College Football 2007 WAC Preview
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2007 Western Athletic Conference Preview
Hawaii
Hawaii Coach June Jones has an exciting, wide-open offense that averaged 47 points and 444 yards passing last season! That's why the Rainbows went 11-3 SU, 8-3 ATS and 7-4 over the total. With 6 starters back on offense and 8 on defense, hopes are high for another great campaign. The best news of all is that QB Colt Brennan announced his intention to stay and finish his senior season as quarterback for Hawaii. He finished the season 406-of-559 passing for 5,549 yards and an NCAA record 58 touchdowns. Brennan broke 12 and tied four NCAA passing and total offense records as a junior in 2006. He also broke 10 Western Athletic Conference records, and broke 23 and tied one school record.
So what's in store for 2007? More passing, more wins and, perhaps, more records. Brennan passed for 4,301 yards with 35 TDs and only 13 picks as a sophomore in 2005 then passed for 5,549 yards with 58 TDs and only 12 picks as a junior. He completed an incredible 68% of his passes in 2005 and 72% last year! The passing game should be devastating again, as Brennan gets his top targets back. Junior WR Ryan Grice-Mullen (46 catches, 770 yards, 11 TDs) and senior WR Davone Bess (99, 1,220 yards, 15 TDs) return. In 2005 they BOTH had 1,000 yard seasons!
Throw in senior WR Jason Rivers (72, 1,178) and you can see why Brennan wanted to return. This team will put up tons of passing yards and points again. The running game was very good, averaging 5.5 yards per carry and 118 yards per game to keep defenses honest. However, they lost mammoth back Nate Ilaoa (990 yards), an underrated piece of the offense. Brennan was the second leading rusher with an impressive 336 yards, 4.3 ypc. There is also sophomore RB Inoke Funaki.
Defensive coordinator Jerry Glanville got the most out of a smallish unit, but they still allowed 24 points and 241 yards passing per game. The goal is for the offense to get out in front, forcing the opposition to pass more, as Hawaii allowed 143 yards rushing per game in WAC play, so you can run on 'em. Hawaii is 7-14 SU/8-12 ATS on the road the last four seasons. Of course, at home on the Islands they are deadly, at 7-1 SU, 3-1 ATS last season and 18-6 SU, 14-6 ATS their last 24 home contests.
They are not shy about putting the pigskin in air: Hawaii was 8-3 "over" the total in 2004, 8-4 "over" in 2005 and 7-4 "over" last fall with that attack. The 2007 schedule is much easier than last season, Charleston Southern replacing Alabama, and they get Boise State and Fresno State at home. A road test at Nevada might be the only thing standing in the way of a WAC title.
Boise State
The Boise State Broncos continue to roll, as first-year head coach Chris Peterson enjoyed a spectacular inaugural campaign, going 13-0. He was the offensive coordinator under Dan Hawkins and Boise averaged 39.7 points, 197 yards rushing and 190 passing per game. They concluded the year as WAC champion and had a thrilling 43-42 OT win over Oklahoma in the Fiesta bowl. With 5 starters back on offense and 6 on defense, it is a bit of a retooling season.
QB Jared Zabransky is gone, so quarterback will see a battle. Junior QB Bush Hamdan threw only 2 passes in 2006, and will be pressed by Taylor Tharp (13 passes), who backed up Zabransky, and freshman QB Nick Lomax, the son of former NFL QB Neil Lomax. Their top receivers are also gone, so look for junior WR Legedu Naanee (35 grabs, 541 yards) and sophomore WR Jeremy Childs to get more time.
The ground game was the staple of the offense and is loaded. Senior RG Jeff Cavender is one of four returning players on an offensive line that once again figures to be the team's strength. "With our offensive line and running backs coming back, all the quarterback needs to do is hand off the ball,'' one player said. Junior RB Ian Johnson has been selected as one of the team captains. He led major college football last season with 24 rushing touchdowns and averaged 145 yards a game. Johnson missed parts of games last season with various injuries, including sitting out one game after suffering cracked ribs and a punctured lung.
The running game really makes the Boise offense go. RB Johnson ran for 1,714 yards last season, averaging 6.2 yards per carry! "I realized that playing at 195 pounds isn't the best weight for me," the 5-foot-11 Johnson said. "I want to start this season more in the 200 range, 204 or 205." Senior RB John Helmandollar returns after taking off the 2005 season from football. He was productive as a freshman and looks to get more than the 14 carries he had last season.
