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

Are you a fan of a team currently playing in the Mountain West Conference's West Division? OH BOY! HAVE I GOT SOME GOOD NEWS FOR YOU?

It's finally time to preview your favorite team and every single team you hate. You hate the other teams in your division, right? Because you should. It's just the right thing to do. 

The Ultimate Sports Blog's

2015-16 College Football Preview

Mountain West Conference

West Division

1. San Diego State Aztecs

2014 Record: 7-6 (5-3)


Head Coach: Rocky Long (32-20 all-time at San Diego State, 97-89 all-time overall)


2014 Overall Passing Yards Ranking: 108 (178.4 ypg)

2014 Overall Rushing Yards Ranking: 28 (216.1 ypg)

2014 Overall Points Scored Ranking: 91 (25 ppg)

2014 Overall Points Scored Against Ranking: 13 (19.8 ppg)

2014-15 Team Offensive Stat Leaders:

Passing - Quinn Kaehler (2,157 passing yards, 55.0% completions, 9 TD's, 12 INT's)

Rushing - Donnel Pumphrey (276 carries, 1,867 rushing yards, 20 TD's)

Receiving - Eric Judge (24 receptions, 471 receiving yards, 2 TD's)


Top Returning Players: Donnel Pumphrey (RB), Mikah Holder (WR), Eric Judge (WR), Darrell Greene (RG), Nico Siragusa (LG), Pearce Slater (RT), Jon Sanchez (DE), Alex Barrett (DE), Calvin Munson (LB), Na'Im McGee (LB), Damontae Kazee (CB), J.J. Whittaker (CB), Trey Lomax (SS), Malik Smith (SS), Donny Hageman (K)


Top Incoming Players: Ryan Agnew (QB), Juwan Washington (RB), Jatory Sparks-Brown (RB), DeSean Holmes (WR), John Carroll (TE), Hasani Smith (TE), William Tuihalamaka (OL), Randy Ricks (DL), Kyahva Tezino (LB), Austin Wyatt-Thayer (LB), Reggie Murphy (LB)


2015-16 Schedule:

vs. San Diego
vs. @ California
vs. South Alabama
vs. @ Penn State
vs. Fresno State
vs. @ Hawaii
vs. @ San Jose State
vs. Utah State
vs. @ Colorado State
BYE WEEK
vs. Wyoming
vs. @ UNLV
vs. Nevada
BYE WEEK


MWC Title Game: vs. Boise State (L)


Early Prediction: 9-4 (7-1)

2. Nevada Wolf Pack

2014 Record: 7-6 (4-4)


Head Coach: Brian Polian (11-14 all-time)


2014 Overall Passing Yards Ranking: 98 (192.2 ypg)

2014 Overall Rushing Yards Ranking: 38 (205.5 ypg)

2014 Overall Points Scored Ranking: 64 (29.2 ppg)

2014 Overall Points Scored Against Ranking: 69 (27.2 ppg)

2014-15 Team Offensive Stat Leaders:

Passing - Cody Farjardo (2,498 passing yards, 59.0% completions, 18 TD's, 11 INT's)

Rushing - Cody Fajardo (177 carries, 1,046 rushing yards, 13 TD's)

Receiving - Jerico Richardson (56 receptions, 655 receiving yards, 3 TD's)


Top Returning Players: James Butler (RB), Jerico Richardson (WR), Hasaan Henderson (WR), Jarred Gipson (TE), Joey Anglemire (RT), Austin Corbett (LT), Ian Seau (DE), Rykeem Yates (DT), Matthew Lyons (LB), Bryan Lane (LB), Kendall Johnson (SS), Brent Zuzo (K), Alex Boy (P)


Top Incoming Players: Baylor Romney (QB), Kori Collons (DL), Gabe Sewell (LB), Riley Brand (LB), Dameon Baber (CB)


