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Star of the defense: Senior FS Morgan Scalley
Player that has to step up and become a star: Senior LB Tommy Hackenbruck
Unsung star on the rise: Senior DT Sione Pouha
Best pro prospect: Scalley Top three all-star candidates: 1) Scalley, 2) SS Eric Weddle, 3) DT Sione Pouha note: DE Jason Kaufusi is the top candidate if healthy
Strength of the defense: Defensive line
Weakness of the defense: Cornerback if Eric Weddle stays at safety
Defensive Line
Projected Starters
- Defensive end Marquess Ledbetter, Jr. - Ledbetter stepped up big-time when Jason Kaufusi went down leading the team with five sacks and making 30 tackles despite only getting the starting job
five games into the season.
- Defensive tackle Sione Pouha, Sr. - The 330-pound Pouha should be one of the league's best run stoppers coming off a 20 tackle season. He's a mountain of a player and tough to push
around.
- Defensive tackle Steve Fifita, Jr. - The 311-pound junior is active on the nose good at stopping the run and decent at getting into the backfield. He's a strong overall performer and should
be in the hunt for All-Conference honors.
- Defensive end Jonathan Fanene, Sr. - It'll be Fanene's job to replace All-Conference star Josh Savage and his 47 tackles and nine broken up passes. He's a big player on the end and has seen
plenty of time in practice as a reserve making six tackles and two sacks. If Jason Kaufusi is healthy, Fanene goes back to being a backup.
Top Backups
- DE Jason Kaufusi, Sr. - One of the biggest X factors in the Mountain West, Kaufusi is trying to overcome a shoulder problem that kept him out all last year. If he's healthy, he's one of the
league's best players and the team's top pass rusher.
- DE Reza Williams, Sr. - The JUCO transfer was a strong reserve last season making 11 tackles and a sack. He'll play behind Marques Ledbetter on the open end.
The Skinny: The line was strong last year and could be something truly special if Jason Kaufusi returns from his shoulder problem. If he's 100%, this is one of the best lines in the
country, not just the Mountain West, with Marquess Ledbetter a strong pass rusher on the end and Sione Pouha and Steve Fifita about to get in the All-Mountain West mix in the middle. The
backups are big and good enough to step in if there's trouble.
Player to keep an eye on: Sione Pouha ... Defensive Line Rating: 8
Linebackers
Projected Starters
- Spencer Toone, Jr. - Toone plays a hybrid of third safety and weakside linebacker at the rover linebacker position. Wherever he plays he'll be an All-Conference candidate finishing fourth on
the team with 65 tackles. He has the speed to be able to free-lance, and the size to deliver the big hit.
- Tommy Hackenbruck, Sr. - It'll be up to the senior to take the place of 2003's leading tackler Ray Holdcraft. Hackenbruck saw a little bit of action last year, mostly on special teams, making
seven tackles. He's a bit undersized for a true middle linebacker at 227 pounds, so he'll use his speed to make plays.
- Corey Dodds, Sr. - Dodds stepped up in the starting role last year on the strongside as the guy who was always in the right place at the right time. Along with his 42 tackles, he blocked two
kicks and recovered four fumbles.
Top Backups
- Kyle Brady, RFr. - He's young, but he has athleticism and speed to become a top backup. He should grow into a strong player behind Spencer Toone at the rover linebacker spot.
- Taylor Miller, RFr. - With the middle linebacker spot in question, Miller will get every chance to push Tommy Hackenbruck for the starting job. He's not all that huge, but he can move.
The Skinny: This will be a fast and opportunistic group with Spencer Toone and Corey Dodds doing well on the outside. The question will be in the middle replacing Ray Holdcraft's 102
tackles and leadership. Expect an on-going battle for the spot with several young playmakers vying for time. The depth is very athletic, but very raw.
Player to keep an eye on: Grady Marshall ... Linebacker Rating: 6
Secondary
Projected Starters
- Cornerback Gerald Fletcher, Sr. - With Eric Weddle moving to safety, Fletcher takes over one of the starting cornerback roles working on the right side. He isn't all that big and has mostly
been used on special teams so far.
- Free safety Morgan Scalley, Sr. - Scalley came up with a huge junior season as one of the leaders of the defense making 73 tackles and two interceptions. He's an Academic All-American who
plays fast and hits like a ton of bricks.
- Strong safety Eric Weddle, Soph. - One of the biggest surprises of last year, Weddle made 60 tackles and three interceptions showing a penchant for making the big play with four forced
fumbles. He has the speed to play corner, but he'll end up at strong safety to better utilize his tackling ability.
- Cornerback Bo Nagahi, Sr. - Nagahi, a strong kick and punt returner, stepped into the starting left corner job this spring after being a career reserve. He's tremendously quick and has
experience coming off a 21-tackle season.
Top Backups
- Free safety Antonio Young, Jr. - The former cornerback saw a little bit of action last year making eight tackles. He has good range and should see a little bit of time whenever Morgan
Scalley needs a break.
- Cornerback Shaun Harper, Soph. - A spot starter last year behind Eric Weddle, Harper made 29 tackles and broke up five pass proving to be a solid backup. He'll push for time behind Gerald
Fletcher on the right side.
- Strong safety Kawika Casco, Sr. - A knee injury knocked Casco out last season and has still limited him a bit. If he can return to health, he'll step in at strong safety allowing Eric Weddle
to move over to corner if the coaches choose to change things up.
The Skinny: Expect the secondary to look far different this fall than it is coming out of spring ball as JUCO transfers Tim Harris and Fano Tagovailoa bring some size to the relatively
small corps. The three sure-things are that Morgan Scalley will be a superstar at free safety, Eric Weddle will be on the field somewhere, and the cornerback situation will work itself
out.
Player to keep an eye on: Eric Weddle ... Defensive Back Rating: 7.5
Special Teams
- Placekicker Bryan Borreson, Jr. - Borreson became a consistent, and more importantly, a clutch kicker last year connecting on 11 of 14 field goals. He doesn't have too much range, so expect
there to be a little bit of competition this fall from kickers trying to hit from 50+.
- Punter Matt Kovacevich, Sr. - The former JUCO transfer turned in a solid first season averaging 40.6 yards per kick and putting18 inside the 20. With his experience and leg, there's no reason
to think he can't at least duplicate those numbers.
The Skinny: What was a concern with the kicking game turned into a surprising strength. The kickoff returners were fantastic leading the nation with a 28.2 yard average led by Bo Nagahi.
Stave Savoy will return punts with Paris Warren also getting a few shots. Bump the rating up to a ten if a field goal kicker emerges who can hit from deep.
Special Teams Rating: 9
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