Boise State Football: 5 Bronco Unknowns to Watch in Fall Camp

Boise State is gearing up for fall camp, and the buzz is in the air. However, Bronco fans are well aware of the daunting task facing their beloved team. A task that will see Coach Petersen and his very capable staff attempt to fill several holes in a heavily vacated lineup.

The position battles have been well-publicized, and Bronco fans have all sorts of opinions on who will fill the quarterback, defensive line, kicker and linebacker spots.

By now, Bronco Nation has become familiar with many of the names involved as position battles ensue, however, there are a number of unknown players on this year's squad who have not yet become household names.

Some of these players currently basking in relative anonymity will need to step out of the shadows as fall camp progresses and step up as players able to contribute by camps end.

Let's look at five of these wild cards and what they could accomplish before the first game is ever played in 2012.

Hilton Richardson

Hilton Richardson is a very interesting story. His parents didn't let him play football in high school, instead encouraging him to focus on the game of baseball. Which in hindsight seems like it was a pretty good idea.

Hilton was drafted by the Kansas City Royals in the seventh round of the 2007 major league draft. He then played in the Royals and Atlanta Braves systems before leaving baseball in 2011 to walk on to Boise State.

It didn't bother Richardson that he had never played football before. He was quoted in an article written by Dave Southorn in the Idaho Press Tribune as to why he decided to replace the baseball with the pigskin.

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I always wanted to, but baseball started taking off, so I never really had the chance.

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He had always wanted to play football, but he was too good at baseball. Most people would love to have problems like that.

The Idaho Press Tribune article goes on to explain that Richardson had a Boise State connection through former coach Jeff Choate. The two had conversations about playing for the Broncos, and when baseball started to fade, Hilton made the call.

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The day after I was done with baseball, I called coach Choate to see if there was still a chance and he said yes. It’s still pretty amazing to think I’m here.

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Hilton Richardson may not have the football experience, but you need to keep your eye on this guy. He's extremely athletic and at 6'2", 222 lbs, he looks a lot more at home in a football uniform then he did on the diamond. But, please don't let him know that was said.

He's still raw, but he made progress this spring. He's a redshirt freshman this season, which means the Broncos have a lot of time to develop him. However, it wouldn't be surprising if he made serious progress this fall.

Sean Wale

To say the kicking game is a sensitive subject around Bronco land is quite an understatement. However, 2012 could be a decent year for Boise State in this area.

Not only do the Broncos have a few good kickers on the current roster, another one is joining the group this fall. There's no telling how far he will go this fall, but Sean Wale has a pretty incredible leg.

Currently, Wale is listed as a punter on the roster, and if you were at the spring game you know that a punter is needed. Wale could contribute greatly to the field position game if he pans out as the teams punter.

You have to believe that Wale will also compete for the job of kicking field goals.

He had a very impressive high school career, and it is doubtful that he came to Boise only to punt. As a senior he was named first-team All-CIF and first-team all-county according to broncosports.com. He was also a member of the Chris Sailer Kicking top 12 in his sophomore and junior seasons.

Keep your eyes on the Wale as fall camp launches on "The Blue."

Jack Fields

Jack Fields may not be an everyday household name among residents of Bronco Nation yet. But, if this talented running back stays healthy, there's no doubt his name will be rolling off the tongues of the Boise State faithful sooner rather than later.

It's not wise to elevate players to a lofty place of unreasonable expectations. That kind of placement seems only to lead to disappointment. However, in some cases, it's hard to contain the praise.

Jack Fields seems to be a humble, intelligent, hard working young man with a passion for the game.

If you listen to his 2011 press conference when he announced he would be playing for Boise State, he most certainly seems like the type of player Chris Petersen likes to recruit. Not only that, but if you watch his game highlights, you quickly realize he could be something very special for the Broncos.

Keep your eyes on Jack Fields as camp rolls on. It would not be surprising if he plays as a true freshman, and it would not be surprising if he is a solid contributor right out of the gate.

Demarcus Lawrence

He is 6'3", 241 lbs, a junior college transfer and a man on a mission. This spring, he looked very impressive as a solid defensive end who may even win the starting job.

The entire front seven of the Broncos defense will have new faces in starting roles, and it wouldn't be surprising if Lawrence is one of them. According to Chadd Cripe of the Idaho Statesman, Lawrence chose Boise State over Tennessee, Kansas State, South Florida and Mississippi.

That's a pretty impressive list, and Bronco fans should be very happy he turned them down for a spot on "The Blue."

Look for him to make an immediate impact and to have opposing offenses scratching their heads all season. In the fall camp, just keep your eyes open for comments from teammates and coaches praising Demarcus for his athletic ability and his hustle.

Troy Ware

Troy Ware is a redshirt freshman whom you could be hearing a lot about. Even though the Broncos are loaded at receiver, Ware is another weapon in the arsenal.

Ware had an impressive spring, and to the naked eye, he appeared to outplay many of the veterans. This guy should be a solid contributor all season, but don't be surprised if he has a breakout year similar to what Matt Miller did in 2011.

Some might have a problem with that kind of prediction, but if they do, they probably haven't seen Ware play. Still, as said, there are a lot of good wide receivers on the 2012 team, so he will no doubt have to earn it.

According to Broncosports.com, Ware originally signed in 2010, but then grayshirted that season. He had a stellar career in high school, bringing home several awards and accolades while playing for Vista High School in Oceanside, California.

At 6'2", 192 lbs, Ware is a nice-sized target for whichever quarterback decides to win the job. Look for Ware's number to get called frequently in 2012.