Notre Dame and Boise State Prepare for Top-25 Offensive Matchup: Breaking Down the Broncos
- Brenden Duffy
- 22 hours ago
- 13 min read
This Saturday afternoon, Notre Dame welcomes Boise State to South Bend for a matchup between two CFP teams from a year ago. The Irish offense looks to continue its roll, coming off of back-to-back 56-point outings, while the defense slowly figures itself out after holding an explosive Arkansas offense to just 13 points.
Boise State Results (3-1):
7-34 at South Florida (L)
51-14 vs Eastern Washington (W)
49-37 at Air Force (W)
47-14 vs App State (W)
Since taking over the Broncos program at the end of the 2023 season, Head Coach Spencer Danielson has amassed a 15-4 record. Danielson has been with Boise State since 2017 in numerous roles, most recently serving as Defensive Coordinator under Andy Avalos. After Avalos was fired, Danielson was promoted and earned the full-time head coaching job. Last season, his first full year as a full-time head coach, Danielson led the Broncos to a 12-2 record, including a Mountain West Conference Championship and a CFP appearance.
With Danielson primarily concerned with the defensive side of the ball, Boise State’s Offensive Coordinator and Play-Caller is Nate Potter. The former Broncos OT was an All-American during his playing days at Boise from 2007-11. Last season, Potter served as a co-OC with Dirk Koetter, along with TE coaching responsibilities. However, Potter was promoted to full-time OC as Koetter transitioned into a senior analyst role this offseason.
Ever since three lost fumbles at USF buried the Broncos in week one, Potter has the Boise State offense playing at a top-25 level with an extremely balanced attack. QB Maddux Madsen has played well, and a trio of talented RBs behind a solid line have been assigned the impossible task of replacing Ashton Jeanty. Below, see notable offensive statistics for the Broncos offense with their respective national ranking:
38.5 points per game (tied-22nd)
520 total yards per game (9th)
32 plays of 20-plus yards (tied-7th)
299 pass yards per game (20th)
221 rush yards per game (tied-20th)
12 rushes of 20-plus yards (tied-6th)
50% 3rd-down conversion rate (tied-24th)
Offensive Personnel:
Quarterback:
Maddux Madsen - The Broncos returned their starting QB this fall as they look to repeat their magical 2024 season. Madsen, an overall good passer, has completed 59.8% of his attempts for 1,129 yards and nine touchdowns with just one interception. Here is where the redshirt junior ranks nationally:
295.3 total yards per game (18th)
282.3 pass yards per game (16th)
9 pass touchdowns (tied-26th)
Last week, Madsen impressed with a season-high 321 yards and four touchdowns with no turnovers against App State. The 5-10 QB is very accurate under 20 yards, protects the ball, and can scramble when needed. Notably, Madsen’s completion percentage drops to just 37.9% when under pressure, something the Notre Dame defense has improved in each week this year.
On the ground, the QB has 17 rushes for 52 yards and a touchdown. Madsen has fumbled three times, including one lost at USF when he rushed for 31 yards on 11 attempts. He rushed for a season-high 35 yards on four carries, including a score, against Eastern Washington.
Running Backs:
Dylan Riley - Arguably, the most exciting player to watch on this post-Jeanty team is the 5-10 sophomore RB. While splitting carries with two other backs, Riley has garnered 360 rushing yards and five touchdowns on 48 carries. Here are where his numbers rank among other qualifying rushers:
90 rush yards per game (27th)
7.5 yards per carry (29th)
5 carries of 20-plus yards (tied-11th)
5 rush touchdowns (tied-23rd)
Riley’s first impressive performance came against Eastern Washington when he rushed for 123 yards, including a 77-yard touchdown, on just six carries. In all, the 192-pound RB is a good runner who tends to favor going outside the tackles.
As a pass-catcher, Riley has hauled in four receptions on four targets for 89 yards and a touchdown. In my opinion, the sophomore is the best receiving back on the team, but all three have been serviceable. He is really a special player when he gets the ball in open space.
If the national media were not aware of Riley already, he made sure to make his name known during his five-touchdown explosion at Air Force. He took 19 carries for 171 yards and four scores, including a 43-yard scamper. He also added two receptions for 84 yards, including a 75-yard screen touchdown through the air.
