BNN LIVE: Spring football talk with former Boise State defensive tackle Michael Callahan

BNN LIVE: Spring football talk with former Boise State defensive tackle Michael Callahan

no no no no come on where is it Dave it’s your Idaho Central app here any chance you’re missing a debit card let’s get that taken care of for you with ICCU card control you can turn any card off with the tap of your finger you got it and back on again out out out the closest Idaho Central Credit Union branch is in your pocket pow day dude let’s go [Music] w [Music] [Music] this is Bronco nation News live the best interviews the most informed opinions the latest breaking news all from the top voicy state [Music] insiders bronation News live from bronation news.com is presented by ROP paint.com the official pain and Coatings company of boy State athletics all Bronco nation news broadcasts come from the Western Collective Studios head down to Western collectives locations in Garden City or downtown boisey to try some of their delicious beers including the Horseshoe golden ale the first beer to support an nil Collective Now here’s four time nsma Idaho sports writer of the Year BJ reigns with another edition of Bronco nation News [Music] live how we doing Bronco nation happy Wednesday to you here at bronation news.com bronation News live we are on YouTube we are on Facebook we are on x and we’re brought to you by our title sponsor ROP paint.com all your painting needs make sure you hit up our title sponsor R paint.com my name is BJ Reigns and I know you don’t recognize this guy you may hear his voice uh he’s down some weight he’s down some hair uh and uh Michael Callahan nice enough to join us here on a Wednesday on Bronco nation News live uh Mike kellahan how you doing man pretty good sorry for the jump scare shaved the mullet shaved the beard uh lost about 30 pounds already trying to get another 20 off so I know I look like an 18y old right now but still the same me so uh excited to be here you’re you’re there’s a when if you work for BNN you’re not supposed to be in great shape or or be you know good good in front of the camera so you’re already uh you know below the we’ll have to work on that but uh no we we appreciate you uh for jumping on and and uh cool that we’re going to get you involved uh as much as your schedule allows here with some of our uh Spring football coverage the next month or so hopefully maybe get you involved in the the pre- and postgame shows coming the season next year maybe a weekly thing as well but I know we we’ve talked and tried to make it work and and I thought this week we had basketball talk the last couple days uh with everything going on there and then kind of a weird week with spring break this week and then football kicking back up on Monday um I thought it was a good day to have you come on and talk some spring football and and like I said though looking forward to not only to today but hopefully getting you involved as a uh you know official analyst for BNN here uh for the football team moving forward man yeah absolutely I would love to stay in t and you know stay stay on top of all things boys State football you know transitioning to now I’m you know a full-time fan at the same time I have a pretty good wealth of experience so I know how to analyze what’s going on with the team and what’s going on in the future so definitely want to stay involved and uh stay connected to Bronco nation all right full-time fan part-time analyst here as well Mike Tan again 2019 uh you came into the program six years thanks to the red shirt thanks to the co year uh so you’re obviously very well connected with this program I mean you just played in the fiest bowl had a couple tackles a month or two ago uh you’ve done a lot of great things in your career so we uh you know Riley Smith jumped on board last year and that’s been a lot of fun he was able to get some you know former players on and and him and Coach riddle had a nice little weekly show during the season so uh we’re hoping to do something similar uh with you and get you involved and and appreciate you for wanting to get involved man so it’s going to be a a lot of fun looking forward to this and and uh continuing to to get to know you and I think this is going to be a fun thing for fans because you’re you’re obviously very well connected to this team from last year um but also obviously a lot of the same guys and and things moving forward here and and even the recruits and things you were part of their visits and everything else so uh you’re you’re very well connected to the 2025 team here and and uh I think you still have a lot of insight and Analysis that fans are going to benefit from here absolutely and I’ll do my best to stay up the date and uh make sure that you know my brain’s going good with what’s going on with the football program going forward and um yeah like you said you know six years of experience experience in the program no I know the ins and outs of boys State football so I know what it’s supposed to look like so pretty excited to keep uh keep a close eye on the team and going forward now now you did your homework here we’ll get to that in a second I put I gave you a task at 10:30 last night and you you did a very impressive job here in terms of the topics we’re going to get to but uh just update folks I know last time you uh came on you had had a hip surgery on on one of your hips or or what what uh and I know maybe just within the last couple days you had another procedure here fill everybody in yeah so uh end of January had my right hip done had to get a bone spur and uh my labor my right hip fixed up and then Monday so two mornings ago got my left hip fixed up so done with surgeries for hopefully my 20s think I made it out of football relatively okay but had to get the body straightened up for a long-term future make sure there’s no problems down the road but uh two days out I’m already feeling way better obviously I’m able to get on get in front of a camera and you know be functioning so so that’s just an excuse if you say something maybe that you regret or something at some point yeah yeah seriously I stayed off of everything that I had to so uh we got Spencer B Canon saying still in basketball mode good luck football yeah we uh basketball season’s not over we’re GNA talk a lot of basketball here moving forward uh we’ll have Mike Prader and and ball game and tus and stuff and they have this weird two- week break though with no game for next week to for you know not even next week so uh you had the San Diego State UNCC game last night but yeah we got plenty of basketball to talk moving forward here but plenty of we’ve kind of neglected football a little bit actually with the last uh you know week being in Vegas and stuff so I just uh it’s a it’s a one day reprieve here if you’re a dieh hard basketball fan apologize we’re talking football today but we’ll be back tomorrow Friday all next week talking basketball but I know a lot of you have been asking for more football talk anyway so uh that’s what we’re going to do uh today all right Mike uh I gave you I asked you for five topics and five players I said why don’t we just you know let’s kind of have it we had the they had three days of practice kind of got their feet wet took the week off for spring break so then when they come back on Monday it’s kind of four weeks of solid Spring football you know Tuesday Thursday Saturdays here and so anyone that was focused on the Mountain West tournament you know last week or whatever we’re gonna just kind of for the next four weeks what are five kind of topics you’re looking at fans should look at and pay attention to here the next month as well as five players um that you know uh folks you’re excited about and and fans should be looking at paying attention to um moving forward here and I know one of your topics first one uh the offense we’ve talked a lot about it Dirk cutter moves on Nate Potter comes in what’s the offense going to look like I’m right there with you I mean are we going to see the same thing running the ball every