East Carolina Offense vs. Boise State Defense
The Pirates feature one of the best under-the-radar players in the nation in RB Chris Johnson, who is as versatile as they come. Johnson, who is averaging 5.8 yards per carry, possesses good vision and shows a nice burst once he locates a seam. That said, he'll face a stingy Bronco front seven that has held opponents to just 3.4 yards per carry, so he has his work cut out for him. It all starts up front where Boise State's defensive line is especially stout on the edges. DE Nick Schlekeway is a first-team all-conference player who has adequate size and plays with a mean streak. Opposite him, Mike T. Williams and Ryan Winterswyk rotate and have combined to record 14.5 tackles for loss.