The defense was outstanding, allowing 17 points and 85 yards rushing per game, just 3.3 ypc. They lost linebacker Korey Hall, the Western Athletic Conference defensive player of the year, but the defensive line is loaded, with 6-4 senior DT Nick Schlekeway and junior LB Dallas Dobbs. The secondary is deep behind junior cornerback Orlando Scandrick and senior CB Austin Smith. They outscored WAC opponents by a 41-20 average and 39-17 overall. As usual, they were deadly at home on the blue carpet at 6-0 SU, 3-1 ATS, outscoring opponents by a 46-15 average! Since 1999, Boise is 52-2 SU, 33-12 ATS at home on the blue carpet! They will be in the running for another WAC title.
Nevada
Nevada welcomed the return of coach Chris Ault in 2004, who coached the Wolf Pack during some of their glory days over a decade ago, and he still has his old magic, especially on offense. Nevada is off a terrific 8-5 SU, 9-3 ATS season, averaging 30 points, 170 yards rushing (4.3 ypc) and 187 yards passing! The Wolf Pack qualified for its second straight bowl game and lost a narrow 21-20 decision to Miami in MPC Computers Bowl in Boise, Idaho. The Wolf Pack welcomes back 14 starters, though some key pieces on offense need to be replaced.
Nevada has a wide-open option, shotgun offensive attack called "The Pistol offense." The biggest concern is at quarterback, with Jeff Rowe graduating. Sophomore QB Nick Graziano is the likely starter after throwing 17 passes as a freshman, with freshmen Colin Kaepernick and Tyler Lantrip as his backup. Graziano played in every game last season on special teams and also took a handful of snaps in the Pistol offense. He threw 17 passes, completing nine for 92 yards and a touchdown with no interceptions.
The running game has junior RB Luke Lippincott (456 yards, 4.9 ypc, 9 TDs) and 5-foot-9 195-pound sophomore Brandon Fragger (270 yards, 4.9 ypc). Among those also in the mix are two players who saw some time last year in sophomores Mike Kanellis and Dwayne Sanders. Three redshirts from last year - Courtney Randall, Vai Taua and Kevin Grimes - are also competing for time. Remember that the QB runs in this offense, too, as Rowe was the third-leading rusher with 244 yards in 2005 and fourth leading rusher last season (208).
The offensive line has 3 starters back. After an All-WAC season at tackle, Dominic Green is moving back inside to center, where he started eight games in 2005 as a freshman. Now a junior, the versatile Green heads up a deep but inexperienced front. Nevada does return two other starters in tackle senior Charles Manu and junior guard Greg Hall. The passing game loses its top target, but returns junior WR Mike McCoy (346 yards), 6-foot-4 junior Marko Mitchell (493 yards) and junior Jack Darlington, so there is plenty of experience. The offensive should be balanced and very strong again. Nevada was 5-3 SU, 6-1 ATS in the WAC.
An offense that good can make up for defensive deficiencies. The defense improved significantly in 2006, allowing 19 points and 127 rushing yards. That was a big step up from 2005, when they allowed 31 points, 141 yards rushing and 269.3 passing per game! Ault welcomes in two new members of the coaching staff. Charlie Camp comes to Nevada from San Jose State and the Arizona graduate will be working with the Pack's inside linebackers. The other arrival is more of a homecoming as former Pack assistant Jim House comes back to Nevada for what will be his 13th year and first since 2001. He will coach the defensive line.
Matt Hines, a 2006 co-captain, returns for his senior season at nose guard and he is coming off an All-WAC season in 2006. He'll be joined up front by senior end Erics Clark, who emerged last year, his first while serving in a starting role. Developing depth will be the key with sophomore Mundrae Clifton and senior Jay Dixon among those returning with experience. Nevada returns three starters at linebacker, led by seniors Ezra Butler and Jeremy Engstrom at the outside linebacker spots. Butler was a first-team All-WAC selection a year ago after putting up the best season of his career - 71 tackles, 17.5 tackles for loss and 7.0 sacks, to go along with an interceptions, a forced fumble and two fumble recoveries.
