Boise State Top Players: #1

For the third consecutive year, we are previewing 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 have previewed a new player each of the past ten weeks, leading up to this week and number one.

Zach: The top player on the Boise State roster and the most dynamic player in the conference, in my opinion, is senior wide receiver Khalil Shakir. Shakir is a Swiss army knife; the Broncos will feature him as the number one receiver, he will be involved in the running game, and he will be their primary return man. He is the most valuable player on this football team and he will need to have a big season if the Broncos are going to make noise this year.

Shakir should wrap up his career with one of the best seasons in Boise State history before heading off to the NFL. Enjoy it Boise State fans. Shakir has lived up to the hype and then some.

Danny: We have somehow made it to the college football season. Kickoff for Boise State is one week away, and that brings us to number one on the list of the most talented Broncos. This week the spotlight shines on junior running back George Holani.

After exploding onto the scene as a freshman, Holani played just two games in 2020 due to injury. Fully healthy heading into the 2021 season, he looks regain his freshman form where he put up over 1,200 total yards with 10 touchdowns. Holani has also average over five yards per carry and nearly eight yards per reception in his career on The Blue.

Speaking of receptions, Holani’s production in the pass game should skyrocket in 2021 as new offensive coordinator Tim Plough brings in an offense that emphasizes running backs catching balls out of the backfield for more frequently than Boise’s previous regime. Holani could easily eclipse his 33 career receptions midway through the 2021 season.

Khalil Shakir will (rightly) top most Bronco fan’s most talented list, but the speedy Holani is right there with the electric wide receiver. Good thing for Boise State, too. If the team wants to rebound from a bottom of the pack running game in the Mountain West, they’ll rely heavily on the uber-talented George Holani.