Who Is Replacing Every Former Bronco Taken in the 2014 NFL Draft
Three former Boise State Broncos heard their names called during the 2014 NFL draft.
Defensive end Demarcus Lawrence, the first Bronco to be selected, was taken by the Dallas Cowboys with the second pick of the second round.
Center Matt Paradis went to the Denver Broncos in the sixth round, while offensive tackle Charles Leno Jr. was picked by the Chicago Bears in the seventh round.
These three talented players now leave a large hole on the roster back in Boise. Replacing each one of them will be a challenge, and it will take a special player (or players) to do the job.
Let's look at the most likely candidates who will attempt to fill the void these three future NFL players left behind at Boise State.
Center: Marcus Henry
Former Boise State center Matt Paradis achieved another milestone in his football career last week when the Denver Broncos selected him with the No. 31 pick in the sixth round of the 2014 NFL draft.
Paradis, a former walk-on at Boise State, is going to be hard to replace for the Broncos. He is known for his hard work and dedication, both of which served him well during his time on The Blue.
Paradis was the starting center for two years straight without missing a game. He was named second-team All-Mountain West in 2013 and first-team All-Mountain West in 2012, according to BroncoSports.com.
The most likely candidate right now to step up and attempt to fill the cleats of Paradis is redshirt junior Marcus Henry.
At 6'3" and 285 pounds, Henry is the same height as his predecessor, but he is 15 pounds lighter. That probably won't make a lot of difference, but his lack of starting time at center could.
Henry did start 12 games last season as a sophomore, according to BroncoSports.com, but those came at guard. While having that experience in the trenches at game speed will help, adding the snap to the mix is not as easy as Paradis made it look.
Henry is a good enough athlete to handle the additional action, though. Don't be surprised if Boise State has another All-Mountain West lineman at the center of it all in 2014.
Left Tackle: Rees Odhiambo
Playing the left tackle position for the Broncos is usually a way to get noticed by NFL scouts. Charles Leno Jr. became latest in a string of Boise State left tackles to hear their name called in the draft.
Leno was picked by the Chicago Bears at No. 31 in the seventh round. As noted by Chadd Cripe of the Idaho Statesman, Leno joins the ranks of previously drafted Boise State left tackles Daryn Colledge, Nate Potter and Ryan Clady.
With Leno moving on to compete on Sundays, a big hole now exists on the left side of the line for Boise State.
The player to fill that void could be Rees Odhiambo.
The problem for Odhiambo right now is that he was injured this spring, and he subsequently missed some playing time, as noted by Cripe. This means he is going to have to do a lot of work this summer and fall to be ready for the season.
According to BroncoSports.com, Odhiambo missed five games in 2013 because of injury as well. If he can remain healthy, his athletic ability is more than enough to make him another dominant left tackle for the Broncos.
Defensive End: Beau Martin, Kamalei Correa or Sam McCaskill
Demarcus Lawrence decided to forgo his senior season at Boise State to enter the 2014 NFL draft. After being taken by the Dallas Cowboys with the second pick in the second round, it seems like he made the right decision.
Lawrence was the No. 34 overall pick, and with good reason. He was an excellent pass-rusher. At times, he could take over a game.
Replacing Lawrence won't be an easy task, and it will likely have to be done by at least two or even three players.
The most likely candidates to step up at defensive end for Boise State in 2014 are senior Beau Martin and sophomore Kamalei Correa. Redshirt sophomore Sam McCaskill could also find himself in the mix.
This will be a critical position to fill, and one that Boise State fans should keep a close eye on this fall.