The secondary lost some key players, but back are starters senior cornerback Paul Pratt and sophomore free safety Jonathon Amaya. Also returning are corners De'Angelo Wilson (junior) and Devon Walker (senior) and safeties Justin Jackson (senior) and Uche Anyanwu (junior). Special teams is set with kicker Brett Jaekle, punter Zacary Whited, kick returner Dwayne Sanders and punt returner De'Angelo Wilson. Nevada was 8-4 over the total in 2005, but with the improved defense they were 9-3 under last season! After going 0-6 SU/ATS on the road where they got outscored by a 42-19 average in 2004, Nevada was 4-2 on the road in 2005 and 3-3 SU, 4-1 ATS last fall. They get Hawaii at home, but have to travel to Boise, so a WAC title is likely not in the cards, though another bowl game should be. Boise crushed them 38-7 last fall.
San Jose State
Wow! What a job Dick Tomey has done. San Jose State had gone 3-8, 2-9 and 3-8 the previous 3 seasons, then exploded in 2006 with a 9-4 SU/9-3 ATS campaign and a bowl win over New Mexico, 20-12. San Jose wins a bowl? Believe it! This guy can coach. Tomey had been the defensive ends coach for 2005 Rose Bowl participant Texas, and had been head coach at Hawaii and Arizona.
The offense has been very good under Tomey, averaging 25 points, 175 yards rushing, 4.6 ypc, and 181 yards passing per contest last fall. He welcomes back 7 starters on offense and 8 on defense. Senior quarterback Adam Tafralis (2,284 yards, 21 TDs, 7 INTs) completed 65% of his passes as a junior and anchors this versatile offense. Tomey has had two good recruiting classes and keep your eyes open for former star JUCO QB Sean Flynn, who saw a little time last fall. He averaged 426.5 yards of total offense per game in 2005 at California Community College.
The passing game lost its top players, but they bring in JUCO WR David Richmond and return senior WR Michael Hooper. The running game has a 5-foot-6 sparkplug in speedy senior RB Yonus Davis, who ran for 1,007 yards, a stellar 6.2 ypc running behind 3 returning offensive linemen, with junior center Justin Paysinger as the anchor. The running game is deep with junior running back James T. Callier, who is the Spartans' top returning receiver with three touchdown grabs and a 4.4 yards per carry average. RB Patrick Perry, second on the team in rushing with 444 yards, topped the team with seven rushing touchdowns.
This offense should be very good.
The defense stepped up dramatically last fall, allowing just 20 points and 3.8 yards per rush in WAC play. Senior linebacker Matt Castelo and senior cornerback Dwight Lowery bring back veteran experience. Special teams is in great shape with first-team all-conference punter in Waylon Prather and a second-team All-Western Athletic Conference kicker in Jared Strubeck. San Jose is 3-20 SU, 9-13-1 ATS its last 23 road games. The schedule is not easy, going up against Arizona State, Kansas State, Hawaii, Boise State and Nevada, all who played in bowl games last season.
Fresno State
Fresno was a money-burner last season, at 4-8 straight up and 1-11 against the number. It was a rebuilding season for tenth-year coach Pat Hill and a lot of things went wrong. But they weren't THAT bad, losing by 7 to Oregon State, and one point each to Washington and Utah State. Hill brings in former FSU quarterback Jeff Grady becoming the new quarterback coach and they have a new offensive coordinator in Jim McElwain. There are 6 starters back on offense, including the quarterback, and 5 on defense.
The offense averaged 23 points, 180 yards rushing and 158 passing per game. They need junior 6-foot-5 QB Tom Brandstater to improve after throwing for 1,490 yards, 54.5% completions, 13 TDs and 14 picks. QBs Ryan Colburn and Sean Norton (3 TDs, one pick) are also in the mix. The running game loses a horse in Dwayne Wright, who left early for the NFL. He carried the load with 1,462 yards, 5.6 ypc and 11 TDs last fall.
Sophomore RBs Lonyae Miller (287) and Anthony Harding (141 yards) saw time and should be able to step in as a one-two punch, with sophomore Rich Owens vying for time at tailback. Sophomore WR Chastin West is back and he led the team with just 365 receiving yards, along with junior tight end Bear Pascoe (207). There is good young wide out depth with WRs soph Marlin Moore and junior Kevin Ciccone.
The defense was a dominant unit in 2005 allowing just 17.9 ppg in WAC play, but struggled last year allowing 28 points, 140 rush yards per game and 222 passing. Senior DE Tyler Clutts, senior LB Dwayne Andrews, junior DT Jon Monga and Vincent Mays anchor the line, but the secondary loses it tops players. Anywhere, anytime? Yup, Fresno has a tough schedule again, with games against Oregon, at Texas A&M and home against Kansas State. A road game to Hawaii makes getting to a bowl game even more difficult.
