Throughout the program’s nearly century-long existence, Boise State football has built a strong reputation of consistency, excellence and unwavering commitment.
In the team’s 92-year history, the Broncos won 22 conference championships and compiled an all-time winning percentage well above .700. The team has also achieved 27 consecutive winning seasons as of 2024. With 11 former Broncos currently in the NFL, Boise State has proven itself as a breeding ground for pro talent.
Bob Behler, longtime play-by-play radio announcer for Boise State football and basketball, noted it isn’t just the raw physical talent of players that sends them from Boise State to the NFL. What truly separates them, Behler says, is their character and work ethic — two qualities Boise State football has cultivated in its athletes for decades.
“People are going to put up with the stars, but if you’re going to make a roster, you’ve got to be someone that they want to have in the locker room,” Behler said. “The way Boise State runs their program, you end up with a lot of guys who can make it in the league because of their smarts, their character and their work ethic.”
The foundation of Boise State football is the blue-collar mentality, which shapes players’ unmatched resiliency, drive and grit.
Historically, many of Boise State’s players were rated as two or three-star recruits, not sought after by major Power Four programs. Some Broncos even arrive on campus as walk-ons with no scholarship, but later earn scholarship money as they continue to prove themselves. Despite not receiving the same national attention some players receive out of high school, athletes who come to Boise State quickly develop an unparalleled work ethic that sets them apart from other players outside the Treasure Valley.
“From the day they get here to the day they leave, it’s a constant process of focusing on the details and doing the little work right,” said Assistant Director of Sports Communications David Dietrich. “That translates directly to the next level. When you go into a camp where there’s 100 guys competing for 53 spots, you’ve got to be one of the hardest workers and have the best attention to detail. Guys that come out of our program have those traits, and it’s shown with how many guys are in the league.”
Former Bronco running back, 2024 Heisman Trophy runner-up and sixth overall selection by the Raiders in 2025, Ashton Jeanty made his team’s roster without much trouble coming out of his first fall camp — as most first-round draft picks do.
On the opposite end of that spectrum is fellow running back Jeremy McNichols. McNichols played at Boise State from 2014 to 2016 and was a fifth-round pick in 2017.
For draftees who are selected as late as the fifth round, making your team’s roster isn’t just about physical talent. Proving yourself as worthy of a roster spot when you aren’t a high-profile prospect means studying film, being a supportive teammate and knowing your job at all times — even when you aren’t playing.
“[He] just works his ass off,” Behler said of McNichols. “He finds his way on special teams. He’s played for multiple teams, and he’s a great teammate.”
The character and drive Boise State players bring into the NFL are products of the program culture in Boise.
In 2025, there are 11 former Boise State Broncos on NFL rosters. This includes players such as Ashton Jeanty of the Raiders, Khalil Shakir of the Bills, Jeremy McNichols and John Bates of the Commanders and Seahawks defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence.
Lawrence, who had one of the most successful NFL careers coming out of Boise State, is a four-time Pro Bowler and named second-team All-Pro in 2017.
“I always thought it was cool that I go to the same school that DeMarcus Lawrence and Leighton Vader Esch both played at,” said Boise State student and Dallas Cowboys fan Dylan Wood. “It’s sick to see Boise State guys in the league.”
Buffalo Bills wide receiver Khalil Shakir has emerged more recently as one of the top young receivers in the NFL. Shakir, a Bronco from 2018 to 2021, led the Bills with 76 receptions for 821 yards and four touchdowns in 2024. To start that season, Shakir caught his first 17 targets to surpass 30 consecutive catches, which dated back to 2023. This broke the record previously set by Michal Thomas at 27 consecutive catches.
Jeremy McNichols and John Bates, both Washington Commanders, made names for themselves in the league as well. Bates, drafted in 2021, is regarded as one of the best blocking tight ends in the league. McNichols, who was selected in the fifth round of the 2017 NFL Draft, amassed 221 yards and one touchdown on 44 carries in the 2025 regular season. The 5’9”, 205 lb. McNichols also averaged five yards per carry.
Ashton Jeanty and George Holani are two other notable former-Bronco running backs now playing on Sundays.
In 2024, Jeanty broke numerous school records and was a Heisman finalist. He was drafted sixth overall by the Raiders in 2025 and rushed for over 970 yards and five touchdowns in his rookie season. Holani signed with the Seahawks as an undrafted free agent in 2024 and is effective on special teams while providing depth at the running back position for Seattle.
The pipeline of Boise State Broncos to the NFL is apparent and undisputed among football fans. Over the course of multiple decades, Boise State has become known as a place where athletes’ skills and mindsets are polished and developed to the highest level, transforming college kids into Sunday pros.
“Guys that had high talent and were able to accomplish a lot of things while they played here also did the little things right,” Dietrich said. “They always seemed to put the team ahead of themselves. As good as they are individually, all they want to do is help the team win, and that’s a really important quality to have.”