Sire Gaines - The premier blocking back in this stable is the six-foot, 217-pound redshirt freshman. Gaines is averaging 6.4 yards per carry on 38 attempts, including a touchdown. He rushed for a season-high 98 yards and a score on 14 carries against Eastern Washington. After fumbling in each of the team’s first two games, including a lost fumble at USF, Gaines has not put the ball back on the ground since. He is a good, tough runner who leads this RB room with 12 missed tackles forced and eight rushes of 10 or more yards. Like Riley, Gaines also favors the outside, with most of his success running behind the left side of the line.Â
In my opinion, Gaines is not a legit receiving threat with six receptions for 33 yards across eight targets, including a drop. As a blocker, he has not allowed any pressures across 27 pass-block snaps.
Malik Sherrod - The third option of this triple threat of RBs is the speedy, return specialist. Sherrod has rushed for 198 yards and two touchdowns on 34 carries. The 5-8 speedster does have two fumbles this season, including one lost at USF. The Fresno State graduate transfer is a good runner who will go right up the middle of the defense, with ten missed tackles forced on the year. Sherrod has also served as a solid receiving option, with eight catches for 63 yards across nine targets. He recorded a season-high of three receptions against both USF and App State. Sherrod’s best and most complete game came against Air Force when he rushed for a season-high 80 yards, including a 40-yard touchdown, on just seven carries. He also added a season-high 36 yards through the air on two receptions.
Receivers:
Latrell Caples - One of the veteran leaders of this offense is the six-foot, starting slot-man. Caples, who can split out wide occasionally, leads his team with 15 receptions and 240 yards with two touchdowns. The sixth-year student-athlete enters this week coming off of back-to-back performances with at least five catches and 80 yards. Last week, Caples hauled in two touchdowns, including a 34-yard score, across five catches for 84 yards in the dominant win against App State. This year, the 195-pounder has been fairly reliable with two drops across 28 targets. He is 3/5 on contested targets, leads his team’s WRs with five missed tackles forced, and can be found doing most of his work as a short-medium yardage target between the numbers. Caples struggles as a run-blocker.
Chris Marshall - The Broncos' most efficient weapon when he gets the ball is the 6-3 wideout. Marshall has 10 catches for 216 yards and a touchdown on 19 targets this season. His 21.6 yards per reception are tied-11th among qualifying FBS pass-catchers. The redshirt junior posted season-highs against Eastern Washington when he finished the contest with 132 yards on four receptions. Marshall’s touchdown was Boise’s only score during the week one loss at USF. The physical wideout is, in general, a solid receiver, but drops have been an issue. The 215-pound WR leads his team with three drops, two of which occurred last week against App State. Given his frame, Marshall is a good run-blocker out wide.
Ben Ford - Opposite of Marshall, is the 5-10, 187-pound redshirt senior. Ford has 11 catches for 193 yards and a team-leading three touchdowns. He recorded a season-high 82 yards and two touchdowns, including a 60-yard score, on three receptions against Eastern Washington. Last week, Ford hauled in three catches for 45 yards and a touchdown against App State. The experienced wideout has been pretty reliable so far, with two drops across 17 targets. Like Caples, Ford does most of his damage between the numbers but will not kill you over the top. Ford’s efforts are evident with his great run-blocking ability for a wideout.
Others to watch: Cameron Bates, Quinton Brown, Demetric Whitlock Jr.
Tight Ends:
Matt Lauter - The Broncos' starting tight end is the versatile redshirt senior. Lauter has 13 receptions for 148 yards and a touchdown this season, including at least two catches and 23 yards in each game. The reliable receiving threat has just two drops across 19 targets, both of which occurred in week one at USF. At 6-3 and 245 pounds, he can line up in the slot or out wide, but likely will not beat you over the top. Lauter also serves as a solid run blocker.
Others to watch: Matt Wagner
Offensive Line:
LT Kage Casey, LG Jason Steele, C Mason Randolph, RG Roger Carreon, RT Daylon Metoyer - Overall, this group is solid, especially for Mountain West standards, but it has its issues. The star of this line is LT Casey, who earned preseason All-American honors this fall after a first-team All-Mountain West campaign last season. LG Steele is the youngest of the group, and it shows with some pass-blocking development still needed, as he has allowed nine pressures across 162 pass snaps this year. C Randolph and RG Carreon are both returning starters who missed the majority of 2024 due to injuries. Randolph has played well, but questions arise with Carreon and RT Metoyer on the right side of this line. Carreon, who leads Boise State’s offense with four penalties, has really struggled as a run-blocker and has been average, at best, with his pass-block. Metoyer, who was thrust into a big-time role at the end of last season due to other Boise injuries, has been okay as a run-blocker but has allowed a team-high 11 pressures, including a sack, across 151 snaps. Notre Dame’s defensive front should key in on this potentially vulnerable right side of the line.
