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Mountain West Football: 2023 Post-Spring Practice Defensive Back Rankings

Which Mountain West defensive backs are considered the top units at the end of spring football practice?

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No-fly zones everywhere.

POSITIONAL DEPTH RANKINGS

Overall | Quarterback | Running Back | Wide Receiver/Tight End | Offensive Line | Defensive Line | Linebacker | Cornerback/Safety | Kicker/Punter

Note: Italics denote projected starters.

12. Hawaii

High ranking in group: 8th | Low ranking in group: 12th

Projected depth: Cam Stone (CB), Peter Manuma (S), Matagi Thompson (S), Virdel Edwards II (CB), Jojo Forest, Justin Prince, Meki Pei, Justin Sinclair

The young Warriors defense definitely got a crash course against opposing quarterbacks last year, battling injuries and ultimately finishing 2022 with the highest opponent passer rating and yards per attempt average in the Mountain West, but it wouldn’t be a huge shock to see this group take a step forward thanks to some new arrivals.

Stone is the biggest newcomer after he was arguably Wyoming’s best cornerback last season (two interceptions, ten pass breakups), but others like Prince and Sinclair could play their way into a rotation that returns plenty of young potential. Manuma, for instance, put together one of the best overall freshman campaigns in the conference (70 tackles, three tackles for loss, two interceptions) while Edwards was quietly solid in his first season on the islands (three INTs, five PBUs). Thompson was good enough to start in Week 0 as a true freshman before injuries cut his season short, so while there still might be a few growing pains, there’s a capacity for a surprise here.

11. Nevada

High ranking: 6th | Low ranking: 12th

Projected depth: Jaden Dedman (CB), Isaiah Essissima (CB), Emany Johnson (S), Zeke Robbins (NB), Tre Weed, Aedan Seiuli, Zach Lewis, Richard Toney

It won’t get the same amount of attention as losing Dom Peterson, but having to replace Tyson Williams, Tyriq Mack, and Bentlee Sanders in the secondary poses its own challenges. This could be a big year for Dedman and Essissima if they can get their hands on the football just a little more often after combining for 17 pass breakups in 2022.

On the whole, though, the major challenge will be to give up fewer explosive plays: Nevada allowed 44 plays of 20 or more yards through the air last year, the most in the Mountain West, while defending the fewest passes (43) in the conference.

10. Utah State

High ranking: 2nd | Low ranking: 12th

Projected depth: Michael Anyanwu (CB), Ike Larsen (S), Xavion Steele, Jordan Drew, Anthony Switzer, Dusten Ramseyer-Burdett, Omari Okeke

The Aggies are arguably in better shape than you might think in a lot of other areas despite heavy transfer portal losses, but the secondary isn’t one of them right now. Larsen had a strong freshman year in which he posted the highest overall Pro Football Focus grade (89.6) of any Mountain West defensive back, but now the challenge will be to do that over the course of more than 240 snaps.

Anyanwu is the only other established piece here and he’s coming off his best season to date (11 pass breakups, 50% of targets caught), meaning that there are a lot of question marks to sort through in the two-deep. Switzer’s return from a season-ending ACL injury last spring will provide a shot in the arm, but there’s a lot of “prove it” in the ranks.

9. Wyoming

High ranking: 1st | Low ranking: 12th

Projected depth: Deron Harrell (CB), Wyatt Ekeler (S), Isaac White (S), Jakorey Hawkins (CB), Wrook Brown (NB), Koleby Taylor, Tyrecus Davis, Buck Coors

For as strong as the Cowboys defense was in some respects last season, the secondary did leave a little something to be desired: They tied for third in the conference with 45 passes defended but turned that into a Mountain West-low six interceptions while finishing in the middle of the pack with a 60.3% opponent completion rate.

Despite losing Stone to Hawaii, the good news is that everyone is back to improve upon those numbers so this ranking may seem a little low to the brown and gold faithful. There’s also a growing belief that this year’s unit could be even deeper than before, with newcomers like Coors and Davis earning high marks for their work in the spring, so keep a close eye on this group.

8. New Mexico

High ranking: 3rd | Low ranking: 11th

Projected depth: Donte Martin (CB), Tavian Combs (S), Christian Ellis (S), D’Arco Perkins-McAllister (S), Zach Morris (CB), Bobby Wooden, Hunter Sellers, Marvin Covington

The Lobos weren’t alone in losing key players to the transfer portal, but the particular sting that New Mexico felt is that they lost a pair of young standouts in A.J. Haulcy and Ronald Wilson. Combined with Jerrick Reed II’s departure to the NFL and Rocky Long’s exit to Syracuse, and you might think they’ll have to battle big regression in 2023.

That may be true, but Martin’s return for one last ride and getting Combs back from injury gives UNM a solid foundation from which they hope transfer portal newcomers like Covington and Perkins-McAllister can build. This unit has been a relative strength despite challenges elsewhere over the past few years, so don’t count them out.

7. San Jose State

High ranking: 1st | Low ranking: 8th

Projected depth: Kenyon Reed (CB), Tre Jenkins (S), Chase Williams (S), Michael Dansby (CB), Elisha Guidry, Zavion Reese

This unit had its ups and downs in 2022, picking off 14 passes but finishing closer to the middle of the Mountain West with a 60.7% opponent completion rate and 7.4 yards per attempt allowed, though the only major loss headed into the fall is Nehemiah Shelton. On paper, SJSU’s secondary is much more established than it was this time last year.

