BOISE -- The Boise State football team's depth at running back took a bit of hit this week.
Redshirt freshman Drake Beasley has left the program, the school confirmed on Friday.
Beasley never played in a regular season game for the Broncos. He redshirted last fall, however, he repeatedly drew praise from Boise State running backs coach Lee Marks this spring.
"Whether it's returning kicks, on special teams, handing him off the ball, catching the ball, whatever that is, Drake is definitely going to play this year," Marks said back on April 6. "He has really good vision and he's a good student. (He's) all those things that you want."
In his first extended live action since arriving on campus, Beasley rushed eight times for 19 yards while working mostly with the No. 2 offense during the spring scrimmage.
Beasley has not played in an actually football game since his junior season of high school. Unless he transfers to an FCS program, he will almost certainly have to sit out the upcoming season as well.
The reason for his departure is currently unknown.
The Broncos will enter the 2018 campaign with junior Alexander Mattison as the number-one running back and sophomore Robert Mahone as his backup. Senior Skylar Siebold and junior Jake Shaddox will provide depth, but more help will arrive on campus in June. Three-star freshman Andrew VanBuren is one of the more highly touted running back recruits in program history, and Danny Smith was a late addition to the 2018 recruiting class.
