WAC countdown: Nevada

With Utah State’s football camp kicking off on Monday, it’s time to take a look at the Western Athletic Conference. Check back daily for a look at each team, starting at the bottom of the WAC preseason coaches poll.

Next up, the No. 2 Fresno State Bulldogs.
Nevada
2009 Record 8-5 (7-1 WAC)
Returning starters: 17 (9 offense, 6 defense, punter, kicker)
Coach: Chris Ault, 24th year
WAC Preseason Polls: 2nd coaches, 2nd media

It’s sort of a pity Nevada has to play in the same conference as Boise State.

The Wolf Pack have an offense that is virtually unstoppable, a decent defense and a load of returning starters that will give opposing defensive coordinators many a sleepless night.

But the Broncos will get the spotlight in the WAC for the time being and Nevada, unfortunately, is stuck playing second fiddle — for now.

Nevada’s offense is highlighted by a do-everything stud at quarterback, Colin Kaepernick, who has turned the Wolf Pack into a scoring threat on every play. Nevada had three — yes, three — players rack up 1,000 or more rushing yards and two of those return. In addition to Kaepernick, who threw for 20 touchdowns last year as a junior, the Pack boasts Vai Taua from the No. 1 rushing offense in the nation. Nevada averaged a whopping 344.9 yards per game in the ground. The 505.6 yards of total offense was No. 2 in the nation.

Though one of the 1,000 yard rushers is gone, nine offensive starters return with only a pair of offensive linemen to replace.

In defense, Nevada has the WAC’s reigning defensive player of the year in defensive end Dontay Moch. They also have a former Utah quarterback named Corbin Louks slated to take over as the starting free safety.

On the schedule, the Wolf Pack has a good mix of games and starts the season out hosting Eastern Washington, Colordado State and California before back-to-back road games at BYU and UNLV.

If the offense is as dominant as expected and the defense improves, Nevada could be 5-0 and ranked in the Top 25 by the time they host San Jose State in their conference opener.

The biggest game on the schedule, of course, is the November 26 showdown with Boise State in Reno. It’s very possible that that game will determine the WAC champion and, possibly, scuttle Boise State’s national championship dreams.

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