Spring camp serves as the appetizer for what’s to come in the fall. Sounds positive. In a bit more of a dampener, it’s essentially a very marked line in the sand between ambition and reality. Spring practice is a tryst with gauging the roster and your standing within it. Players who spent last season lower down the depth chart learn through camp whether they’ll ascend or remain there. The starters learn if they’ll continue playing or be demoted. Deemed surplus to requirements. But for these starters, it’s also the testing ground for whether the program shall meet expectations, or remain distant from their goals. Akin to how they’re distant to their teammates in these 15 contact-less practices. Understanding where the program as a collective is headed becomes more important for the players because of what follows spring camp.
It may not exist much longer into the future, but there is a transfer portal window right after. You see, prominent voices in the media, such as Josh Pate, reckon the spring portal is a bad idea. There’s plenty of rationale for why. For one, it lends to players bailing on their teams after recognizing they’ve got greener pastures elsewhere. But hey, these players have the right to think a little selfishly. Especially those entering their final year of collegiate eligibility, hoping for one big final push before their football career ends. Or to boost their chances to get drafted to the NFL. The exact reasons why remain inconspicuous, but one D-lineman seems to have decided to do exactly that. Jump ship to salvage their senior year, since the current vessel may sink a little.
The Boise State Broncos broke into mainstream, national discourse more than ever last year. This was because of two interlinked things. They had Heisman finalist Ashton Jeanty creating havoc out of the backfield. By extension, they won the Mountain West and made the inaugural 12-team CFP. An overall great year to be a Broncos player, and a lot of them rode the coattails of Jeanty into prominence. But now that Jeanty’s gone, expecting a bit of a downward trajectory for Boise State isn’t unfair. This is likely baked into why a couple of key defensive starters are planning to hit the portal. After linebacker Andrew Simpson set the precedent last week, defensive lineman Braxton Fely is following suit.
On3 reports that 6”1, 296lb Braxton Fely shall hit the transfer portal once it opens in a fortnight. This is a blow to Boise State’s defense, which was brilliant last year under new DC Eric Chinander. The Broncos’ had the most sack yardage in the country last season, with 347. As well as the 2nd most sacks (51). Braxton Fely contributed to 5.5 of those. He’s probably caught the attention of a “bigger” program in a Power conference and is now taking his talents away from his humble G5 habitat. A little bit egregious from a Boise State perspective, but understandable as well.
NEW: Boise State DL Braxton Fely plans to enter the NCAA Transfer Portal.
Fely totaled 5.5 sacks this season.https://t.co/DPpwUanDsI pic.twitter.com/inMy79Ylw2
— Transfer Portal (@TransferPortal_) April 2, 2025
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