The Mountain West media is expecting Boise State and San Diego State to meet for the conference title contest at the end of the season.
Boise State is the top squad in the media poll for Mountain Division with Utah State in second. Colorado State is third, while Air Force is fourth. Wyoming and New Mexico round out the division.
There are nine offensive starters returning for Boise State, but the top quarterback back is sophomore Ryan Finley, who threw for 161 yards and a pair of touchdowns in 2014. Senior receiver Shane Williams-Rhodes is expected to be one of the top offensive performers.
Junior linebacker Tanner Vallejo leads the Broncos on defense after posting 100 tackles with three sacks and an interception a year ago. Senior safety Darian Thompson had seven picks last season and tied for the conference lead.
In the West, it’s San Diego State. Fresno State is second with Nevada in third. San Jose State is fourth and Hawaii is fifth. UNLV is sixth.
The Aztecs return a first team all-conference performer in junior running back Donnel Pumphrey, who gained 1,867 yards with 20 touchdowns. Other players expected to contribute are junior defensive back Damontae Kazee and junior linebacker Calvin Munson.
Some players to watch in the Mountain West: Air Force: Weston Steelhammer, Jacobi Owens, Jalen Robinette, Alex Hansen; Colorado State: Rashard Higgins, Kevin Pierre-Louis, Steven Walker; Fresno State: Marteze Waller, Aaron Peck, Kyrie Wilson; Hawaii: Ikaika Woolsey, Quinton Pedroza, Simon Poti; Nevada: Don Jackson, Jerico Richardson, Jordan Dubrich; New Mexico: Jhurell Pressley, Lamar Jordon, Dakota Cox; San Jose State: Tyler Ervin, Joe Gray, Tyler Winston, Christian Tago; UNLV: Blake Decker, Devonte Boyd, Tau Lotulelei; Utah State: LaJuan Hunt, Hunter Sharp, Nick Vigil; Wyoming: Brian Hill, Tanner Gentry, Eddie Yarbrough.
Editor’s note: Quotes, photos and logos courtesy of CollegePressBox.com.