Tag: Brandon Talton

Mountain West Football: First Look at 2024 NFL Draft Prospects

George Holani, Jack Browning, and Cole Godbout headline the group of Mountain West football stars who could be NFL Draft picks next year.

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Mountain West Football: First Look At 2024 NFL Draft Prospects

Next year’s class of NFL prospects from the Mountain West is an interesting mix of stars and under-the-radar breakout candidates.

Contact/Follow @MattK_FS & @MWCwire

Who could be next April’s top players?

Air Force

As usual, it’s always tough to determine which cadets are most likely to be on the NFL’s radar, but the Falcons project to have a very stingy defense this fall and that could bode well for someone like Camby Goff. The defensive back from Reynoldsburg, Ohio has played all over the secondary, and often in the box, over the last two seasons and led Air Force in 2022 with three interceptions and nine passes defended while allowing just 42.9% of receiver targets to be caught. Listed at 6-foot-1 and 205 pounds, he’s definitely worth tuning in for.

In the mix: Trey Taylor, S; Everett Smalley, OT

Boise State

If the bounceback can last for another season, then it’s easy to think that NFL teams will be interested in running back George Holani. Though he had help in the offensive backfield throughout 2022, Holani led the Broncos with 1,157 rushing yards and 13 total touchdowns while contributing 24 receptions for 151 yards to the passing game, as well.

The most enticing statistic, though? According to Pro Football Focus, Holani had 15 more missed tackles forced (70) than any other Mountain West running back. As usual, the Broncos are likely to have a handful of prospects worth following, but he may be something else entirely.

In the mix: Cade Beresford, OT; Stefan Cobbs, WR; DJ Schramm, LB

Colorado State

The Rams didn’t have a great 2023 as a team, but Mohamed Kamara thrived under new defensive coordinator Freddie Banks. Among Mountain West defenders, the Newark native finished in a tie for fourth with 8.5 sacks and third with 16.5 tackles for loss while tallying 35 quarterback hurries. Now that he has a full year within Banks’ system under his belt, he should be in the conversation as the conference’s most disruptive player next season.

In the mix: Chigozie Anusiem, CB; Tory Horton, WR

Fresno State

The Bulldogs may not be quite as rife with prospects next year, but Levelle Bailey is an underrated defender who figures to anchor a veteran linebacker unit. Over the past two seasons, he’s racked up 144 total tackles, 13.5 tackles for loss, and 13 passes defended; in 2022, Pro Football Focus credited him with 48 stops, tied for the second-most among all Mountain West players.

In the mix: Cam Lockridge, CB

Hawaii

The Warriors will have much more experience on hand in Timmy Chang‘s second year at the helm and, among their veteran group, Virdel Edwards II is someone who deserves more attention. After transferring in from Iowa State, he made a switch from safety to cornerback and became the top player, per PFF, in Hawaii’s secondary last year with a 71.4 overall grade. He tied for the team lead with three interceptions and broke up five passes while collecting 50 total tackles and, at 6-foot-2 and 210 pounds, has a blend of size and athleticism unlike many of his peers at the position throughout the Mountain West.

In the mix: Matthew Shipley, P/K; Cam Stone, CB; Solo Vaipulu, OL

Nevada

It might seem lazy to select a specialist here, but Brandon Talton is no ordinary kicker. He announced himself back in 2019 by crushing a game-winning 56-yard field goal in the Wolf Pack’s season opener against Purdue, then connected on his first 13 field goal tries and then, four years later, set the Mountain West record for career field goals made with a 80% success rate. Oh, and did we mention that includes making 20-of-31 of field goals from 40-plus yards? Nevada hasn’t been shy about letting him use his cannon leg to put points on the board over the years.

In the mix: Dalevon Campbell, WR

New Mexico

One of the few mainstays on a Lobos defense that’s seen plenty of upheaval over the past two off-seasons, Donte Martin is back to make another argument that he’ll belong in the NFL this time next year. Since breaking into the starting lineup as a redshirt freshman in 2019, Martin has defended 27 passes and, according to Pro Football Focus, he had his best season yet in 2022 with an overall grade of 74.0. If UNM has a resurgence this fall, Martin is likely to be a big reason why.

In the mix: Dylan Hopkins, QB; Aaron Rodriguez, P

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Oklahoma Sooners Kicker Gabe Brkic named a finalist for Lou Groza award

Oklahoma Kicker Gabe Brkic was named as a semifinalist for the Lou Groza award for the third consecutive year.

The most interesting man in the Oklahoma football program is getting some national accolade. No, we’re not talking about Caleb Williams. We’re talking about the Sooners’ mustache man, kicker Gabe Brkic.

Today, Brkic was announced as a semifinalist for the Lou Groza Award honoring the nation’s best kickers.

This marks Brkic’s third year in a row as a semifinalist. Only two others kickers hold the distinction of having been nominated as semifinalists three times; Wake Forest’s Nick Sciba and Nevada’s Brandon Talton.

Brkic has been excellent on the season making 17 of 20 field goals and has been perfect on his extra points this season. He is kicking at an 80 percent clip on field goals 40 yards or longer while also 5 of 6 from field goals on longer than 50 yards. His 56-yarders against Tulane and Western Carolina remain as the longest kicks of the season by any kicker in the NCAA.

He’s been clutch this season and in season’s past making game-winners like his winner against the West Virginia Mountaineers after Spencer Rattler and a struggling offense orchestrated a game-winning drive to get in Brkic’s range.

The finalists for the award will be announced on November 23rd effectively giving Brkic the rest of the Sooners regular season to make his case as one of the three finalists.  With the way the Sooner offense has been moving the ball of late, it stands to reason there will be many more opportunities for Brkic to showcase his talents.

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