5. San Diego State
High ranking: 4th | Low ranking: 6th
Depth chart: Dez Malone (CB), Cedarious Barfield (S), Max Garrison (S), Davaughn Celestine (S), Noah Avinger (CB), Dallas Branch, Noah Tumblin, Marcus Ratcliffe
As you would probably imagine, the Aztecs would have ranked higher here had Patrick McMorris and C.J. Baskerville not transferred, but they don’t tumble too far because the unit does return six different contributors who played at least 150 snaps in 2022.
Depth isn’t a problem, which leaves the question of who could step up and have a breakout season. Malone might be the top candidate to do so after defending five passes and grabbing three interceptions last year, but even if it doesn’t happen, this is still a unit that improved its yards per attempt average every month last fall and figures to be as stingy as ever.
4. Air Force
High ranking: 2nd | Low ranking: 10th
Projected depth: Michael Mack (CB), Camby Goff, Trey Taylor, Jamari Bellamy (CB), Jayden Goodwin (SPUR), Patrick Dahlen, Jerome Gaillard Jr.
The depth of this unit took a hit in the spring when cornerback Eion Castonguay tore his ACL, but Goff and Taylor might be the best safety tandem in the Mountain West heading into 2023, Bellamy didn’t look overwhelmed when given the chance to start four games last year, and Mack returns with starting experience, as well.
Goodwin, meanwhile, is the glue guy who could be next in line to blow up. Though he was technically listed as a starter at linebacker, he spent just as much time as a slot defender as he did attacking the line of scrimmage with five pass breakups, three tackles for loss, and two interceptions. He’s an exemplar of what the Falcons typically do year after year, so there’s a good chance they’ll find a way to do it yet again with another up-and-comer.
3. UNLV
High ranking: 2nd | Low ranking: 9th
Projected depth: Ricky Johnson (CB), Johnathan Baldwin (S), Jordyn Morgan (S), Cameron Oliver (CB), Jerrae Williams (NB), Jaxen Turner, BJ Harris, Trenton Holloway
The Rebels pulled an interesting feat last year by tying for the Mountain West lead with 15 interceptions and finishing in a tie for last with 43 total passes defended. While losing top cornerback Nohl Williams hurts, this is still a unit that could have a high ceiling under new defensive coordinator Michael Scherer.
Jerrae Williams made an instant impact as the team’s primary slot defender, leading the conference’s defensive backs with 35 stops, while the safety duo of Baldwin and Morgan combined for 13 pass breakups and three interceptions. If this group can cut down on the big plays that often undermined their good work in 2022 (21 pass plays of 30-plus yards allowed, most in Mountain West), they could lead the way to a big year in the desert.
2. Fresno State
High ranking: 1st | Low ranking: 6th
Projected depth: Carlton Johnson (CB), Cam Lockridge (CB), Crishawn Gordon (S), Dean Clark (S), Morice Norris Jr. (NB), Justin Houston, Kosi Agina
The Bulldogs have lost a fair amount of depth here to the transfer portal, most notably in Evan Williams’s departure for Oregon, and to graduations but the unit is still in pretty good shape overall. Clark and Houston both have starting experience, but ensuring depth at safety is almost certain to be a point of emphasis in fall camp.
In the meantime, Lockridge bolstered his argument as the Mountain West’s top cornerback headed into the fall after breaking up nine passes, forcing five interceptions, and allowing quarterbacks to complete just 41.1% of passes thrown his way. Johnson also held opponents to a completion rate under 50% (44.4%) while Norris made good on winning the nickelback job to earn the highest overall Pro Football Focus grade (80.6) of any Fresno State defender. Even if the offense still has some questions to sort out, no such concerns exist here.
1. Boise State
High ranking: 1st | Low ranking: 5th
Projected depth: Kaonohi Kaniho, Rodney Robinson, Seyi Oladipo, Jaylen Clark, Alexander Teubner, Markel Reed, Titus Toler, Zion Washington
Only the Broncos could send three different players to the NFL ranks and still appear to be in the best overall shape of any Mountain West secondary. They had to dig deep last year when injuries struck, getting timely contributions from the likes of Teubner and Washington, though the pressure is on the former youngsters to take a collective step forward.
The intrigue mostly lies in who will play where: Reed started Week 1 at cornerback before suffering a season-ending injury while Robinson and Kaniho started nearly all year, but could one of them move to replace Tyreque Jones at nickelback (remember, Kaniho held that spot throughout 2021 as a freshman)? Regardless of how things shake out, expectations will remain high in a unit that led the conference with a 51.7% opponent completion rate and tied for the Mountain West lead with 15 interceptions.
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