With fall camp on the horizon, Boise State Broncos On SI is analyzing the 12 players who will define the Broncos' first season in the reborn Pac-12 .
Running back Sire Gaines , defensive lineman Max Stege , offensive lineman Roger Carreon , defensive back Derek Ganter Jr. , wide receiver Rasean Jones and linebacker Boen Phelps have already been highlighted in the series.
To kick off the week, we will now move on to tight end Matt Wagner.
The 6-foot-5, 250-pound Wagner functioned as Boise State's No. 2 tight end over the last two seasons behind Matt Lauter, who is hoping to make an NFL roster this season. Now in a lead role at tight end, Wagner is set up to have a monster junior year for the Broncos.
The Broncos regularly used two tight end sets last year to get Lauter and Wagner on the field at the same time. Lauter was a bigger threat in the passing game (37 catches, 330 yards, two touchdowns) while Wagner starred as a blocker and added 24 catches for 251 yards and one score.
Wagner appeared in all 14 games last season and made 10 starts. He saw plenty of action as the No. 2 tight end, logging 588 snaps on offense.
As previously covered by Boise State Broncos On SI , the Broncos lost the top four pass-catchers from last season and enter 2026 without a proven go-to receiver.
Wagner, a preseason all-Pac-12 selection by Athlon Sports and Phil Steele, has the size, athleticism and hands to be a red zone weapon tight end.
The Broncos need Wagner to realize his full potential and blossom into a bigger receiving threat this fall.
Over the last two seasons, Wagner mostly functioned as an in-line tight end while Lauter split his time between H-back and traditional tight end.
With Lauter moving on, Wagner will likely get more opportunities to line up in the backfield and be involved in the passing game. Wagner could lead Pac-12 tight ends in receiving yards this season.
No. 12 - Running back Sire Gaines , sophomore
No. 11 - Defensive lineman Max Stege , senior
No. 10 - Offensive lineman Roger Carreon , senior
No. 9 - Defensive back Derek Ganter Jr. , junior
No. 8 - Wide receiver Rasean Jones , freshman
No. 7 - Linebacker Boen Phelps , junior
No. 6 - Tight end Matt Wagner, junior
This article was originally published on www.si.com/college/boise-state as 12 players who will define Boise State's first Pac-12 season: No. 6, Matt Wagner .
