2015-16 College Football Preview: Mountain West (Mountain Division)

The Ultimate Sports Blog's 2015-16 college football preview continues to roll along. We kick off week two with a look at the teams in the Mountain Division of the MWC and ladies and gentlemen....we have our very first potential "playoff contender" team! Can you smell the excitement in the air? I sure can. 

The Ultimate Sports Blog's

2015-16 College Football Preview

Mountain West Conference

Mountain Division

1. Boise State Broncos

2014 Record: 12-2 (7-1)


Head Coach: Bryan Harsin (12-2 all-time at Boise State, 19-7 all-time overall)


2014 Overall Passing Yards Ranking: 24 (280.4 ypg)

2014 Overall Rushing Yards Ranking: 31 (213.9 ypg)

2014 Overall Points Scored Ranking: 9 (39.7 ppg)

2014 Overall Points Scored Against Ranking: 64 (26.8 ppg)

2014-15 Team Offensive Stat Leaders:

Passing - Grant Hedrick (3,696 passing yards, 70.8% completions, 23 TD's, 14 INT's)

Rushing - Jay Ajayi (347 carries, 1,823 rushing yards, 28 TD's)

Receiving - Thomas Sperbeck (51 receptions, 877 receiving yards, 3 TD's)


Top Returning Players: Thomas Sperbeck (WR), Shane Williams-Rhodes (WR), Chaz Anderson (WR), Jake Roh (TE), Marcus Henry (C), Mario Yakoo (RG), Travis Averill (LG), Steven Baggett (RT), Rees Odhiambo (LT), Tyler Horn (DE), Kamalei Correa (DE), Armand Nance (DT), Ben Weaver (LB), Tanner Vallejo (LB), Donte Deayon (CB), Jonathan Moxey (CB), Darian Thompson (FS), Sean Wale (P)


Top Incoming Players: Brett Rypien (QB), Raymond Sheard (RB), Akilian Butler (WR), Matt Pistone (TE), Drew Berger (LB), Kameron Miles (CB), Evan Tyler (CB), Ladarryl Blair (DB), Donzale Roddie (DB), Damion Wright (DB)


2015-16 Schedule:

vs. Washington
vs. @ BYU
vs. Idaho State
vs. @ Virginia
vs. Hawaii
vs. @ Colorado State
vs. @ Utah State
vs. Wyoming
vs. @ UNLV
BYE WEEK
vs. New Mexico
vs. Air Force
vs. @ San Jose State
BYE WEEK


WMC Title Game: vs. San Diego State (W)


Early Prediction: 12-1 (8-0)

2. Air Force Falcons

2014 Record: 10-3 (5-3)


Head Coach: Troy Calhoun (59-44 all-time)


2014 Overall Passing Yards Ranking: 119 (145.6 ypg)

2014 Overall Rushing Yards Ranking: 7 (273.1 ypg)

2014 Overall Points Scored Ranking: 51 (31.5 ppg)

2014 Overall Points Scored Against Ranking: 34 (24.2 ppg)

2014-15 Team Offensive Stat Leaders:

Passing - Kale Pearson (1,590 passing yards, 59.1% completions, 14 TD's, 3 INT's)

Rushing - Jacobi Owens (204 carries, 1,054 rushing yards, 5 TD's)

Receiving - Jalen Robinette (43 receptions, 806 receiving yards, 4 TD's)


Top Returning Players: Jacobi Owens (RB), Shayne Davern (WR), Jalen Robinette (WR), Garrett Brown (WR), Garrett Griffin (TE), Andrew Ruechel (RG), Matt Rochell (LT), Alex Hansen (DE), Connor Healy (LB), Dexter Walker (LB), Weston Steelhammer (DB)


Top Incoming Players: Unknown at press time due to U.S. Military Academy restraints


2015-16 Schedule:

vs. Morgan State
vs. San Jose State
vs. @ Michigan State
BYE WEEK
vs. @ Navy
vs. Wyoming
vs. @ Colorado State
vs. Fresno State
vs. @ Hawaii
vs. Army West Point
vs. Utah State
vs. @ Boise State
vs. @ New Mexico
BYE WEEK