play or are we going to see more trick plays or what what’s Nate Potter going to bring to the table the very first practice last Monday they ran a double pass on one of the which I I loved seeing and I was standing next to dirt cutter on you know watching it in the end zone when that happened he’s like oh there’s there’s old Nate first day you know bringing out the double pass but uh I know that’s a big topic for you now as an Alum but as a defensive player also what’s the offense going to look like with Coach Potter yeah like you said bringing out the trick play first day of practice that’s that’s awesome I’m sure that the guys on uh the defensive side of the ball weren’t too pumped up about that day one a spring ball having a double pass thrown at you and having an adjust off of Base uh base install calls but um I’m pretty you know I’m fired up um I’ve known coach Potter for four years now um I know him a little bit coming out of high school he recruited me at Montana State um he’s an exceptional football mind um particularly just for you know the way my brain works and the Run game very creative he knows good ways to scheme up every single front or linebacker Lin that you’re going to find in college football um I’m excited to see how he uses the wealth of running backs that we have this year you know we got a lot of depth of that position so behind you know arguably the most experienced and violent offensive line in the Mountain West um I think coach Potter is going to have a lot of success uh with the Run game I’m also very excited to see Mad Dog take steps you know I watched it this summer going into the season you know mad dog taking that next step and becoming that big-time leader on this offense I’m excited to see him Embrace that role and come full circle this year as basic as you know the captain of the offense and moving things forward with that um it’s going to be really cool seeing mad dog getting the chance to really shine show the show the country what he can do because you know my opinion Mad Dog’s right up there with every other quarterback of the country that’s at the top of the list so I think he’s he’s got all the potential in the world uh he loves being counted out and it’s gonna be really cool to see Mad Dog and Coach Potter get to work yeah and I think Zack Hill being back as well as as the quarterback’s coach and kind of a dedicated quarterbacks coach is another kind of storyline in all this but I know you know fill folks in you know when they hear Nate Potter they know he played offensive line he’s coached offensive line he’s coached tight ends and that’s kind of been you know the the o line tight ends kind of been his specialty for most of his career here um and when you think offensive coordinator you you think quarterbacks you think running backs you think receivers um so I know I was one of them when I first heard it that was like oh okay you I’ll be curious how this goes but um it sounds like you’re saying just because he’s only coached running backs and and or excuse me he’s only coached uh you know tight ends in offensive line during his career that it’s not going to be something where we expect to just run power every play no don’t think we’re getting you know straight up Gap schemes down the throat the entire game um especially with the people he has around him you know you mentioned coach Hills back you know that’s a huge addition coach Hill is an outstanding quarterback’s coach I still remember him from 2019 you know one of my best friends Hank BM thinks the entire world of him um and I know that uh you know having coach Miller you know he’s the pass game guy you know he’s obviously an except exeptional mind when it comes uh when it comes to the pass game so I’m excited to see the combination of like you know those thre experience and what they see in a a week toe game plan mode um I’m just excited to see the creativity that comes in throughout the season like you said um I don’t think that it’s just going to be you know running power every single play you know there’s GNA be a lot of creativity on the field this year and it’s gonna be really cool to see them establish their identity early because you know like I mentioned yeah they do have a very experienced veteran o line that I know those guys very well they do want to run the ball every single play but it’s going to be really cool to see them you know get to expand and uh really see what they can do with the offense this year now we’re one Topic in and Christine already says a great addition with Michael Callahan well spoken and great Insight reminds me of a younger Jay tus I’m not sure who that’s you know better for or more of a more of a shot at you or Jay but I’ll take the Jay tus comparison that’s a that’s a I think very A J so I’m good with that good good good friend of mine and and does some great work with us here at BNN so yes excited for that all right let’s go to the your side of the ball here where you’re obviously uh even more familiar um production and the pass rush obviously losing ahed Hassen is the big one but some other guys there on the interior as well uh and can the defense maintain the pressure they were able to generate last season I know that’s a big storyline for you as well yeah I think so both from a former player perspective and as a fan perspective from a former player player perspective you know I’ve had guys from you know the 2019 team that have reached out to me and said that they were jealous that they didn’t get to play in this defense this year you know with Coach chins because coach chins is uh he loves his pressure he’s very he’s in my opinion he’s the most elite mind that I’ve ever been around when it comes to pressure um he’s a film junkie he’s consistently in there picking up new new stunts and new coverages that we can you know Implement on a week toe basis and keep keep offensive lines and offensive coordinators on their toes and uh I know it’s a nightmare for at least last year it was a nightmare for offensive coordinators to prepare for us because you didn’t know what we were going to throw at them each week and um I’m really excited to see them you know continue what we started last year with our with our pressure you know I think we had 55 or 56 sacks I know that we should have broken the NCAA record I fully believe that this year that they can do it I think that they have the Personnel um they’ve added some really exciting new transfers in there that you know bring some size in length that we haven’t seen up front very often at Boise State so um which we’ll touch on a little bit later but um I’m really excited just to see them you know continue that that mentality you know that they’re gonna get after the quarterback they’re GNA cause havoc and um I I truly believe that these guys can absolutely maintain and exceed the pressure that we brought last year now I saw some guy going into the fiestable he was like a pen former Penn State player and he was watching tape or something kind of breaking down your guys defense he he said something to the effect of a lot of the sacks were just like coverage sacks and more you know scheme sacks more just than individual guys beating guys oneon-one or whatever and you’re laughing because maybe you saw that I don’t know but I just what do you make of I guess that that narrative or that thought that the 55 sacks were just you know uh schemed up and and played up and not necessarily individual talent coming up with those you know I I thought that all those comments were hilarious you know I mean sure that guy can say what he wants to say he’s a former player I guess you could say but at the end of the day you can’t say that 55 sacks isn’t 55 sacks matter how you get them so sure you can take a shot and say that we’re not going to get there with a three-man or a four-man rush you know whatever you want to say it doesn’t matter we still sacked drew a l four times in that game against you know the number three team in the country for the whole season and earlier in the year Oregon I think Oregon ended up giving up you know 12 