By Nick Wade | Bronco Nation Updates / NewsTalk KBOI
Albertsons Stadium • August 16, 2026
Two weeks into fall camp, Spencer Danielson finally got what practice alone cannot provide. A live test. Boise State’s first scrimmage of fall camp was designed to strip away the structure of practice and force the Broncos into the uncomfortable spaces of situational football, depth-chart competition and game-day operation. After nine practices, Danielson wanted answers. He didn’t expect perfection. He wanted evidence.
“I need you to prep just like it’s game number one because I want to see what you got,” Danielson told his players before the scrimmage. “This is an evaluation at all special teams, offense and defense.” The evaluation has begun, but Danielson isn’t ready to declare many winners. That may be the most revealing part of Saturday’s scrimmage. The Broncos are three weeks from opening the season at Oregon, and Danielson knows the margin for error is shrinking. The first scrimmage provided encouragement, but it also exposed the areas that must improve before Boise State walks into Autzen Stadium on September 5.
“We’ve got a lot of work to do,” Danielson said. “Today was just a really good parameter.” The Broncos played in game-like conditions, complete with coaches operating from the box and a full game-day structure. They worked red-zone situations, goal-line situations, two-minute end-of-half scenarios, a two-minute end-of-game period and a four-minute drill. The offense ultimately won that final test.
“We were able to pick it up later in the game,” Danielson said. “Our offense won the four-minute drill at the end of the game, which is really cool to see us end the game and be able to take a knee.” That was precisely the kind of situational football Danielson wanted to see. Practice can be scripted. A scrimmage cannot.
“In practice, you set them up for success a lot of times,” Danielson explained. “But when it happens naturally, how is our offense in the red zone being able to feel that, understand how a defense is attacking them?” The answer, Danielson said, was inconsistent. At times, Boise State looked sharp. At others, the Broncos looked like a team still learning how to operate when circumstances change.
“There was a little bit roller coaster, and we’ve got to fix it,” he said.
Madsen Takes Another Step
At the center of Boise State’s offense was quarterback Maddux Madsen. Danielson came away encouraged. Madsen didn’t turn the ball over, operated the offense efficiently and led scoring drives. But the head coach acknowledged that the offense’s slow start means the quarterback has work to do as well.
“Once again, as an offense, our first couple drives were not good enough,” Danielson said. Still, Madsen’s development extends well beyond statistics. Danielson has been watching his quarterback become a more influential leader throughout camp. One example stood out.
Madsen noticed trash on the ground and approached Danielson about taking the team through a walkthrough. “He’s grabbed me and said, ‘Hey, coach, let me get the team out for this walkthrough because I saw some trash on the ground,’” Danielson said. For Danielson, that is leadership.
And physically, Madsen may be entering the season in the best condition of his career. “He’s the best he’s ever been athletically,” Danielson said. Madsen has been among Boise State’s top five players in GPS-tracked workload during nearly every practice. “That just shows the work ethic that he’s been putting in,” Danielson said.
The Receiver Room Is Starting to Answer
Few Boise State position groups entered camp under more scrutiny than wide receivers. Two weeks later, Danielson is encouraged, but he’s not ready to erase the question mark. The biggest reason is experience.
“Until we do it in a game, I can’t say that I can stay on that table yet,” Danielson said. Cam Bates has game experience. Ben Ford remains the most veteran receiver, although he is still working his way back. Darren Morris has played significant football, but not at Boise State.
Then there is Akeem “Nitro” Wright, who Danielson identified as one of the biggest playmakers of the scrimmage. “The biggest play of the day, receiver-wise, probably had to go to Akeem,” Danielson said. Rasean Jones, A.J. Jones, Cam Bates and Darren Morris also made their presence felt. Danielson described the entire room as “very, very competitive.”
And Bates may be emerging as one of the most important pieces. Danielson’s description of him went beyond highlight catches. “When you talk to Cam Bates, he’s got a smile that will light up a room,” Danielson said. More importantly, Bates has embraced whatever role Boise State needs.
