The
Mountain West has been Boise State’s conference for a little more than a decade.
Others have had their years, but on the whole, year in and year out Boise has
been the cream of the crop. That said, Tedford had a surprise year one and SDSU
is churning out record breaking backs each season at least make this conference
note-worthy year in and year out.
The average
power rating for the Mountain West squads is -5.97.
The average
power rating for the MAC East squads is -3.02.
The average
power rating for the MAC
West squads is -8.92.
Team
|
Adj.
2017
W/L
|
%
Yards
Ret.
|
%
Touches
Ret.
|
%
Line
Starts
Ret.
|
%
Tackles
Ret.
|
%
Passes
Def.
Ret.
|
247
Sports
Score
|
Total
Points
|
Mountain Division
|
||||||||
Boise State
|
13.59
|
59.14%
|
60.03%
|
44.55%
|
77.30%
|
84.91%
|
168.05
|
16.2
|
Wyoming
|
-1.44
|
62.72%
|
67.44%
|
76.32%
|
82.71%
|
67.50%
|
112.08
|
0.99
|
Utah State
|
-4.8
|
59.40%
|
56.47%
|
85.19%
|
83.37%
|
47.73%
|
119.61
|
-4.8
|
Colorado State
|
-1.46
|
22.78%
|
25.48%
|
24.03%
|
63.68%
|
48.78%
|
143.42
|
-7.73
|
Air Force
|
-5.66
|
72.95%
|
73.22%
|
13.00%
|
46.65%
|
53.85%
|
107.82
|
-9.73
|
New Mexico
|
-10.21
|
56.52%
|
54.97%
|
49.56%
|
59.62%
|
81.58%
|
113.32
|
-13.04
|
West Division
|
||||||||
Fresno State
|
3.4
|
86.45%
|
86.05%
|
54.48%
|
80.40%
|
75.51%
|
136.03
|
8.82
|
San Diego State
|
7.35
|
49.82%
|
55.70%
|
73.08%
|
68.77%
|
62.50%
|
151.63
|
7.29
|
UNLV
|
-9.11
|
79.95%
|
79.65%
|
47.45%
|
66.99%
|
42.31%
|
121.35
|
-10.85
|
Nevada
|
-10.25
|
86.11%
|
87.73%
|
34.78%
|
66.67%
|
50.00%
|
122.5
|
-10.93
|
San Jose State
|
-17.55
|
92.14%
|
90.95%
|
17.37%
|
53.66%
|
31.91%
|
137.1
|
-23.16
|
Hawaii
|
-13.43
|
8.37%
|
14.37%
|
30.22%
|
61.15%
|
50.00%
|
120.99
|
-24.72
|
The
Mountain West is haves and have nots this season. Boise, Fresno, and SDSU are
well ahead of everybody else in the conference. Wyoming and USU are their own
sort of middle tier between the top and the bottom. Fresno, Boise, and Wyoming
are the only teams in the conference with all five categories over 50%. San Diego
State and Boise are the best recruiters by far with Boise out-recruiting a
handful of Power 5 teams in my adjusted rating.
Top Returning Offensive Producers
(Above Average Production)
Quarterbacks (Minimum 120 Pass
Attempts)
|
||||||||
Player
|
Year
|
Team
|
Height
|
Weight
|
AY/A
|
AY/R
|
Comp%
|
Sack%
|
Brett Rypien
|
4
|
BSU
|
74
|
208
|
8.38
|
6.65
|
62.64%
|
5.40%
|
Marcus McMaryion
|
4
|
FRES
|
74
|
195
|
7.9
|
8.89
|
62.11%
|
2.20%
|
Christian Chapman
|
4
|
SDSU
|
72
|
200
|
8
|
4.24
|
60.08%
|
10.70%
|
Ty Gangi
|
4
|
NEV
|
74
|
210
|
7.31
|
6.51
|
60.96%
|
1.80%
|
Armani Rogers
|
2
|
UNLV
|
77
|
225
|
7.21
|
8.57
|
52.38%
|
10.40%
|
Jordan Love
|
2
|
USU
|
75
|
215
|
6.45
|
6.38
|
54.89%
|
2.90%
|
Montel Aaron
|
2
|
SJSU
|
77
|
210
|
5.49
|
4.15
|
56.00%
|
8.90%
|
Josh Love
|
3
|
SJSU
|
74
|
205
|
4.17
|
4.63
|
54.12%
|
6.10%
|
Running Backs (Minimum 12 Touches)
|
||||||||
Player
|
Year
|
Team
|
Height
|
Weight
|
Tou.