or 13 sacks the whole season we had five so you can say what you want to say we’re GNA get home well not we anymore because I’m done but you know I I definitely know exactly what you’re talking about and that was a little bit of more you know fuel to the fire going to that game you know that’s definitely something that we were talking about you know as a front like all right like didn’t need more motivation but here we go all right so you got what’s the offense going to look like can they keep the pass rush going two obviously kind of big storylines on both sides of the ball then you get into the position battles here because there are some key guys at left some some younger guys guys ready to step up and I know you’ve got a couple positions uh that you’re really looking at and curious to see kind of who steps up there yeah absolutely um I’m going to start off with the running backs um like I was saying earlier there’s a wealth of talent in the running back room um that’s kind of become the standard of Boise State you know you come to boy St as a running back good chance you’re gonna have a chance to play the next level I think that’s no different with sire gains um I know that everybody in the world revolving around boy State football has heard about sire gains but this guy’s the truth this guy is everything is advertised more um getting a fully healthy C gains going for next season is going to do unbelievable things for us next year but on top of that we have other guys in the room you know like Breezy dubar we have Dylan Riley we have Malik sherad I think Malik shro brings a very interesting perspective to this running back’s room you know he’s uh he’s a little bit of a smaller guy but he has a dirt dog mentality I know this guy is going to be a really great leader on this next team I know that he you know I played against him two years ago in Fresno when we had our Lowe’s and uh that dude that dude balled out he took that game over so uh I’m excited that he’s on our team this time around coming in the season and uh I’m excited to see what he brings to the table I’m excited to see like I said fully healthy Breezy dubar and uh motivated Breezy dubar I think that he’s gonna be able to come back and have a great season this year and then Dylan riy is another kid that I really I think the world Dylan riy um the kind of speed that he’s got you know if he gets a hole he’s gone you know he’s got Breakaway speed just like that um having a full offseason under his belt not just coming in you know late in the summer um coming in with the entire offseason to put on weight put on muscle and also get to know the off to Playbook a lot more um I just think that you know there’s they they have a great uh situation on their hands where they have a ton of talent in the back field and I think that’s actually a great point you know you could see a lot more you know q21 person Els which is which q21 means there’s two running backs in the uh S I don’t want to get two technical football no we need you two yeah know what it means you’re you’re good you’re good I think we could absolutely see q21 q22 I think that you know you have you have the talent you gotta get the best 11 guys on the field and I think in a lot of the situations I think that we could see two uh two running backs in the back field whoever that combination may be but um you know all those guys deserve and will get touches um like I said sire gains is the truth and he’s going to show that to the country this year but just as a full team perspective I think that running back room was really interesting all right couple defensive positions as well you’re looking at yeah here we go so with the secondary uh one one position switch that I’m really excited to see is Devon Banks moving nickel uh Devon Banks um is a very explosive talented athlete you know I think on his I think on his pick six against San Jose State he hit 23.5 miles an hour on the GPS which is pretty you know the second fastest speed of the Season I’m pretty sure right behind uh Shay oo’s you know Chase down tackle in the Mountain West championship game where he almost hit 24 miles an hour chasing somebody down but seeing guys and that kind of a role you know coming in and filling in for that shayo Depo Rodney Robinson type player last year at the nickel position I think I’m really excited to see that really excited to see Ty Benfield take another huge step uh I truly believe that he could be in for a JL Skinner type of year three um that dude just comes in and busts his tail each day has really stepped up as a very big leader um I just think that he’s gonna be I I think Ty Benfield Sky I think the world of Ty Benfield I think he’s gonna be a great player um very excited to see the rest of the secondary comp compete obviously getting a Marion McCoy big big big return um obviously G to have him with you know two years of experience in the system coming in you know coming into year three you know I think that his last year is easily going to be his best really excited to see him on a week- toe basis love Jeremiah Herby I think he’s got I think he got better you know as the season got on last year and love the guy plays I love the way he plays football and uh I think the secondary is going to be in a great place next year and of course you saved the most important position on the team for last year yeah I gota talk about the uh D tackles dude I mean I I had to get in there um I’m I’m so fired up for defensive tackles you know they have you gotta think you have Coach chander you have Coach Frasier and the in my opinion biggest addition of the offseason coach mle coming back you know everybody that I played with while he was the defensive line coach here once he got announced that he came back I probably had four or five phone calls right away saying oh my God we got him so having those three coaches around that defensive tackle group I think that I think Sky’s limit for that group you know obviously braxon fely braaton has talents that you can’t coach you know he’s probably the probably the most elusive interior pass rusher that I’ve been around uh in my six years of playing at Boise State I think that what he does in the pass rush game is phenomenal it adds another layer to his game um I think that adding you know Deon Washington um I think that he you know I think he definitely brings three I think he has three or four years of in-conference experience but at the end of the day with an upfront position like that you know having experiences everything and he’s been in this conference and he knows this conference and he’s gonna add some great experience to our dline room and I know he’s an explosive player um I know we have David latu coming in uh from BYU and Snow College um I know that he’s you know Sani L cousin or cousin brother I’m not I’ve seen I’ve seen uh sanatan at practice already few times yeah yeah I I was talking to sanatani dude he’s fired up I’m fired up for him I think he’s in a great position to be here uh getting the work alongside those coaches I think that he could be a great addition I think the world of Lopez suusi I think that you know throughout throughout the season last year getting a chance to be to be behind us four get a chance to learn from us is going to do wonders for him this year I know that he’s attacking it this offseason I think that Lopez will definitely step into a uh into a much bigger role this year Michael Madre kind of a SI similar situation with Braxton fely Michael madre in the past Rush game I think that he can make a huge impact I think that he just does things that you know just naturally physically genetically gifted you know I think that he can definitely do some things that other guys can’t and I know that they brought in um Kean from a uh University Arizona too so I’m excited to see what he can do three topics down two to go we got some players to watch as well here on Bronco nation News live with Michael Callahan our new BNN Spring football analyst here on Bronco nation News live but you’re watching this show free of charge here on uh