2015-16 Schedule:

vs. UC Davis
vs. Arizona
vs. @ Texas A&M
vs. @ Buffalo
vs. UNLV
vs. New Mexico
vs. @ Wyoming
vs. Hawaii
BYE WEEK
vs. @ Fresno State
vs. San Jose State
vs. @ Utah State
vs. @ San Diego State
BYE WEEK


Early Prediction: 7-5 (5-3)

3. Fresno State Bulldogs

2014 Record: 6-8 (5-3)


Head Coach: Tim DeRuyter (26-14 all-time at Fresno State, 27-14 all-time overall)


2014 Overall Passing Yards Ranking: 72 (223.7 ypg)

2014 Overall Rushing Yards Ranking: 46 (182.4 ypg)

2014 Overall Points Scored Ranking: 85 (26.5 ppg)

2014 Overall Points Scored Against Ranking: 101 (32.4 ppg)

2014-15 Team Offensive Stat Leaders:

Passing - Brian Burrell (2,620 passing yards, 58.3% completions, 22 TD's, 18 INT's)

Rushing - Marteze Waller (225 carries, 1,368 rushing yards, 11 TD's)

Receiving - Josh Harper (90 receptions, 1,097 receiving yards, 7 TD's)


Top Returning Players: Marteze Waller (RB), Aaron Peck (WR), Chad Olsen (TE), Bo Bonnheim (C), Justin Northern (RT), Alex Fifita (LT), Todd Hunt (DE), Kyrie Wilson (LB), Ejiro Ederaine (LB), Malcolm Washington (DB), Charles Washington (DB), Jimmy Camacho (K), Garrett Swanson (P)


Top Incoming Players: Chason Virgil (QB), Bryson Oglesby (RB), L.J. Reed (WR), Josiah Blandin (WR), Jared Rice (TE), James Bailey (LB), Mike Bell (DB), A.J. Greeley (DB)


2015-16 Schedule:

vs. Abilene Christian
vs. @ Ole Miss
vs. Utah
vs. @ San Jose State
vs. @ San Diego State
vs. Utah State
vs. UNLV
vs. @ Air Force
BYE WEEK
vs. Nevada
vs. @ Hawaii
vs. @ BYU
vs. Colorado State
BYE WEEK


Early Prediction: 6-6 (5-3)

4. San Jose State Spartans

2014 Record: 3-9 (2-6)


Head Coach: Ron Caragher (9-15 all-time)


2014 Overall Passing Yards Ranking: 45 (253.2 ypg)

2014 Overall Rushing Yards Ranking: 97 (141.3 ypg)

2014 Overall Points Scored Ranking: 116 (19.3 ppg)

2014 Overall Points Scored Against Ranking: 85 (29.4 ppg)

2014-15 Team Offensive Stat Leaders:

Passing - Joe Gray (2,305 passing yards, 63.6% completions, 11 TD's, 9 INT's)

Rushing - Tyler Ervin (158 carries, 888 rushing yards, 4 TD's)

Receiving - Tyler Winston (78 receptions, 694 receiving yards, 5 TD's)


Top Returning Players: Joe Gray (QB), Tyler Ervin (RB), Tim Crawley (WR), Tyler Winston (WR), Billy Freeman (TE), Doug Blacksill (RG), Jeremiah Kolone (LG), Nate Velichko (RT), Wes Schweitzer (LT), Cedric Lousi (DE), Tony Popovich (DT), Christian Tago (LB), Cleveland Wallace (DB), Jimmy Pruitt (DB), Maurice McKnight (FS), Austin Lopez (K)


Top Incoming Players: Malik Roberson (RB), Kanya Bell (WR), Colin Baker (WR), Dominic Fredrickson (OL), DeShawn Fortune (DL), Corey Adolphus (LB), Tae'on Mason (DB), Jeremy Kelly (DB)


