2012 MW Football Spring Preview: Nevada Wolf Pack

By Mick McGrane on April 20, 2012 5:32 PM | 1 Comment | No TrackBacks

2012 Outlook
If the Wolf Pack's initial spring practice was as much get-cracking as it was meet-and-greet, there was ample reason. On the heels of making its seventh consecutive bowl appearance, Nevada hired a new offensive coordinator in Nick Rolovich, a new running backs coach in Larry Lewis, a new offensive line coach in Darren Hiller and moved Mike Bradeson from secondary coach to defensive coordinator. The Wolf Pack returns six starters on both sides of the ball, and has the potential to make a splash in its inaugural season in the Mountain West. But there are issues to address, the most glaring being the fact that none of the backup quarterbacks has ever taken a college snap. The defensive line is absent last season's four starters and the team lost five of its top seven receivers from 2011. Nonetheless, there is a reason why head coach Chris Ault has a career winning percentage of nearly .700. One of only two active coaches to have been inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame, he is an astute job of talent whose no-nonsense approach may suggest old school, but whose introduction of the pistol offense has become the game's latest rage.
Wolf Pack Offense
Sophomore quarterback Cody Fajardo earned WAC Freshman of the Year honors in 2011, finishing with 2,401 total yards and 17 touchdowns in 10 games. Behind Fajardo, however, is chasm of inexperience: three freshmen and a sophomore transfer, none of whom has lined up behind center anywhere but on a scout team. The Wolf Pack, who must replace their top two backs in Lampford Mark and Mike Ball, also felt the effects of attrition at the wide receiver spot. The return of Brandon Wemberly (94 career catches, 1,215 yards), who did not play last season, will be crucial to a unit that features only one other player (sophomore Aaron Bradley) to have caught a pass in a college game. Junior Stefphon Jefferson is the projected starter at running back after carrying 70 times for 429 yards last year, while talented junior college transfer Nigel Westbrooks possesses the talent to significantly bolster the receiving corps.
Wolf Pack Defense
Bradeson's new assignment as defensive coordinator is hardly free of challenges. The defensive front will feature four new faces after the lone returning starter, Albert Rosette, moved back to middle linebacker. Junior Jack Reynoso started eight games in 2011 but is not participating in spring practice after suffering a broken leg last season. The strength of the defense is in the secondary, where Nevada returns no fewer than five seniors in Duke Williams, Khalid Wooten, Marlon Johnson, Jeremiah Green and Thaddeus Brown.
Wolf Pack Special Teams
Nevada employed three field goal kickers last season, largely due to injuries suffered by freshman Anthony Martinez. Senior-to-be Allen Hardison stepped into the breach to hit 7-of-11 attempts, while punter Jake Hurst was 3-of-4. Hurst has graduated, as has former standout receiver Rishard Matthews, who was also a threat as a return specialist.

Quick Facts
• 2011: 7-6 Overall, 5-2 WAC (T2nd) • Overall Stats • Letterwinners Returning/Lost: 29/19 • Starters Returning/Lost: 13/11
Wolf Pack Links
• Head Coach Chris Ault (28th Year) • Prospectus • Roster • Nevada Football Home Page
2012 Schedule
Date	Opponent
Sept. 1	at California
Sept. 8	South Florida
Sept. 15	Northwestern State
Sept. 22	at Hawai‘i*
Sept. 29	at Texas State
Oct. 6	Wyoming*
Oct. 13	at UNLV*
Oct. 20	San Diego State*
Oct. 27	at Air Force*
Nov. 10	Fresno State*
Nov. 17	at New Mexico*
Nov. 24	Boise State*
* MW game.

1 Comment

L. shepherd | April 24, 2012 11:51 AM | Reply

Nevada should finish 1-3 in first year.

Name

Email Address

URL

Remember personal info?

Comments (You may use HTML tags for style)

MICK MCGRANE

Mick McGrane has covered the Mountain West since the league's inception in 1999. He spent 12 years at the San Diego Union-Tribune, where he served as the beat writer for San Diego State football and men's basketball. He currently represents the MW as a member of the Football Writers Association of America All-America Committee and is a member of the U.S. Basketball Writers Association. McGrane serves as senior writer to the Mountain West, providing readers with exclusive, in-depth information about the Conference by highlighting its 10 member institutions and contributing feature stories on student-athletes that participate in the league's 18 sponsored sports.

Have a question for Mick? E-mail him at mick@TheMWC.com or check him out on Twitter @MWCMick.

MARK KNUDSON

Mark Knudson is a Colorado State journalism school graduate and a 12-year veteran of professional baseball. During his playing career, Mark pitched for three major league teams, including the Colorado Rockies, where he was the first Colorado native to play for the hometown team. He recorded wins over three of the four legendary pitchers who make up the 4,000 strikeout club: Nolan Ryan, Randy Johnson and Roger Clemens. His win over Ryan came for the Milwaukee Brewers on Opening Day in 1991.

Since his retirement, Mark has been a feature writer and columnist for Mile High Sports, a radio talk show host and TV analyst for numerous sports media outlets. For the past six years, he was a columnist and baseball analyst for The Mtn., along with being one of Colorado's six Heisman Trophy voters.