Defensive Personnel:
The Boise State defense, as previously mentioned, is led by HC Spencer Danielson. When Danielson was promoted to head coach, he brought over former UCF and Nebraska Defensive Coordinator Erik Chinander to oversee this side of the ball, and specifically the defensive line.
This season has not been the greatest start for the Broncos' defense, having allowed 14 or more points in each game, including 34 or more points twice through four games. Danielson’s defense is known to bring the pass rush, and they have done a solid job of getting home, but it has not lived up to expectations. This group has produced seven turnovers, including five interceptions and two fumble recoveries. Notably, they have turned two of the interceptions into pick-sixes. Below are the team defensive stats with their respective national ranking:
24.8 points per game allowed (75th)
338.3 total yards per game allowed (56th)
185.5 pass yards per game allowed (42nd)
152.75 rush yards per game allowed (81st)
2.75 sacks per game (tied-28th)
1.25 interceptions per game (tied-15th)
2 interceptions returned for touchdowns (tied-2nd)
Interior Linemen:
Braxton Fely - The Broncos offer a talented interior pass rusher with this 296-pound tackle. Fely has 11 tackles, four for a loss, and 3.5 sacks this season. His 0.88 sacks per game are tied for the 20th-most among FBS defenders, while one tackle for loss per game is tied-81st. The senior recorded a season-high seven tackles at USF, including 1.5 sacks. Last week, the 6-1 DT had a season-high two sacks in the win against App State. He did miss two tackles during that game, bringing his season total to three. Fely has produced seven pressures, including his sacks, on 72 pass rush attempts. He has also been good against the run with three stops and one missed tackle.
Dion Washington - While perhaps not as talented as Fely, this Hawaii transfer is capable of causing chaos. Washington has five tackles and a sack this season, including a season-best performance at USF when he recorded three tackles and his sack. Overall, the 6-2, 305-pound redshirt senior has been okay with just one stop against the run and four pressures on 49 pass rushes.
Michael Madrie - The third DT to highlight made his first start of the year last week. Madrie, standing at 6-4 and 290 pounds, has three tackles this season but has two missed tackles as well. In his first start last week, the redshirt sophomore was able to record a season-high two tackles. He has been solid through four games with four pressures on 50 pass rush attempts and two stops with no misses against the run.
Others to watch: Lopez Sanusi, David Latu
Edge Rushers:
Jayden Virgin-Morgan - The more versatile of the Broncos' edge rushers is the 6-3, 260-pounder who plays an outside linebacker type of role. Virgin-Morgan enters this weekend with 19 tackles, two for a loss, 1.5 sacks, and a forced fumble. He recorded a season-high eight tackles and forced a fumble at USF. Last week, the redshirt junior had a nice showing with six tackles and a sack against App State. He has been good against the run with seven stops, and one of his two missed tackles occurred here. Virgin-Morgan’s pass rush has been solid with 11 pressures across 83 attempts. On rare occasions, the edge rusher can drop into coverage, where he has allowed just one 16-yard reception on one target.
Max Stege - Hailing from Germany, this junior edge has been solid through four games with nine tackles recorded. Stege tallied a season-high four tackles in the win at Air Force. The 6-4, 269-pound DE can mostly be on the left side of the line. Overall, he has been solid with three stops and just two missed tackles against the run, in addition to six pressures added on 82 pass rush attempts.
Others to watch: Malakai Williams, Roman Caywood
Linebackers:
Marco Notarainni - One of the better all-around Broncos defenders is the redshirt senior interior backer. Notarainni is currently second on the team with 29 tackles this season. His 7.25 tackles per game are tied for the 90th-most among FBS defenders. The 6-3, 240-pound LB has at least six tackles in each game, including a season-high of 10 during the win at Air Force. Notarainni has been a force against the run with a team-high 13 stops; also, two of his three missed tackles have come against the run. He has been solid in coverage, with four catches for 20 yards allowed on six targets. The most interesting aspect of the veteran’s game is his pass rush. Despite rushing the passer on just about 25% of his snaps, he leads the Broncos with 12 pressures and five QB hits on just 27 pass rush attempts. If I had to guess, you will hear this name said a lot on Saturday.