|
AY/R
|
AY/T
|
RBP>12
|
Lexington Thomas
|
4
|
UNLV
|
69
|
170
|
219
|
7.81
|
13
|
23.28
|
Alexander Mattison
|
3
|
BSU
|
71
|
214
|
241
|
6.14
|
8.21
|
18.71
|
Kelton Moore
|
3
|
NEV
|
70
|
220
|
183
|
5.66
|
6.94
|
12.78
|
Izzy Matthews
|
4
|
CoSt
|
72
|
220
|
144
|
5.76
|
11.38
|
12.04
|
Tyler Nevens
|
2
|
SJSU
|
72
|
218
|
167
|
4.22
|
9.17
|
10.64
|
Jordan Mims
|
2
|
FRES
|
71
|
190
|
165
|
4.88
|
7.15
|
10.49
|
Juwan Washington
|
3
|
SDSU
|
67
|
190
|
130
|
6.99
|
6.5
|
10.42
|
Josh Hokit
|
3
|
FRES
|
73
|
220
|
141
|
5.56
|
6.29
|
9.45
|
Kellen Overstreet
|
3
|
WYO
|
71
|
216
|
112
|
4.92
|
13
|
9.07
|
Trey Woods
|
2
|
WYO
|
75
|
210
|
146
|
3.73
|
9.25
|
8.71
|
Tyrone Owens
|
4
|
UNM
|
69
|
187
|
150
|
5.99
|
1.67
|
8.59
|
Ronnie Rivers
|
2
|
FRES
|
68
|
175
|
121
|
5.66
|
5.3
|
7.87
|
Wide Receivers (Minimum 18 targets)
|
||||||||
Player
|
Year
|
Team
|
Height
|
Weight
|
Tar.
|
AY/T
|
Cat%
|
WRP>18
|
John Ursua
|
3
|
HAW
|
70
|
165
|
63
|
12.12
|
74.60%
|
12.1
|
KeeSean Johnson
|
4
|
FRES
|
74
|
202
|
135
|
8.65
|
57.04%
|
11.32
|
Brendan O'Leary-Orange
|
3
|
NEV
|
76
|
210
|
60
|
11.59
|
65.00%
|
9.78
|
McLane Mannix
|
2
|
NEV
|
70
|
175
|
97
|
9.21
|
58.76%
|
9.69
|
Dylan Collie
|
4
|
HAW
|
70
|
175
|
85
|
8.39
|
65.88%
|
9.01
|
Brandon Presley
|
3
|
UNLV
|
72
|
180
|
53
|
11.51
|
64.15%
|
8.9
|
Warren Jackson
|
2
|
CoSt
|
77
|
205
|
20
|
15.18
|
75.00%
|
8.72
|
Austin Conway
|
3
|
WYO
|
70
|
178
|
85
|
7.14
|
71.76%
|
8.36
|
Jay Griffin IV
|
2
|
UNM
|
70
|
162
|
42
|
11.2
|
69.05%
|
8.18
|
Olabisi Johnson
|
4
|
CoSt
|
72
|
195
|
68
|
9.32
|
60.29%
|
7.89
|
Ron'quavion Tarver
|
4
|
USU
|
75
|
215
|
83
|
8.48
|
57.83%
|
7.87
|
Tight Ends (Minimum 12 Targets)
|
||||||||
Player
|
Year
|
Team
|
Height
|
Weight
|
Tar.
