Boise State Broncos: After Departure of RB Doug Martin, Who Will Lead the Run Attack in 2012? (Video)

Monday, February 6, 2012

Nate Kuester/National Football Authority

By Nate Kuester
Senior Writer

The Boise State Broncos boast attractive options as they look to replace one of their greatest rushers ever in running back Doug Martin.

The Broncos are more well known for their aerial game, however thanks to the hard-nosed and physical running of the 2012 NFL Draft prospect the team had an effective option when turning to the ground attack. Martin was the featured back in an offense that still put a great emphasis on the pass (and why wouldn't they with Kellen Moore at quarterback), and still managed to carve out about 100 yards per game for himself. He ended the 2011 season as one of the Top 25 rushers in the FBS.

Martin's accomplishments are all well and good, but the Broncos do not have the luxury of languishing in the past. They have games to win in 2012 and spring camp should offer up plenty of insight into the future. Though the rest of the nation may not be as well versed on the state of the tailback position in Boise, those in Bronco Nation have a pretty good idea of what the future holds.

Senior running back D.J. Harper was recently granted a medical hardship waiver, resulting in a sixth year of eligibility. He tore the anterior cruciate ligament twice in 2009 and 2010. Both injuries occurred during the third game in each of the mentioned seasons. Despite the injuries, Harper has shown flashes of why he was recruited out of the Lone Star State in the first place.




It is easy to see why the Broncos know they are well taken care of with the speedy play of Harper, who has recorded a 40-yard dash time in the 4.3 second range. He enters his final season with 319 carries for 1,642 yards and 24 touchdowns. He has addressed his two ACL injuries by stating he doesn't give them a second thought when he steps out onto the football field.

Nate Kuester/National Football Authority D.J. Harper running drills at 2011 Fall Camp

"I don't even think about it," Harper said. "I came back from the first one, and I know how much harder I worked on the second time around.

"I did a few different things. I had a different surgery approach. As long as I rehabbed it the same way as I did the first time, I'm not worried about it at all."

Running back Jay Ajayi was one of Boise State's most prized recruits of the 2011 class, and he made a good impression on the coaching staff in his true freshman year in which he redshirted. He is expected to backup Harper in 2012.

With Harper and Ajayi in place the Broncos will likely enter the 2012 season in better shape at the position than they ended the previous one. Boise State proved to be less than fully stocked as Martin and Harper carried the bulk of the load with additional play coming from Drew Wright, but overall the Broncos were spread thin at running back.

The Broncos went mining in Texas with their 2012 recruiting class by signing two running backs and a fullback. They even went back to Cypress Creek High School where they originally found Harper when they signed Devan Demas.

While looking ahead to the future, there is a 2012 recruit to keep your eyes peeled for if you love the bruising play Martin delivered. 2012 running back recruit Jack Fields out of Americas High School in El Paso, Texas looks the most like the "Muscle Hamster" with a style of play that seems to indicate he would be just as likely to run through his opponents as around them.




The kid can play, and he is one to keep an eye out for come the 2013 season even though he likely will be redshirted in 2012. He gets the vote for best Martin clone when analyzing his style of play. It is hard not to see the similarities, and fans will have reason to get excited the first time they see Fields touch the ball.

The Broncos will no doubt miss the yards after contact Martin gave them while handling the rock, but they appear to have multiple options to hand the ball off to. The safe money is on Harper to see a great deal of action while Ajayi will spell the senior.

***This story included RB Malcolm Johnson, however he is no longer listed as a member of the team.***

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