Former All-Pro linebacker helped Boise State’s leading tackler hone his skills
Linebacker Marco Notarainni has been Boise State’s breakout player of the year on defense through the first six weeks of the season.
He’s been starting in place of sixth-year senior DJ Schramm, who hasn’t played since the Broncos’ win at San Diego State. The redshirt sophomore leads the team with 42 tackles and ranks No. 2 with three sacks — one fewer than edge rusher Ahmed Hassanein.
Some of Notarainni’s success comes down to preparation, said Boise State football coach Andy Avalos, who played linebacker for the Broncos from 2000 to 2004.
“At the linebacker position, it really starts off the field,” Avalos said Monday. “There’s a lot of preparation that goes into leading the defense. Marco is a smart young man, and he’s very organized, whether it’s in the film room, practice or the classroom.”
Schramm echoed Avalos’ sentiments as Notarainni prepares to make the fourth start of his career Saturday at Colorado State (7:55 p.m., FS1).
“It’s not a surprise to anyone in this building that Marco goes out there and does what he does because of how he practices,” said Schramm, who led the Broncos with 107 tackles last season. “He’s always eager to learn and that’s why he’s played the way he has.”
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Notarainni’s knack for finding the ball also has a lot to do with his instincts, said Boise State defensive coordinator Spencer Danielson, who played linebacker at Azusa Pacific University.
“We talk all the time about winning in the gray because you don’t know exactly how an offense is going to attack you,” Danielson said. “Marco does a great job with his read-and-react skills. He locks into his keys and makes a lot of plays because he’s in the right situation based strictly off of those keys.”
Notarainni said his instincts and diligence were honed while working with a pretty accomplished linebackers coach in high school.
His position coach at Torrey Pines High School in California was Duane Bickett — a former All-American linebacker at USC who was the No. 5 overall pick in the 1985 NFL Draft and was named defensive rookie of the year in his first season with the Colts.
Bickett was named to the Pro Bowl in 1987 and also played for the Seahawks and Panthers before retiring with 53 career sacks in 1996. He knows a thing or two about playing linebacker, and he said he knew Notarainni’s future was bright as soon as they met.
“His attitude and desire was just different from most kids his age,” Bickett said. “I knew he was going to be good because he just has a fire about him and picks up things so quick.”
Bickett said Notarainni was a gangly freshman still trying to grow into his body when they met, but he could tell back then that he cared about perfecting his craft.
“He used to get so frustrated doing something as simple as hitting a blocking sled,” Bickett said. “I had him doing it over and over to get the timing of when to strike with your hands and explode with your hips. He wanted to be perfect at it, and once he got it down, he was unblockable.”
Notarainni rarely takes a misstep when tracking the ball, which has made him all but impossible to block at times this year. He said he has Bickett’s tutelage to thank for that.
“He really helped instill those building blocks that have made me the player I am,” Notarainni said. “He’s an old school, hard-nosed linebacker, and that’s how I want to play.”
Notarainni said he’s learned to go a little easier on himself if he doesn’t pick something up right away, but he’s still a perfectionist when it comes to tracking down running backs or chasing quarterbacks.
“The guys here know that I get frustrated and don’t like making the same mistake twice,” said Notarainni, who played in two games last season before suffering a torn ACL. “I really try to be diligent and take every practice rep seriously.”
Bickett said he saw a lot of himself in his prodigy, although he admits Notarainni is more of a natural leader. The duo grew close during Notarainni’s high school career, so much so that Bickett stayed on staff at Torrey Pines a year longer than planned just to be there for his senior year.
“Marco was an easy guy to coach because he cared more than most kids,” said Bickett, who now spends his days traveling and enjoying retirement. “When you care that much about what you’re doing, you mourn the losses and enjoy the wins more than anybody.”
Bickett wasn’t the only high school coach Notarainni left an impression on. Former Torrey Pines head coach Ron Gladnick lights up when asked about the longtime leader of his defense.
“He’s the kind of kid you build a program around,” said Gladnick, who is now the head coach at St. Augustine High in California. “He was the rare high school player that not only held himself to a high standard, but wasn’t afraid to hold teammates to that same standard.”
Notarainni was a three-year starter at Torrey Pines. He racked up 148 tackles in his final two seasons and even posted 562 yards and 10 touchdowns as a running back in the Falcons’ Wing-T system.
He said carrying the ball was fun but he had no allusions of switching to offense full time.
“I like delivering hits more than taking them,” he said. “But it was cool to experience both worlds and learn from both.”
BOISE STATE AT COLORADO STATE
When: 7:55 p.m. Saturday
Where: Canvas Stadium (36,500, Synthetic PowerBlade Pro System), Fort Collins, Colorado
TV: Fox Sports 1 (Dan Hellie, Dirk Koetter)
Radio: KBOI 670 AM/93.1 FM (Bob Behler, Pete Cavender)
Records: Boise State 3-3, 2-0 MW; Colorado State 2-3, 0-1 MW
Series: Boise State leads the series 12-0, including a 49-10 win last season in Boise
Vegas line: Boise State by 7.5
Weather: High of 58, 6% chance of rain, 8 mph wind