|
AY/T
|
Cat%
|
TEP>12
|
Dax Raymond
|
3
|
USU
|
77
|
245
|
60
|
7.87
|
68.33%
|
24.33
|
Jared Rice
|
3
|
FRES
|
77
|
228
|
31
|
13.76
|
70.97%
|
21.98
|
Josh Oliver
|
4
|
SJSU
|
77
|
253
|
56
|
5.63
|
62.50%
|
16.24
|
Kahale Warring
|
3
|
SDSU
|
78
|
250
|
27
|
11.33
|
66.67%
|
15.76
|
Brett Rypien
is the best known of the MWC quarterbacks and for good reason. At 8.38 AY/A, 62.64%
completion percentage, only his sack rate (5.40%) is troubling from a stats
standpoint. Rypien has some bad habits and is too mistake prone at times but he’s
the cream of the crop heading into 2018. After Rypien, three more senior QBs
had a completion percentage above 60% and what an interesting group that is. Fresno
State’s Marcus McMaryion was not on the radar going into last season as it
looked like sophomore to be Chason Virgil was going to inherit the starting job.
McMaryion took advantage of a new staff and the starting role to throw for 2700
yards and just shy 8 AY/A. He was also the most efficient rusher at QB in the
conference and despite showing running ability only got sacked on just over 2%
of his drop backs. The other two 60% passers in the conference were SDSU’s
Christian Chapman and Nevada’s Ty Gangi. Chapman was the only QB beside Rypien
of this group to get to 8 AY/A, but wasn’t much of a threat on the ground, and
took far too many sacks (10.7%). Gangi was much more efficient on the ground
than Chapman (6.51 AY/R) and was sacked on just 1.8% of his drop backs. The
last QB I want to point out is UNLV sophomore Armani Rogers. Rogers didn’t
start right away last year but ended with the most pass attempts for the Running
Rebels. Rogers was a high three-star recruit and has a chance to change the
fortunes of UNLV and if he can get more efficient in the passing game (52.4%
comp rate and 10.4% sack rate) he’s talented enough to help UNLV make a jump in
his sophomore season. Joining Rogers in the desert is RB Lexington Thomas.
Thomas is a smaller back (5’9” 170 lbs.) but he was dynamite in the passing opportunities
he got taking 11 targets for 140+ yards, but he was surprisingly stout in the run
game with 211 rushes for 1336 yards and 17 TDs. The combo of Thomas and an
improved Rogers would make UNLV a dangerous offense to deal with. The rich get
richer with Boise State’s Alexander Mattison and Nevada’s Kelton Moore. Mattison
joins Rypien in Boise’s backfield and brings with 241 touches that he turned
into 6.14 AY/R and 8.21 AY/T. Moore, for his part, joins the aforementioned
Gangi and brings a solid, if slightly less impressive 5.66 AY/R and 6.94 AY/T.
At SDSU, Juwan Washington (6.99 AY/R and 6.5 AY/T) looks to continue a string
of incredibly productive SDSU running backs following in the footsteps of
Rashaad Penny and Donnel Pumphrey. Fresno, and McMaryion, have a trio of young
backs in, Jordan Mims (165 touches, 7.15 AY/T), Josh Hokit (141 touches, 5.56
AY/R and 6.29 AY/T), and Ronnie Rivers (121 touches, 5.66 AY/R and 5.3 AY/T).
They should be able to work and grow that rotation but will need someone to
step up and become much more productive in the run game. As we head to the
receivers it’s interesting to note that the top returning QB producers don’t
have much returning on the receiving end. Fresno looks to be in the best shape
with senior KeeSean Johnson (135 targets, 8.65 AY/T), but even he is much more of
a possession receiver than an explosive playmaker. The explosive weapon might actually
be TE Jared Rice. Rice only had 31 targets last season, but he managed to haul
in 71% of his targets, score 2 TD, and ruck up 388 yards. Nevada returns two
young receivers for Gangi in the form of Brendan O’Leary-Orange (60 targets,
11.59 AY/T) and McLane Mannix (97 targets, 9.21). If they can grow into even
more production in their junior and freshman year respectively the Nevada offense
as a whole will be as well rounded as any in the conference. Hawaii has two of
the top returning producers at WR but they lost QB Dru Brown who transferred to
Oklahoma State. Junior John Ursua (12.12 AY/T and 74.6% catch rate) and Dylan
Collie (8.39 AY/T and 65.9% catch rate) will be great targets for whomever
takes over, but productivity and efficiency is sure to take a bit of a hit. There’s
some well above talent returning in the MWC, but it’s not overwhelming. Boise
is sure to be solid again, Fresno State and Nevada have the pieces to mature
into menacing attacks, and UNLV will go as Rogers goes.
