Boise State vs. Georgia Game Guide: Depth Charts, Injury Report and Breakdown

As opening game matchups go, this is one where neither team has a snoozer as an opponent. But then, this is the Chick-fil-a Kickoff Game, the symbolic start of the college football season. You really couldn’t get a better, more exciting matchup for that symbolism or reality.  

Many of the AP Top 25 teams will have already played earlier in the day and this game will be going on at the same time as another key matchup, which is the Oregon vs. LSU game playing in Dallas.  

This game kicks off at 8:00 pm as well, neutrally playing at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta. 

Idahoans probably won’t consider it neutral considering the number of Bulldog fans that will be tailgating and trying to raise the roof off the Dome. Despite the lack of a blue field, Boise State is favored in the contest.

Starting Lineups: Boise State Broncos

The starting lineups shown here were taken from published depth charts as of this writing. They could be subject to change right up to kickoff.  

Boise State features the stellar action of QB Kellen Moore, who was fourth in the Heisman voting in 2010 and piled up a brilliant performance last season. 

Boise State Broncos Offensive Starting Lineup

 QB:

Kellen Moore: Senior

RB:

Doug Martin: Senior

FB:

Dan Paul: Senior

WR:

Matt Miller: Freshman

or Geraldo Boldewijn: Sophomore

WR:

Mitch Burroughs: Junior

WR:

Tyler Shoemaker: Senior

LR:

Nate Potter: Senior

LG:

Joe Kellogg: Junior

Center:

Thomas Byrd: Senior

RG:

Jake Broyles: Sophomore

RT:

Charles Leno, Jr.: Sophomore

TE:

Kyle Efaw: Senior

or Gabe Lineman: Sophomore 

Boise State Broncos Defensive Starting Lineup

 DE:

Tyrone Crawford: Senior

or Jarrell Root: Senior

DT:

Billy Winn: Senior

DT:

Chase Baker: Senior

DE:

Shea McClellin: Senior

or Jarrell Root: Senior

LB:

Byron Hout: Senior

or Tommy Smith: Junior

LB:

Aaron Tevis: Senior

or J.C. Percy: Junior

Safety:

Cedric Febis: Senior

Safety:

George Iloka: Senior

Nose:

Hunter White: Junior

or Jonathan Brown: Sophomore

CB:

Jamar Taylor: Junior

CB:

Jerrell Gavins: Senior 

Boise State Broncos Special Teams Starting Lineup

 PK:

Dan Goodale: Freshman

or Michael Frisina: Junior

KO:

Trevor Harman: Sophomore

HD:

Joe Southwick: Sophomore

Punter:

Brad Elkin: Senior

SNP:

Chris Roberson: Junior

KR:

Mitch Burroughs: Junior

or Chris Potter: Junior

PR:

Chris Potter: Junior 

Starting Linesups: Georgia Bulldogs

On the other side of the ball is another brilliant quarterback, Aaron Murray. His performance was somewhat overshadowed by his team's lackluster performance last season, but this year, his sophomore season as a redshirt, Murray is looking to show what he’s got.

Georgia Bulldogs Offensive Starting Lineup

 QB:

Aaron Murray: Sophomore

TB:

 Richard Samuel: Sophomore

FB:

Bruce Figgins: Senior

WR:

Tavarres King: Junior 

OT:

Cordy Glenn: Senior

OG:

Kenarious Gates: Sophomore

Center:

Ben Jones: Senior

OG:

Chris Burnette: Sophomore

OT:

Justin Anderson: Senior

TE:

Orson Charles: Junior

WR:

Marlon Brown: Junior

Georgia Bulldogs Defensive Starting Lineup

DE:

Arby Jones: Junior

DE:

DeAngelo Tyson: Senior

Nose:

Kwame Geathers: Sophomore

LB:

C. Washington: Junior

LB:

Jarvis Jones: Sophomore

LB:

C. Robinson: Junior

LB:

Alec Ogletree: Sophomore

CB:

Branden Smith: Junior

CB:

Brandon Boykin: Senior

Safety:

Shawn Williams: Junior

Safety:

Sanders Commings: Junior 

Georgia Bulldogs Special Teams Starting Lineup

K:

Blair Walsh: Senior

P:

Drew Butler: Senior

PR:

Branden Smith: Junior

LS:

Ty Frix: Junior

H:

Drew Butler: Senior

KR:

Brandon Boykin: Senior 

Depth Charts: Boise State Broncos

Boise State Broncos Offensive Depth Chart

QB:

Kellen Moore: Senior

Joe Southwick: Sophomore

Grand Hedrick: Freshman

RB:

Doug Martin: Senior

D.J. Harper: Senior

FB:

Dan Paul: Senior

D.J. Harper: Senior

WR:

Matt Miller: Freshman

Geraldo Boldewijn: Sophomore

Mitch Burroughs: Sophomore

Tyler Shoemaker: Senior

Chris Potter: Junior

Aaron Burks: Sophomore

Kirby Moore: Sophomore

OT:

Nate Potter: Senior

Charles Leno, Jr.

