The Mountain West Conference had two first round picks with Boise State furnishing both. It was the first time in school history that Boise State had two Broncos go in the first round. DE Shea McClellin went to the Chicago Bears with the #19 pick and RB Doug Martin went to Tampa Bay with the 31st.

Their picks in the 2012 NFL draft were an especially important event in the City of Trees where celebrations broke out all over the Boise Valley. McClellin and Martin are only the third and fourth Broncos ever chosen as first rounders, joining both Ryan Clady (2008)and Kyle Wilson (2010)in a very small club of some of college football’s most elite players. McClellin was in New York for the draft so Boise State fans got to see him walk across the stage to be presented with a Chicago Bears jersey with his name on it from commissioner Roger Goodell. "It's been great," McClellin said about his New York appearance. "I've just been trying to enjoy it day by day and just have fun. Finally it came to an end now. I know where I'm going and it's going to be awesome."

The Bears will probably use McClellin as a linebacker and playing DE opposite Julius Peppers.

Doug Martin’s pick by Tampa Bay was a surprising one in many circles. The Bucs actually traded up to get Martin who many thought might go to the New York Giants at #32. The Bucs gave up their #36 and #101 picks to the Patriots for Martin. “The thing I like about Doug Martin,” ESPN’s Jon Gruden said after the pick, “is he can play in any situation. He’s a very good all-purpose back…He can run between the tackles; he has perimeter speed and he's made surprisingly a lot of long runs... He's a deluxe special teams player. He even played on defense early in his career at Boise State. "

It will be interesting to watch the season unfold because Martin will be paired off and competing with former Oregon Duck LeGarrette Blount in the Buccaneers backfield. Blount, you will remember, certainly has no love for a Boise State Bronco. And according to NFL.com, Martin‘s pick “isn’t good news” for Blount.