Reed and Jenkins provide the veteran backbone, though when the former missed the last four games of the season, it provided Dansby the opportunity to finish the year as PFF’s highest-graded Spartan defensive back (75.2, two interceptions, four pass breakups). Williams also had a solid first year with San Jose State after transferring in from USC, so while there may not be obvious all-conference candidates in this bunch, they should provide a high floor for the Spartans to remain competitive.

6. Colorado State

High ranking: 2nd | Low ranking: 10th

Projected depth: Chigozie Anusiem (CB), Jack Howell (S), Henry Blackburn (S), Ron Hardge III (CB), Ayden Hector (NB), Brandon Guzman, Dominic Morris

A rough September obscures the fact that this group got markedly better as 2022 progressed, allowing a completion rate of just 56.1% and 5.8 yards per attempt in Mountain West play, both of which ranked in the top four. That everyone is back for another round in Freddie Banks’s defense makes this bunch one of the more intriguing ones anywhere in the conference.

Howell has a case as the Mountain West’s top safety after following his freshman all-American campaign in 2021 with one in which he finished third among all conference defenders with 103 tackles and allowed just 8.9 yards per reception. Hector was a revelation after transferring to Fort Collins from Washington State while Blackburn and Anusiem were rock solid in their own right. Hardge and Morris are the new arrivals among this bunch and their presence should only make a relative strength better.

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Mountain West Football: 2023 Post-Spring Practice Defensive Line Rankings

Which defensive line units look to be in the best shape now that Mountain West football has wrapped up spring practice?

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Who has the upper hand in the trenches?

POSITIONAL DEPTH RANKINGS

Overall | Quarterback | Running Back | Wide Receiver/Tight End | Offensive Line | Defensive Line | Linebacker | Cornerback/Safety | Kicker/Punter

Note: Italics denote projected starters.

12. Hawaii

High ranking: 6th | Low ranking: 12th

Projected depth: Andrew Choi (DE), John Tuitupou (DT), Ezra Evaimalo (DT), Jonah Kahahawai-Welch (DE), Fo’i Shaw, Elijah Robinson, Patrick Hisatake

Hawaii improved on a lot of fronts last year, but the Warriors defense was mostly still playing catchup by season’s end. The good news is that this unit is now one of the most experienced on the overall roster and, with a full year in Jacob Yoro’s system under their belt, could progress.

The challenge, at least for now, is that this group seems much more secure on the interior than at the edges: According to Pro Football Focus, Evaimalo and Tuitupou are the two-highest graded Warrior defenders back for 2023, but the latter led the team with just 3.5 sacks. As a whole, Hawaii mustered a 4.7% sack rate that ranked 110th in the country and a 15.2% stuff rate that was 100th, so improvements on both could help the braddahhood outperform expectations once again.

11. Nevada

High ranking: 5th | Low ranking: 12th

Projected depth: Dion Washington, James Hansen, William Green Jr., Thomas Witte, Henry Ikahihifo, Louie Cresto

For the second year in a row, the Wolf Pack will have to replace an all-time program great at a key position. Dom Peterson might be even more difficult to replace than Carson Strong was, wild as that seems, considering he notched double-digit tackles for loss in four of his five seasons here and, at least last year, his overall Pro Football Focus grade (89.8) was not only the third-best among all Mountain West linemen but a full 25 points better than any of his teammates in the trenches.

There will be a lot of pressure on the holdovers, then, to improve in Peterson’s stead. Washington picked up five tackles for loss and two sacks in his first extended run as a sophomore while Hansen and Witte both played their way into the starting lineup at different stretches. This unit will have experience on its side, but now they must collectively produce.

10. New Mexico

High ranking: 6th | Low ranking: 12th

Projected depth: Gabriel Lopez, Tyler Kiehne, Kyler Drake, Bryce Santana, Joe Ray Maez, Hunter Rapolla

This unit had its moments last year but, unsurprisingly, replacing all of Joey Noble’s disruption was a difficult thing to do. However, the team’s transfer portal moves over the last couple years could pay dividends this fall: Kiehne came in from UCLA last off-season, Lopez did the same from Washington State earlier this year, and both played with the first-team defense in UNM’s spring game back in March.

Rapolla, though, could be the real key after wreaking havoc for two years in the juco ranks at California’s Mt. San Jacinto College (17 tackles for loss, 9.5 sacks). Combined with solid veterans like Drake and Santana, this unit could be at its best if they find a way to improve their overall disruption (14.7% stuff rate in 2022, 106th in FBS) while continuing to contribute to the Lobos pass rush (7.3% sack rate, 41st).

9. UNLV

High ranking: 3rd | Low ranking: 11th

Projected depth: Jalen Dixon (DE), Ben Key (DT), Waisale Muavesi (DT), Darius Johnson, Nick Dimitris

Adam Plant Jr. and Eliel Ehimare aren’t the most high-profile contributors that UNLV will need to replace in 2023 but they were, respectively, the defense’s top pass rusher and interior lineman last year and their production will be tough to replace.

At a glance, this defensive line may not have any all-conference standouts but there probably aren’t any glaring weak links, either. Dixon demonstrated his potential last year in a monster game against San Diego State (4.5 tackles for loss, two sacks), while Muavesi started two games in the second half of the year and, along with Key and top 2021 recruit Dimitris, gives the Rebels some much-needed size on the inside. The secondary may generate more excitement, but this group can’t be overlooked.

