College Football Top 25: Spring practice 2016 edition

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Dec 23, 2015; San Diego, CA, USA; Boise State Broncos running back Jeremy McNichols (13) is congratulated by quarterback Brett Rypien (4) after scoring a touchdown during the first quarter against the Northern Illinois Huskies in the 2015 Poinsettia Bowl at Qualcomm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports /

Chris Petersen may no longer be the head coach of Boise State, but the little guys continue to impress as one of the top non-Power Five conference teams. The Broncos finished the 2015 season 9-4 after a 5-3 conference record and they even got revenge over their former head coach at his new school, Washington, in the first game of the year.

The Broncos were a very young team in 2015, leading to an interesting future. Brett Rypien was a freshman starting quarterback, leading rusher Jeremy McNichols was only a sophomore and leading receiver Thomas Sperbeck was just a junior.

Rypien was solid in his first season as the gunslinger, passing for 3,353 yards, 20 touchdowns and eight interceptions and completed 63 percent of his passes. Sperbeck was his top target as the junior caught 88 passes for 1,412 yards and eight touchdowns and the second-leading receiver, Chaz Anderson, is also returning.

The run game behind McNichols was impressive. He finished the year with 1,337 yards and 20 touchdowns and he also caught 51 passes for 460 yards and six scores.

On top of all that, the Broncos are bringing in the country’s 49th-best recruiting class, highlighted by 22 three-stars, according to Scout. The Broncos are stocking up on diamonds in the rough and they should be the favorite to win the Mountain West in 2016.

Next: 22. North Carolina Tar Heels

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