Boise State Top 10 Players: #3

For the third consecutive year, we are going to preview the top players on Boise State’s roster. To clarify, this is not who we think the top ten players on the roster will be at the end of the season or who we think the most important players are, but the most skilled players entering the season. We will be previewing one player each week heading into the season. This week is number three.

Zach: Coming in at number three is the heart and soul of the Bronco defense, Kekaula Kaniho. He will be entering his fifth and final season at Boise State and has been an important contributor from the moment he stepped foot on campus. Kaniho is class personified - a scholar athlete and a key contributor to the Boise community. He will line up as a rusher, pick up key receivers, and stop the run. He should be a candidate for defensive player of the year . Kaniho has 163 career tackles and five career interceptions; he also makes an impact on special teams.

Danny: For the second week in a row, Zach and I have tabbed the same player in the same spot. Kekaula Kaniho is the third most talented Bronco on the 2021 roster. Even typing that makes me second guess if he shouldn’t be even higher on the list. Kaniho enters his final season at Boise State with 163 tackles, 21.5 tackles for loss, 5 sacks, 5 interceptions, 3 forced fumbles, 3 fumble recoveries, and two defensive touchdowns.

An undeniable team leader, Kaniho is seemingly always in the right place at the right time for the Broncos. Even at 5’10 and 177 pounds, Kaniho can be a vicious hitter and is a terror when called upon to rush the passer. Only a bias toward offensive skill players is holding Kaniho back from the top spot on the list of most talent Broncos.