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This summer the Mountain West Connection crew is counting down the top 50 players heading into the 2014 Mountain West season. Because the criteria is objective regarding who should be considered "the best," opinions are different for each person. It naturally follows, then, that the results on this list will vary; out of the 94 players who received votes, only 17 were consensus top 50 players, receiving votes from every panel member.
The No. 13 player is Colorado State Rams quarterback Garrett Grayson. Grayson came on slow in his junior year last season but once the Rams started rolling he was a force to reckon with in the Mountain West. He is possibly the best thrower in the league, and if not it is very close between Grayson, Utah State's Chuckie Keeton and San Diego State's Quinn Kaehler.
Grayson will have to earn his status this year as Colorado State lost its top three running backs and 80 percent of its offensive line talent from last year. There are plenty of receivers around such as Rashard HIggins and Joe Hansley to help move the sticks, but protection and a running game to balance the offense will be something head coach Jim McElwain must balance early on. Twenty-eight touchdowns to 14 interceptions is an OK mark but if Grayson is to be considered an elite quarterback in the Mountain West, or more, he needs to drop those picks to single-digits.
Here is the updated list of our top 50 countdown with the current selection in bold:
| Composite | Ben Mitchum | Chris Turner | Chris Hondros | Jeremy Mauss | Matthew_K | Jacob Schildgen | BenPhillips27 | Scott Tejerian |
| 1. | ||||||||
| 2. | ||||||||
| 3. | Tyeler Davison, DT, Fresno State | |||||||
| 4. | Brett Boyko, OL, UNLV | Jake Fely, LB, SDSU | ||||||
| 5. | ||||||||
| 6. | Brock Hekking, DE, Nevada | |||||||
| 7. | Donte Deayon, CB, Boise State | |||||||
| 8. | Ty Sambrailo, OL, Colorado State | Tyeler Davison, DT, Fresno State | Brian Suite, S, Utah State | |||||
| 9. | Ezell Ruffin, WR, SDSU | Travis Raciti, DL, San Jose State | Brock Hekking, DE, Nevada | Brock Hekking, DE, Nevada | Grant Hedrick, QB, Boise State | |||
| 10. | Max Morgan, LB, Colorado State | Jeremy Ioane, S, Boise State | Brett Boyko, OL, UNLV | J.J. Whittaker, CB, San Diego State | Brian Suite, S, Utah State | Donte Deayon, CB, Boise State | ||
| 11. | Donte Deayon, CB, Boise State | Carlos Wiggins, KR/WR, New Mexico | ||||||
| 12. | Donte Deayon, CB, Boise State | Quinn Kaehler, QB, SDSU | Ezell Ruffin, WR, SDSU | Christian Tago, LB, SJSU | ||||
| 13. Garrett Grayson, QB, Colorado State | Garrett Grayson, QB, Colorado State | Carlos Wiggins, KR/WR, New Mexico | Garrett Grayson, QB, Colorado State | Tyeler Davison, DT, Fresno State | Donte Deayon, CB, Boise State | |||
| 14 Ezell Ruffin, WR, SDSU | Jordan Stanton, LB, Wyoming | Ezell Ruffin, WR, SDSU | Donnel Pumphrey, RB, SDSU | LaMar Bratton, OL, New Mexico | Shaun Wick, RB, Wyoming | Ty Sambrailo, OL, Colorado State | ||
| 15. Donte Deayon, CB, Boise State | Brian Suite, S, Utah State | Jeremy Ioane, S, Boise State | Travis Raciti, DL, San Jose State | Josh Quezada, RB, Fresno State | ||||
| 16. Brock Hekking, DE, Nevada | Garrett Grayson, QB, Colorado State | Garrett Grayson, QB, Colorado State | Travis Raciti, DL, San Jose State | Garrett Grayson, QB, Colorado State |
Bryan Douglas, DB, Boise State |
Ezell Ruffin, WR, SDSU | J.J. Whittaker, CB, San Diego State | |
| 17. Tyeler Davison, DT, Fresno State | Shaun Wick, RB, Wyoming | Tyeler Davison, DT, Fresno State | Robert Waterman, C, UNLV | JoJo Natson, WR, Utah State | David Peterson, OL, San Jose St | |||
| 18. Brian Suite, S, Utah State |
