5. Wyoming
High ranking: 3rd | Low ranking: 8th
Projected depth: Frank Crum, Jack Walsh, Nofoafia Tulafono, Wes King, Caden Barnett, Rex Johnsen
Wyoming took a big hit for the second straight spring when USC swiped a major contributor, Emmanuel Pregnon, through the transfer portal, casting an added degree of uncertainty to a unit that looked like it could be solid. Losing four-star recruit Deshawn Woods to the portal doesn’t help matters, either, so while Crum, Tulafono and Walsh — the last of whom spent time at both guard positions in 2022 — is a strong foundation, filling out the rest of the two-deep with confidence should be a top priority.
At a minimum, it’s likely to mean we’ll learn a lot more about the sophomore Barnett, who actually graded out as the Pokes’ top lineman in 2022 with a 79.3 mark in 120 snaps, and redshirt freshmen like King, Johnsen, and Luke Sandy. You could make a case this group has earned the benefit of the doubt that things will get figured out, but there’s enough uncertainty to think it could also lead to more inconsistencies.
4. San Diego State
High ranking: 2nd | Low ranking: 7th
Depth chart: Christian Jones, Cade Bennett, Thomas Mirabella, Ross Ulugalu-Maseuli, Brandon Crenshaw-Dickson, Joey Wright, Ryan Dirksen, Dean Abdullah
The Aztecs offense certainly had an adventurous 2022 and the evolution of their offensive line is no exception: As a group, they finished the year much improved at pass protection while the long-vaunted running game cratered (128th in power success rate, 129th in stuff rate allowed) and now must bounce back while replacing Alama Uluave and, more unexpectedly, Josh Simmons.
Their answer? Lean into youth. Crenshaw-Dickson is the only senior listed among the 12 lineman on the post-spring depth chart linked above, which will make the likes of Jones and Ulugalu-Maseuli among the more important players anywhere in the conference when fall camp arrives.
3. Fresno State
High ranking: 3rd | Low ranking: 6th
Projected depth: Jacob Spomer, Jacob Isaia, Braylen Nelson, Mose Vavao, Toreon Penright, Daniel Taumalolo, Osmar Velez, Tyrone Sampson Jr.
This wasn’t the flashiest unit in the conference last season, but it did its job well enough for Jake Haener and company to thrive. Now, though, some restocking is in order since Bula Schmidt bolted for UCF through the transfer portal and Dontae Bull was recently the #1 overall pick in the CFL Draft.
Thankfully, the Bulldogs have flexibility and seem willing to get creative. Sampson Jr. has experience at guard and center and Nelson has spent time at guard and tackle, plus the Fresno Bee’s Robert Kuwada noted that Spomer got reps there this spring after spending all of 2022 at left tackle. The starting five may not be set in stone for a while, but Fresno State looks reasonably deep here and that always counts for something.
2. Boise State
High ranking: 1st | Low ranking: 5th
Projected depth: Cade Beresford, Garrett Curran, Ben Dooley, Mason Randolph, Nathan Cardona, Roger Carreon, Cord Kringlen
Despite the fact that Boise State must replace long-time left tackle John Ojukwu this fall, the Broncos return a wealth of experienced talent across their offensive line for 2023. The major key? Stay healthy: Beresford, Dooley, and Randolph all missed at least a little bit of time last year with injury. If fortune is on this group’s side, though, it wouldn’t be a shock if they finished in the top 25 nationally by stuff rate allowed, sack rate allowed, and line yards per carry, a feat they accomplished in 2022.
1. Air Force
High ranking: 1st | Low ranking: 2nd
Projected depth: Everett Smalley, Wesley Ndago, Thor Paglialong, Ethan Jackman, Kaleb Holcomb, Adam Karas, Ayden McCollough
You don’t have a running back who leads the nation in rushing yards without a dominant offensive line to open holes in front of him and, ho hum, that’s exactly what the Falcons possessed for the umpteenth year in 2022. Isaac Cochran is the lone major departure from a group that finished 16th in opportunity rate, ninth in power success rate, and third in stuff rate allowed, so while replacing Haaziq Daniels and Brad Roberts will be tall orders, their successors will benefit from one of the nastiest run-blocking units in the country.
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