Boise State Football: 20 Best Defensive Players in School History
The list is simple—coming up with the list was not.
Boise State is known for their amazing offenses, which produce eye-popping plays. However, the backbone of so many great Bronco teams has been the hard-nosed, unselfish, relentless play of the defense.
In the incredible history of Boise State football, there have been so many incredible defensive stars. So many that it is nearly impossible to narrow it down to just 20.
Let's take a look.
No. 20 Honorable Mention
1 of 20It is never easy to make a list like this. Narrowing down so many great player to get a list of so few just doesn't seem fair. In the spirit of Boise State football, here is a list of those guys who for the sake of the team gave everything they had week after week.
They deserve to be somewhere on this list so here they are.
Wes Nurse, George Iloka, Andy Avalos, Winston Venable, Chase Baker, Colt Brooks, Chuck Compton, Dan LeBeau, Kimo Von Oelhoffen, Bobby Hammer, Gabe Franklin, Dempsy Dees, Chris Carr, Bryan Johnson, Ray Santucci, Michael Borgeau, Chris Malmgren, Jim Ellis, Scott Russell, Alex Guerrero, Shea McClellin, Byron Hout, Rashid Gayle and the list goes on and on.
You might even have a few names to add to the list—feel free.
No. 19 Shaunard Harts
2 of 20Shaunard Harts played safety for the Broncos from 1997-2000.
He was a great player and played with passion. He was then drafted by the Kansas City Chiefs in 2001.
No.18 Doug Scott
3 of 20Doug Scott was a defensive tackle for the Broncos.
He was an AP All-American in 1979, and he was also part of the I-AA National Championship team.
His presence was always felt, and he was known for his consistent gutsy play.
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No. 17 Gerald Alexander
4 of 20Alexander played cornerback and then safety for the Broncos from 2003-2006.
He was a dominant player who never seemed to get the credit he deserved.
The Detroit Lions drafted him in the second round in 2007.
No. 16 Erik Helgeson
5 of 20Erik Helgeson was named a second-team All-American in 1989 and a first-team All-American in 1990.
He was a brutal player that gave opposing offenses nightmares.
He still holds the career sacks record for the Broncos at 54.5. His career at Boise State was special, and for that he makes this list.
No. 15 Peter Kwiatkowski
6 of 20Kwiatkowski played for the Broncos from 1984-1987. He was a first-team All-American in 1987 and an honorable mention All-American in 1986.
He was the Big Sky Defensive Player of the Year once and was inducted into the Boise State Athletic Hall of Fame in 1996.
He is now coaching for the Broncos and is currently the Defensive Coordinator.
Look for him to continue to develop new All-Americans for the Broncos for years to come.
No. 14 Carl Keever
7 of 20Keever was an All-American defensive end in 1984 for BSU. He was also named an All-American as linebacker in 1982 for the Broncos.
He was a versatile player that never turned down a challenge.
His tough play and hard work set him apart, and it lands him on this list of 20.
No. 13 Quintin Mikell
8 of 20Quintin Mikell is what Boise State football is all about.
He is a hard-working, talented guy that was overlooked by many.
He was even overlooked by the NFL.
He went undrafted in 2003 but landed a spot on the Philadelphia Eagles roster. All he did with that opportunity was become a two-time Pro-Bowl selection and a two-time All-Pro selection.
He is an incredible talent, and Bronco fans can be proud that he once played on "The Blue."
No. 12 Joe O'Brien
9 of 20Joe O'Brien was an All-American defensive end for the Broncos in 1994.
He was a great player and always gave it all on the field.
He recently wrote a book about his struggle with past drug addiction.
The book is all about how he overcame the abuse and addiction, and it encourages others who might be struggling with the same.
No. 11 Frank Robinson
10 of 20Frank Robinson was another All-American for the Broncos. He received the award for his play at cornerback in 1991. He was also named to the All-Big Sky Conference team in 1990 and 1991.
It was the kind of season every player dreams of—and few ever realize. He had 22 career interceptions, which is only two shy of the record.
