Despite the fact it hasn’t played in 10 days, Boise State is still feeling the effects of its last game against Southern Miss at the end of last month.
Chief among the bad news is running back Aaron Baltazar, who Chris Petersen confirmed Monday suffered a torn ACL in the non-conference game. The true freshman will undergo season-ending surgery, but will not be eligible for a medical redshirt as he had played in five games in 2013.
Baltazar is currently second on the team with 234 yards and tied for second with two rushing touchdowns.
According to the Idaho Statesman, Jack Fields will slide into the No. 2 role vacated by Baltazar and will be the primary backup to leading rusher Jay Ajayi. The sophomore is fourth on the team and third among backs with 91 yards rushing.
“We’ve got some guys there, we do,” Petersen said according to the Statesman. “we’ve been saying from day one you need more than one or two guys at that position.”
In addition to Baltazar, Petersen acknowledged that safety and special teams ace Ebo Makinde suffered a torn pectoral muscle in the same game and will be lost for the season as well. As Makinde is a senior, his career at Boise is over.