot-6 dual threat quarterback, is one of the fastest players on the team and he may see the field more than Vidlak this year, especially on obvious running downs, but if starting quarterback Hank Bachmeier goes down for any reason, it could be Vidlak who assumes his role while Green continues supplying a change of pace.

DE Cortez Hogans Jr., R-Sr., 6-3, 265 — Hogans joined the program in January after transferring from Snow College, where he tallied 26 tackles, eight tackles for loss, three sacks and a forced fumble last season. The native of Palatine, Illinois, has a chance to step right into the starting lineup, Danielson said, especially after fellow defensive end Shane Irwin was forced to medically retire this year.

RB Tyler Crowe, R-Jr., 5-11, 215 — A former walk-on from Skyview High in Nampa, Crowe was put on scholarship last season. He posted a career-high 108 rushing yards last fall and scored the first rushing touchdown of his career in the Broncos’ win at Fresno State. The arrival of Utah State transfer Elelyon Noa could mean a few less snaps for Crowe, but he’s a physical runner and has a chance to replace short-yardage back Andrew Van Buren, who transferred to Portland State earlier this year.

NT Jackson Cravens, R-Sr., 6-2, 305 — Cravens, who sat out in 2019 after transferring from Utah, started 11 games for the Broncos last season. He posted a career-high 36 tackles, including a season-high nine stops in a win at Utah State. He also notched the second sack of his Boise State career against the Aggies. Cravens isn’t as versatile as Scott Matlock, who can play all three positions on the Broncos’ defensive line, but when Boise State wants to go big and clog the middle of the field, it’s going to turn to Cravens.