7 (tie). Utah State

High ranking: 3rd | Low ranking: 9th

Projected depth: John Ward, Hale Motu’apuaka, Poukesi Vakauta, Seni Tuiaki, Enoka Migao, Bo Maile, Adam Tomczyk

This unit got ripped apart by the transfer portal like few others in the Mountain West — by overall snaps played, the Aggies must find a way to replace four of last year’s top five athletes — but it would be inaccurate to say the Aggies are staring into the abyss after all of those losses because everyone mentioned above got at least some run throughout 2022’s trials.

Better health luck will almost certainly pay dividends on its own: Tuiaki suffered an ankle dislocation in September that cost him the rest of the year while Motu’apuaka, Vakauta, and others battled through their own aches and pains. The opportunity is there for new defensive coordinator Joe Cauthen to turn a unit that was reliant on transfers in Blake Anderson’s first years at the helm into one that’s by and large homegrown.

7 (tie). San Jose State

High ranking: 2nd | Low ranking: 9th

Projected depth: Tre Smith, Jay Kakiva, Noah Lavulo, Soane Toia, Dejon Roney

Having to replace a conference defensive player of the year is hard enough, but the Spartans face the challenge of replacing two of them. While it’s impossible to say they have another double-digit TFL machine ready to step up, the situation isn’t a dire one.

At a minimum, Toia and Kakiva and Wright give SJSU a reliable veteran trio on the inside, leaving only the question of who will provide pass rushing production. Smith played in just one game last season after a busy freshman campaign in 2022 while Lavulo served as understudy to both Cade Hall and Viliami Fehoko, meaning that both appear to be the likeliest candidates to do so. How will they or anyone else help battle regression will go a long way toward determining San Jose State’s fortunes this fall.

6. Air Force

High ranking: 2nd | Low ranking: 10th

Projected depth: Jayden Thiergood (DE), Payton Zdroik (NG), PJ Ramsey (DE), Kupono Blake, Caden Blum, Aiden Schwartz, Andrew BoisD’Enghien

This is a unit where the whole always seems to be bigger than the sum of its parts and, looking ahead to 2023, next season figures to be no exception despite losing players like Kalawai’a Pescaia and Chris Herrera. For one, Zdroik had a sneaky good year that hardly anyone noticed (10 TFLs, 5.5 sacks) and returns as one of just two Falcons defenders to have earned a PFF grade of 80.0; secondly, Thiergood missed a few games early in 2022 but still notched seven tackles for loss in ten games.

The line’s ceiling will depend on everyone else mentioned above, none of whom played more than 127 snaps last season. Given the team’s track record of success, don’t count out hearing much more about one or two of these names on Saturdays.

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Mountain West Football: 2023 Post-Spring Practice Wide Receiver/Tight End Rankings

Which Mountain West teams have pass catchers with something to prove at the end of spring practice?

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Lots of unknowns make for surprising results.

POSITIONAL DEPTH RANKINGS

Overall | Quarterback | Running Back | Wide Receiver/Tight End | Offensive Line | Defensive Line | Linebacker | Cornerback/Safety | Kicker/Punter

Note: Italics denote projected starters.

12. Wyoming

High ranking: 8th | Low ranking: 12th

Projected depth: Alex Brown, Wyatt Wieland, Treyton Welch (TE), John Michael Gyllenborg, Jaylen Sargent, Ryan Marquez, Isaac Sell, Will Pelissier

Generally speaking, things didn’t go well when Wyoming tried to pass the ball last season and while some of that falls on the quarterback situation, the Cowboys pass catchers didn’t exactly cover themselves in glory. Welch has an argument as the top tight end in the Mountain West headed into 2023, but four different Cowboy wide receivers (Brown, Wieland, Pelissier, and Marquez) had a drop rate above 10% in 2022.

That could explain why newer contributors like Gyllenborg and Sell got a lot of playing time throughout the spring, with the latter emerging as a bright spot in the team’s spring game. There’s no doubt about the reality that this entire group has a lot to prove if Wyoming wants to finally make good on its dark horse credentials.

11. New Mexico

High ranking: 5th | Low ranking: 11th

Projected depth: D.J. Washington, Jeremiah Hixon, Caleb Medford, Magnus Geers (TE), Duece Jones, Luke Wysong, Andrew Erickson, Elijah Queen, Everett Hunter, Ryan Davis

The Lobos passing game struggled badly throughout 2022, but Danny Gonzales hit the transfer portal hard to remake this group for new offensive coordinator Bryant Vincent, pulling in athletes from Alabama State (Hixon), TCU (Washington and Medford), Temple (Geers), and UAB (Davis). Wysong returns after leading the team in receptions while Jones didn’t drop a single target in a limited sample, so if the quarterback situation is more stable this time around, this blank slate could accomplish some big things.

10. Air Force

High ranking in group: 2nd | Low ranking in group: 12th

Projected depth: Dane Kinamon, Brandon Engel, Caleb Rillos (TE), Wyatt Wilson, Tre Roberson, Cade Harris

Judging the Falcons’ pass catchers by normal standards is always tricky, though it may not surprise you to learn that the top three blockers among wide receivers and tight ends all came from Air Force. Losing Kyle Patterson leaves a big hole though a full season from Kinamon, who was slowed by injuries in 2022, will definitely make up for that.

