Running Back
Senior Robert Hubbard supplants the league’s Offensive Player of the Year (B.J. Mitchell), but with softer hands and a better average per try, this JUCO-transfer has the wares to be just as good, if not better. His durability as the main workhorse has to be questioned with the hernia injury that kept him out of spring drills. But he is a natural team leader, so his presence is necessary to make everyone benefit from his efforts, regardless. Senior Kyle Eklund will also see the field on gameday, though he has little experience coming out of the backfield. RS frosh Mike Kanellis, like QB Graziano, is the likely future of this one-back approach. Similar in size to both other listed TBs, Kanellis will get his opportunities to shine so all can stay fresh. Guys like ex-DB Luke Lippincott have been employed here due to need – as coach Ault puts it, “you can’t go through a season with only one or two backs. You need three or four…(even some) incoming freshmen will get an opportunity to contribute here.” This unit ranked 22nd in the nation with almost 200 yards per game, so some new blood has to be established for the ground dimension to remain that strong.

Receiver
Senior Caleb Spencer leads a bevy of returning starters who know how to make open spaces available in their three- and four-WR sets. Classmate Kyle Sammons is another JUCO-transfer (all-American honorable mention at that level) who also goes deep to open up the coverages. Big sophomore Jack Darlington, who started four games in his first year, cannot be ignored as a field-stretching type, and his size makes jump balls winnable. Classmate Mike McCoy rounds out the returning starters for the Wolfpack. He, like Darlington, showed enough (13+ yards per his 17 receptions) in his first year to start a few times, and the former prep all-State (CA) selection is just waiting to break out. We know Ault likes to try new blood, so the line of recruits from last year and this will assuredly contribute until the best new role-players are established. That includes good open-field blockers, and in a run-first offense (though it is a spread approach), such qualities are all needed to find the right guys.

Tight End
Senior all-WAC selection Anthony Pudewell has decent size to go with his soft hands. Their fourth-leading receiver, Pudewell is often lined up in the slot. Adam Bishop proves to be similar in his well-rounded abilities. Depth here isn’t as developed in either capacity, so these two staying healthy is a must for the team’s sophisticated sets to hold maximum water.

Offensive Line
All-WAC senior left guard Barrett Reznick is one of the only experienced linemen, so “the union” will have to truly come together is a revamped format for this offense to remain formidable. Senior center Jimmy Wadhams returns to his middle position after tearing his ACL in their fourth game of ’05. Super soph Dominic Green, a starter at center in Wadhams place in his first year, moves outside to “wide” tackle, while former starting left guard Charles Manu, now a junior, is likely to find his home at the other tackle spot. Athletic new guard Greg Hall should make the line a strong, versatile group amongst the starters. JUCO-transfer A.J. Slater and senior Reid Jacobs add more sizable depth to the outside, but the inside isn’t as bolstered with experience. With Fresno to start and four big non-cons all lined up early, this line will either come together fast or have to learn quickly from their mistakes.

OFFENSIVE BREAKDOWN
This is a creative “pistol” offense under coordinator Chris Klenakis, and with Rowe returning and the pension each year to show improvements, big things are expected. The snarlers look strong, and that is important in their three- and four-WR spread sets that distract foes as much as they burn them. But a new look to the line and back-up RBs seems to have some worried in Reno. Nevada did convert 49% of their third-downs (ranked 8th nationally) and held the ball for over 33 minutes per game to lead Division I-A. Similarly strong were their rankings – 30th for passing and 22nd for rushing, basically made them one of 12 teams to average 200 yards per game for both categories. But the RBs have only one established guy (who was out for spring due to injury), and the line is repositioned, though with three starters from ’05, so making this sophisticated ball-moving, run-first machine hum at such recent past levels will be a challenge. Rowe’s feet as an added dimension will be needed to keep those tough early foes off-balance, and his health is the most important factor for Nevada to stay where they were when they won a share of the conference crown.

Linebacker
The Pack’s corps features three returning starters, and the fourth starter was a first-teamer in 2004, making this a decided strength. Junior SAM Ezra Butler is a slimmed-down ex-DE who can move well laterally to create an impressive stat-line (15.5 TFLs, 5.5 sacks and two forced fumbles). Classmate Jeremy Engstrom was all-conference as a freshman (’04), and now he moves from MIKE to BANDIT. Senior Jason DeMars is a run-plugger who took over the MIKE slot late in ’05 due to his size and toughness. Joshua Mauga really impressed his first year at SAM, enough to start most of the season there last year. But now he takes over at the vacant WOLF position, and his speed and svelte look mean he will specialize in covering TEs. Each of these guys is at least 245lbs (Mauga), and with experienced upperclassmen behind each, expect much in underneath coverage and run-stopping from start to finish.

Defensive Back
Senior Joe Garcia is the main anchor in a secondary that has new faces to go with a few experienced guys who have starting experience. Garcia, a well-sized ball-hawk who broke up 14 passes highlighted by four INTs, makes the Lott Trophy watch list as well as our honorable mention all-Americans. Sophomore DeAngelo Wilson is good enough to surpass proven junior Shannon Sevor for the other corner start, and hot JUCO-transfer Devon Walker rounds out a talented crew. Sergio Villasenor is the lone returning starter in back (FS), but with only three games as the main guy, the weight he carries puts a lot of pressure on the well-sized junior. RS frosh Mike Samples has proven much in spring, enough to get the other starting slot with his speed and hitting ability. Not much proven depth here means last year’s 104th ranking pass defense has to be improved via the new blood, and that can be a good thing if they can gel quickly.

DEFENSIVE BREAKDOWN
A strong front seven in now the second year of their new 3-4 look is necessary for the Wolfpack to improve its marginal 88th total defensive ranking from last campaign. They are good, and especially the LB corps can make for a better showing. It will be trial by fire for the secondary with the onslaught of good foes to start, and the corners can likely lockdown their assignments while the LBs keep any runs from getting behind them – a tall task, for sure, but the new safeties are not up to speed with the rest of the defense. But the new faces there should help what was the Wolfpack’s weakest area. With the offense able to keep these guys off the field (were only on the field an average of 26:48 in ’05), they have to do better than allowing 32 points per contest (101st rank) to get anywhere.