You can't outwork or outheart Boise State walk-on

Carlo Audagnotti is a focused kid. Growing up in South Africa, he dreamed of playing American football—and after moving to the U.S. about eight years ago that dream came true. Now, Audagnotti has a different dream—to play in the NFL—but he knows that to make that happen, he must first play at the university level. From the looks of things, Audagnotti is well on his way to making that a reality as well. Carlo was the Offensive MVP of the All-Trinity League last year while rushing for over 1,400 yards and 11 scores at Santa Margarita (CA), but didn't receive a glut of college offers. Oregon State showed some interest, but Corvallis wasn't in the cards for Audagnotti.

Now Carlo, who only rests one day a week from football training and set up his own recruiting website, appears to be headed for Boise State this fall as a preferred walk-on. What drives Audagnotti?

"The money I make in the NFL is going to go toward those children."

The children he speaks of are South African orphans—many of them infected with HIV. Audagnotti's family helped these orphans during their time in South Africa and founded a charity called Acres of Love before their departure. Carlo still devotes much of his free time (if he has any) to helping others and gave up most of his first ever paycheck to the charity.

Audagnotti may be undersized at 5'9" and 185 lbs., but something tells me that you don't want to stand between this kid and his goals.

Audagnotti is looking to redshirt this year will likely play runningback or wide receiver. We're confident that wherever or whenever Carlo plays, he will join the ranks of Boise State walk-ons that have found great success on the blue.

OCVarsity story

Hess to officially walk-on at Boise State

Jake Hess (no relation to Rudolf) will be walking on at Boise State this fall. Hess (shown above in literally the only picture I could find) is 6 feet tall and weighs 230 lbs. and played both fullback and linebacker at Galena High School in Nevada while earning All-League, All-Region and All-State honors during his senior campaign. Spurning his in-state schools to play for a winner, Hess also was swayed by the following tidbit: no walk-on fullback or tightend has ever earned a scholly at Boise State. Obviously, Hess has something to prove.

Hess, who coach Steve Struzyk calls "a hell of a person", thinks the Broncos are getting a real catch:

"As a walk-on, they're getting a real steal," said Struzyk, who guided Hess and the Grizzlies to their first-ever regional championship in 2006. "Whether it's at fullback, linebacker - whatever - he'll make a quick impact. He'll do anything a coach asks."

Anything? I guess BSU coaches have found someone to make their morning coffee runs.

Hess will redshirt next season while rooming with another Nevada walk-on, linebacker Alex LaVoy. Which brings us to other news: Alex LaVoy will be walking on at linebacker.

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Ya gotta have heart.

Boise State has made a name for itself in its somewhat brief history where undersized, unrecognized players and walkons come and become major contributors if not stars.Look at the amazing career of Mountain Home product Ia Falo, who came to Boise State as a 5'7" 143 lb. walkon cornerback and became an explosive and important roleplayer on special teams. ESPN even featured Falo in an article (the Special Teams Demon). The list of smallish, unrecruited talent that Boise State has cultivated over the years could probably fill the pages of a book...remember Jadon Dailey? Andrew Woodruff? Tim Gilligan? What about Brock Forsey, Colt Brooks or Vinny Peretta? Boise State not only seems to find these guys and develop them, but I believe needs them. These players personify the blue-collar work ethic of "the little team that could" and have been so key to our success and so vital in leadership roles that I believe that Boise State should continue to forsake the star ratings and really go after these high character guys with "heart to spare" year after year.

Who will be the next Ia Falo? Maybe Andy Silsby, a local walk-on running back who won't sniff the starting gig, but has shown himself to be a very capable and versatile special teams man. Maybe it's Ricky Cookman, a highly touted wide receiver that just didn't pull down the offers most thought he would...he could be the next TJ Acree or Tim Gilligan. Maybe it will be Stephen Gabbard, another star HS running back that will probably be buried on the RB depth chart, but could be a big time player in another role.


Whoever it is, Bronco Nation will be watching and rooting. These guys are what make our Broncos the pride of the state and the darlings of the mid-majors. So, if you are a lightly recruited player who has the heart of a champion and the desire to help the team in any capacity...you may just belong on the blue.