Faragi Wright: Junior

Michael Ames: Junior

OG:

Joe Kellogg: Junior

Jake Broyles: Sophomore

Spencer Gerke: Sophomore

Chuck Hayes: Senior

Center:

Thomas Byrd: Senior

Matt Paradis: Sophomore

TE:

Kyle Efaw: Senior

Gabe Lineman: Sophomore

Kyle Sosnowski: Freshman

Boise State Broncos Defensive Depth Chart

DE:

Tyrone Crawford: Senior

Jarrell Root: Senior

DT:

Billy Winn: Senior

Ricky Tjong-A-Tjoe: Sophomore

Chase Baker: Senior

Mike Atkinson: Junior

DE:

Shea McClellin: Senior

Jarrell Root: Senior

LB:

Byron Hout: Senior

Aaron Tevis: Senior

Tommy Smith: Junior

J.C. Percy: Junior

Safety:

Cedric Febis: Senior

George Iloka: Senior

Jeremy Ioane: Freshman

Travis Stanaway: Senior

Nose:

Hunter White: Junior

Jonathan Brown: Sophomore

Dextrell Simmons: Junior

CB:

Jamar Taylor

Jerrell Gavins

Quaylon Ewing-Burton: Sophomore

Bryan Douglas: Freshman

Boise State Broncos Special Teams Depth Chart:

PK:

Dan Goodale: Freshman

Michael Frisina: Junior

KO:

Trevor Harman: Sophomore

Dan Goodale: Freshman

HD:

Joe Southwick: Sophomore

P:

Brad Elkin: Senior

SNP:

Chris Roberson: Junior

KR:

Mitch Burroughs: Junior

Chris Potter: Junior

Doug Martin: Senior

D.J. Harper: Senior

PR:

Chris Potter: Junior

Mitch Burroughs: Junior

Depth Charts: Georgia Bulldogs

Georgia Bulldogs Offensive Depth Chart:

QB:

Aaron Murray: Sophomore

Hutson Mason: Sophomore

Parker Welch: Freshman

TB:

RIchard Samuel: Sophomore

Isaiah Crowell: Freshman

Brandon Harton: Sophomore

Ken Malcome: Freshman

FB:

Bruce Figgins: Senior

Sander Ogletree: Sophomore

Dustin Royston: Sophomore

WR:

Tavarres King: Junior

Marlon Brown: Junior

Rantavious Wooten: Junior

Michael Bennett: Freshman

Taylor Bradberry: Junior

Malcolm  Mitchell Freshman

Israel Troupe: Senior

OT

Cordy Glenn: Senior

Justin Anderson: Senior

Austin Long: Sophomore

Watts Dantzler: Freshman

OG:

Kenarious Gates: Sophomore

Chris Burnette: Sophomore

Dallas Lee: Sophomore

Center:

Ben Jones: Center

Dallas Lee: Sophomore

David Andrews: Freshman

TE:

Orson Charles: Junior

Aron White: Senior

Arthur Lynch: Sophomore

Georgia Bulldogs Defensive Depth Chart:

DE:

Arby Jones: Junior

DeAngelo Tyson: Senior

Garrison Smith: Sophomore

Derrick Lott: Sophomore

Nose:

Kwame Geathers: Sophomore

Jonathan Jenkins: Junior

LB:

C. Washington: Junior

Jarvis Jones: Sophomore

C. Robinson: Junior

Alec Ogletree: Sophomore

Rueben Faloughi: Sophomore

Chase Vasser: Sophomore

Mike Gilliard: Junior

Amarlo Herrera: Freshman

Ramik Wilson: Freshman

T.J. Stripling: Sophomore

CB:

Branden Smith: Junior

Brandon Boykin: Senior

Sanders Commings: Junior

Jordan Love: Sophomore

Derek Owens: Sophomore

Damian Swann: Freshman

Chris Sanders: Freshman

Safety:

Shawn Williams: Junior

Sanders Commings: Junior

Connor Norman: Junior

Bacarri Rambo: Junior

Marc Deas: Freshman

Corey Moore: Freshman

Georgia Bulldogs Special Teams Depth Chart

K:

Blair Walsh: Senior

Brandon Bogotay: Senior

P:

Drew Butler: Senior

PR:

Branden Smith: Junior

Brandon Boykin: Senior

Damian Swann: Freshman

Malcolm Mitchell: Freshman

LS:

Ty Frix: Junior

Nathan Theus: Freshman

H:

Drew Butler: Senior

KR:

Brandon Boykin: Senior

Branden Smith: Junior

Injury Report

Boise State

The Boise State Broncos win the injury game, so far, with only a couple of banged-up players heading into this contest. Missing from the depth chart for their season-opener will be cornerback Ebenezer Mankinde, due to a chest injury. Still listed, but questionable, is wide receiver Aaron Burks. 