The bigger question is who will emerge as the offense’s necessary big-play threat with both David Cormier and Amari Terry both gone. This would seem to be where newer contributors like Roberson and Harris could make the biggest difference, though don’t be shocked if a cadet not listed here is one who ultimately steps up.

9. Hawaii

High ranking: 3rd | Low ranking: 12th

Projected depth: Jonah Panoke, Jalen Walthall, Tamatoa Mokiao-Atimalala, Nick Cenacle, Koali Nishigaya, Steven McBride

The Warriors outperformed expectations by winning three games in 2022 and this experienced group could be key to doing so again. Three of the four most-targeted players from last year are gone, but Panoke, Walthall, and Mokiao-Atimalala all started multiple games last year and, with the run-and-shoot on its way back, there should be plenty of targets to go around.

Will they have more reliable hands, though? Drops were a major issue for just about everyone in 2022: Ten different Hawaii players had at least ten targets last season and nine of them had a drop rate above 10%.

8. San Diego State

High ranking: 3rd | Low ranking: 12th

Depth chart: Mekhi Shaw, Phillippe Wesley II, Josh Nicholson, Mark Redman (TE), Cameron Harpole, Brionne Penny, Raphael Williams Jr.

It might sound strange to say, but the Aztecs will need to find a way to replace their top two receivers, Jesse Matthews and Tyrell Shavers, after they both benefited from the team’s quarterback switch last midseason. The good news, however, is that Shaw returns after a strong November (16 catches, 216 yards, three touchdowns in four games) to lead a new contingent.

Kirk Kenney of the San Diego Union-Tribune noted that tight ends could play a bigger role in Ryan Lindley’s offense, a bit of good news for the sure-handed Redman (one drop in 45 targets) and Harpole. Penny has flashed an ability to stretch the field, but the real wild card here is Williams Jr., the Western Carolina transfer who spent most of the last two years as a slot receiver and caught 120 passes in that time. If this unit can hold onto last season’s late gains, SDSU could have its most dangerous passing game in over a decade.

7. Nevada

High ranking: 4th | Low ranking: 11th

Projected depth: Jamaal Bell, Dalevon Campbell, Spencer Curtis, Cooper Shults (TE), Keleki Latu, Gerick Robinson, Carlos Sandy

The raw numbers from 2022 don’t really stand out in this group, but all four of the projected starters got their feet wet in Derek Sage’s offensive system and, if the quarterback situation can stabilize at all, could be much improved as a result.

Bell had a mildly disappointing season after a promising 2021 Quick Lane Bowl performance, posting a 15.2% drop rate, though he did average 5.1 yards after the catch per reception while playing out of the slot 90% of the time. Campbell did his best work in the stretch run (20 catches, 14.5 YPC in last four games) and may be a breakout candidate while transfers like Latu and Robinson will hope to provide useful depth.

6. UNLV

High ranking: 3rd | Low ranking: 11th

Projected depth: Ricky White, Jeff Weimer, Senika McKie, Shelton Zeon III (TE), Jordan Jakes, Jacob De Jesus, Kaleo Ballungay

While replacing the Williamses, Kyle and Nick, will certainly be a challenge for new coordinator Brennan Marion, the Rebels still return a ton of experience here and, given better health at quarterback, could return to the form they displayed last September.

That could mean big things for White, who cooled down after a hot start but led the team in receptions and receiving yards, and Weimer, who missed time with a midseason injury but was plenty busy as the team’s primary slot receiver when on the field (team-high 3.7 receptions per game). De Jesus, a transfer from the junior college ranks, might be worth keeping an eye on after a big spring game, as well. This unit has the goods to make good on a breakthrough if things go their way.

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Mountain West Football: 2023 Post-Spring Practice Linebacker Rankings

After lots of turnover, which Mountain West teams look to be in top form at linebacker after spring football practice?

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Lots of new anchors in the middle of defenses.

POSITIONAL DEPTH RANKINGS

Overall | Quarterback | Running Back | Wide Receiver/Tight End | Offensive Line | Defensive Line | Linebacker | Cornerback/Safety | Kicker/Punter

Note: Italics denote projected starters.

12. Colorado State

High ranking in group: 6th | Low ranking in group: 12

Projected depth: Chase Wilson, Drew Kulick, Justin Sanchez, Aaron Moore

The Rams are dealing with the departures of both Cam’ron Carter and Dequan Jackson headed into 2023, so while Wilson and Kulick appear to be the next men up — they played over 500 combined snaps last year — the major task will be to prove last year’s flashes of potential are for real: Wilson ended the year with a 2.5-sack performance against New Mexico while Kulick finished the year with 43 tackles in part-time duty.

Colorado State also recently brought in Cal transfer Trey Paster to shore up depth. With a full year in Freddie Banks’ system behind them, don’t be surprised if the Rams end up vastly outperforming their standing here.

11. Hawaii

High ranking: 3rd | Low ranking: 12th

Projected depth: Logan Taylor, Isaiah Tufaga, Noah Kema, Demarii Blanks

The top three in the middle of this defense seems clear cut, but the major question facing Hawaii at this point is how they’ll fill out the depth chart to replace Kolby Wyatt, Noa Kamana, and Penei Pavihi. Blanks was a junior college All-American in 2021, but the other five players listed on the roster are sophomores and freshmen who have yet to see the field for more than a handful of plays.