YouTube Facebook and X thank to some of our great sponsors so we want to make sure and give them a shout out here on BNN and that includes our title sponsor ROP paint.com all your painting needs hit up Andy row and ROP paint.com whether it’s those Concrete Coatings whether it’s the interior exterior painting all your painting needs make sure you hit up the official Paint and Coatings company at Boise State athletics and that’s R paint.com Taco bellw works.com is the website for S and management the Nickolas family the locally owned Taco Bell locations if you’re looking for job they are hiring and they’ve got some great benefits right now you get free foods while you work you get half your 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anytime day or night from our friends at Jackson’s all right two more story lines we want to get to here with Mike Callahan on Bronco nation News live and I know you have a an emphasis you’re looking at both sides of the ball here offense defense and some areas of improvement some things you want to see let’s start on uh on defense I know there’s two two obvious things uh one big one for fans but a second one too that you’re really focused on in the spring here yeah absolutely I think you know for defense the defensive side of the ball um I think the number one thing that we got to focus on sorry they gotta focus on is you’re on the Lum I’ll let it slide but now that you’re in the media we gotta get a little away from the Wii here as much come on yeah right um so I think you know big thing got focus on is tackling you know that was definitely a thing all season that you know here and there I I truly believe that there is such a thing as you know a good missed tackle you know taking a shot setting them up or making or forcing them back inside your leverage making guys pursuit of the ball and finish up on their tackling but I think tackling is going to be the biggest emphasis emphasis for these guys in the spring you know just got to get back to the fundamentals got to make sure that we’re rapping make sure that we’re not just you know lay the pads making sure that we get the guy on the ground I think that that’s definitely something that needs to take a big step and that will in this upcoming season other other obvious spot is uh eliminating explosive plays you know that was really our biggest thing last year you know just getting hit on explosives you know it’s a big goal every week you know year in year out you know you want to make sure that you that you eliminate and limit explosive plays from the offense uh that starts with eye control and communication at the end of the day and I think that you know as these guys you know at the end of the day this is going to be another very experienced defense you know they’re not losing too much and they have a lot of very experienced great veteran players they’re going to take big steps this year and I think that that’s going to play a big role in helping us eliminate eliminate explosive plays down the stretch of the season I know you don’t want to hear the numbers you probably know the numbers but Boise State last year on defense 127th in the country and they were only 134 teams last year so you know literally one of the worst six in the country you guys gave up 37 plays of at least 30 yards last year uh you can break it down by 10 yard 20 yard 30 40 50 I mean that was for for as good as that defense was for how few games you guys lost um it was crazy how every game there’d be one two three just breakdowns or massively big plays I mean what what I mean I know it’s in football it’s just one guy maybe right missing the wrong Gap or missing his assignment or taking his eye off the ball for one second I know that the secondary it seemed like a lot of the 5050 balls the opponent would usually come up with um but I mean what what what do you what did you guys kind of see you know late in the season or what was the biggest reason for that and how do you how do you uh change something like that when you’re giving up all those explosive plays yeah and you know like like you said with all the games we won you know there there were games that we’d come back you know we’d get back in and we’d be like all right we got to work on this we got to fix this like because it you know we might have won this game but at the end of the day later in the year we’re gonna get hit on this so I think we did a good job on a week- toe basis of coming in and identifying and being clear with ourselves like what was going on and what was causing this um I think having a full offseason under their belt of getting a chance to really focus in you know just on a player-to-player standpoint and getting a chance to you know see what what happened last year and what can we what can they fix going forward in the next season I think that’s going to help and I think at the end of the day like I said explosive plays come from eye control and communication so just guys being really intentional in the small things because I think you know as as the season drags on it becomes a little bit tougher to uh be as focused on those kind of things as it is in you know the offseason it’s all talk right now but I think you know having a full off season of being completely dialed in on eliminating those those explosives going to make a big difference coming up in this next season all we’re going to put you to the test here because we do have a semi- negative comment here um so we’re going to see how you uh how you can uh you know answer this question here but he says can you put one thing to rest about the disconnect between from the fans and Demario Warren was it a scheme decision or player decision to not turn and play the ball from the corners I I know that was one thing I mentioned the 50-50 balls Mike but I know there’s so much much more that fans don’t know about you know and all this stuff but a lot of times it would just look like the corners were giving up big plays and a lot of times maybe it weren’t even turning towards the ball when there were plays being made what what did you see from the corners Demario Warren what do what do the corners think about Demario Warren and I know he’s the the one guy fans always want to rip on when there’s a big play but obviously there’s a lot more to it than that yeah and I love coach Warren he’s an outstanding coach and at the end of the day those those plays are bang bang plays you know it’s a lot easier to you know sit on the couch and I know for i’ I’ve experienced in my whole life I was a Die Hard Pats fan before I came to uh Boise State so I I mean I get how the fans feel but at the end of the day you know watching it being in it is completely two different things you know bang bang plays like that happen um obviously I think the world of those of that corner room I think as the year went on they got so much better um taking it day by day step by step and I really think that at the end of the day bang bang plays are going to happen but I think you know them playing fast and then playing confident is going to make a big difference coming up in this next season all right offensively what’s your uh emphasis or the big thing you’re looking at offensively here in the next four weeks of spring and moving forward yeah you know I kind of have an obvious answer with that just being an upfront guy but I think the biggest thing from them is just maintaining and progressing that run game you know especially you know continuing to get to the second level up front you know just making sure that they give these running backs all the space that they need because like I you know we’ve been talking about it you know they have a wealth of experience and talent in that running back room and all they need is a little bit of room they can get they can get loose so I think the most important thing is going to be maintaining and progressing that dominant Run game to open up the passing game for Mad Dog uh I I totally agree with you on that one I’m curious to see like I said I I I I’m I’m hoping there’s a little more downfield passing attack