Bo Bolen an unexpected luxury for WSU

OGDEN — Bo Bolen showed that he can do it all during his freshman season at Weber State.

Listed as a running back, Bolen can line up at fullback and lead block. He can split out wide as a receiver. He can return kicks. Best of all, he can run the football.

He might also have a future as a magician. His reappearance act this fall has energized the Wildcats' offense and strengthened it in several positions. And he's back just in time for the team's season-opener at Boston College on Saturday, a game in which the Wildcats will need all the help they can get.

Bolen, a sophomore from Aurora, Colo., originally planned on missing the 2010 season while serving a Mormon Church mission. But his plans were delayed because of a shoulder injury he suffered early in his redshirt freshman season. He had surgery on it last winter, and didn't get physically cleared for his mission until the summer.

He got his mission call to the Philippines in July and will leave for the Missionary Training Center on Dec. 8. The timing — and desire to keep all of his athletic eligibility — made Bolen decide it was best to report to Weber State's fall camp on Aug. 16.

It was a nice surprise for the rest of the offensive players, who welcomed one of the most versatile players in the Big Sky back to their lineup.

"You can put him anywhere," said quarterback Cameron Higgins. "You can put him out wide; you can put him at fullback. He just presents so many mismatches for defenses. He's more physical than he looks, too. We can run a lot of our big packages with him as a blocker. He's faster than linebackers. It's really nice to have him."

For Bolen, the decision to play football another season before his mission was a no-brainer. He could have lost a year of eligibility for sitting out, and didn't want to take a chance on what the NCAA would decide.

"It's really hit and miss with those (NCAA rulings)," Bolen said. "I really don't like to take chances. I don't like to put my future in other people's hands. I'll play this year and be able to get all four years that way."

Bolen admits he didn't work out too hard in the offseason. There was really no reason to when he didn't expect to play another season of college football this fall. But he's getting his legs back after a few weeks of practices and scrimmages.