Robinson was a great Bronco and deserving of a spot on this list.
No. 10 Orlando Scandrick
11 of 20Scandrick was an excellent and consistent player for the Broncos.
He was a three-time All-Wac team member and was named a Freshman All-American in 2005.
In 2008, he was drafted by the Dallas Cowboys, and he has made the Bronco faithful proud.
No. 9 Rick Woods
12 of 20Rick Woods was an All-American for the Broncos in 1981. He played safety for Boise State and had a great career making quarterbacks miserable. He was named to the All-Big Sky Conference teams in 1979, 1980 and 1981.
He was then drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers in 1982. He played for the Steelers until 1986 and then for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 1987.
No. 8 Billy Winn
13 of 20Billy Winn is fresh in the mind of Bronco Nation. He became a dominant force on the incredible defense that Boise State has become known for in recent years.
In 2010, Winn was named an All-American at defensive tackle and no doubt will make waves in the NFL.
Most BSU fans are sorry to see him go, but it should be fun to watch him on Sundays.
No. 7 Korey Hall
14 of 20Korey Hall played his high school ball at Glenns Ferry High School. He then went the local route and became a stand-out linebacker for the Broncos.
He meant more to that defense than most individual players do. The way he played the game was fun to watch, and he never backed down from a hit.
He was named a first-team All-WAC linebacker and a two-time WAC Special Teams Player of the Year.
He was drafted by the Green Bay Packers in 2007, and they moved him to fullback. As a member of the Packers, Hall played on the Super Bowl Champion XLV team. He moved to the New Orleans Saints last year where he continues his incredible career.
No. 6 John Rade
15 of 20John Rade played linebacker for the Broncos from 1979 to 1982.
He was named All-Big Sky in 1981 and 1982 and as an All-American in 1982 as well.
Rade was drafted by the Atlanta Falcons in 1983 and played until 1991.
No. 5 Dave Wilcox and Steve Svitak
16 of 20Steve Svitak was a first-team All-American for the Broncos at linebacker all the way back in 1969.
He was then drafted by the Oakland Raiders in 1970.
Dave Wilcox was a linebacker for the Broncos from 1960-1962. That was, of course, when Boise State was still a junior college.
Wilcox went on to play two more years at Oregon.
He then went on to be a NFL hall of fame linebacker for the 49ers.
However, since he only played two years it is only fair to make him share the No. 5 spot on this list, and since Svitak had two very impressive seasons of his own it is only appropriate.
No. 4 Steve Forrey
17 of 20How do you leave off the single-season and career interception record holder off this list?
You don't.
Steve Forrey played for the Broncos from 1968-1970. He was fast and willing to sacrifice his body for the sake of the ball.
He had 12 interceptions in one season, which is a record that still stands. He also had a career interception record of 24 that is still standing as well.
No. 3 Kyle Wilson
18 of 20Wilson won numerous awards while playing cornerback for the Broncos. He was an All-WAC selection a few times and was selected as an All-American in 2009.
He was then drafted in the first round by the New York Jets. He had a great career for the Broncos and became one of the only first-round NFL picks in Boise State history.
No. 2 Markus Koch
19 of 20Markus Koch played defensive end for Boise State from 1982-1985.
He was named to the All-Big Sky team in 1983 and 1985. Those are the same years that he was named to the All-American team as well.
He was then drafted by the Washington Redskins in the second round. He was part of the Super Bowl XXII championship team in 1988.
No. 1 Randy Trautman
20 of 20Randy Trautman was named All-Big Sky and All-American in 1980 and 1981. He was an incredible and dominant defensive lineman and was instrumental in the Broncos' success.
Trautman was drafted in 1982 by the Washington Redskins, but he turned that down to play for the Calgary Stampeders.
The biggest reason Randy Trautman lands at No. 1 on this list is that, of all the incredible Broncos to ever play the game, Trautman is the only one ever inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame.
He was inducted in 1999.
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