If Brett Rypien was guilty of underestimating the speed of junior college transfer John Hightower in Boise State’s season opener, he made sure to take advantage of it Saturday night against UConn.
Rypien hit Hightower with a 67-yard touchdown pass for his first reception in the first quarter as the 6-foot-2, 183-pound speedster gave 34,515 fans at Albertsons Stadium a taste of the potential damage he could do at receiver over the next two seasons.
“John is very special in space ... and he showed Bronco Nation that tonight,” Boise State senior receiver A.J. Richardson said.
Hightower totaled a game-leading 119 receiving yards and two touchdowns in the 62-7 victory, also scoring on a 55-yard end-around in the second quarter that saw him zig zag his way past the entire UConn defense.