Top Returning Defensive Producers
(Above Average Production)
Interior Defensive Linemen (Minimum
12 Points)
|
|||||||||
Player
|
Year
|
Team
|
Height
|
Weight
|
Tkls
|
TFLs
|
Sacks
|
PDs
|
Points
|
Youhanna Ghaifan
|
3
|
WYO
|
76
|
290
|
54
|
16
|
7
|
0
|
191.75
|
Korey Rush
|
4
|
NEV
|
72
|
265
|
29.5
|
9
|
2.5
|
1
|
111.75
|
Noble Hall
|
4
|
SDSU
|
75
|
265
|
31.5
|
8.5
|
3.5
|
0
|
103
|
Emeka Ndoh
|
4
|
FRES
|
72
|
252
|
8
|
5
|
4
|
1
|
86
|
Chibu Onyeukwu
|
4
|
SDSU
|
76
|
255
|
14
|
5
|
4.5
|
0
|
78.38
|
Richard King
|
3
|
CoSt
|
76
|
275
|
19.5
|
5
|
2.5
|
1
|
77.25
|
Roger Mann
|
4
|
UNLV
|
75
|
265
|
14
|
4.5
|
1
|
2
|
73.25
|
Nick Dehdashtian
|
3
|
UNLV
|
73
|
290
|
14
|
6.5
|
2
|
0
|
71
|
Viane Moala
|
3
|
HAW
|
79
|
270
|
28.5
|
5.5
|
0
|
1
|
64.13
|
David Moa
|
4
|
BSU
|
75
|
271
|
16.5
|
3.5
|
2
|
1
|
60.63
|
Zeno Choi
|
4
|
HAW
|
75
|
260
|
15.51
|
2.5
|
0.5
|
2
|
57.25
|
Edge Rushers (Minimum 12 Points)
|
|||||||||
Player
|
Year
|
Team
|
Height
|
Weight
|
Tkls
|
TFLs
|
Sacks
|
PDs
|
Points
|
Carl Granderson
|
4
|
WYO
|
77
|
255
|
57
|
16
|
8.5
|
2
|
262
|
Malik Reed
|
4
|
NEV
|
73
|
250
|
38
|
10
|
8
|
1
|
221.13
|
Curtis Weaver
|
2
|
BSU
|
75
|
252
|
26.5
|
13
|
11
|
3
|
216.53
|
Jabril Frazier
|
4
|
BSU
|
76
|
243
|
29
|
6.5
|
6
|
2
|
147.84
|
Durrant Miles
|
4
|
BSU
|
77
|
253
|
23.5
|
6
|
2
|
4
|
145.53
|
Kevin Prosser
|
4
|
WYO
|
74
|
223
|
28
|
5
|
2.5
|
3
|
113.63
|
Off-Ball Linebackers (Minimum 12
Points)
|
|||||||||
Player
|
Year
|
Team
|
Height
|
Weight
|
Tkls
|
TFLs
|
Sacks
|
PDs
|
Points
|
Logan Wilson
|
3
|
WYO
|
74
|
229
|
100
|
8
|
1
|
2
|
133.96
|
Josh Watson
|
4
|
CoSt
|
74
|
240
|
86.5
|
5
|
2
|
9
|
124.44
|
Jahlani Tavai
|
4
|
HAW
|
76
|
235
|
96
|
11
|
9.5
|
2
|
117.24
|
Jeffrey Allison
|
3
|
FRES
|
72
|
250
|
102.5
|
5.5
|
2
|
3
|
115.45
|
George Helmuth
|
4
|
FRES
|
73
|
220
|
73.5
|
8
|
4
|
1
|
94.51
|
Solomon Matautia
|
3
|
HAW
|
73
|
230
|
66.5
|
3.5
|
1
|
4
|
94.11
|
Chase Christiansen
|
4
|
USU
|
73
|
230
|
52
|
4
|
1
|
1
|
87.84
|
Jamal Scott
|
4
|
SJSU
|
74
|
237
|
62
|
10
|
2
|
0
|
79.63
|
Suli Tamaivena
|
4
|
USU
|
72
|
230
|
77
|
6.5
|
3
|
2
|
79.53
|
Alex Hart
|
4
|
UNM
|
75
|
230
|
44
|
5.5
|
1
|
3
|
76.58
|
Gabe McCoy
|
3
|
UNLV
|
74
|
215
|
69
|
3
|
0
|
1
|
75.93
|
Cassh Maluia
|
3
|
WYO
|
72
|
230
|
53.5
|
3.5
|
1
|
4
|
75.59
|
James Bailey
|
4
|
FRES
|
73
|
225
|
55
|
4.5
|
0
|
2
|
69.89
|
Max McDonald
|
3
|
CoSt
|
73
|
220
|
42
|
5
|
1.5
|
2
|
68.44
|
Desmond Williams
|
2
|
BSU
|
71
|
201
|
23.5
|