2015-16 Schedule:

vs. New Hampshire
vs. @ Air Force
vs. @ Oregon State
vs. Fresno State
vs. @ Auburn
vs. @ UNLV
vs. San Diego State
vs. New Mexico
BYE WEEK
vs. BYU
vs. @ Nevada
vs. @ Hawaii
vs. Boise State
BYE WEEK


Early Prediction: 3-9 (2-6)

5. Hawaii Rainbow Warriors

2014 Record: 4-9 (3-5)


Head Coach: Norm Chow (8-29 all-time)


2014 Overall Passing Yards Ranking: 81 (214.9 ypg)

2014 Overall Rushing Yards Ranking: 85 (149.5 ypg)

2014 Overall Points Scored Ranking: 111 (20.9 ppg)

2014 Overall Points Scored Against Ranking: 65 (26.8 ppg)

2014-15 Team Offensive Stat Leaders:

Passing - Ikaika Woolsey (2,538 passing yards, 50.5% completions, 13 TD's, 13 INT's)

Rushing - Steven Lakalaka (159 carries, 646 rushing yards, 2 TD's)

Receiving - Marcus Kemp (56 receptions, 797 receiving yards, 3 TD's)


Top Returning Players: Max Wittek (QB), Steven Lakalaka (RB), Harold Moleni (TE), Marcus Kemp (WR), Quinton Pedroza (WR), Brenden Urban (C), Dejon Allen (RG), Ben Clarke (LT), Kennedy Tulimasealii (DT), Simon Poti (LB), Jeremy Castro (LB), Ne'Quan Phillips (CB), Nick Nelson (CB), Trayvon Henderson (S)


Top Incoming Players: Alex Trifonovitch (K)


2015-16 Schedule:

vs. Colorado
vs. @ Ohio State
vs. U.C. Davis
vs. @ Wisconsin
vs. @ Boise State
vs. San Diego State
vs. @ New Mexico
vs. @ Nevada
vs. Air Force
vs. @ UNLV
vs. Fresno State
vs. San Jose State
vs. ULM
BYE WEEK


Early Prediction: 3-10 (1-7)

6. UNLV Rebels

2014 Record: 2-11 (1-7)


Head Coach: Tony Sanchez (0-0 all-time)


2014 Overall Passing Yards Ranking: 44 (258.2 ypg)

2014 Overall Rushing Yards Ranking: 105 (129.2 ypg)

2014 Overall Points Scored Ranking: 107 (21.9 ppg)

2014 Overall Points Scored Against Ranking: 116 (38.5 ppg)

2014-15 Team Offensive Stat Leaders:

Passing - Blake Decker (2,886 passing yards, 57.6% completions, 15 TD's, 18 INT's)

Rushing - Shaquille Murray-Lawrence (117 carries, 552 rushing yards, 9 TD's)

Receiving - Devonte Boyd (65 receptions, 980 receiving yards, 4 TD's)


Top Returning Players: Blake Decker (QB), Devonte Boyd (RB), Kendal Keys (WR), Ron Scoggins (RG), Eric Noone (LG), Sonny Sanitoa (DE), Tau Lotulelei (LB), Ryan McAleenan (LB), Matt Lea (LB), Peni Vea (SS), Jonathan Leiva (K), Logan Yunker (P)


Top Incoming Players: Dalton Sneed (QB), Justin Polu (OL), Jay'Onn Myles (DB)


2015-16 Schedule:

vs. @ Northern Illinois
vs. UCLA
vs. @ Michigan
vs. Idaho State
vs. @ Nevada
vs. San Jose State
vs. @ Fresno State
BYE WEEK
vs. Boise State
vs. Hawaii
vs. @ Colorado State
vs. San Diego State
vs. @ Wyoming
BYE WEEK


Early Prediction: 2-10 (1-7)

MWC West Division's Potential NFL Talent:

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

Max Wittek - QB (Hawaii)

Donnel Pumphrey - RB (San Diego State)

Tyler Winston - WR (San Jose State)

Darrell Greene - OG (San Diego State)

Kyrie Wilson - LB (Fresno State)