Nevada Wolfpack 2018 Football Preview
Opening Statement: The Wolfpack got off to a rough start in year one under head coach Jay Norvell, as they finished just 3-9 on the season. They did manage to win 2 of 3 to close out the year, beating San Jose State and UNLV, but neither of those teams made it to a bowl game, so the weight of those wins is not much. They lost their first 5 games of the season, and while there is some talent to recognize coming back this season, there may be just as many questions as a year ago.
Breakdown Offense: The Pack is all set at QB, as they transitioned well into an air raid offensive system last season. Ty Gangi is back for his senior season after passing for 2746 yards and 25 TDs to 11 INTs. He completed 61% of his passes, and as he goes, so does the offense. He added 180 yards rushing, and scored 4 more times on the ground. He maybe one of the more effective returning starting QBs in the Mountain West in 2018. Cristian Solano is also back, and will be the primary backup coming out of spring ball. Kaymen Cureton will also be in the mix for that job as well after attempting 38 passes last fall.
The run game really fell off for the Pack last fall, and RB was a position that had been a strength under previous coaches. Nevada ranked 107th nationally in rushing yards per game last season. Kelton Moore is back after rushing for 855 yards on the year. He scored just 4 times, but did manage to average 5.21 yards per carry. Production really fell off after that. Jaxson Kincaide returns as the primary backup after rushing for just 295 yards last fall. Blake Wright and Isaiaha Hamilton will provide depth, but both are raw at this point in their careers. Incoming freshmen Toa Taua and Devonte Lee will also push everyone when they arrive for fall camp. Lee was the Oklahoma Prep Offensive Player of the Year last season.
Leading receiver Wyatt Demps is gone, but experience and talent are to be found in returning starters Brandon O'Leary-Orange (39-618-4) and McLane Mannix (57-778-6). Mannix averaged 13.65 yards per catch last fall, while O'Leary-Orange averaged 15.85 yards per grab. Kaleb Fossum and Travion Armstrong are penciled in as new starters at WR as we head towards fall camp. They combined for just 16 catches last season. Elijah Cooks and Andrew Celis are also in the mix to grab starting spots. Daiyan Henley returns to add some depth.
The Wolfpack line is set from Center to the left, but the right side of the line must be rebuilt, as they lose stalwart Austin Corbett. Jake Nelson (LT), Anthony Palomares (LG), and Sean Krepsz (C) are the returning starter, while Carl Burton-Hill (RG) and Kevin Spencer (RT) are slated to be the new starters. Look for RS freshman Myles Beach make a push for the RT job. Sophomore Nate Brown will add some additional depth.
Breakdown Defense: Nevada failed to resonate in any one area in 2017 defensively. They ranked 106th in scoring defense, 109th against the rush, 110th against the pass, and 119th in total defense. The only way to go is up, but does the roster possess the talent to go in that direction?
The Pack returns just one starter on the line in NT Hausia Sekona. He totaled just 2.5 TFLs last fall in 12 games. Sophomore Chris Green is the primary backup in the middle, and played in 8 games as a freshman.
New starters need to be identified at one of the DE spots. Korey Rush and Jordan Silva hold those spots coming out of spring ball. There is little in the way of depth, so expect this to be one of my red flag positions for Nevada in 2018. Rush did total 9 TFLs last season and totaled 39 tackles. He was not great as a pass rusher, however, totaling just 2.5 sacks. Silva played in 11 games as a junior, and totaled just 2 TFLs.
Malik Reed and Gabriel Sewell both return at LB in the 3-3-5 defense of Jeff Casteel. Reed totaled 49 tackles last season and totaled 10 TFLs. He led the team with 8 sacks and should be a force off the edge. Sewell was good for 59 tackles, and added 3 TFLs. The open spot should go to Lucas Weber, a senior. He will have to replace leading tackler Austin Paulhus, who is now gone after recording 112 tackles last fall. Weber totaled 24 tackles last season. Kyle Adams will provide some depth, and recorded 12 tackles last fall. Lawson Hall returns as well, and will be a key reserve.
The secondary returns 4 of 5 starters this fall, including all 3 Safeties in Nephi Sewell, Assuni Rufus, and Dameon Baber. Sewell totaled 58 tackles last fall, and finished with 3 PBUs. Rufus finished 3rd on the team with 75 tackles, and forced 3 fumbles in 9 games. He also added 3 PBUs. Baber totaled 2 PBUs and 94 tackles, and led the team with 3 INTs.
Ahki Muhammed is back at CB. He missed one game, and totaled just one PBU. He finished with 51 tackles. EJ Muhammed is slated to start opposite him. He played in 9 games last fall, and finished with 12 tackles. Daniel Brown, who played in 10 games, may push for one of the jobs in camp.
Breakdown Special Teams: Spencer Pettit had a decent run at PK last fall, as he hit 8/11 FG attempts on the season. He was 40/41 on PATs, and returns as a junior.
Quinton Conaway did not have a great run at Punter, but returns to the job this season after averaging just 39.63 yards per punt on the season.
Henley returns on KR duty after averaging over 23 yards per return last fall, while several people could be vying for the PR job in camp.
Final Analysis: For Nevada to improve in 2018, they have to win the tough games at home, and steal a game or two on the road. They will not push for the Mountain West West Division title, but they could push to at least 5 wins this season, which would be a two game push in the right direction. With a lucky bounce, they win 6 and go bowling, but that maybe a bit to ask without an upset or two in the mix. The offense should be strong, especially if that right side of the line can be rebuilt quickly, and the new starters at receiver step up. The defense, on the other hand, lacks any real depth, and as bad as they were a year ago, they have not shown any real trend towards moving up for this fall. Expect a ton of high scoring games, but don't expect miracles.
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