By Hans Pennink, APSan Diego State cornerback Leon McFadden, right, breaking up a pass in a game against Army last season, is a two-time all-Mountain West first-team pick.
By Hans Pennink, APSan Diego State cornerback Leon McFadden, right, breaking up a pass in a game against Army last season, is a two-time all-Mountain West first-team pick.
It's the last season in the league for San Diego State, a charter member of the Mountain West, and Boise State, a newcomer that's also headed out the door for the Big East. Chris Petersen will try to guide the Broncos to their first — and only — MWC title now that TCU is out of the league. The Broncos have lost three league games in the last six years. Boise State, however, will have to contend with former league colleagues from its Western Athletic Conference days in newcomers Fresno State, Hawaii and Nevada.Top playersOffense: QB Derek Carr (Fresno State), 6-3, 210. Brother of NFL quarterback David Carr, the first overall pick in the 2002 draft, was second-team all-WAC last season.Defense: CB Leon McFadden (San Diego State), 5-10, 190. Would be the fifth Aztec in program history to earn first-team all-conference honors three consecutive years.From the top downBoise State: Five starters are back from the nation's fifth-best scoring offense, but not record-setting quarterback Kellen Moore. It's the school's second and final season in the MWC — might as well go out strong, right?Nevada: There's a drop-off in this league after the Broncos, but the Wolf Pack's schedule should allow them to get to a bowl game.Fresno State: For the first time in 15 years, Pat Hill is not at the helm. Can the Bulldogs make the successful transition to new schemes offensively and defensively?Wyoming: Fourteen returning starters, including eight on defense.San Diego State: Losing your leading passer and rusher isn't good.Air Force: Good schedule — no Boise State, and TCU's gone — but the non-conference slate isn't a cakewalk.Hawaii: Keep an eye on Norm Chow in his first season as a head coach.Colorado State: Tough schedule and a first-year coach.UNLV: No bowl games since 2000.New Mexico: A lot of damage done during the Mike Locksley era. Won't be all fixed in Bob Davie's first season.Top menChris Ault, Nevada, 28th seasonChris Petersen, Boise State, seventhTroy Calhoun, Air Force, sixthDave Christensen, Wyoming, fourthBobby Hauck, UNLV, thirdRocky Long, San Diego State, secondTim DeRuyter, Fresno State, firstNorm Chow, Hawaii, firstJim McElwain, Colorado State, firstBob Davie, New Mexico, first
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