New Mexico State
Head Coach Hal Mumme begins his third year at the head of the New Mexico State football program by welcoming back 10 starters on offense, 7 on defense to a group that went 4-8, but won its last two games of 2006. Mumme didn't have the personnel to run his wide-open offense and 2005 was a disaster at 0-12 straight up and 2-10 against the spread, but things began to click last fall. New Mexico State will use multiple formations with three wide receivers and hope experience gets them improvement.
They don't run the football at all (78 yards per game in 2005, 65 per game in 2006) but the passing game averaged 369 yards and 31 points per contest. Junior quarterback Chase Holbrook leads the way after passing for 4,619 yards passing and 4,541 yards of total offense, both NCAA records for a sophomore and school records for a single-season. He ranked second in the nation in total offense per game 378.4, while the Aggie's were third in total offense with 475.1 yards per game. Holbrook completed 70% of his passes for 34 TDs, 9 INTs.
Junior Wide Receiver Chris Williams returns after an All-American season in 2006. Williams led the nation in receiving yards per game (117.9) and catches per game (7.66). His 1,861 all-purpose yards also ranked fourth in the nation. Williams led the Aggie receiving corps with a school record for receptions in a season (92) and receiving yards in a season (1,425). Junior WR A.J. Harris had 71 catches for 789 yards, seven touchdowns, and is back along with senior tight end Nick Cleaver (50 catches for 684 yards and four touchdowns.) Running backs Jeremiah Williams and Tony Glynn play second fiddle in this pass-happy attack.
Four of the five starting offensive lineman return in 2007, including left tackle Mike Martinez, who has started 35 straight games, right tackle James Farrelly, center Richie Bolin and right guard Polo Gutierrez. Sophomore Joseph Palmer will fill the hole for the Aggies at left guard. In 2006 the Aggie offensive line helped the Aggie offense finish third in the nation in total offense, second in passing offense and 15th in scoring offense. The Aggies recorded five 100-yard rushing games as a team. The Aggies recorded three games with over 500 yards passing, five games with over 400 yards passing and 11 games with over 300 yards passing.
Defense is another story, giving up 30 points, 148.6 yards rushing, 4.6 ypc, and 222.7 yards passing per game. The smallish defensive front allowed 186 rush yards per game in WAC play.
On the defensive line Maurice Murray, Brandon McKinney and Ray Manumaleuna return as the Aggie' front three. The linebacker corps is deep as junior La'Auli Fonoti and senior Dante Floyd lead the charge. Fonoti posted a total of 38 tackles on the season, eight solo and 30 assisted.
Senior cornerback Alex Bernard handles a suspect secondary. This team is 2-15 SU/6-11 ATS on the road the last three seasons, but brings a lot of confidence and experience into 2007.
Louisiana Tech
La-Tech bottomed out at 3-10 SU, 3-9 ATS in 2006 under coach Jack Bicknell, so he's gone. Derek Dooley takes over as coach. Dooley, who is the son of former Georgia head coach and athletic director Vince Dooley, comes to Louisiana Tech following a two year stint as the tight ends coach for the Miami Dolphins. He brings in offensive coordinator Frank Scelfo and defensive coordinator Tommy Spangler. Word is that the staff brought in a lot of JUCO transfers, especially on defense.
The offense will have a new look, but welcomes back senior quarterback Zac Champion, who passed for 2,466 yards, 52% completions, 14 TDs, 18 INTs. The ground game has two fine backs in Junior RB Patrick Jackson (854 yards, 5.0 ypc) and sophomore RB Daniel Porter (464yards, 5.7ypc). Junior WR Josh Wheeler (25 grabs, 503 yards) is the only key contributor at wide out back.
The defense has 10 starters back (on paper, anyway), but don't expect them all to be guaranteed jobs after last season's disaster, giving up 41 points, 225 rush yards and 257 passing yards per game. La Tech was last in country in total defense (483 yard per game). A whole new strategy is needed. Louisiana Tech junior linebacker Quin Harris will lead the way, along with linebacker Brannon Jackson and defensive lineman Jared Parten. Louisiana Tech is 5-17 SU, 4-18 ATS its last 22 road games.
