Brian Murphy: Boise State lives up to the hype in NFL Draft

Turns out the football program that won 50 games in the past four seasons had some talent, a fact that those who dismiss Boise State?s success as a byproduct of creative scheduling and poor competition and coaching wizardry always seem to leave out.

After a record-setting draft weekend in which six Boise State players were selected, including two in the first round, the Broncos? talent level should no longer be in doubt. And, in the best news for Boise State fans, the draft success gives Chris Petersen and his staff yet more ammunition to use on the recruiting trail.

?The icing on the cake, if you will,? said Brandon Huffman, a national college football recruiting analyst for Fox Sports. ?He?s got the success on the field. He?s got players graduating. And now he?s got players not just going to the NFL, not just getting a shot, but he?s producing first-round picks.?

Only traditional powers Alabama, which has developed a reputation as an NFL pit stop under coach Nick Saban, with eight, and Georgia and Oklahoma with seven, had more draft picks than Boise State.

In the first round, held Thursday, defensive end Shea McClellin and running back Doug Martin were selected, doubling the number of Boise State?s all-time first-round picks in one night. A widely circulated (if somewhat unfair) stat of the night: Miami, Florida, Florida State, Oklahoma, Texas and Ohio State combined for zero first-round picks. Boise State had two.

Since Petersen became head coach in 2006, his program has produced eight first-, second- and third-round draft picks, including four first-round picks. Before Petersen?s tenure, the Broncos had four such players and no first-round choices.

Even more impressive: Petersen and the Broncos are developing less heralded recruits into NFL players, not simply shepherding five-star recruits from high school player to NFL pick.

?It?s no longer a novelty,? Huffman said. ?It?s now a program that is putting players in the NFL with regularity and top-tier NFL players.?

That is still a hard truth for Boise State?s critics to accept. The quirky program with the blue turf is not supposed to be producing talent at the same level as Oklahoma and Georgia, even if the Broncos have been able to beat those programs on the field.

Petersen, however, says it is not a focus ? never has been and never will be. He is not running an NFL farm team. He is trying to win championships at Boise State.

?It?s not something we ever talk to kids about. We?re not one of those schools, where if you come here we?re going to get you in the NFL,? Petersen said. ?Those things speak for themselves.?

But there are also reminders ? and not necessarily subtle ? around the program that several former Broncos are now being paid to play football. In the offensive linemen room, there are pictures of Daryn Colledge (2006 second-round pick) and Ryan Clady (2008 first-round pick) in their NFL uniforms. Nate Potter?s picture, hung after his playing days ended, will soon be updated. The Cardinals selected Potter in the seventh round Saturday.

?It?s in everybody?s mind that plays high school football, even college football. We?re all about helping guys chase their dreams,? Petersen said.

That those dreams often include making it to the NFL is no secret. That players don?t have to attend traditional football powers or bigger name schools to make that happen has been something of one.

Not anymore. Not after this record-setting weekend. Not with Boise State players populating rosters all across the NFL.

Said Petersen: ?It?s just proof now that you can get that done here at Boise State as well as anywhere.?

That?s a winning message with recruits.

Brian Murphy: 377-6444

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