Jake Ripp - Like Notarainni, this redshirt junior LB can also be a menace in the pass rush. Ripp acts as a pass rusher on about 16% of his snaps, and has tallied seven pressures, including four QB hits, on just 13 attempts. The 6-3, 240-pound defender has 17 tackles this season. He has at least two tackles in each game, including a season-high of six at Air Force. Ripp has been solid against the run with seven stops, and just one of his two total missed tackles occurred here. He has been okay in coverage, having allowed three receptions for 31 yards across four targets.
Boen Phelps - Arguably, the best cover linebacker of this group is the 6-1, 215-pound redshirt sophomore. Phelps has 17 tackles and a pick-six through four games. He had a season-high of seven tackles at Air Force. Last week, the LB had a nice performance with six tackles and a 33-yard pick-six. Phelps has been solid against the run with eight stops and two misses, and as a pass rusher with five pressures on just 22 attempts. Obviously, he recorded the interception in coverage last week, but overall, the LB has allowed four catches for 32 yards on five targets. All three of these Boise LBs are capable of wrecking Notre Dame’s offensive game plan.
Defensive Backs:
Ty Benefield - Boise State’s leader in tackles and tackles for loss is the 6-2 junior Safety, who can play some slot corner. Benefield has racked up 33 tackles, five for a loss, and one interception this season. His 8.25 tackles and 1.25 tackles for loss per game are both top-50 among FBS defenders. The 205-pound DB has at least six tackles in each game, including a season-high of 11 at Air Force, where he also recorded his interception. Benefield has been good against the run with seven stops, but two of his three missed tackles have come here. In coverage, the junior has mostly struggled where he has allowed eight receptions for 91 yards and two touchdowns across 10 targets. CJ Carr’s vertical passing game should pose a real challenge this week for Benefield.
Zion Washington - A versatile defender, this 6-1 redshirt senior can play safety, slot corner, or linebacker. Washington has 25 tackles and one pass breakup this season; however, he leads the Broncos with seven missed tackles, including at least one miss in each game. He has recorded at least four tackles in each contest, including a season-high of 10 at Air Force. The DB recorded his pass breakup against Eastern Washington, where he added four tackles. Washington has been okay against the run with four stops, but does have three missed tackles, something that may not bode well against the combination of Jeremiyah Love and Jadarian Price. In coverage, the senior DB has been solid, having allowed just nine catches for 45 yards across 16 targets.
A’Marion McCoy - This Broncos CB can be found doing most of his work on the left side of the ball. McCoy has nine tackles, two pass breakups, and an interception, which he returned for a touchdown, through four games played. He had a season-high six tackles at Air Force and recorded his 26-yard pick-six last week against App State. The six-foot CB has struggled against the run with two stops but has three missed tackles, including one in each of the past three games. McCoy has been solid in coverage, having allowed six catches for 112 yards and a score across 13 targets, but, again, he does have his two pass breakups and the pick-six.
Jaden Mickey - The former Notre Dame DB returns to his old stomping grounds; however, his status is up in the air at the moment as to whether he will play one week after suffering a concussion, which required him to be stretchered off Boise’s blue turf. Mickey appears to be a game-time decision as he will travel with the team to South Bend as he clears concussion protocols. After redshirting last season and entering the portal, the junior nickelback has nine tackles, one pass breakup, a forced fumble, and a fumble recovery this year. The six-foot DB recorded a season-high seven tackles against Eastern Washington, where he also recovered his own forced fumble. Mickey had two tackles and a pass defended before exiting last week’s contest. The former Irish DB has been good in coverage, having allowed five catches for just 21 yards across eight targets. He has been solid against the run with three stops and just one missed tackle. Additionally, in the rare instances that the nickel acts as a pass rusher, he has tallied three QB pressures on just five attempts.
Jeremiah Earby - Opposite of McCoy is the 6-2 senior right-side CB. Earby has 21 tackles, 1.5 for a loss, and two pass breakups this year. He has at least two tackles in each game, including a season-high of eight at Air Force. Last week, the CB notched his first two pass breakups of the year. Earby has been very good against the run for a wide CB, tallying six stops with just one missed tackle. Coverage has been a different story as the senior has allowed 242 yards on just 11 catches across 16 targets. Earby is another DB who could be in for a long day against this newfound Irish passing attack.
Others to watch: Demetrius Freeney, Davon Banks
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