Bronco Nation News is counting down the 25 most important players to the Boise State football team in 2022. Next up in our series is No. 21, defensive tackle Jackson Cravens:
Boise State’s defensive line has a chance to be one of the deepest positions on the team. How good is the group? Devine Obichere and Herbert Gums, two potential impact players on the interior, didn’t even crack our top 25.
Both could have, particularly Obichere. He’s entering his third season with the Broncos and appears primed to make this his best after dropping some weight in the offseason. He had 16 tackles, including 2.5 tackles-for-loss, a sack and a pass breakup last season and will factor in heavily to the rotation along the defensive line.
Scott Matlock is no doubt the top defensive lineman on the Broncos and will appear later in this series. But another key, important piece along the line this year? Utah transfer Jackson Cravens.
Cravens was eighth on the Broncos with 39 tackles last season despite missing a game due to injury. He had 3.5 tackles-for-loss, two sacks, and a pass break-up while seeing time at both defensive tackle and nose tackle.
He had nine tackles, a sack and a forced fumble in a win at Utah State and had five tackles against both Oklahoma State and Colorado State.
The 6-foot-2, 305-pound Provo, Utah, native is listed as a redshirt senior but still has an extra year of eligibility remaining in 2023 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. But this is his fourth year with the Broncos following his transfer from Utah and he would seem to be positioned for a big role along the defense.
Cravens is probably the favorite to earn the starting spot alongside Matlock on the interior of the defensive line, although as noted above, several players will rotate in at that spot. Playing alongside Matlock should provide him a chance to be productive up front – and the Broncos will need him to be.
The defensive line has a chance to be dominant this fall, and Cravens will be a major reason why. That’s why he checks in at No. 21 on our countdown of the most important players to the Broncos in 2022.
Bronco Nation News 25 Most Important Players for the Boise State Football Team in 2022
No. 25: Running back Tyler Crowe
No. 24: Punter James Ferguson-Reynolds
No. 23: Wide receiver Latrell Caples
No. 22: Quarterback Taylen Green
No. 21: Defensive tackle Jackson Cravens