Regardless of who steps into the breach, one point of emphasis should be cleaner tackling: According to Pro Football Focus, Taylor and Kema were two among just eight Mountain West linebackers with a missed tackle percentage above 25% while playing at least 100 snaps.

10. Nevada

High ranking: 4th | Low ranking: 11th

Projected depth: Drue Watts, Naki Mateialona, Eli’jah Winston, Jackson LaDuke, Maurice Wilmer, Marcel Walker-Burgess, Davion Blackwell

The Wolf Pack faced a major overhaul here in Ken Wilson’s first year at the helm and, while year one didn’t develop any all-conference performers, his initial crop of linebackers had their moments: Watts had a tackle for loss in eight straight games at one point and he and Mateialona each had eight quarterback hurries each.

At a minimum, Nevada now has one of the most experienced linebacker corps in the Mountain West with LaDuke the biggest new import from Oregon. With both the defensive line and secondary replacing some major pieces of their own this time around, it could be this group’s turn to create some surprises in Reno.

9. Utah State

High ranking: 5th | Low ranking: 12th

Projected depth: MJ Tafisi, Max Alford, Gavin Barthiel, Cole Joyce, Josh Williams

The Aggies have undergone a major shake-up on nearly every front, including linebacker, thanks to the transfer portal: AJ Vongphachanh, Kaleo Neves, and Sione Moa are all gone, leaving a major dent in the overall two-deep.

What’s left isn’t all bad, though. Tafisi’s first year in Logan was a very good one which saw him lead the team in tackles per game and rack up nine tackles for loss while Alford started the last four games and held his own as a true freshman (the two even finished second and third, respectively, among conference linebackers in run defense grading). Barthiel’s arrival from Washington State could be a timely one though his on-field experience thus far has been limited, as is Joyce’s, but this unit is another with a decent chance to come out much better in retrospect.

8. UNLV

High ranking: 6th | Low ranking: 10th

Projected depth: Brennon Scott, Kyle Beaudry, Fred Thompkins, Elijah Shelton, Jackson Woodard, LeShaun Bell

Replacing Austin Ajiake will be a tough task for new defensive coordinator Michael Scherer, but we probably said the same thing about Javin White a couple of years ago and that worked out just fine for the Rebels. Scott’s return from an injury that wiped out his 2022 season could be huge because, in case you forgot, he was the only freshman in the Mountain West to tally double-digit tackles for loss back in 2021.

Whether this group is just fine or truly breaks out may depend on how well Thompkins steps in to replace Ajiake and how much more damage Shelton can do as a pass rusher. Interestingly, Thompkins had the lowest missed tackle rate (7.3%) of any Mountain West linebacker who returns for 2023 while Shelton matched Adam Plant Jr. with 17 quarterback hurries despite playing roughly 100 fewer snaps. If things come together, watch out.

7. New Mexico

High ranking: 4th | Low ranking: 12th

Projected depth: Syaire Riley, Ray Leutele, Dmitri Johnson, Alec Marenco, Mihalis Santorineos

Stop us if you’ve heard this one: The experience in this group took a hit when Cody Moon and, more recently, Dion Hunter elected to enter the transfer portal. Taken in tandem with Rocky Long leaving Albuquerque for Syracuse, you might be tempted to think the Lobos are in serious trouble.

Keep in mind, though, that this unit was hit hard by the injury bug in 2022: Leutele missed five games at mid-season while Marenco and Riley each had season-ending ailments. Head coach Danny Gonzales and new defensive coordinator Troy Reffett also seem to have taken a liking to the juco tandem of Johnson and Santorineos, both of whom started with the first-team defense during UNM’s Spring Showcase back in March. If health is on the Lobos’ side and their track record of developing underrated defenders remains strong, they could be stingy.

6. San Jose State

High ranking: 1st | Low ranking: 10th

Projected depth: Bryun Parham, Jordan Pollard, Elijah Wood, Jordan Cobbs, Matthew Tago, Noah McNeal-Franklin

The Spartans are another Mountain West team undergoing a reset here with the graduations of Kyle Harmon and Alii Matau, but unlike some other teams in the conference this group returns a lot more experience than you realize while adding some interesting new pieces.

In the former group, Parham is a breakout candidate after making ten starts as a sophomore and finishing behind Viliami Fehoko with the second-best PFF overall grade on the Spartans defense (72.8). Cobbs is worth remembering, too, as he made five starts in 2021 and began last season as a starter before an injury derailed his senior campaign. Among the latter contingent, McNeal-Franklin starred up in the North Bay for a time at Contra Costa College and is another juco arrival worth keeping an eye on.

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Mountain West Football: 2023 Post-Spring Practice Running Back Rankings

Which Mountain West teams are in the best shape at running back following the end of spring football practices?

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Ground and pound is still the name of the game across the conference.

POSITIONAL DEPTH RANKINGS

Overall | Quarterback | Running Back | Wide Receiver/Tight End | Offensive Line | Defensive Line | Linebacker | Cornerback/Safety | Kicker/Punter

Note: Italics denote projected starters.

