Know your enemy: Breaking down USU football’s 2016 opponents (part I)

Week 1: Weber State

28.9 — Average number of yards per kick return by Eric Wilkes, best in the Big Sky conference

14 — Total number of passes defensed by Taron Johnson, tied for 3rd in the conference

1 — Weber State’s conference ranking for total defense (346.9 yards per game allowed)

The Wildcats showed significant improvement in Jay Hill’s second season as head coach. After a 2-10 outing in 2014, Weber State earned its first winning season since 2010 with a 6-5 record, including a road win over then-No.12 Montana and a one-point road loss to Eastern Washington. The Wildcats have more acclaim heading into 2016, having been picked to finish in the top half of the conference in both the preseason coaches’ and media polls. They were also ranked by Sporting News as the No. 23 FCS team in the nation. With 16 returning starters, including eight who earned all-Big Sky recognition last year, WSU has the potential to live up to the hype.

The man behind center for the Wildcats is senior Jadrian Clark, who completed more than 50 percent of his passes last season for 1,875 yards and 10 touchdowns, adding 362 yards on the ground. The focal point of the WSU attack, however, is the ground game with the two-headed monster of junior Eric Wilkes and sophomore Treshawn Garrett. Wilkes earned an honorable mention nod on the all-conference team for his 662-yard, five-touchdown performance. Garrett wasn’t far behind with 562 yards and five scores of his own. The line is anchored by two seniors who were named to the preseason all-Big Sky team in guard Cameron Young and tackle Calvin Steyn.

The strength of the Wildcats is their defense, and the strength of the defense is the linebacking corps. Junior Emmett Tela is the anchor of the defensive unit with 151 tackles, including 17.5 for a loss, and two all-conference selections in his two seasons in Ogden. Senior Tre’von Johnson joined Tela on the all-Big Sky second team in 2015 and led the team with 9.5 tackles for a loss and 4.5 sacks. Together, they make a formidable linebacking tandem. Junior cornerback Taron Johnson set the WSU single-season record in 2015 with 12 pass breakups. He also collected two interceptions.

Week 2: USC

12 — The total number of career pass attempts by junior quarterback Max Browne

2001 — The last year Alabama, USC’s first opponent, lost its season opener

1,454 — The number of receiving yards last season by junior receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster, the third-most in a single season in USC history

The Trojans have been a team in turmoil the past several years, unable to rediscover the level of steady supremacy that defined the Pete Carroll era. Despite this turmoil, USC has still managed to stay near the top of the nation in recruiting rankings, though that off-season ascendancy has not translated to in-season success. The Trojans hope that’s all about to change.

Then-offensive coordinator Clay Helton was named interim head coach midway through last season, and had the interim label removed following a blowout win over rival UCLA at the end of November. Things won’t come easily, though, as Helton has been given the unenviable task of breaking in a new starter at quarterback while playing Alabama, Utah State, Stanford and division-opponent Utah in the first four weeks of the season.

The Trojans are returning nine starters on offense, but severely lack experience at the position that matters most. Though a junior, quarterback Max Browne will be making the first start of his collegiate career in primetime against the defending national champions. Browne does have talent and experience around him though, with all five starters on the offensive line returning, a potential 1,000-yard rusher in Ronald Jones II and uber-talented receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster, an All-America candidate who put up 89 receptions, 1,454 yards and 10 touchdowns last season.

Junior Adoree’ Jackson is one of the top cornerbacks in the Pac-12 and provides playmaking ability on the outside of the defense. USC returns all four starters in the defensive backfield, but are flush with inexperience throughout the rest of the defense. Sophomore inside linebacker Cameron Smith, the only returning starter among the front-seven, was named the Pac-12 Defensive Freshman a season ago. The line is a significant concern, as there are no upperclassmen who are expected to get significant playing time.

Week 3: Arkansas State

40.0 — The average number of points scored by the Red Wolves’ offense last year, best in the Sun Belt

+8 — Arkansas State’s turnover margin in 2015, good for the top spot in the conference and 23rd in the nation

2 — Senior kicker J.D. Houston only missed two kicks inside 40 yards all of last season

Arkansas State was the class of the Sunbelt Conference a season ago, defeating second-place Appalachian State in an early-November road game to preserve an undefeated conference record. The Red Wolves boasted the 12th-best scoring offense in the nation, averaging 40 points per outing. ASU hasn’t been afraid to schedule difficult opponents, playing the likes of USC and Missouri last year and Auburn this season. Though it’s possible the Red Wolves will experience some regression in 2016, the team has talent all over the roster and should be in the running for a conference title once again.

Though ASU wasn’t highly-dependent on the passing game in 2015 (finishing 85th in the nation in per-game passing yards), replacing last year’s starting quarterback is still the most important question head coach Blake Anderson must answer. Sophomore Justice Hansen will likely get the nod. Though not the starter, junior running back Johnston White put up impressive numbers a season ago with more than 600 yards and 14 touchdowns. The diminutive Warren Wand is just 65 inches tall, but is the leading returning rusher with 709 yards and five scores. Offensive line is the strength of the unit as both Colton Jackson and Jemar Clark were all-conference selections.

Disruptive defensive play was a core part of the Red Wolves identity in 2015 as they forced 34 turnovers — 26 of them interceptions — last year. Those numbers will be hard to duplicate, but ASU returns skill and experience throughout the starting lineup. Junior Ja’Von Rolland-Jones is a force at defensive end and led the Sunbelt in sacks with 9.0. Junior tackle Dee Liner is eligible to play this season after transferring from Alabama. Junior nickel-backer Khari Lain led the team with 81 tackles.  Performance at the back end of the unit will need to improve as the Red Wolves were ranked 114th in the nation in pass defense.

