The Dallas Cowboys clinched the NFC East Division on Sunday. One of the rising stars for the Cowboys this season has been linebacker Leighton Vander Esch, who has really come on strong in the second half of the season to become a featured player in the Dallas defense. Boise State is making sure everyone remembers where Vander Esch played his college football as the Broncos arrive in Dallas for the First Responders Bowl.
The back of Boise State’s equipment truck has an image of Vander Esch in a Boise State uniform plastered on the doors, staring down all traffic sitting behind the truck. Vander Esch is seen looming over the skyline of Dallas. This is a solid piece of marketing for the Boise State program as they prepare for a bowl game in Dallas.
The @BroncoSportsFB equipment truck pulled up at Highland Park High School where the team is practicing for Wednesday's First Responders Bowl vs. Boston College. They haven't forgotten @VanderEsch38. pic.twitter.com/R0N1lf4x1Z
— Gil Brandt (@Gil_Brandt) December 24, 2018
Vander Esch was the Mountain West Defensive Player of the Year in 2017 and a two-time All-Academic Mountain West player in 2015 and 2016. When he was drafted by the Cowboys with the 19th overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft, he became the first Boise State player to be drafted in the first round since 2012 (Shea McClelin, Chicago Bears).