A year that has already been great for former Boise State linebacker Leighton Vander Esch just got a little bit better. Vander Esch, who was drafted No. 19 overall by the Dallas Cowboys in April’s NFL Draft, announced on Instagram earlier this week that he is now engaged to Madalynn Tucker, his longtime girlfriend. Tucker is a 2017 graduate of Salmon River High School in Riggins.
She just finished her freshman year at Treasure Valley Community College, where she played for the basketball team. The 6-foot-4, 256-pound Vander Esch broke out as a redshirt junior at Boise State in 2017, ranking second in the Mountain West with 141 tackles, to go along with three interceptions and three forced fumbles.
His 141 tackles were the most for a Bronco defender since 1988. He was named the conference’s defensive player of the year before declaring for the draft.
Before his storied BSU career, Vander Esch starred at Salmon River as a quarterback and linebacker. As a senior in 2013, Vander Esch threw for 2,155 yards and 28 touchdowns while rushing for 1,565 yards and 34 touchdowns.
