Season analysis: Boise State relies on two talented kickers, needs more from returners
Note: This is the third installment in a five-part series wrapping up Boise State’s 2023 season. Next: How did the Broncos’ TV viewership compare to the rest of the Mountain West?
Boise State wasn’t as flashy on special teams as usual last year, but the Broncos leaned on a couple of reliable legs.
The Broncos ended the season without scoring a touchdown on defense or special teams. That’s no kickoff or punts returns, and no interceptions or fumbles taken back all the way.
Whether it’s blocking a kick or breaking off a long kick return, Boise State has a reputation for making momentum-swinging plays on special teams. That was especially true during former two-time Mountain West Special Teams Player of the Year Avery Williams’ career. He finished his college career with nine special teams touchdowns, and he’s now a running back for the Atlanta Falcons.
The Broncos have struggled in the return game since the Falcons drafted Williams in 2021. They didn’t get much out of their kick or punt returners last season, either, but the Broncos got plenty of production the other way — out of punter James Ferguson-Reynolds and kicker Jonah Dalmas.
Ferguson-Reynolds, a sophomore from Australia, led the nation with 49.7 yards per punt, shattering Boise State’s single-season record of 45.8 yards, which was set by Kyle Brotzman in 2008. He earned first-team All-Mountain West honors after 29 of his 55 punts traveled at least 50 yards and 23 stopped inside an opponent’s 20-yard line.
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Another one of Brotzman’s records was shattered in 2023. Dalmas surpassed him for No. 1 in program history with 80 career field goals. The former walk-on from Rocky Mountain High formerly set the Broncos’ single-season record with 26 field goals in 2021.
Dalmas went 24-of-27 on field goals in 2023 and set a new career best with a 56-yard field goal against UCF. He has hit at least 23 field goals in each of the past three seasons.
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Will Dalmas set a few more records?
Dalmas announced last week that he’s returning for his fifth season at Boise State. He has been open in the past about wanting to try to kick in the NFL, and there was a thought that he might take the leap this year to see if he could, especially after helping the Broncos win a Mountain West championship. Instead, he decided to come back as a super senior, and he has a chance to cement himself as the most productive kicker in NCAA history.
Dalmas needs to hit 18 field goals to break the NCAA career record, which former N.C. State kicker Christopher Dunn set with his 97th field goal in 2022. Dalmas needs to connect on just four to break the Mountain West career record, which former Nevada kicker Brandon Talton set last season.
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Who emerges in the return game?
The Broncos are still searching for a consistent threat.
Kaden Dudley, who started as a receiver and moved to running back, and wide receiver Cole Wright have been the top options the past two seasons. Both missed games because of injuries last year, but they weren’t all that effective when they were healthy.
Dudley handled the bulk of the kickoffs and averaged 20.25 yards on 20 returns. Wide receiver Stef Cobbs, running back George Holani and wide receiver Chase Penry all returned punts last year, but the Broncos’ longest punt return of the year covered just 14 yards.
Dudley, Wright and Penry should get plenty of chances again this year. Wide receiver Latrell Caples should be in the mix again, too, after he returns from a knee injury that cost him the 2023 season. He returned nine punts in 2022.
The Broncos also have plenty of young players who could carve a role out for themselves on special teams returns. That’s especially true of the incoming freshman class, which includes plenty of speed. Three players recorded times that were faster than 11 seconds in the 100-meter dash in high school: cornerback Treyvon Tolmaire, and running backs Sire Gaines and Dylan Riley.
The fastest player in Boise State’s 2024 class may be wide receiver Cameron Bates, whose time of 36.58 seconds in the 300-meter hurdles was one of the best in the nation last year. He played quarterback, wide receiver, cornerback and kick returner during his career at Mansfield Timberview High in Texas.