12. Nevada

High ranking: 6th | Low ranking: 12th

Projected depth: Sean Dollars, Wesley Kommer, Ashton Hayes, Cross Patton

The Wolf Pack aren’t starting over after the graduations of both Toa Taua and Devonte Lee, but the new era at running back begins with a lot of unknowns. Kommer made his one carry at Nevada’s Battle Born Showdown count, cashing in with a 60-yard touchdown run, though transfers Dollars and Hayes saw the lion’s share of the work. The former averaged 5.5 yards per carry and caught 16-of-18 targets in spot duty at Oregon last season while the latter has experience as a kick returner.

10 (tie). Hawaii

High ranking: 4th | Low ranking: 12th

Projected depth: Tylan Hines, Nasjzaé Bryant-Lelei, Jordan Johnson

Lest you think that running backs won’t be important in Timmy Chang’s run-and-shoot attack, remember that Miles Reed ran for over 900 yards when the Warriors won the West division with that offense back in 2019. That makes Hines, who finished with a 84.6 overall PFF grade surpassed by only Boise State’s George Holani and Ashton Jeanty among running backs in the conference, a very intriguing breakout candidate after he averaged 7.64 yards per carry as Dedrick Parson’s backup in 2022.

Behind him, Bryant-Lelei and Johnson figure to build off of their own contributions from last year: The former managed to force 16 missed tackles on only 56 carries while the latter posted 5.75 YPC in a small sample size. How much Hawaii progresses in 2023 could depend a lot on how effectively this group provides a crucial counter to what will be a pass-heavy offense.

10 (tie). New Mexico

High ranking: 3rd | Low ranking: 12th

Projected depth: Andrew Henry, Christian Washington, Sherod White, Dorian Lewis, Zach Vigil

The Lobos have had a different player lead the team in rushing for the last five years. One way or another, 2023 will extend that streak to six with Nate Jones’s retirement from football, but the good news is this unit has some intriguing options that could step up and surprise.

Washington has already done so to some degree, a bright spot in a rough 2022 who served as Jones’s primary backup and made waves as a kickoff return specialist. White’s playing time was somewhat limited after an extended run in non-conference play, but Henry and Vigil may be the real X-factors here: Henry led Louisiana-Monroe in rushing back in 2021 and yards per carry last season while Vigil is a former New Mexico high school player of the year.

9. UNLV

High ranking: 2nd | Low ranking: 12th

Projected depth: Jordan Younge-Humphrey, Andrew Wimmer, Courtney Reese

Aidan Robbins bolted to BYU through the transfer portal first, but he wasn’t the only Rebels running back to do so: Spencer Briggs, Samuel Green, Jayvaun Wilson, and Gary Quarles have all exited in recent weeks, too. The three names you see here are the only running backs listed on the current roster, which makes shopping for a new face or two in the portal almost a certainty.

In the meantime, things may not be quite as dire as it seems at first glance. Reese has never been a full-time starter, but he’s averaged 5.9 yards per carry in four seasons at UNLV while Wimmer led the unit in rushing during the team’s April spring game and Young-Humphrey demonstrated toughness in scoring twice against Notre Dame last year.

On top of that, the Rebels have already started shoring up their ranks here by landing William & Mary’s Donavyn Lester from the transfer portal. It’s still not ideal, but it could be a lot worse.

8. Colorado State

High ranking: 3rd | Low ranking: 12th

Projected depth: Avery Morrow (?), Kobe Johnson, Keegan Holles, Vann Scheid

This ranking assumes that Morrow will be involved in some capacity, though that isn’t a guarantee: The Coloradoan’s Kevin Lytle notes that he’s still suspended indefinitely after being arrested back in January, so while reinforcements like North Dakota State transfer Johnson are on the way, it’s a murky situation that, on paper right now, limits their ceiling in this exercise.

7. Utah State

High ranking: 6th | Low ranking: 10th

Projected depth: Robert Briggs, Davon Booth, Cooper Jones, Jordan Wilmore

This is one of the few groups of Aggies not to be carved up by graduations and the transfer portal, so while Calvin Tyler Jr. leaves big shoes to fill, the new committee could be a solid one. Briggs was a pleasant surprise as a true freshman backing up Tyler Jr., but Booth generated a bit of buzz throughout the spring while Briggs was sidelined by injury and could be a juco steal after rushing for nearly 1,500 yards at California’s Cerritos College in 2022. The bet right now is those two take the lead and play a big role in Utah State’s fortunes this fall.

6. Fresno State

High ranking: 2nd | Low ranking: 10th

Projected depth: Malik Sherrod, Elijah Gilliam, Damien Moore, Johnathan Arceneaux

After sending both Ronnie Rivers and Jordan Mims to the NFL, the Bulldogs now face the task of turning the page with some part-time players who enter 2023 with bigger roles on the horizon. Don’t underestimate Sherrod, though, who ran for ten or more yards on one of every eight carries last year and, like Mims, had zero fumbles on 80 total rushing attempts.

Gilliam provides a useful counterpart as a 215-pound bruiser, though it remains to be seen what the rest of the committee could look like. Moore spent three years at Cal and has a good deal of in-game experience to draw from while Arcenaux is a former three-star recruit.

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Mountain West Football: 2023 Post-Spring Practice Specialist Rankings

Which Mountain West punters and kickers are among the best of the best at the end of spring football practice?

Contact/Follow @MWCwire

Which specialists have a leg up on the competition?

