How 14 Former Boise State Broncos Are Doing in the NFL

There is no doubt about it. Boise loves their Broncos. With one of the most successful seasons in recent memory happening now, it's a great time to look at the former Broncos that made us all cheer and see how they're doing in the next step of their football life, playing on Sundays in the NFL.

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First, let's check in on former Broncos quarterback Kellen Moore, who became a coach after a few seasons as a Dallas Cowboys backup. Now, considered one of the best offensive minds in the game and is in the conversation to be an NFL head coach one day. After several seasons as the Cowboys Offensive Coordinator, he found himself in Los Angeles holding the same position for the Chargers. After one season, though, his head coach was fired, and he got a new job as the offensive coordinator for the Philadelphia Eagles.

Ten weeks into the season, the jury is still out on how he's doing. He was brought in to create a more unpredictable offense, but his head coach seems to be holding him back from creating that system. It's just too early to know how this is going to work out.

Running Back Avery Williams was drafted in the 5th Round in 2021 by the Atlanta Falcons. He has yet to crack the backfield and has only carried the ball 22 times in his entire career. However, he has become a valuable Special Teams player and is their top punk and kick returner.

Defensive Back JL Skinner was drafted in the 6th Round by the Denver Broncos last year. He has had his share of opportunities but has yet to be able to take advantage of them enough to get a more regular spot in the lineup. He is currently listed as their third-string, Strong Safety.

Quarterback Brett Rypien has bounced around the league since leaving BSU in 2019. He's played for the Denver Broncos and Los Angeles Rams and has been on the roster of the Seahawks, Jets, and Bears. He now serves as the emergency 3rd string quarterback for the Minnesota Vikings.

Running Back Jeremy McNichols was drafted in the 5th Round by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2017 but never played a regular season game for them. His travels have taken him to the 49ers, Colts, Jaguars, back to the 49ers, and now in his first season with the Washington Commanders, where he is the 3rd string half back.

Tight End John Bates was drafted by the Commanders in 2021 in the 4th Round and has been the backup tight end there ever since. His numbers haven't been flashy, but they have been consistent.

Offensive Lineman John Ojukwu went undrafted after last season at Boise State. However, he has spent this year as the backup left tackle for the Tennessee Titans.

Offensive Lineman Ezra Cleveland was drafted in the 2nd Round in 2020 by the Minnesota Vikings. After a few seasons there, he left to be the starting Left Guard for the Jacksonville Jaguars.

The Chargers drafted Defensive Lineman Scott Matlock in the 6th Round of the 2023 Drfat, and he's had two interesting years. Not only has he had success on the defensive line, but he's also found himself playing some Fullback on offense and has caught two passes from Justin Herbert this season.

Running Back Alexander Mattison was drafted in 2019 by the Vikings. He was considered the best backup running back in the league. In his last season in Minnesota, he rushed for 700 yards, earning him a big contract to play for the Raiders this season. He is currently their starting running back.

The Cowboys drafted Wide Reciever Cedrick Wilson, Jr. in the 6th Round of 2018. He played three seasons for them, his last being the best of his career, with 45 receptions for over 600 yards. He left for Miami and, now in New Orleans, has yet to find the same success he had with the Cowboys.

Running Back George Holani carried the load for the Boise State Broncos before Ashton Jeanty took over the backfield. He went to the Seahawks as an undrafted Free Agent and has yet to have a single carry.

Defensive Tackle DeMarcus Lawrence was a 2014 2nd-round draft pick of the Dallas Cowboys, where he has had a lot of success. He's also had a lot of injuries, which has led to some inconsistent play. When he's there and healthy, he's excellent. In 2017, he had 14.5 sacks. He played four games this year before getting hurt and is now on injured reserve.

Finally, Wide Reciever Khalil Shakir, who the Buffalo Bills drafted in the 5th Round of the 2022 draft, is having his best season so far. His ability to return kicks may have given him a roster spot; it also gave him opportunities to shine when other players were injured. He's turned those opportunities into a starting slot receiver position and developed great chemistry with quarterback Josh Allen. He already has a career-high in receptions and is on pace to have 1,000 yards this year.