Leighton Vander Esch to The NFL?

Talk about success stories on the Boise State football team and you have to begin with #38 Leighton Vander Esch.

The junior from Riggins, Idaho played 8-man football in high school and that's not exactly a paved path to being recruited to play FBS football.

Not only has Vander Esch overcome all the odds of playing football at the FBS level, he was named the defensive player of the year in the Mountain West. He may have saved his best game for the Mountain West title showdown with Fresno State where he was all over the field and made the game clinching interception late in the fourth quarter to seal the Boise State 17-14 win.

When asked if he was making a statement to prove he deserved the defensive player of the year honors Vander Esch said "Have to silence the doubters someway!"

Vander Esch was just as frank when asked about rumors he might opt out of his senior season and enter the NFL Draft. To that the junior said "No, I haven't even thought about it my focus is on the bowl game and winning, that's it."

When pressed further Vander Esch was even more to the point saying "I don't want to talk about it."

Boise State defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence set the table for others to leave when he skipped his junior season and has since become the sack leader in the NFL with 13.5.

At this point we'll just wait until after the Las Vegas Bowl December 16th to ask Vander Esch anymore NFL questions.....it'll be safer that way!