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BSU 2011 Season Preview: Linebackers

Boise State football has long been known for its blue-collar mentality. If ever there was a group of players that personified that label it would be the group of linebackers that will take the field for the Broncos this year. Since the nickelback position became a full-time feature of the Bronco defense in 2008, there have been only two starting positions available among the linebacking crew. And with several talented options this year, the title of starter does not necessarily mean a whole lot.

The duo that will likely see the most snaps will be a pair of seniors, Byron Hout and Aaron Tevis. Hout has been the stout run defender while Tevis is more of the playmaking threat as a pass defender. The two complement each other quite well. Hout's value to the team was felt after he was injured in the Idaho game. The loss to Nevada was made possible in part due to Boise State's inability to stop the Wolfpack running game in the second half. The following week, Utah State also gashed the Broncos for over 200 yards on the ground.

In his first full season as a linebacker, Hout was named to the 2nd team All-WAC group. Tevis, playing outside linebacker, has made several highlight-reel plays in his Bronco career including his interception return for a touchdown last year against San Jose State. The senior from Tucson, AZ was named to the All-Academic team each of the past three seasons.

Sharing time with Tevis at outside linebacker is former walk-on J.C. Percy. Percy, another multi-year All-Academic team member has played in each of the first 27 games of his career and in both seasons finished second on the team in tackles. The junior from Blackfoot, ID is undersized but plays with an aggressive mentality and finds himself around the ball on virtually every play.

Backing up Hout at the middle linebacker spot is junior Tommy Smith. The Atlanta, GA product looks forward to a homecoming against Georgia in the season opener. Smith has shown his versatility by lining up at defensive end and fullback in addition to his duties as middle linebacker. He has made appearances in 12 games in each of his first two seasons and hopes to turn the corner as a playmaker on defense this year.

Sauter pulls pair from SUNYAC : Steelheads News - Idaho Steelheads

Monday, August 22, 2011

(Boise, ID) – Director of Hockey Operations and Head Coach Hardy Sauter announced Monday that the ECHL’s Idaho Steelheads have agreed to terms with forward Nick Petriello and defenseman Derek Matheson.

Both players skated collegiately in the State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC), Petriello for Buffalo State and Matheson for Morrisville State.

Petriello ( pronounced PET-ree-ello ) is the all-time leading scorer in Buffalo State history with 133 points in 100 games. His 52 goals over four seasons are third-most in program history and his 81 assists are second-most. The 25-year-old was the conference’s rookie of the year in 2008 and received second-team All-SUNYAC accolades in both 2009 and 2011.

Matheson, 24, was the top-scoring defenseman for Morrisville State last season with 13 points (six goals, seven assists). The 6-foot-4 blue-liner made his professional debut last spring once Morrisville State’s season had ended, appearing in nine games with the Texas Brahmas of the Central Hockey League. He had two assists and 12 penalty minutes during his brief stint with the Brahmas.

The two bring Sauter’s training-camp roster to thirteen players: defensemen Matheson, Matt Case, Chris Hepp, Kory Scoran, Matt Cowie, Cam Ritchie, and Ryan Rorabeck, forwards Petriello, Cody Purves, Tyson Hobbins, Chad Nehring, and Eric Rex, and goaltender Jimmy Spratt. The team also acquired the rights to All-Star forward Aaron Lewadniuk from the ECHL’s Ontario Reign last week.

Steelhead Season-Ticket Holders get six games FREE when they sign up for full-season packages. Plans for all 36 home games start at just $275 per seat. Partial-season plans are also available, with the home-opener coming on October 15 against the Utah Grizzlies. Contact the Steelheads front office at 208.383.0080 for more information.