Week 4: Air Force

319.1 — The Falcons’ average rushing yards per game, placing them 4th in the nation

12 — The number of consecutive home games won by the Academy, dating back to the beginning of 2013

9 — The number of starters returning for a defense that finished 3rd in the Mountain West in points per game allowed

Coach Troy Calhoun has built a consistent performer in his nine seasons directing the Falcons, but the success has yet to produce a Mountain West championship. The Academy did appear in the title game a season ago, however, after defeating Utah State and Boise State in the span of just six days and winning the Mountain Division title. A significant cog to the Falcons’ success recently has been their performance in home games — Air Force hasn’t lost a game in Falcon Stadium since 2013.

Offensively, AFA has a number of questions and a couple of answers, but the answers it does have are really, really good. Senior tailback Jacobi Owens is the workhorse of the Falcons’ triple-offense attack. He is joined by potent junior Timothy McVey, creating a significant one-two punch in AFA’s rushing attack. Senior receiver Jalen Robinette could be the surprising star of the Falcons’ 2016 offense. He caught just 26 passes for 641 yards last season, but averaged nearly 25 yards per reception. His receiving numbers could increase significantly with the passing-minded quarterback Nate Romine taking over the starting job.

Rightfully known more for its offensive production in recent years, AFA could end up with the best defense in the conference this season. The defensive unit is led from the safety position by senior Weston Steelhammer, who was named to the preseason all-conference team after leading the Falcons in tackles (80) and interceptions (5) in 2015. The departure of end Alex Hansen will hurt, but AFA returns nine starters on defense, including the entire backfield. Struggles on the back end ultimately limited the potential of the Falcons in 2015 as the team finished the year on a three-game losing skid. The performance of the defense will likely prove the difference between a good season and a historic season for Air Force in 2016.

Week 5: Boise State

0 — The number of times a freshman quarterback had been named to the all-Mountain West team before Brett Rypien earned the honor last season

108.2 — The average number of rushing yards allowed per game by the Broncos last year, placing them fifth in the nation and first in the conference

1,412 — Receiving yards by Thomas Sperbeck last year, a BSU single-season record

How good is Boise State? The Broncos were 9-4 last season, opening the year with a win against Washington and finishing with a dominant 55-7 bowl win over Northern Illinois (the Huskies gained just 33 more yards in that game than you did. Seriously). The season was considered mostly a failure, however, after a 52-26 evisceration at the hands of Utah State and consecutive home losses for the first time since dial-up internet was popular.

Sophomore quarterback Brett Rypien showed that he has the potential to live up to his NFL pedigree in 2015. He took over the starting position midway through September and ignited the previously stagnant offense as the team scored 40 or more points in each of his first three starts. Rypien finished the year with more than 3,300 passing yards, 20 touchdowns and just eight interceptions and was named to the all-Mountain West team as a freshman. He was joined on the all-conference team by Thomas Sperbeck, who returns as the top receiving target. Junior running back Jeremy McNichols is a threat on the ground and through the air, putting up nearly 1,900 yards combined and 26 touchdowns, tied for second in the nation.

The offense has explosive ability, but the Broncos will go as far as the defense will carry them in 2016. The unit was top-15 in the nation in total yardage allowed and boasted a top-5 performance against the run, but was the primary culprit in the November losses to Air Force and New Mexico that cost BSU the division. Seniors Ben Weaver and Tanner Vallejo anchor the linebacking corps and sophomore Dylan Sumner-Gardner’s return from a knee injury should strengthen the defensive backfield. The biggest question mark is on the defensive line, as all four starters are gone. If the talent comes together, another New Year’s Bowl appearance is possible.

Week 6: Colorado State

117 — The Rams’ national ranking in turnover margin in 2015 (-12 for the year)

228.1 — CSU’s average number of passing yards per game, second-best in the Mountain West

46.0 — The average number of yards per punt by Hayden Hunt, good for 6th in the nation

Colorado State was solidly average in head coach Mike Bobo’s first season at the helm. An undefeated November propelled the Rams to a bowl game and a third place finish in the Mountain division, but Bobo’s squad finished the year a lukewarm 7-6. If the Rams want to be more than average in 2016, they’ll need to take care of business in October. The month opens with the Border War against Wyoming before consecutive matchups against Utah State and Boise State.

Gone is highlight-reel receiver Rashard “Hollywood” Higgins, as well as all-Mountain West tight end Kivon Cartwright. Nick Stevens, the arm behind the aerial attack that finished second in the conference in 2015, is back for his junior season, however, and four of the five starters from his offensive line will also return. Though the Rams have talented pass-catchers, junior running back Dalyn Dawkins is the leading returning receiver with just 24 catches and 178 yards last year. The offense will rely on Dawkins to carry the load on the ground early in the year as Stevens develops chemistry with his receivers.

Defensively, CSU could be in trouble. The Rams were second in the MW in passing yards allowed per game, but it’s likely that was a result of providing minimal resistance in the ground game and allowing more than 200 yards per outing — ranking them 107th in the nation. Colorado State doesn’t have the benefit of consistency as it will be replacing as many as eight starters from the defensive unit of a season ago. New defensive coordinator Marty English is re-installing the 3-4 defense the team has had success with in the past. Interior linebacker is the strength of the unit as seniors Deonte Clyburn and Kevin Davis, who led the team with 101 tackles last year, provide some stability.