3
|
2
|
2
|
63.84
|
Javin White
|
3
|
UNLV
|
74
|
195
|
33.5
|
3
|
0
|
3
|
58.29
|
Ronley Lakalaka
|
4
|
SDSU
|
72
|
225
|
63
|
5.5
|
3
|
0
|
58
|
Kyahva Tezino
|
3
|
SDSU
|
72
|
230
|
47
|
6
|
2
|
1
|
57.98
|
Tyson Maeva
|
3
|
BSU
|
72
|
214
|
63.5
|
2.5
|
1
|
3
|
56.49
|
Cornerbacks (Minimum 12 Points)
|
|||||||||
Player
|
Year
|
Team
|
Height
|
Weight
|
Tkls
|
TFLs
|
Sacks
|
PDs
|
Points
|
Ron Smith
|
3
|
SDSU
|
72
|
170
|
54
|
2
|
0
|
18
|
88
|
Jaron Bryant
|
3
|
FRES
|
73
|
183
|
59
|
2.5
|
0
|
11
|
84
|
Tyler Horton
|
4
|
BSU
|
71
|
188
|
35
|
3
|
0
|
13
|
73.5
|
Juju Hughes
|
3
|
FRES
|
71
|
180
|
63
|
7
|
1
|
8
|
60.75
|
Anthony Hawkins
|
3
|
CoSt
|
70
|
185
|
30
|
0.5
|
0
|
8
|
58
|
Avery Williams
|
2
|
BSU
|
69
|
194
|
41
|
0
|
0
|
10
|
54
|
Tre Webb
|
2
|
SJSU
|
72
|
189
|
25
|
2
|
1
|
4
|
50.75
|
Anthoula Kelly
|
4
|
FRES
|
70
|
185
|
40
|
3
|
0
|
9
|
50
|
Daniel Lewis Jr
|
4
|
HAW
|
71
|
190
|
66
|
2.5
|
0
|
8
|
45
|
Tyler Hall
|
3
|
WYO
|
70
|
184
|
25
|
0.5
|
0
|
6
|
41.5
|
D'Angelo Ross
|
4
|
UNM
|
68
|
175
|
25
|
1
|
0
|
11
|
41.5
|
Jalin Burrell
|
4
|
UNM
|
72
|
195
|
47
|
0.5
|
0
|
10
|
36.5
|
Elijah Moody
|
4
|
NEV
|
71
|
175
|
37
|
1
|
0
|
6
|
33.5
|
DeAndre Pierce
|
3
|
BSU
|
71
|
174
|
68
|
4
|
0
|
3
|
32
|
Ja'Marcus Ingram
|
2
|
USU
|
73
|
185
|
34
|
0
|
0
|
6
|
30.5
|
Free Safeties (Minimum 12 Points)
|
|||||||||
Player
|
Year
|
Team
|
Height
|
Weight
|
Tkls
|
TFLs
|
Sacks
|
PDs
|
Points
|
Andrew Wingard
|
4
|
WYO
|
72
|
209
|
92
|
8
|
1
|
8
|
209.5
|
Asauni Rufus
|
4
|
NEV
|
71
|
190
|
58
|
5.5
|
1.5
|
3
|
156.47
|
Jericho Flowers
|
3
|
UNLV
|
70
|
175
|
51.5
|
5
|
0
|
5
|
145.47
|
Marcus Epps
|
4
|
WYO
|
72
|
206
|
55
|
5
|
1
|
8
|
137.13
|
Kekaula Kaniho
|
2
|
BSU
|
70
|
175
|
27.5
|
6.5
|
1
|
5
|
123.25
|
Nephi Sewell
|
2
|
NEV
|
71
|
205
|
45
|
4.5
|
0
|
4
|
112.16
|
Dalton Baker
|
4
|
UNLV
|
71
|
185
|
84
|
1
|
0
|
2
|
106.56
|
Jocquez Kalili
|
4
|
UNLV
|
71
|
185
|
19.5
|
2
|
0
|
0
|
90.84
|
Ahki Muhammad
|
4
|
NEV
|
69
|
175
|
44
|
1
|
0
|
2
|
84.06
|
Gaje Ferguson
|
4
|
USU
|
72
|
210
|
65
|
2
|
1
|
1
|
77
|
Strong Safeties (Minimum 12 Points)
|
|||||||||
Player
|
Year
|
Team
|
Height
|
Weight
|
Tkls
|
TFLs
|
Sacks
|
PDs
|
Points
|
Tariq Thompson
|
2
|
SDSU
|
72
|
190
|
54.5
|
3
|
0
|
9
|
148.71
|
Kekoa Nawahine
|
3
|
BSU
|
74
|
199
|
86.5
|
4.5
|
0
|
7
|
128.35
|
Dameon Baber
|
4
|
NEV
|
70
|
205
|
74
|
1.5
|
0
|
5
|
101.64
|
Mike Bell
|
3
|
FRES
|
75
|
205
|
64
|
3
|
0
|
4
|
69.9
|
Kyle Floyd
|
4
|
AFA
|
74
|
210
