Big West: Wolf Pack on the prowl

By Jamie MacDonald, CNN/SI

Young guns: Nevada's David Neill is only a sophomore, but has some powerful guns in the Big West. Nevada media relations   Projected Order of Finish 1. Nevada 2. Idaho 3. Boise State 4. New Mexico State 5. Utah State 6. North Texas 7. Arkansas State

Top Storylines From Tucson to New Orleans? Can Idaho provide a Humanitarian challenge to high-octane Nevada? Who is the best quarterback in the conference -- Nevada's super soph David Neill or Idaho's super soph John Welsh? Can Boise State fill enough holes on offense to compete with Nevada and Idaho? Is New Mexico State ready to join the class of the league? Is there enough room in the conference for two teams with the same nickname (New Mexico State and Utah State are both Aggies) -- what is this, the CFL?

Going Bowling Locks: Nevada Maybes: Idaho No Way: Arkansas State, Boise State, New Mexico State, North Texas, Utah State

Top Five Offensive Players David Neill, QB, Soph., Nevada Set an NCAA freshman-record with 29 touchdowns (nine interceptions) as a true freshman for the nation's No. 5 offense (507 ypg) last season. Trevor Insley, WR, Sr., Nevada Replaces departed Geoff Noisy, but may be better and has a QB who could help him lead the nation in receiving. John Welsh, QB, Soph., Idaho Took over the starting job on Halloween last season and went on to win the Humanitarian Bowl MVP award for his performance on Boise State's spooky Smurf Turf. Ryan Prestimonico, WR, Sr., Idaho It's always nice to know that your No. 1 target is also the team's No. 1 big-play threat. Ja'Quay Wilburn, RB, Jr., North Texas Nevada's Chris Lemon and Utah State's Demario Brown are certainly among the conference's best running backs, but Wilburn averaged 7.26 ypc (501 yards on 69 attempts) in his last three games of '98.

Top Five Defensive Players Brent Passey, LB, Jr., Utah State An all-Big West first-teamer in '98, Passey flourished next to the conference's tackling machine, Tony D'Amato (170 last season), and has a chance to inherit D'Amato's defensive player of the year status. Chris Nofoaiga, LB, Jr., Idaho Undersized (and that's generous) at 5'10", 210, Nofoaiga led the conference with 11 sacks last season and returns -- alongside 5'11", 215-pound Matt Jasik -- to lead a small and dynamic linebacking corps. Tim Englehardt, T, Sr., New Mexico State A big year from the all-Big West second-teamer would help plug the Aggies' run defense, which allowed 253.6 ypg on the ground in '98. Bryan Johnson, LB, Sr., Boise State The two-time all-conference second-teamer may be featured in a highlight or two this season with his range and big-hitting ability. Falemao "Mao" Tosi, DT, Sr., Idaho A giant in the Big West at 6'6", 270, but he really stands out as one of the few NFL prospects in the conference.

Top Special Teams Player Broderick McGrew, KR, Sr., North Texas Led the nation in kickoff return average last season with 32.6 yards per attempt (one TD).

You Don't Know Him Yet, But... Kenton Keith, RB, Soph., New Mexico State Last season senior Denvis Manns accounted for 143.2 yards per game running the ball for the Aggies. Now Keith's the Man, after rushing the ball all of four times (24 yards) in 1998.

Hot Coach Tony Samuel, New Mexico State Options? Oh, he'll give you the option. With four of five offensive linemen returning and senior QB Ty Houghtaling's grasp of the option, Samuel offense may be the most refined in the conference.

Coach on the Hot Seat Chris Tomrey, Idaho Directed the Vandals' upset of heavily favored Southern Miss, but the game was in Idaho and the cold climes were decidedly un-Mis'sippi-like. The Vandals also won the '98 Big West title by default after Nevada fell on its face.

Secret Weapon Ben Davis, K, Jr., Idaho Davis set a JUCO record by hitting a 62-yard field goal at Ricks College (Idaho), and he's also converted from 56 yards as a Vandal -- with some consistency he could supplant Utah State's Brad Bohn as the conference's most dangerous field-goal threat.

Toughest Schedule Utah State With non-conference games at Georgia, Utah and Kansas State -- the Aggies also play both Idaho and Nevada on the road -- and a home date with BYU, Utah State will be taking December off.

Kansas State Schedule Boise State Some of the lowest-ranked teams in Division I-A call the Big West home, so there's no shame in a weak schedule, but Boise State (with the exception of a suicidal payday at UCLA) probably plays more often (Southern Utah, at Hawaii, New Mexico) below its level than any other team in the conference.

Mark Your Calendar Idaho at Washington State, Sept. 18 The Vandals will play their "home" games at Washington State's Martin Stadium, which is less than 10 miles from campus in Moscow, Idaho. The crowd will be a lot less friendly for this landlord-tenant fight. Idaho at Nevada, Nov. 6 While they won't be playing on the blue turf of Boise, this game may provide the blueprint for the 1999 Humanitarian Bowl. New Mexico State at Boise State, Nov. 13 It says here that the Aggies and Broncos are ready to add depth to this conference (we know that's not saying much).