In Part I of the Mountain West preview, I broke down how I think the conference will shake out in 2008. In Part II, I take a look at key games and impact newcomers, and I also give my preseason all-MWC picks.
Key Games
If BYU’s BCS aspirations are to become a reality, perfection in the MWC is a must, along with winning games at Washington (9/6) and at home against UCLA the next week in a rematch of last year’s Las Vegas Bowl thriller, in which BYU preserved a 17-16 win by blocking a last-second field goal attempt.
Utah could also have eyes for another BCS appearance if they can win their season opener at Michigan, where they could spoil Rich Rodriguez’s Michigan debut. The Utes also have a big one at home against Oregon State on Oct. 2.
New Mexico opens their season with a three-game homestead, but it won’t be an easy one, as they host TCU, Texas A&M, and Arizona before embarking on road games at Tulsa and in-state rival New Mexico State, where their talented pass defense will get a serious workout.
Speaking of TCU, the Horned Frogs go to Oklahoma on September 27, but the week before that, they go to SMU to face June Jones and his new-look Mustangs.
Wyoming pays a visit to Tennessee and Neyland Stadium on November 8, and they also host a pretty talented Bowling Green team on September 27.
The game between Wyoming and Air Force on September 6 will be a big indicator of how where both teams may stand in ‘08, and for the Falcons, besides their showdowns against rivals Navy (Oct. 4) and Army (Nov. 1), there’s a chance to play spoiler when they host BYU on Nov. 15.
The big conference matchup that could be for all of the marbles, MWC title, BCS bowl, the whole ball of wax, is the BYU-Utah matchup in Salt Lake City on Nov. 22. The last two have been won by BYU in the late going, and it should be another nail-biter this time around.
But before that, BYU’s unbeaten season, if it isn’t ended early on, will get a huge test both when the Cougars go to Air Force and when the Cougars go to Fort Worth to take on TCU on October 16.
Impact Newcomers
There will be a couple of new names under center in the Mountain West that will be worth remembering.
Kevin O’Connell is now learning from one of the best in New England, but redshirt freshman Ryan Lindley could be a big hit very soon. Lindley was a highly-rated prospect coming out of high school, and he has the talent to lead the Aztecs to success over the next four years.
Wyoming has a returning starter at QB in Karsten Sween, but the job is up for grabs, and when all is said and done, JC transfer Dax Crum (formerly of Arizona St.) could be the guy if he can build off of an impressive spring practice.
Utah’s passing game will be dangerous, as returning starting QB Brian Johnson will have several targets to throw to, but the best one could wind up being five-star JC transfer Aiona Key, who spent last season at Mt. San Antonio JC after leaving Boise State (where he spent two seasons) just prior to the start of the 2007 season.
In his one season of JC ball, Key had 80 catches for 1,112 yards and 17 touchdowns, and he also blocked four punts (with one returned for a score). He’s an imposing target at 6′4, 210 pounds, and he’ll be a important part of the Utes’ offense in 2008.
BYU signed two four-star defensive line recruits that could provide immediate depth at the position, in 6′1, 311 pound tackle Tevita Hola and end Bernard Afutiti, who was a teammate of Key’s at Mt. San Antonio.
New Mexico lost receivers Marcus Smith and Travis Brown, but they picked up a solid recruit in three-star JC receiver Bryant Williams (Coffeyville, Kansas).
UNLV lost a big-time linebacker in Beau Bell, but three-star recruit David Blair was a tackling machine in high school, and he should have a chance to get some regular action as a freshman.
TCU could get an immediate contribution on the defensive line from 6′2, 260 pounder Jeremy Coleman, who could slot it at either tackle or end. Coleman had 92 tackles, 24 of which were for losses, and 13 sacks as a senior for Fort Bend Marshall HS.
Preseason All-Mountain West Team
QB: Max Hall, BYU
RB: Harvey Unga, BYU
RB: Darrell Mack, Utah
WR: Austin Collie, BYU
WR: Ryan Wolfe, UNLV
WR: Dion Morton, Colorado St.
TE: Dennis Pitta, BYU
OL: Dallas Reynolds, BYU
OL: Zane Beadles, Utah
OL: Ray Feinga, BYU
OL: Robert Conley, Utah
OL: Blake Schlueter, TCU
DL: Jan Jorgensen, BYU
DL: Russell Tialavea, BYU
DL: John Fletcher, Wyoming
DL: Paul Kruger, Utah
LB: Ward Dobbs, Wyoming
LB: Jason Phillips, TCU
LB: Russell Allen, SDSU
LB: Jeff Horinek, Colorado St.
DB: DeAndre Wright, New Mexico
DB: Sean Smith, Utah
DB: Stephen Hodge, TCU
DB: Chris Thomas, Air Force
K: Louie Sakoda, Utah
P: Louie Sakoda, Utah
KR: Mikell Wesley, SDSU
All-Purpose: Dion Morton, CSU
Player of the Year: Max Hall, BYU
Offensive Player of the Year: Max Hall, BYU
Defensive Player of the Year: Jan Jorgensen, BYU
Newcomer of the Year: Ryan Lindley, QB, SDSU
Coach of the Year: Kyle Whittingham, Utah
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