Boise State RB Doug "Muscle Hamster" Martin will tear up the MWC just like he did the WAC (Icon SMI)
San Diego State: Hey, did ya hear the big news? Air Force: what?!?! San Diego State: Utah is joining the Pac-10! They are OUTTA HERE!!! Colorado State: And I hear BYU is leaving too! COLLECTIVELY: {GIDDY} yea! now we have a shot at 2nd place!
ENTER BOISE STATE {STAGE LEFT}: Hey guys, I’m the new kid. COLLECTIVELY: {DEPRESSED} damn……..
Yes, the MWC is different in that perennial powers Utah and BYU have moved on, but really more of the same with the addition of Boise State into the fold as it is still a conference with a glass ceiling: No matter what, 1 and 2 will be some permutation of TCU and Boise, the rest are fighing for 3rd place. (I suppose technically there are two glass ceilings, ’cause the winner of the BSU/TCU game will likely be 12-0 and on the outside of the National Title game yet again).
The Horned Frogs and Broncos are once again BCS calilber, but there are some subtle moves up and down in the hodgepodge that follows them of interest to the fantasy crowd: Read the rest of this entry →
QB Kellen Moore and Boise State look primed for a spotless season - what does that mean for your fantasy draft? (Icon SMI)
With the one-year alignment of Boise State and TCU in the Mountain West Conference, college football fans get to see the top two BCS Busters of the past decade battle it out for underdog supremacy.
Only Boise State Heisman Trophy contender QB Kellen Moore stands alone as a sure fire fantasy first rounder – or does he? Here’s a look at the top signal callers in the MWC.
1. Kellen Moore, Boise State – The Broncos score an insane amount of points each year, no reason to think that will chance this season despite the move up in competition from the WAC to the MWC. Sure the top 2 pass catchers depart, but Boise has become a fantasy factory. The one knock on Moore would be the offense being TOO potent, i.e. just as likely to have an RB or 2 rush for 6 scores as they are to have Moore pass for 400+ on any given week.
The Cougar offense should really peak the next couple seasons, I would think they would want to seize the opportunity with the next Steve Young, er, Jake Heaps as opposed to Riley Nelson. And the case could certainly be made that BYU could spread more of its message (with the help of BCS money) with Heaps slinging TDs as opposed to digging ditches…
Jake Heaps prepped for stardom with a huge bowl game (Icon SMI)
BYU returns almost everyone on offense. QB Heaps was a learning freshman this season, he will be a savvy vet to start 2011 and on his way to becoming one of the next great BYU quarterbacks. He returns his top two WRs in Cody Hoffman and Mackay Jacobson, but perhaps the top target in 2011 didn’t even play this season: Ross Apo (6-3 and 203 lbs) was a huge recruiting get out of Texas for the Cougars that got lost in the Heaps signing. He was never really healthy to start the season and ended up taking a redshirt.
Plus the OL returns 4 starters (assuming Jr Matt Reynolds passes on the chance to go Pro) and in fact almost everyone from the entire unit, only losing 2 seniors from the entire OL 3-deep. In short, the BYU passing game should be more than fine next year, expect Heaps to potentially be a Top 10 passer next season. The running game also sees the return of both JJ Di Luigi and Bryan Kariya, also added into the mix should be rising-sophomore Josh Quezada (who lead all rushers with 99 yards and a score in the bowl game). Drew Philips may also be added to the backfield mix next year. Philips has drawn comparisons to Reggie Bush and is a true 2-way (offensive only , RB/WR) threat.
As I wrote this, HC Bronco Mendenhall has fired every offensive coach. So another marquee opening for a hotshot OC, especially with BYU becoming Independent. This could have big implications on young Heaps, as in the right hire could make him a 5,000 yard passer next season. Read the rest of this entry →
