Nevada Wolf Pack Football Season Preview

Chris Ault has made three different appearances in Reno.

His three appearances have come in ’76-‘92, which was followed by a two year stint in 94-’95. Eventually, he came back to the sideline in 2004 (he never left being AD).

Ault has a total of 219 wins going back to when Nevada was in Division I-AA or what in the current day is called the FCS. He is in the College Football Hall of Fame and has been to six straight bowls.

Currently, Nevada is coming off their first ever top-11 finish as they knocked off Boise State 34-31 in OT, ending their BCS Title hopes as well as eventually knocking off Boston College 20-13 in the Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl.

They do, however, lose their second all-time leading passer in Colin Kaepernick (10,098).

How good was he during his stay in Reno? Well, he is the first and only QB to throw for over 2,000 yards and rush for over 1,000 yards in consecutive seasons! 

The Wolf Pack have ranked third, first, and third in the nation the past three seasons in rushing offense. Despite the loss of their best player, they return five back on offense.

Nevada has the best OL back of what is remaining in the WAC. Offensive guard Chris Barker (first-team All-WAC LY) and center Jeff Meads are the best duo of linemen in the WAC, and they should continue to wreak havoc this fall. 

Nevada's stars this year will be their two wide receivers. Rishard Matthews ran circles around Boise State, and Brandon Wimberly had a solid year, hauling in 41 passes for 482 yards.

The pistol offense is made for a running QB, and new QB Tyler Lantrip is not nearly as quick or athletic as Kaepernick once was, but he has a solid arm and better playmakers. 

Look for Mike Bell and Lampford Mark to share the load in the backfield. The passing offense was 55th, averaging 226 YPG, but the Wolf Pack live and die on the ground game.

Ranking fourth overall in total offense explains how successful this Nevada offense was last season. The scoring offense was nearly as efficient, ranking eighth in America, averaging 41 PPG!

Expect those numbers to drop a bit, but they will still be effective enough.

This defense has seven starters back, and, despite losing their stud pass-rushing DE, Dontay Moch, they do have their next-best selection of stars staying in Reno.

Defensive tackle Brett Roy was second-team All-WAC a season ago, and he should help anchor a line that gave up only 120 yards per game a season ago (18th).

Zack Madonick (28 tackles, 1.5 sacks, 2 tackle for losses, one pass break-up) also returns for his senior campaign.

The linebacking core in the Wolf Pack's 4-2-5 defense will be only better than a season ago as both starters—Brandon Marshall and James-Michael Johnson—return. The duo combined for 101 tackles one season ago, and that number should only improve.

There is decent enough depth behind these two in case any injuries occur.

The secondary is and always will be an area of greater concern. They ranked 98th, allowing 243 yards per game, and with three starters back, there is a ton of optimism that this young group has matured.

They should feed off Isiah Frey’s leadership; his being the top defensive back in the conference is bad news for WAC receivers.  

The schedule overall is nothing to brag about if you were to compare its difficulty to, say, an SEC team.

However, two BCS teams (@ Oregon, @ Tx Tech) plus another talented team in Boise State on the blue turf assures three losses, not counting WAC play.  

The watered-down WAC just gift wrapped a big present for Ault and the Wolf Pack. Not only does Nevada have four home games, but the three road games are against Utah State, San Jose State, and New Mexico State.

It helps to be playing the three worst teams on the road and the four best teams at home. I call for a solid, eight-win season and an unbeaten record in conference play.

You are looking at your 2011 WAC Champions!

Predicted Finish: 11-2, 7-0

Predicted Bowl: Poinsettia Bowl

Predicted order of finish in WAC: First