The Boise State defense will face maybe its biggest challenge yet on Saturday in the San Jose State passing attack and top receiver Nick Nash.
The Spartans have the No. 5 passing offense in the country at 332.3 yards per game and Nash is the top statistical receiver in the nation.
“He’s the best receiver in the country,” Boise State coach Spencer Danielson said. “Thats not my opinion – that’s his stats.”
The Broncos have played multiple NFL-caliber wide receivers already this season. None have stats even close to Nash.
The San Jose State wideout leads the nation with 86 catches, 1,156 yards and 13 touchdowns – in just nine games.
“I joke with my guys – he’s Seabiscuit right now,” safeties coach and co-defensive coordinator Tyler Stockton said. “He’s a Triple Crown winner. He’s leading the country in yards, touchdowns and receptions, and we have a great challenge ahead.
“But I know the guys are ready for it. As soon as last week was over with, they already knew what we has this week. They are fired up for the opportunity to go out and compete.”
On paper the matchup is not favorable for the Broncos, who enter ranked No. 110 in pass defense at 247.1 passing yards allowed per game.
Boise State already faced the No. 2 receiver in the nation earlier this season in Utah State’s Jalen Royals – and he torched them for nine catches, 211 yards and two touchdowns.
But they did a solid job on the No. 15 receiver in UNLV’s Ricky White, who had just five catches for 57 yards against them.
The difference between Nash and those two? San Jose State lines Nash up in the slot, meaning he’ll mostly be lined up against safeties and not Boise State’s top corner in A’Marion McCoy.
“I trust Ty Benefield to do an amazing job on him,” Stockton said.
Added Danielson: “Our safeties have to do a really good job. We have to know where he’s at at all times and do a really good job of playing together.”
The 6-foot-3, 195-pound Nash had a ridiculous 17 catches against Kennesaw State earlier this season. The next game against Washington State he had 16 catches.
To compare? Boise State wide receiver Prince Strachan has 15 catches on the season. Austin Bolt has 10.
Nash has four games with at least 10 catches this season. In his worst game of the year he still had five catches for 75 yards and a touchdown against Nevada.
He’s statistically the best wide receiver Boise State has faced in years. And he’s not the only one the Broncos have to be worried about. Justin Lockhart is the No. 4 leading receiver in the Mountain West for the Spartans with 38 catches for 753 yards and three touchdowns himself.
“They do a great job with their scheme,” Stockton said. “Obviously Nick Nash is No. 1, but No. 11 (Lockhart) is averaging 2o yards per catch. They are very explosive. … They have two of the top receivers in our conference for sure.”
Boise State’s hope to remain undefeated in Mountain West play and in the drivers seat for a spot in the College Football Playoff may come down to whether the Broncos can hold Nash and the Spartans below their gaudy averages.
And the Broncos, who have played better in defending the pass of late than the season numbers would suggest, feel they are trending in the right direction to slow them down.
“I think we have a great plan for him,” Stockton said.
Easier said than done.
Kickoff Saturday is set for 5 p.m. MT and the game will air nationally on CBS Sports Network.