The schedule is tough, with seven away games, including dates at Cal, Ole Miss and at LSU! This program consistently takes on big-name schools for big-money, and this season is no exception. In 2005 they opened at Nebraska, and played at Texas A&M and at Clemson - all in September! In 2004, they opened at Florida, then traveled to Kansas of the Big 12. They also played (and lost) at Tennessee, at Auburn and at Miami - all by mid-October! In 2003 they had games against Miami, FL, and at Michigan State. A winning season in 2007 is unlikely.
Utah State
Utah State (1-11 SU, 3-8 ATS in 2006) has been in rebuilding mode the last two seasons, as head coach Brent Guy begins his third season. Former North Texas football coach Darrell Dickey will run the offense at Utah State, trying to improve a unit that was dreadful, averaging 10 points and 253 total yards last fall. The coaches still have a lot of work to do, after a 1-11 season, getting beat by a 38-10 average. This is Guy's first head coaching job. His specialty is defense being a former coordinator at Arizona State and Boise State.
The defense hasn't improved that much, allowing 186 yards rushing and 249 passing per contest. Senior safety Antonio Taylor anchors a secondary that is back along with junior CB Anthony Taylor. Junior college transfer Deshon Benton caught the coaches' eye in spring. The linebacker from Modesto (Calif.) Junior College is finding his niche behind USU's trio of Paul Igboeli, Jake Hutton and Devon Hall.
The new offensive coordinator has to find a quarterback. QB Riley Nelson left for an LDS Church Mission. Senior QB Leon Jackson, who started nine games as a sophomore in 2005 and the first five contests last season, is the leading candidate for the position. New offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach Darrell Dickey will have several players to consider for the starting job, though. In the mix are junior college transfer QB Sean Setzer, Mike Affleck, and Jase McCormick.
Senior QB Leon Jackson is a good runner, and last season Jackson passed for 694 yards with 3 TDs, 7 INTs plus he ran for 105 yards. Returning senior tight ends Jimmy Bohm and Will Fausel will help out, but top runner Marcus Cross (650 yards) averaged just 3.7 yards per carry. Other tailbacks in spring practice include junior RB Ryan Bohm, sophomore Marcus Davis, and sophomore Matt Kohler. This team was 0-7 SU/2-4 ATS on the road last season and 2-18 SU/6-12-1 ATS its last 20 road games. Utah State is 2-27 SU its last 27 away!
Idaho
It's been a coaching carousel the last two years at Idaho. HC Nick Holt left to be the Southern California defensive coordinator a year ago, and Dennis Erickson took over as head coach. Now Erickson is gone, off to Arizona State, after just 10 months in Moscow. So now Robb Akey takes over, the former Washington State defensive coordinator. Akey, 40, is known as an energetic coach and recruiter. This is head coach No. 3 in three years. The Vandals are 15-55 the last six seasons.
Idaho was 7-3 under the total last season with an offense that averaged just 16.9 points and 196 passing yards. They lose starting quarterback Steve Wichman, too. The quarterback race between senior Brian Nooy, juniors Chris Joseph and Luke Tracy, and freshman Nathan Enderle was a heated battle in the spring. Nooy has the most experience passing for 194 yards in 2006. Senior WR Marlon Haynes (473 yards) led the team, while sophomore WR Max Komar was fourth in receiving yards. Senior Rolly Lumbala is at tight end after three seasons at running back.
Junior Tracy Ford, who has played both out of the backfield and at receiver, is contending at receiver, while junior Jayson Bird (506 yards) leads a group of new faces at running back. One of the emerging backs is redshirt freshman Deonte Jackson, who has shown speed and elusiveness. Sophomore Adam Juratovoc and senior Marcis Fennell are contending at guard on a line that averaged just 3.4 yards per rush.
The defense has 6 starters back, but allowed 34.8 points, 165 yards rushing and 232 passing per game. Defensive end Ben Alexander, a senior, leads the way. Jo`Artis Ratti is back after missing the end of the 2006 season with injury and is making an impact on the veteran linebacking corps led by seniors David Vobora and Brandon Ogletree. The secondary has former JC transfer senior CB Stanley Franks and senior Reggie Jones. Idaho sophomore defensive tackle Marvin C. Jones Jr., was accused of selling cocaine to undercover police officers and was arrested after a two-week investigation in the spring. Jones, 6-foot-2, 300 pounds, played in nine games for the Vandals last season, finishing with 19 tackles. Idaho is 4-18 SU, 9-12 ATS its last 22 road games. All in all, don't look for a lot of wins in this rebuilding campaign.
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