POSITIONAL DEPTH RANKINGS

Overall | Quarterback | Running Back | Wide Receiver/Tight End | Offensive Line | Defensive Line | Linebacker | Cornerback/Safety | Kicker/Punter

Note: Italics denote projected starters.

12. Colorado State

High ranking in group: 7th | Low ranking in group: 12th

Projected depth: Paddy Turner (P), Henry Katleman (K), Ashton Wolff, Bryan Hansen

Turner learned the hard way that it isn’t easy to replace a record-setting punt, but while his 39.1 yards per punt average ranked last among qualifying Mountain West punters, it’s worth noting that CSU’s net punting average was better than that of six other teams in the conference. Katleman, meanwhile, will probably have to battle Wolff and Hansen for the kicker job throughout the fall. Rams fans will keep their fingers crossed that this unit doesn’t backslide into the disaster it became during the last years of Steve Addazio’s time in Fort Collins.

11. San Jose State

High ranking: 5th | Low ranking: 12th

Projected depth: Alex Weir (P), Taren Schive (K), Kyler Halvorsen

The Spartans had a nice bounceback campaign in 2022, but a big step forward from their special teams contributors could mean even bigger things in 2023. That’s because neither kicking nor punting was what you’d call a strength: Schive made just 12-of-18 field goals and missed three extra points while Weir managed 40.6 yards per punt. That figure would’ve ranked next-to-last among qualifying players in the Mountain West.

10. UNLV

High ranking: 4th | Low ranking: 11th

Projected depth: Marshall Nichols (P), Jose Pizano (K), Andre Meono

Nichols’s first year in the desert after transferring from Mississippi State provided some much-needed stability at a position which had long been a soft sport for the Rebels: His 42.5 yards per punt was the best average by a UNLV punter since 2019. The big question now is identifying who will replace record-setting kicker Daniel Gutierrez.

Of the three candidates on the current roster, Pizano has the best track record. He transferred to the Rebels after being named a second-team all-Missouri Valley performer at Missouri State in both 2020 and 2021. Whoever wins the job has a very high standard to meet.

9. Hawaii

High ranking: 1st | Low ranking: 12th

Projected depth: Matthew Shipley (P/K), Ben Falck

Shipley doesn’t have the name recognition of a Jonah Dalmas or a Jack Browning, but he’s been pretty good in his own right over the past couple seasons while pulling double duty for the Warriors. He topped 80% on field goals in 2021 and 2022, though he also finished next-to-last in both seasons by yards per punt while Hawaii ranked 104th in FBS by net YPP. If he can improve the latter figure while holding on to the strength of the former, he could be a big reason why the Warriors surprise this fall.

8. Fresno State

High ranking: 3rd | Low ranking: 11th

Projected depth: Carson King (P), Dylan Lynch (K), Abraham Montano

King won’t be confused with some other punters in this collective ranking, but he’s grown into a perfectly fine contributor who helped the Bulldogs finish in a tie for 59th among FBS teams in net punting last year. The kicking quandry is a tougher problem to solve, though: Montano battled ineffectiveness and injuries throughout 2022 and briefly ceded the job to Lynch, who connected on 6-of-7 field goals in a three-game November stretch. If one or the other can’t definitively win the job in fall camp, it could cause a lot of angst throughout the Red Wave.

7. Utah State

High ranking: 3rd | Low ranking: 10th

Projected depth: Stephen Kotsanlee (P), William Testa (K), Elliot Nimrod

Kotsanlee has gotten better every year since his debut in 2020, posting a career-best 43.4 yards per punt while helping the Aggies finish in a tie for 57th with a net average of 38.9. Following Connor Coles’s graduation, he’s also the one known quantity in this unit.

Utah State has a few options at their disposal to replace Coles at kicker: Nimrod has been the team’s kickoff specialist for two seasons while Testa kicked for three years at New Mexico Military Institute and Britton Watts and Colton Schlimgen have joined the team as true freshmen. Blake Anderson may take as much time as he can get to sort this one out.

6. New Mexico

High ranking: 2nd | Low ranking: 9th

Projected depth: Aaron Rodriguez (P), Zach Benedict (K), Damien Sanchez, Charles Steinkamp, Luke Drzewiecki

Rodriguez was one of the busiest punters in college football for the second straight season. He launched exactly 81 punts once again while improving his yards per punt average and helping the Lobos finish in the top 40 by net punt average, so he should be on the shortlist as a frontrunner for the Mountain West’s special teams player of the year in 2023.

The situation at kicker, on the other hand? That remains as unclear as ever. Drzewiecki connected on 10-of-14 field goals in his freshman campaign, so he probably has the inside track when you also consider none among Benedict, Sanchez, and Steinkamp (the younger brother of former UNM kicker George) have seen the field for a FBS contest. This trio is comprised of a true freshman and two redshirt freshmen, though, so the hope is that there’s plenty of room for growth.

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Mountain West Football: 2023 Post-Spring Practice Offensive Line Rankings

Which Mountain West teams have the best offensive lines (on paper, at least) at the end of spring football practice?

Contact/Follow @MWCwire

Who has the most strength among their big men on offense?

POSITIONAL DEPTH RANKINGS

Overall | Quarterback | Running Back | Wide Receiver/Tight End | Offensive Line | Defensive Line | Linebacker | Cornerback/Safety | Kicker/Punter

Note: Italics denote projected starters.