this year I mean you need to see what rece what the receivers can do too because you lost a couple good ones there so I mean in terms of the downfield you know from the receivers too but there’s certainly a lot of talent in the running back room I think the receiving Talent you know receiver room is there as well um backup quarterbacks one for me that we haven’t really talked about just two because uh you’re talking about just battles and things I mean you’re you’re you know you’re one injury away to or one play away to to uh you know mad dog right now from from from not having much experience or depth at all at quarterback and I know it’s tough when you have a guy you know was a starter and led his team to the fiestable returning as the starter next year probably hard in the transfer portal to get anybody that’s you know frankly any good because they know they’re they don’t want to sit behind him um so that that’s one spot I’m looking at too is can they develop some depth at back of quarterback do they still need to go in this spring portal season and try to find somebody there or what’s that looking at but certainly if Mad Dog can stay healthy I know he’s got his detractors out there too but I think most people feel pretty good about you know what he can do with this offense moving forward here um the biggest I guess the final kind of just big picture storyline around this spring around this team is putting that putting that fiestable appearance uh you know behind behind them right I mean the Rings I don’t know if the Rings are in yet the Mountain West Championship I mean it was obviously a historic season a great season but um you don’t get to carry any of that over to this season and obviously they’re going to Notre Dame this season they’ve got some other tough games on there um you know you just it was a a great successful you know historic season making the playoff but in the end they’re they got the same record right now as everybody else again here moving forward so I know that’s a big uh a big thing for you and for those guys in the room as well yeah absolutely you know I think that coming off of a season like that you know a lot of other places in the country I think that team would tend to take a step back and I I know that the way that those guys are working and the mindset that they have and like we were just talking about they are returning a ton of a ton of guys a ton of production at every position of the on both sides of the ball I think that you know with with the schedule that’s coming up you know we have the team to be even better than we were last year which is crazy to say you know missing you know Ash and jenty but you know coming in you know they just have so much returning Talent returning experience returning production that I think the world of this next up this upcoming team and um you know like like I was saying you know it can be tough to turn the page on you know a season that just ended two months ago and have to be like all right we gotta get ready for this next season so it’s really important for the leaders to step up and keep those guys you know focused in you know that last year was last year you know this team hasn’t proven anything yet and it’s going to be up to them to establish what they want this team to look like and what they want the 2025 boy State Broncos to look like so I think that’s definitely a spot that other teams in the country would have a hard hard time with but that’s what separates boys State football from other college football programs around the country is that you know last year last year’s last year that’s put to rest that’s gone this is a new season and it’s time to focus in and I know Spencer a little bit obviously not as well as you guys that are with him every single day but he doesn’t seem like the kind of Coach that’s going to sit back and I don’t think that’s going to be a problem for him to to motivate you guys about a new year here not even kind of I’m I I can literally hear what those discussions are probably sounding like in the team room right now he’s probably echoing a lot of the things that I was just saying uh Kip says tell Braxton fely to keep the sack celebration other guys did it throughout the season love it that that was my favorite man freaking the S the S and S dude anytime anytime you get a tfl or a sack while I was next to him I made sure that I tried to throw it up because I knew it was coming from him uh that’s probably that’s definitely my favorite celebration on the team um you know I I don’t even know I think he started doing it against Georgia Southern he just pulled it out um and it became a big hit on the team you know because he does so quick that it’s always popping up on film so you can still see it at the end of the play and our actual film so they always fired the guys up and uh yeah I’m telling you I’m right there with you with that celebration having some fun here with Michael Callahan on Bronco nation News live it’s a Wednesday Edition and again our title sponsor is ROP paint.com if you have a question a comment uh for Mike you can put that in the chat there we got about 10 15 minutes left uh we’ll get to that here in a little bit we do have uh we’re five topics down and Mike has come up with five players we’ve touched on a couple of them but we’ll we’ll dive back into them five kind of players that that uh you know he’s excited to watch that you guys should be excited to watch this spring and maybe take that next step so if you have a a player you’re excited about or maybe an under the radar guy throw that in the chat maybe we can get Mike’s uh comments on that but I do want to thank a couple more sponsors real quick the blue and orange store the blue and orang store.com check them out at the boisey Town Square Mall the second floor there next to Pro Image they got that clearance rack in the front of the store we appreciate Travis hawen company the blue and orange store been around since the first Fiesta Bowl you know where to go when you need your Boise steak gear you can order online anywhere in the world at the blue and orang store.com Lithia fora Boise Jim sturken company we appreciate uh him and uh Mike we got to get you out this year to the BNN golf tournament uh we Jim sturk sponsors a little hole-in-one competition so maybe we can get you a new vehicle here if you can uh put one on whole six out at TimberStone into the cup on the t-shot so Li the afford boyy Li the aord boy.com and they got some great deals right now they got to get rid of some uh 2024 models to make room for 2025 so you can view their full inventory online at lifia for boy.com Matt Bower and Bower real estate number one ranked realer in the Treasure Valley is Matt Bower and Bower real estate Bower realestate.com best in the business and when you buy or sell a home using Matt and his team you get to meet everybody in the picture there the customer service is unmatched every step of the way we bought and sold our home over the summer with Matt helped us get tremendous value we’re in a way nicer home and I mean I fool people you see my home and you think I have some money I don’t and Matt Bower is the reason just the deal he got us and and every step of the way we’re just uh super appreciative of of Matt and his team and I know everybody has five friends that are realtors out there but I highly recommend going with Matt Bower Bower real estate you can get more information online at Bower real estate.com Ridley family markets shop ridleys.com locations across the Treasure Valley the Magic Valley the state of Idaho download their skip app get savings up to 40% off at the checkout line Ridley’s family markets shop ridleys.com Transportation compliance service you want to get into the trucking industry they can help you out with all the paperwork and things you need to get out there and Tow in that first load and no time looking for a new career consider the trucking industry and that’s with transm service.com lean Feast lean Feast Meridian I’m sure Michael calan had a few lean Feast meals over the uh days lean Feast