“From being on punt block to catching touchdowns, what does the team need me to do?” Danielson said. “That’s how he’s always been here.” Now, Danielson believes
Bates is beginning to reap the reward. “We’re a firm believer in what you do in the dark,” he said.
A Backfield Built for Competition
Boise State’s running back room may offer Danielson one of his clearest sources of confidence. Sire Gaines and Dylan Riley remain the top two, and both had solid performances Saturday. But the Broncos are developing more than a two-man rotation.
Juelz Goff and Harry Stewart are pushing for opportunities, with Danielson emphasizing that every running back must contribute on special teams. “We’re going to personnel everything,” Danielson said. “All of them are going to have to play on special teams and have a major role on special teams.”
Goff, in particular, has caught the coach’s attention. “He’s got a really good gear to himself,” Danielson said. “He can put his foot in the ground and go.” For now, however, Gaines and Riley remain the leaders. “They’re our two top guys,” Danielson said.
Pressure Up Front, Questions Remain
Defensively, Boise State generated pressure, although Danielson cautioned against judging the front solely by sack totals. Jaden and Max were playing at a high level, while Roman Caywood returned from injury and contributed. Inside, Mikaio Edward and David Latu have emerged as key pieces in a defensive tackle competition that remains unsettled.
“Mikaio Edward is one of the most explosive guys on our entire team,” Danielson said. The Broncos recorded some sacks Saturday, but Danielson is more interested in what pressure does to a quarterback.
“Pressure’s not always just to get sacks,” he said. “It’s to get a quarterback off timing.” That distinction matters. Boise State recorded 55 sacks two seasons ago and roughly half that number last year. Danielson doesn’t want the defense chasing a particular statistic. Instead, he wants the numbers that correlate most directly with winning.
“The two biggest stats to winning football games, turnover margin and explosive plays,” Danielson said. His expectation is simple. “We want to be top 10 in every category.”
The Offensive Line Is Becoming a Strength
Perhaps the most encouraging development from the first scrimmage came in the trenches. Danielson singled out Tyler Ethridge, Roger Carreon, Jacob Tracy, Daylon Metoyer, Jason Steele, Carson Rasmussen, Stewart Tuafa and Zander Esty as players competing at a high level.
“Tyler Etheridge is playing at a very, very high level,” Danielson said. The Broncos are intentionally moving players between groups, refusing to allow anyone to become comfortable. “One guy might be starting one day, and all of a sudden he’s with the Blues,” Danielson explained.
That competition is creating depth and accelerating development. Danielson credited offensive line coaches Coach Keene and Coach Strausser for creating an environment in which development happens constantly. “There is development around the clock for our offensive front,” he said. And that could become one of the defining strengths of this team.
Leadership Is Becoming the Standard
Perhaps more than any position battle, Danielson believes Boise State is developing something critical: a locker room led by the players. He admitted that didn’t happen enough last season.
“That didn’t happen enough for our team,” Danielson said. “That’s not our players’ fault. That’s my fault.” This offseason, Danielson changed the structure. The Broncos are allowing players to compete for captaincy through applications, leadership opportunities and, ultimately, their actions throughout camp.
“Do you want to do the hard?” Danielson asked. For Danielson, leadership isn’t a title. It’s service. He wants to see players practice when they’re tired, compete when they’re hurt and continue leading when nobody is watching. “Leadership is the hardest thing that you’ll ever do,” he said.
That philosophy may be more important than any depth chart coming out of Saturday’s scrimmage. Because Boise State is approaching the final stretch of preparation for Oregon. The first live test didn’t provide all the answers. It wasn’t supposed to. Instead, it gave Danielson a clearer picture of what his team is becoming – and what it still must become.
“I really love coaching this team,” Danielson said. “It’s a great group to be around, a great group to continue to battle with.” Three weeks remain. The auditions continue. And after the first scrimmage, Danielson knows exactly what comes next.
More competition. More accountability. More work. And, eventually, Oregon.