Early Prediction: 8-4 (5-3)

3. Colorado State Rams

2014 Record: 10-3 (6-2)


Head Coach: Mike Bobo (0-0 all-time)


2014 Overall Passing Yards Ranking: 8 (321.6 ypg)

2014 Overall Rushing Yards Ranking: 71 (159.3 ypg)

2014 Overall Points Scored Ranking: 32 (33.9 ppg)

2014 Overall Points Scored Against Ranking: 45 (25.1 ppg)

2014-15 Team Offensive Stat Leaders:

Passing - Garrett Grayson (4,006 passing yards, 64.3% completions, 32 TD's, 7 INT's)

Rushing - Dee Hart (194 carries, 1,275 rushing yards, 16 TD's)

Receiving - Rashard Higgins (96 receptions, 1,750 receiving yards, 17 TD's)


Top Returning Players: Rashard Higgins (WR), Joe Hansley (WR), Steven Walker (TE), Kivon Cartwright (TE), Jake Bennett (C), Fred Zerblis (RG), Sam Carlson (RT), Joe Kawulok (DE), Justin Hansen (DT), Terry Jackson (DT), Cory James (LB), DeAndre Elliott (DB), Preston Hodges (DB), Trent Matthews (SS), Kevin Pierre-Louis (FS), Hayden Hunt (P)


Top Incoming Players: J.C. Robles (QB), Isaiah Matthews (RB), Olabisi Johnson (RB), Darnell Thompson (DL), Deshon Mayes (LB)


2015-16 Schedule:

vs. Savannah State
vs. Minnesota
vs. Colorado
vs. @ UTSA
vs. @ Utah State
vs. Boise State
vs. Air Force
BYE WEEK
vs. San Diego State
vs. @ Wyoming
vs. UNLV
vs. @ New Mexico
vs. @ Fresno State
BYE WEEK


Early Prediction: 7-5 (6-2)

4. Utah State Aggies

2014 Record: 10-4 (6-2)


Head Coach: Matt Wells (19-9 all-time)


2014 Overall Passing Yards Ranking: 94 (198.7 ypg)

2014 Overall Rushing Yards Ranking: 51 (180.1 ypg)

2014 Overall Points Scored Ranking: 81 (26.9 ppg)

2014 Overall Points Scored Against Ranking: 12 (19.7 ppg)

2014-15 Team Offensive Stat Leaders:

Passing - Darell Garretson (1,140 passing yards, 67.4% completions, 8 TD's, 3 INT's)

Rushing - LaJuan Hunt (111 carries, 540 rushing yards, 1 TD's)

Receiving - Hunter Sharp (66 receptions, 939 receiving yards, 7 TD's)


Top Returning Players: Chuckie Keeton (QB), LaJuan Hunt (RB), Jojo Natson (WR), Hunter Sharp (WR), Wyatt Houston (TE), Austin Stephens (C), Taani Fislau (RG), Tyshon Mosley (LG), Jake Simonich (RT), Jordan Nielsen (DE), Kyler Fackrell (LB), Nick Vigil (LB), Torrey Green (LB), Jalen Davis (DB), Devin Centers (FS)


Top Incoming Players: Cade Smith (QB), Dalton Baker (TE), Daniel Langi (LB), Cameron Haney (DB)


2015-16 Schedule:

vs. Southern Utah
vs. @ Utah
vs. @ Washington
BYE WEEK
vs. Colorado State
vs. @ Fresno State
vs. Boise State
vs. @ San Diego State
vs. Wyoming
vs. @ New Mexico
vs. @ Air Force
vs. Nevada
vs. BYU
BYE WEEK


Early Prediction: 6-6 (5-3)

5. New Mexico Lobos

2014 Record: 4-8 (2-6)


Head Coach: Bob Davie (11-26 all-time at New Mexico, 46-51 all-time overall)