meridian.com they feed the football team weekly they feed the basketball team and we appreciate Dave and Company at lean feast leanfeast meridian.com and it’s 10,000 plus healthy combinations they deliver anywhere in the Treasure Valley you just pop it in the microwave for two minutes and you’re eating steak shrimp chicken fish lean Feast leanfeast meridian.com we want your voicemails as well speak pipe.com BNN leave us a voicemail on the signature Roofing Voice inbox speak pipe.com BNN we’ll play it on an upcoming show I just sent a gift card yesterday to some somebody who had a good voicemail wanted to appreciate them for leaving that so speak pipe.com BNN and again signature Roofing covering our community for more than two decades whether it’s a re-roof a repair an estimate inspection more information online at my signature roofing.com all right uh five five players to watch um I know you have a nice list here I mean we’re gonna we’re going to do a 25 kind of players countdown over the summer where we kind of really dive into some some folks on this roster but you’ve kind of identified five to you um that you’re you’re focused on and and I wasn’t surprised to see the first two on the list up front um but uh let’s go let’s go cage Casey tell us about cage because he’s a guy that had some big time offers could have gone to the NFL could have cashed in big time at some other schools in the nil game but stuck it out here and has a chance just to be an alltime you know uh add his name to that list in terms of the legendary uh you know tackles here at Boise State yeah absolutely and uh I know cage Casey is a very talked about guy which you know is already unique being an offensive lineman you know you don’t really get a ton of exposure and KK’s getting it and it’s for good reason um this guy is probably the most technically sound offensive lineman that I’ve been around at Boise State um I think he’s right up there in terms of Talent with Ezra Cleveland who is currently still playing in the NFL to this day he’s been there for six years I think the cage Casey is a another potential 10-year NFL offensive tackle guard whatever he projects as in the NFL but you know this guy is coming off a second team All-American season at you know left tackle which means that he was you know one of the top four tackles in the country last season as a red shirt sophomore so seeing this guy and you know being being around him for his first three years at Boise State you know you knew day one when he came in that he was going to be a different dude um just off of the frame and natural talent that He had coming in but compare combine it with his work ethic and what he’s actually trying to do and the things that he’s trying to work on to get better at you know just from a very he’s really focusing on the small things that are going to turn him into in my opinion could be the best offensive lineman in the country next year so I’m really excited that cage Casey obviously took one more year at Boise State you know like you said could have gone to the NFL you know probably had to turn down some pretty big offers in the uh transfer portal being being around him he doesn’t really that that was never really big concern with me with him you know he’s been driving a minivan the whole time I don’t think he’s going to stop doing that you know other than the Lithia deal but uh I think that he uh he definitely is uh someone that you know might be a little under the radar you know just because he plays offensive line but you know the end of the day that kind of talent isn’t going to go unseen and I’m sure that throughout the season you know you won’t hear about cage Casey on the left side as much just because he’s going to be so locked down in the pass game but I’m sure’ll be some clips that come out of him you know absolutely dominating and taking over a front in the middle of the game so cage Casey in my opinion is my number one player that you gotta keep an eye on going to the spring going into the season because he’s just an unbelievable talent and we’re pretty freaking lucky to have him boy State no doubt I think his uh durability too I can’t remember him missing a game uh yeah in the last couple years either so his durability has been right there all right un unless you want to make this show two hours you can speed up the next floor a little bit if you want to I got all the I got all the time you do but I don’t want to keep I don’t want to keep you too long but we do have four more I want to get to here uh Jaden virgin Morgan I know is a big one as well had a big breakout uh season 40 tackles 10 sacks uh forc fumble a fumble recovery was a first team all Mountain West uh you know player was a big part of that you know defense that had the the 55 sacks as you said um but now uh you know with no attention on the other side with ahed he’s going to be the guy that everyone’s kind of really focused on um what what do you make Jaden virgin Morgan because he’s obviously the the clear top pass rusher you know up front this year yeah and that kind of ties in with cage you know um I think having jayen work with cage and them working together and competing throughout spring and throughout fall Camp um is only gonna make them both so much better and Jaden vergin Morgan obvious obviously exploded onto the scene this season you know he showed that he’s probably he’s was probably the most explosive player in the front right there alongside of Med um just in terms terms of his natural talents I think as you know this offseason goes and he continues to add more skill to his uh pass rush repertoire and add more moves I think that this year is going to be an unbelievable season for Jaden virgin Morgan I think that both him and c casy will be the two top front guys in the Mountain West Conference for good reason obviously they get to work against each other each day so only going to make them both so much better and uh I’m excited to see Jaden ball out this year and I know uh yeah and I like I said he was definitely another guy that probably had I know had some big opportunities in the transfer portal as well and decided to uh to stick around so those are two big guys to Anchor the lines like you said uh right there all right let’s go back to uh to running back I know you mentioned Dylan Riley earlier we had a chance to interview his dad on I think it was might have been the pregame show for the Mountain West Championship he was just walking by and jumped on with me and riddle and Bedell and instantly became a fan favorite I mean his his uh his it’s a side story but his dad was awesome so um but Dylan Riley was you know did some things in the return game obviously running back as well last year um you know averaged uh I think led the team with 237 kickoff return yards um I know that there’s uh a lot of excitement about all these running backs and he’s kind of the you know I don’t say forgotten one but being the Freshman was kind of third you know in terms when you think of breezy and uh sire coming back but uh I know that I think he was second Team all Mountain West from Phil steel maybe in terms of the kick return and what he did there but I know whether it’s in the return game and also getting involved at running back you’re excited about Dylan Riley yeah absolutely and that’s a guy that I really want to single out you know like I was talking about a little bit earlier on the show you know having a full off season under his belt to get the offensive system in um I think is going to make all the difference in the world for Dylan um like like we were saying you know he’s got that Breakaway speed you saw that on his kickoff return touchdown this year um a he’s GNA be a very explosive threat in the kick return game you know whether that’s just kickoff returns or if you switch to pun return or two not sure what the plan is with him but I know that he’s just a dude that has to be on the field um at the end of the day that kind of speed and that kind of talent is going to do wonders for this team and I’m really excited to see Dylan Riley take a big