|
43
|
0
|
0
|
8
|
66.25
|
Parker Baldwin
|
4
|
SDSU
|
74
|
215
|
57
|
1.5
|
0
|
3
|
56.26
|
Rojesterman Farris II
|
3
|
HAW
|
73
|
180
|
35
|
0.5
|
0
|
5
|
52.34
|
Jamal Hicks
|
3
|
CoSt
|
73
|
185
|
28.5
|
0
|
0
|
2
|
49.69
|
Baron Gaikowski
|
2
|
USU
|
73
|
205
|
37.5
|
2.5
|
1
|
2
|
49.45
|
Bijon Parker
|
4
|
UNM
|
72
|
195
|
18
|
2
|
2
|
4
|
49.13
|
Ethan Aguayo
|
3
|
SJSU
|
74
|
220
|
63
|
3.5
|
0
|
1
|
43.49
|
On the
other side of the ball the front seven is headlined by Wyoming. Youhanna
Ghaifan (WYO) checks in at 290 pounds and returns for his junior season after
having an impressive sophomore campaign that included 54 tackles, 16 TFLs, and 7
sacks. He’s by far the top returning interior player in the conference and one
of just 3 of note. The other two players of note after Ghaifan are Nevada’s
Korey Rush and SDSU’s Noble Hall. Rush had 9 TFLs and 2.5 sacks last season,
while Hall had 8.5 TFLs and 3.5 sacks. Wyoming keeps the front seven game going
with Carl Granderson (Edge), Kevin Prosser (Edge), Logan Wilson (OBLB), and
Cassh Maluia (OBLB). Granderson returns 16 TFLs and 8.5 sacks and Logan Wilson
had 10 tackles and 8 TFLs. All together the quartet on the outside and behind
Ghaifan had 238.5 tackles, 32.5 TFLs, and 13 sacks. Wyoming is going to be stout
on defense, especially when you include safeties, Andrew Wingard (92 tackles, 8
TFLs and 8PDs) and Marcus Epps (55 tackles, 5 TFLs, and 8 PDs), and cornerback
Tyler Hall (6 PDs). The returning production for Wyoming is pretty evenly split
between junior and seniors making them experienced and productive. As for Nevada,
Rush is joined by edge rusher Malik Reed who adds 10 TFLs and 8 sacks to go
along with rushed 9 and 2.5. Nevada also doesn’t have anything special returning
production-wise at the second-level, but they have their own quartet of defensive
backs. Safties Asauni Rufus and Dameon
Baber headline the quartet combining for 132 tackles, 7 TFLs, and 8 PDs. Add in
sophomore Nephi Sewell who had 45 tackles, 4.5 TFLs, and 4 PDs, and corner Elijah
Moody (who had 37 tackles and 6 PDs) and you should have a pretty solid defense
that still has some holes to fill. Boise State is the fascinating team here, with
a collection of young talent peppered with seniors. In the front seven David
Moa is back at INT, but he had just 16.5 tackles but did have 2 sacks. On the edge
sophomore Curtis Weaver had one hell of an introduction with 13 TFLs, 11 sacks,
and 3 PDs. Joining him on the edge are seniors Jabril Frazier and Durrant Miles