2014 Overall Passing Yards Ranking: 126 (89.1 ypg)

2014 Overall Rushing Yards Ranking: 5 (310.4 ypg)

2014 Overall Points Scored Ranking: 74 (27.7 ppg)

2014 Overall Points Scored Against Ranking: 112 (35.9 ppg)

2014-15 Team Offensive Stat Leaders:

Passing - Lamar Jordan (895 passing yards, 52.7% completions, 6 TD's, 5 INT's)

Rushing - Jhurell Pressley (114 carries, 1,083 rushing yards, 12 TD's)

Receiving - Tyler Duncan (12 receptions, 293 receiving yards, 2 TD's)


Top Returning Players: Lamar Jordan (QB), Jhurell Pressley (RB), Teriyon Gipson (RB), Reece White (TE), Garrett Adcock (C), Eden Mahina (LG), Reno Henderson (LT), Nik D'Avanzo (DE), Cole Juarez (DT), Dakota Cox (LB), Kimmie Carson (LB), Ricky Bennett (LB), Cranston Jones (CB), Ryan Santos (SS), Jason Sanders (K), Zack Rogers (P)


Top Incoming Players: Austin Apodaca (QB), Daryl Chestnut (RB), Chris Lewis (DL)


2015-16 Schedule:

vs. Mississippi Valley State
vs. Tulsa
vs. @ Arizona State
vs. @ Wyoming
vs. New Mexico State
vs. @ Nevada
vs. Hawaii
vs. @ San Jose State
BYE WEEK
vs. Utah State
vs. @ Boise State
vs. Colorado State
vs. Air Force
BYE WEEK


Early Prediction: 5-7 (2-6)

6. Wyoming Cowboys

2014 Record: 4-8 (2-6)


Head Coach: Craig Bohl (4-8 all-time)


2014 Overall Passing Yards Ranking: 68 (227.8 ypg)

2014 Overall Rushing Yards Ranking: 80 (153.2 ypg)

2014 Overall Points Scored Ranking: 110 (21.1 ppg)

2014 Overall Points Scored Against Ranking: 102 (32.8 ppg)

2014-15 Team Offensive Stat Leaders:

Passing - Colby Kirkegaard (2,660 passing yards, 57.4% completions, 12 TD's, 9 INT's)

Rushing - Brian Hill (145 carries, 796 rushing yards, 7 TD's)

Receiving - Dom Rufran (45 receptions, 596 receiving yards, 0 TD's)


Top Returning Players: Shaun Wick (RB), Drew Van Maanen (FB), Rafe Kelly (C), Chase Roullier (LG), Ryan Cummings (LT), Eddie Yarbrough (DE), Uso Olive (DT), Tim Kamana (LB), Robert Priester (CB), Ethan Wood (P)


Top Incoming Players: Kellen Overstreet (RB), Justice Murphy (WR), C.J. Johnson (WR)


2015-16 Schedule:

vs. North Dakota
vs. Eastern Michigan
vs. @ Washington State
vs. New Mexico
vs. @ Appalachian State
vs. @ Air Force
vs. Nevada
vs. @ Boise State
vs. @ Utah State
vs. Colorado State
vs. @ San Diego State
BYE WEEK
vs. UNLV
BYE WEEK


Early Prediction: 3-9 (1-7)

MWC Mountain Division's Potential NFL Talent:

(These are guys playing in the conference this year who are already on NFL team's radars)

Rashard Higgins - WR (Colorado State)

Steven Walker - TE (Colorado State)

Kivon Cartwright - TE (Colorado State)

Marcus Henry - C (Boise State)

Rees Odhiambo - OT (Boise State)

Eddie Yarbrough - DE (Wyoming)

Kamalei Correa - DE (Boise State)

Kyler Fackrell - LB (Utah State)

Cory James - LB (Colorado State)

Nick Vigil - LB (Utah State)

Tanner Vallejo - LB (Boise State)

Dakota Cox - LB (New Mexico)

Darian Thompson - FS (Boise State)