BOISE — While the Boise State logo isn't adorned on the Bronco football team's helmets this spring, they aren't totally blank.

For the first time in head coach Chris Petersen's tenure, the Broncos are wearing their rewards.

Bronco position coaches are giving players white star stickers to put on their helmets, reinforcing positive progress in practice.

"It's just another reinforcement tool we're trying to use — reinforce the behaviors we're trying to get out there — effort, great technique, great plays," Petersen said.

Petersen said he isn't in charge of giving out the stickers, but may give one to a player he was impressed by while watching tape, giving it out in front of the rest of the team. Some players have stuck the stickers on the backs of their helmets, while some have put them right on the front.

Others have opted to give them to a teammate — one who in fact isn't even wearing a helmet this spring while recovering from offseason surgery.

"Richie Brockel (has the most)," Petersen said. "There's a huge picture of him in our team room and so every time a tight end gets one, they go stick it on Richie's poster in the team room."

The sticker addition won't likely be around during the season, though Petersen said it may continue into fall camp. The idea was hatched not through other schools like Georgia or Ohio State that have pride stickers, but through the high school coaches that Petersen has spoken with.

"The coaches would say 'it's amazing what the kids will do for a sticker,'" he said. "Well, the high school kids and college kids aren't that much different."

Here's a few notes from Petersen's Tuesday news conference:

— Japanese coaches from Hosei University will return again this week to watch spring practices. The group came last year for the first time, and lost in the Koshien Bowl, the university championship game, in December.

— Sophomore defensive end Shea McClellin, a Marsing grad, has progressed well in his recovery from a knee injury and is back at practice.

— Freshman quarterback Drew Hawkins has shown marked improvement, and Petersen said should that continue, he'll see the field sooner than later. Petersen envisions a "slash"-type role where Hawkins could line up at receiver or be in position to use his speed running the ball.