step this season all right Devon Banks another one you have on your list uh you know defensive back uh came over uh obviously and you know as a transfer and had a had a nice year I mean comes over from Washington um you know made one St you mentioned the interception return touchdown um you know couple tackles pass break up in the Fiesta Bowl but you know as I said the uh for for better for worse the secondary is and the corners in particular was was one that you know it’s easy for fans to to single out when a when a big play is given up uh you know maybe the pass rush didn’t get there in time and it Le hangs the guy out to dry or something but it’s usually the DB um that that’s sometimes you know left out but it sounds like they’re going to try him at nickel this year um because you you have Herby coming back and now you have McCoy so McCoy the unexpected return they’re going to try to get Banks over to Nickel um right now he’s the the starting nickel according to the you know what what Spencer Danielson said but what what intrigues you about uh Banks maybe playing nickel and getting Herby and Banks and McCoy all on the field at the same time I’m uh I’m super excited about that particularly because of of the success that Shay and Rodney had uh switching over to Nickel this last season I think you know getting the getting an athletic body like that an explosive player I think getting in those positions where he’s in the Box he’s able to do a lot of you know unique and different things at that nickel position that you win otherwise at the corner position you know having to be focused on being on that island um I think you know I think banks could have really explosive breakout year at nickel I think that you know that that’s just a position that screams toon Banks so I’m excited to see him develop over the spring and in Fall camp and have it translate over to the season I think he’s going to have a big year Year all right Ty benfields you’re your fifth player on the list and he was a guy that after the Fiesta Bowl um I’m interviewing him there in this little media room and he’s got tears running down his eyes talking about you know uh seeing a guy on the other side of the room and Alex tubber that he’s not going to get a chance to play with and some of these other guys and and Ty Benfield was another guy that you know in the moment interviewed him there after the Fiesta Bowl you’re you’re wondering you know is is he gonna be back next year on this roster I mean he’s another guy that had a heck of a year and probably got some serious interest in the transfer portal and um you know he decided Ides to to come back and be one of the leaders of this defense back there at the safety position and he’s a guy that’s moved around at times too you know and um but I know Ty Benfield being back has a chance to be a star on this defense yeah absolutely and uh like I was saying you know being around JL for as many years as I was and uh you know just getting to know the guy that JL is I think that Ty benfield’s right on that track you know I think his care Factor like you were saying at the fiesta balll I know exactly what you’re talking about you know that was a tough that was a tough ending for a lot of guys on the team but you know him in particular you know not getting a chance to play with tuer anymore that just shows his care Factor you know he he he’s a Bronco through and through and like you said maybe had to turn down some stuff to stay here but made the right decision at the end of the day and I truly believe that the way that that guy works and the way that he’s been developing each year in his first two years I think that this year he’s going to take that next step and he’s going to be that NFL type talent in the back end uh Logan says I love it take your time Mike uh Vlad says uh have work to do but can’t stop listening to this stuff fans like me love this stuff and appreciate it so if Vlad gets fired here we’re blaming Mike Sor that’s that’s my fault what did you make of the the way the schedule works this year they’re doing the three practices then they take the week off and then now they come back for for uh the next 12 practices um just just usually it’s kind of half the practices week off half the practices but to only get three in and then take the break and then come back with Tuesday Thursday Saturday uh no back-to-back practices either during spring that’s a that’s a change they want to spread it out a little bit so uh you can have actual more review and film study and things from the previous practice but um what do you make of the way the schedule is kind of set this year I love it um I think you know talking about going three practices right in the spring break you know that I think it’s good to get the feet wet you know for sure and then come back you know make sure that the guys smart over break and make sure that they’re ready to work um I’m also a big fan of the no back-to-back practices thing in Spring ball I think the most important part about Spring ball is a getting the you know being able to sharpen the iron against you know going best on best I think the Spring ball is most fun time of the year in terms of that you know fall Camp kind of gets you know depends on the day and you know depends on how healthy everybody is but in Spring ball you know you get the guys that are healthy out there competing and it’s just really fun to you know see the excitement that you know it truly is offense versus defense is a huge freaking rivalry during spring ball that’s when uh that’s when you find out who really wants to compete so uh I I do enjoy I used to enjoy having you know a day off during spring Bowl to get your body back and make sure that you get everything in in meetings and film and see what went right and went wrong the day before and seeing what you guys can grow on going into the uh the next game you’re enjoying all of Spring ball right now because you’re not there for the 6 AM workouts and the exactly yeah not having to go Club after practice I mean you’re probably love I’m sure I I know you miss it and being out there as a player is you know you certainly deal with that but I’m sure especially as you get into camping things when you’re you know cracking open that second beer and they’re heading back to practice or whatever I’m sure you’re going to be there’s a little different feeling yeah I don’t think I’ve ever been excited for an August in my life up to this point get a chance to actually enjoy the last month of summer instead of just falling off the face of the Earth for a month straight because that work is you know you wake up at 5:30 in the morning you’re not getting home until about 10:30 at night so don’t miss that not going to miss that doing great being done um the first couple weeks were a little weird for me but once I got used to it I was like all right this is this is real life I’m good speaking of Health I one thing I noticed being out at practice last week is they’re they’re pretty healthy All Things Considered some of these Springs you have you know 30 guys over there in Boots and everybody having surgeries and all that but I think they ended up having only one starter that wasn’t available for the fiestable I mean almost everybody was back and it didn’t seem like a ton of guys had to have you know any kind of there was a couple that had to have some cleanup type surgeries and I know they are kind of easing back uh sire and also Latrell and a couple guys but there was as many guys out there on especially up front on the sometimes you get out there on the o line and all five starters are out in Spring I mean I was to see um you know Mason out there and to see cage and to see Roger and some of these guys I thought that was that’s going to be an added benefit that not a lot of people are talking about that so many of these guys are going to get you know some big reps in Spring absolutely I think that’s a I think that’s a credit to the athletic training staff you know I think the world of Garrett Hall and um I don’t know if I said his last name right I probably