5. Air Force
Projected starters/depth: Vince Sanford, TD Blackmon, Alec Mock, Bo Richter, Johnathan Youngblood, Julian Williams, Matthew Malloy
Sanford was one of the Mountain West’s biggest breakouts last year, which makes his return a good thing for a unit losing key veterans like Lakota Wills and Demonte Meeks. If he can stay healthy, Blackmon might be in a position to do the same after collecting five tackles for loss and the second-best overall PFF grade of any conference linebacker (78.4) in just nine games.
Beyond that duo, a trio of juniors (Richter, Mock, and Youngblood) provide plenty of needed experience for the 3-4, so while the Falcons may be short on all-conference-caliber players here, you’d be hard pressed to identify potential weak links, too.
4. UNLV
Depth chart: Adam Plant Jr. (RUSH), Brennon Scott (STUD), Kyle Beaudry (WILL), Austin Ajiake (MIKE), Isaiah Sayles, Jordan Eubanks, Tyray O’Dell, Fred Thompkins, LeShaun Bell
If Jacoby Windmon hadn’t left the Rebels for Michigan State, this unit would have a very strong argument as the best in the conference. As is, though, the returning pieces were better than you thought last season and it all starts with Scott, who came on very strong in his first extended action, and Plant Jr., who was a strong pass rusher in his own right when he wasn’t banged up.
Ajiake, meanwhile, graded out as the Rebels’ top linebacker according to PFF (71.8, fifth among Mountain West LBs) and averaged over nine tackles per game before injuries cut his season short in November. In his stead, Beaudry collected 8.5 tackles per game in the team’s last four games. The key for this group, then, is whether newcomers like Sayles and youngsters like Bell can give UNLV the depth and production it needs to be truly dangerous.
3. Fresno State
Projected starters/depth: Levelle Bailey, Malachi Langley, Tyler Mello, Tanner Blount, Zeke Branham, Raymond Scott
The Bulldogs got exactly what they needed out of their linebackers in 2021 and only have to replace Tyson Maeva among last year’s major contributors, so the good news for the Red Wave is that they may actually be deeper this time around. Bailey and Langley give them a solid 1-2 tandem with upside while Mello got more playing time down the stretch and figures to be a key depth piece with more reps on the horizon.
Meanwhile, Scott only started a handful of games for the USC Trojans but he also contributed on special teams, so his arrival from the transfer portal gives them exactly the kind of veteran presence that could a championship-caliber team over the top.
2. San Diego State
Projected starters/depth: Caden McDonald, Seyydrick Lakalaka, Michael Shawcroft, Cooper McDonald, Vai Kaho
The Aztecs are best known for replacing defensive backs without issue seemingly every year, but don’t be shocked if it seems like those who step up in Segun Olubi’s and Andrew Aleki’s stead do so without much fanfare. It helps that McDonald, Lakalaka, and Shawcroft are a talented trio that could probably start anywhere in the Mountain West, though whether any of them can get back to collecting double-digit tackles for loss is a question that could determine just how strong SDSU is on defense next fall.
If not, at least there’s no question they have the depth to keep attacking and making lives miserable. The arrival of Cooper McDonald from Washington, as well as the continued development of those like Kaho and Darrell Masaniai, should make Aztecs fans comfortable that it’ll be business as usual on the Mesa.
1. Colorado State
Projected starters/depth: Dequan Jackson, Cam’ron Carter, Tavian Brown, Mohamed Kamara, Bam Amina, Brandon Hickerson-Rooks, Sanjay Strickland
The Rams imported a huge amount of talent, but Jay Norvell and defensive coordinator Freddie Banks had the luxury of standing pat at linebacker since Colorado State was already stacked. Jackson, Carter, and Kamara were the only trio of linebackers anywhere in the Mountain West to collect at least 7.5 tackles for loss each, Brown started five games last year and both Hickerson-Rooks and Strickland have provided depth over the past two seasons. Most of the early attention showered on Jay Norvell’s Rams have come on the offensive side of the ball, but these guys could be special next season.
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