who combined for 12.5 TFLs, 8 sacks, and 6 PDs. Behind those four are a pair of
young guys at OBLB. Sophomore Desmond Williams and junior Tyson Maeva combined
for 87 tackles, 5.5 TFls, 3 sacks, and 5 PDs. Throwing lanes will be an issue
against Boise State. Behind that collection of talent Tyler Horton comes back
for his senior season after a 3 TFL and 13 PDs junior season across from him
the Broncos will be looking for improvement from junior DeAndre Pierce who had
68 tackles (4 TFLs) and just 3 PDs. The safety position brings us the fineal two
younger players: sophomore Kekaula Kanhio and junior Kekoa Nawahine. The pair
combined for 114 tackles, 11 TFLs and 12 PDs. Boise may peak on defense in
2019, but 2018 is going to be fun energetic and will probably improve each week
with added experience. Fresno from linebacker on back is the last “full” squad
I’m going to hit. At linebacker, junior Jeffrey Allison had an incredibly productive
season with 102.5 tackls, 5.5 TFLs, 2 sacks, and 3 PDs. He’s joined by senior
George Helmuth and senior James Bailey who added 128.5 tackles, 12.5 TFLs, 4
sacks, and 3 PDs. At corner juniors Jaron Bryant and Juju Hughes combined for
122 tackles, 9.5 TFLs, and 19 PDs in their sophomore season and should continue
to grow. Lastly, add in junior Mike Bell and his 43 tackles and 8 PDs at safety
and you have at worst a solid back seven or eight. Let’s clean up the one off’s…
At linebacker Josh Watson, a senior, from Colorado State returns to build off
his 86.5 tackle, 5 TFLs, 2 sacks, and 9 PDs. The other LB of note is Jahlani
Tavai of Hawaii. Another senior Tavai was not as active in the pass game as
Watson, but had 96 tackles, 11 for loss and 9.5 sacks with a couple of passes
defensed. OBLB may be the deepest position on defense in the conference. In the
back four, Ron Smith, junior, of SDSU had 18 PDs and 54 tackles as a sophomore and
is back again to lead the Aztecs DBs. At safety, UNLV brings back junior Jericho
Flowers who racked up 5 TFLs and the same number of PDs. Lastly, there’s the
other SDSU youngster, sophomore Tariq Thompson. Thomps had 5.45 tackles as a
freshman with 3 TFLs and 9 PDs. So, hope on the backside of the Aztec defense.
Boise and Wyoming should be the class of the conference on defense with SDSU
and Fresno having promise. Nevada has some players, but the rest of the conference
needs recruits and newbies to step up.
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