Boise State Broncos
· 2026-07-05
Boise State Broncos will start their new season with a rebuilt safety room after losing Ty Benefield and Zion Washington.
The Broncos lost Benefield to LSU via transfer and Washington to the NFL, leaving two big holes to fill in the back end.
Boise State had excellent safety play last season with Benefield and Washington holding down the fort.
Benefield led the team with 105 total tackles, while Washington ranked third with 66 total tackles.
The Broncos will face Oregon Ducks on 2026-09-05, and a strong safety room will be essential for their success.
Derek Ganter Jr. is likely to fill one of the starting spots, having appeared in all 14 games last season with two starts.
Ganter Jr. said the rebuilt secondary made significant progress during spring practice under new defensive backs coach Terrence Brown.
Brown emphasized tackling with the safeties and cornerbacks during spring practice, focusing on getting on contact and driving feet on contact.
Sophomore Travis Anderson is the frontrunner to start opposite Ganter Jr., having appeared in all 14 games a season ago in a reserve role.
Junior Roman Tillmon, a transfer from South Dakota, could be in the mix at safety or function as Boise State's primary nickelback.
The Broncos are in good shape at safety entering the Pac-12, with a final unit grade of B.
Ganter Jr. ranked among the team's best tacklers with a missed tackle rate of 8.8 percent, a significant improvement from last season.
The safety room's performance will be crucial in determining the Broncos' success in the upcoming season.