12. New Mexico

High ranking in group: 6th | Low ranking in group: 12th

Projected depth: J.C. Davis, Isaiah Sillemon, CJ James, Shancco Matautia, Devon Smith, DJ Wingfield, Arrison Cole

This Lobos offensive line straight up did not have a good time of things in 2022, finishing 130th in sack rate allowed and 116th in stuff rate allowed as part of an offense which was dead last by offensive SP+. The silver lining? Their two best performers by Pro Football Focus grading, Davis and James, are back for the upcoming season at left tackle and center, respectively.

The trick for new offensive coordinator Bryant Vincent and offensive line coach Cam Blankenship is figuring everything else out. Matautia and Sillemon had okay showings in their first extended stints of playing time, but they’ll need to beat out a lot of other options to secure a spot on the replenished two-deep come fall.

11. Hawaii

High ranking: 8th | Low ranking: 12th

Projected depth: Josh Atkins, Sergio Muasau, Eliki Tanuvasa, Solo Vaipulu, Luke Felix-Fualalo, Arasi Mose, Micah Mariteragi

There’s a lot of excitement about the run-and-shoot coming back to the islands, but one thing Timmy Chang no longer has is one of the Mountain West’s most experienced offensive lines. The interior trio of Muasau, Tanuvasa, and Vaipulu provide a solid foundation, but the real key to this year’s success will be how well they replace Ilm Manning and Austin Hopp at the tackle positions: Though the Warriors had a 4.6% sack rate allowed which ranked 34th among FBS offenses, Hopp gave up the most pressures (47) of any lineman in the conference and Manning allowed half that number (24).

10. Nevada

High ranking: 7th | Low ranking: 11th

Projected depth: Isaiah World, Zac Welch, Andrew Madrigal, Joey Capra, Kai Arneson, Frank Poso, Josh Grabowski

The Wolf Pack lost their top two offensive linemen to the transfer portal when Aaron Frost and Grant Starck left Reno for Arizona State and Oregon State, respectively, which means that the remaining cohort has a lot to prove.

Case in point: World started ten games as a redshirt freshman last season but, according to Pro Football Focus, graded out as the third-worst lineman in the Mountain West among those who played at least 100 snaps. Capra and Arneson didn’t fare much better, but the hope is that familiarity will lead to steadier protection on all fronts.

9. Colorado State

High ranking: 4th | Low ranking: 12th

Projected depth: Saveyon Henderson, Oliver Jervis, Jacob Gardner, Teivis Tuioti, Drew Moss, Brian Crespo-Jaquez, Keegan Hamilton

Rams fans certainly don’t need the reminder that this unit was one of the worst in FBS last year and, to his credit, neither did head coach Jay Norvell. That’s why CSU hit the transfer portal hard and Gardner is the lone holdover from last year’s line who looks, for the moment, to have an inside track on a starting job.

You have to think this starting five is far from set in stone, though, considering the Rams also recently picked up Missouri transfer Bobby Lawrence and still have young veterans like Crespo-Jaquez and Hamilton who made it through last year’s trials by fire. No matter who gets the nod, though, they have to improve upon the 54 sacks and 21.6% stuff rate allowed in 2022.

8. UNLV

High ranking: 5th | Low ranking: 10th

Projected depth: Marcus Miller, Jalen St. John, Jack Hasz, Amani Trigg-Wright, Tiger Shanks, Graham Keating, Anthony Rosas

The Rebels almost certainly would rank better here if Preston Nichols hadn’t entered the transfer portal and ended up at Purdue in short order and, considering the talent elsewhere on offensive it’s one of the bigger question marks that could make or break whether new head coach Barry Odom has a fast start to his tenure. Trigg-Wright and Shanks provide a decent, if not spectacular, foundation on the right side of the line while Hasz brings starting experience at center from Buffalo, so the biggest wild cards here are St. John, who followed Odom to Las Vegas from Arkansas, and Miller, who got his first extended run at left tackle this spring.

7. Utah State

High ranking: 5th | Low ranking: 10th

Projected depth: Cole Motes, Wade Meacham, Falepule Alo, Jackson Owens, Calvin Knapp, Kingsley Holliday, Wyatt Bowles

Despite losing four different athletes who played at least 600 snaps last season, things could be a lot worse for the Aggies but 2023 will need to see a lot of last year’s part-timers step up into prime positions. Meacham and Alo could make for the start of a sound interior, but Motes will need to improve as a pass protector (nine sacks allowed between 2021 and 2022) regardless of whether he plays on the left or the right while others like Knapp, Bowles, and Elia Migao will have to prove they belong in bigger roles.

6. San Jose State

High ranking: 2nd | Low ranking: 10th

Projected depth: Fernando Carmona Jr., Tyler Ostrom, Anthony Pardue, Jamie Navarro, James McNorton, Malik Williams, Marist Talavou, Ryan Stewart

Chevan Cordeiro and Elijah Cooks deserve a lot of credit for the Spartans’ rebound in 2022, but so too does an offensive line that was by and large pretty young. It wasn’t always pretty — SJSU ranked 130th among FBS teams in power success rate and 108th in sack rate allowed — but continuity could go a long way: This unit is the only one in the Mountain West returning all five starters for 2023.

Additionally, with players like Williams, Talavou, and Stewart all having played at least 100 snaps a year ago, it has a pretty strong case for being the deepest and most experienced offensive line in the conference, too.

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