Georgia

The Georgia Bulldogs do not fare as well ahead of game time. They have a list of 10 players who have been hurt since preseason camp began. In addition, running back Carlton Thomas is suspended for this game for violating team rules. 

Out for the season due to an ankle injury is safety Jakar Hamilton.  

Players listed but questionable include cornerback Branden Smith, nursing a foot injury. He’s the worst of the question marks since he was seen outside of camp still wearing a boot. 

Fullback Bruce Figgins is reportedly questionable although he’s still showing as the starter. Likewise wide receiver Marlon Brown is still showing on the other side as a starter, but remains in question along with Malcolm Mitchell. 

Others on the Georgia bench who are considered probable include defensive tackle Jonathan Jenkins, running backs Isaiah Crowell and Richard Samuel (shown as a starter), along with defensive end Ray Drew and tackle Austin Long. Drew is not shown in the depth chart as of this writing.

Matchup Breakdown

This is only the second time that Boise State and Georgia have met. The first meeting was in 2005 in Athens, and No. 13 Georgia easily took the match from No. 18 Boise State 48-13 

Likewise, the Broncos have not had that much luck against SEC opponents in their history, going 0-4 with losses to Arkansas twice, Georgia and South Carolina. 

This game also marks the first game that Boise State will be playing in the Mountain West Conference, defecting from the WAC where they won eight league titles with a record of 75-5 against league opponents. 

Under head coach Chris Petersen, the Broncos have logged three undefeated seasons, although last season they dropped one to go 12-1, along with NCAA accusations against several sports, including football. The outcome of those violations is yet to be known. 

The Broncos come into the Georgia Dome Saturday night ranked No. 5 in the AP preseason poll. 

Georgia has had its troubles lately as well. Last year’s team was marred by player arrests, suspensions and a losing season, with the Bulldogs going 6-7. Also, this year, there has been some speculation about their No. 19 preseason national ranking. Some feel they don’t deserve it. Lots to prove here for Georgia.  

The Bulldogs head coach, Mark Richt, is definitely on the hot seat to produce a winning team this year, and so far his preseason hasn’t been disrupted with player missteps as we’ve seen at LSU and Ole Miss, and like there was for the Bulldogs last year. But let’s talk about the matchup. 

The game should be a quarterback duel.  

Boise State’s Kellen Moore has experience to burn over Georgia QB Aaron Murray. 

Moore was fourth in the voting in last year’s Heisman contest, and is a contender again this year. His numbers are more than impressive and the list of awards too lengthy to mention. 

Murray, on the other hand, has a discipline and maturity that helped him weather last season, where he put up some impressive numbers despite the lack of wins. 

Given his experience, Moore nudges Murray aside as the better quarterback, but Murray could have the motivation to overcome the underdog position he finds himself in. That goes a long way in sparking a great performance 

Elsewhere on the field, watch for some fireworks in the big-play department. 

The Bulldogs have been talking smack, or TwitterSmack could be a better way to put it.  

Kick returner Brandon Boykin Twitter-dared the Broncos Coach Petersen to kick the ball to him, which could go either way. However, Boykin has return records of his own, only one shy of an SEC record for touchdowns. 

The Broncos could have some fireworks of their own with sophomore receiver Geraldo Boldewijn. He’s been looking good in preseason camp and shares the starting position with freshman Matt Miller. On the other side of the offense, junior Mitch Burroughs and senior Tyler Shoemaker have speed to burn and could blow up the Bulldogs secondary. 

Georgia’s running game will be a key element to watch with Richard Samuel getting the start, but sharing those duties with Isaiah Crowell. Crowell was a coveted recruit and should bring some sparks to bear as a freshman. He has been beat up a bit, but should play, according to the Injury Report.

With Boise State looking for national recognition and Georgia needing a comeback year, this is going to be a close, high-scoring game, with a lot on the line for both teams.  

As they feel each other out and get used to game conditions, expect a slow start, but once the offenses get moving, hold on. 

This is probably the game of the weekend—exciting, loud and you can bet some good tailgating going on outside the Georgia Dome. What a great way to symbolically kick off the college football season.