didn’t but I think the training staff is unbelievable and you know obviously we had to deal with some injuries during season but getting guys back later in season means that they would be available for the whole spring so you know there’s two sides of that coin I think getting the entire spring and the entire offseason with a lot of these guys being healthy it’s goingon to make a huge difference even in the uh even in the older guys you know even when you’re nitpick and then just getting small things over the course of you know the nine months you know winter to season phase I think that it’s gonna be really big for those guys to actually be on the field and continue to stay in football shape you know throughout the offseason I think that’s definitely going to make a big difference but I that that’s a good point didn’t really think about that we definitely have a lot this probably the healthiest spring that I’ve seen Yeah couple final comments here a couple questions for you let’s see Bronco 130 says thanks for all your Bronco energy um em Hoskins wants to know your favorite college team growing up uh weird one University of Florida grandparents lived down there they were Die Hard Gator fans I think for a little bit they might have been boosters don’t know the full story with that I didn’t find out about that until the Fiesta Bowl but big Florida fan Growing Up So a big Tim TBO guy all right uh that’s a good one um let’s see any any feedback on B bow have you heard much about him yet oh yeah absolutely he uh he has some serious Talent from what I’ve heard from some of the guys um you know I think he’s still probably Young in raw but I think that that kid could be I think he could be lights out down the road um I think he might who knows maybe he’ll contribute this year um I haven’t I haven’t seen anything but I know that he I I’ve heard good things so far uh a guy you did see last year Grant wants to know your thoughts on Franklin Johnson Jr I love frank I love that Frank got brought up dude um he’s he’s a favorite in the locker room for sure just a great kid to be around uh he’s been Demetri he’s been one of Demetri night’s favorites since the day he got on campus we took him under our wing and we freaking love that kid super athletic um definitely think he’s going to see the field this year definitely think that he can make an impact on this defense and uh at the day just a great kid well Mike uh great stuff man appreciate you for jumping on and I’m hoping we we want you you know you know you’re uh you know of a nice degree from the business school and you got some big things ahead of you you do you have multiple degrees Yeah I graduated with undergraduate degrees and I finish up my finishing up my MBA right now I’m in something called the Capstone course right now which is not fun but got six more weeks to that and I get it you can’t work for being you’re way over qualified now to now that I know that sorry the time being and love being involved well anyway you are uh you know pursuing some actual jobs in the uh professional field but we’re hoping we can take advantage of your time till then and then even mix it in a little bit hopefully uh with that you know in terms of outside of your uh your business hours and things I’m especially intrigued once we get into the actual football season whether it be uh pregame shows or postgame shows or whatever else I know you’re going to want to be in the the stands having fun with your friends but maybe we can pull you over for 20 minutes after the game or something we we’ll we we’ll talk but uh really appreciate you jumping on man like I said we’re going to try to get you on maybe a couple times a week during spring ball and just take whether even if it’s for uh you know 15 20 minutes and just let fans ask questions and pick your brain and kind of see if you make it out the practice kind of what you’re seeing it all and and your thoughts and obviously like I said you have the unique perspective where you’re just so close to being done that you still you you’ve played and been in meeting rooms and practice with so many of these guys that you still have a a unique perspective here to provide to uh to Bronco nation so uh awesome stuff man and really appreciate it and appreciate you wanting to uh to be involved here moving forward man and I think it’s going to be a lot of fun absolutely thanks for having me on I’m looking forward to being a around a little bit more now blue Turf does say here you need to get in with Brad beddell I think that would be an inter you and Brad Bedell together that I don’t know we don’t have very many rules on a podcast but we there may be some uh FCC things we’d have to check in on with Brad and you together but but uh I uh that I know you know Brad a little bit because his time crossed over when you first got here right yeah absolutely coach Bedell was here for my first two years and Coach pedell put me through the grinder but uh love coach pedell I just with him the other week so absolutely I could definitely I think coach Bell and I would rattle off each other pretty well he probably shot me but you know that’s fine yes he’s Mike Callan my name is BJ Reigns appreciate you guys for checking us out again we’ll get back to the uh basketball talk you got some more games tonight you got the whole uh do you got a bracket filled out you’re legally allowed to do that probably now you can enter your your $5 bracket pool if you want yeah I actually have to do that uh probably right after this like I said I I had hip surgery Monday so today’s the first day that I’m kind of back on my feet and uh I know my buddies back home have been banging on my door to get back involved in that kind stuff so hey man there’s a whole new world once you’re done playing there’s a whole new world of now take partake in and take advantage of that you’ve been missing the last six years and uh pretty excited to dive into that probably first on the list there so uh appreciate it sir great stuff uh thanks to all you guys for checking out the show hope you have a great rest of your day uh speaking of bracka pools we do have an article on BNN right now uh Nathan Caroll cheat sheet on how to win your bracka pool so you can go check that out Michael and then get some tips and things if you need it on your bracket that’s at bronation news.com and then we’ll be back 9:00 a.m. tomorrow we’ll have some football talks some basketball tomorrow and Friday are the greatest days of the year where you have you know the tournament games from from 10 especially Mountain Time Zone you got games starting at 10: a.m. all the way till midnight tomorrow night it’s going to be a lot of fun and we’ll kick off your day 9:00 am tomorrow on Bronco nation News live we’ll have Jay tus back on Friday as well so have a great rest of your day appreciate all you guys for checking us out go subscribe if you can bronation news.com BN n50 deal is that promo code and after how good uh Michael did today I think he’s going to be a tough negotiator on this contract so let’s get a few more subscribers in here let’s be able to pay Mike and and make this happen here moving forward and uh at worst just go support the sponsors folks and thank them for supporting BNN and making shows like this uh free of charge for you to watch on social media so have a great rest of your day and uh we’ll talk to you guys tomorrow 9:00 am Bronco nation News live bronation news.com bronation news is presented by our title sponsor ROP paint.com our major sponsors Idaho Central Credit Union Taco Bell Lithia Ford the blue and orange store Jackson’s and our contributing sponsors signature Roofing Western Collective Snake River Pool and Spa Transportation compliance service voucher real estate Ridley’s family markets Circa Las Vegas lean feast and TimberStone Golf Course

B.J. Rains is joined by former Boise State defensive tackle Michael Callahan to discuss his top storylines and players to watch during the next four weeks of spring football on a Wednesday edition of Bronco Nation News LIVE, presented by RoePaint.com.