Dominic Rufran, WR, Wyoming | Shaun Wick, RB, Wyoming | Cody Wichmann, OL, Fresno State | Garrett Grayson, QB, Colorado State | Shane Williams-Rhodes, WR, Boise State | Ezell Ruffin, WR, SDSU | ||
| 19. Travis Raciti, DL, San Jose State | Dominic Rufran, WR, Wyoming | Josh Quezada, RB, Fresno State | Grant Hedrick, QB, Boise State | Dominic Rufran, WR, Wyoming | Kevin Whimpey, OL, Utah State | Grant Hedrick, QB, Boise State | Garrett Grayson, QB, Colorado State | |
| 20. Jordan Stanton, LB, Wyoming |
Donte Deayon, CB, Boise State | Quinn Kaehler, QB, SDSU | Tyler Winston, WR, San Jose State | Brian Suite, S, Utah State | ||||
| 21. Dominic Rufran, WR, Wyoming | Josh Quezada, RB, Fresno State | Brett Bowers, DE, New Mexico | Shane Williams-Rhodes, WR, Boise State | Josh Quezada, RB, Fresno State | Brian Suite, S, Utah State | Kivon Cartwright, TE, Colorado State | J.J. Whittaker, CB, San Diego State | Jeremy Ioane, S, Boise State |
| 22. Max Morgan, LB, Colorado State |
Corey Bell, DB, Boise State |
Trent Matthews, S, Colorado State | Brian Suite, S, Utah State | Jordan Stanton, LB, Wyoming | Brett Boyko, OL, UNLV | Robert Waterman, C, UNLV | Jordan Stanton, LB, Wyoming | |
| 23. Grant Hedrick, QB, Boise State |
BJ Larsen, DE, Utah State | BJ Larsen, DE, Utah State | Brock Hekking, DE, Nevada | Joey Iosefa, RB, Hawaii | Christian Tago, LB, SJSU | J.J. Whittaker, CB, San Diego State | Dominic Rufran, WR, Wyoming | Peni Vea, S, UNLV |
| 24. J.J. Whittaker, CB, San Diego State |
Kyrie Wilson, LB, Fresno State |
LaMar Bratton, OL, New Mexico | Robert Waterman, C, UNLV | Ezell Ruffin, WR, SDSU | Rashard Higgins, WR, Colorado State | Brock Hekking, DE, Nevada | Cody Wichmann, OL, Fresno State | |
| 25. Tyler Winston, WR, San Jose State | Shane Williams-Rhodes, WR, Boise State | Ezell Ruffin, WR, SDSU | Travis Raciti, DL, San Jose State | Jordan Stanton, LB, Wyoming | Max Morgan, LB, Colorado State | Kevin Whimpey, OL, Utah State | ||
| 26. Josh Quezada, RB, Fresno State | Kevin Whimpey, OL, Utah State | Rykeem Yates, DT, Nevada | Rashard Higgins, WR, Colorado State | LaMar Bratton, OL, New Mexico | Max Morgan, LB, Colorado State | Josh Quezada, RB, Fresno State | Max Morgan, LB, Colorado State | Tyler Winston, WR, San Jose State |
| 27. Brett Boyko, OL, UNLV |
Aaron Davis, LB, Colorado State |
Kendall Brock, RB, Nevada | Tyeler Davison, DT, Fresno State | Rashard Higgins, WR, Colorado State | Donte Deayon, CB, Boise State | Tyler Winston, WR, San Jose State | Terry Poole, OL, San Diego State | |
| 28. Shane WIlliams-Rhodes, WR, Boise State |
Mark Nzeocha, LB, Wyoming |
Kenneth Penny, CB, UNLV | Joey Iosefa, RB, Hawaii | Shane Williams-Rhodes, WR, Boise State | Ezell Ruffin, WR, SDSU |
Trent Matthews, S, Colorado State |
||
| 29. Shaun Wick, RB, Wyoming | Jared Roberts, K, Colorado State | Dominic Rufran, WR, Wyoming | Tyler Winston, WR, San Jose State | Grant Hedrick, QB, Boise State | Donnel Pumphrey, RB, SDSU | Rashard Higgins, WR, Colorado State | Rashard Higgins, WR, Colorado State | Charles Washington, S, Fresno State |
| 30. Rashard Higgins, WR, Colorado State | J.J. Whittaker, CB, San Diego State | Max Morgan, LB, Colorado State | Tyler Winston, WR, San Jose State | Brett Bowers, DE, New Mexico | Beau Yap, DE, Hawaii | Garrett Grayson, QB, Colorado State | Jonathan McNeal, LB, Nevada | |
| 31. Cody Wichmann, OL, Fresno State |
Tanner Vallejo, LB, Boise State |
Beau Yap, DE, Hawaii | Bruce 'JoJo' Natson, WR,PR, Utah State | Cody Wichmann, OL, Fresno State | Trent Matthews, S, Colorado State | Jordan Stanton, LB, Wyoming | Travis Raciti, DL, San Jose State | Kyrie Wilson, LB, Fresno State |
| 32. Jeremy Ioane, S, Boise State | Jarrod Lawson, RB, SJSU |
Peni Vea, S, UNLV | Jordan Stanton, LB, Wyoming | Tanner Vallejo, LB, Boise State | Tyler Winston, WR, San Jose State | Billy Freeman, TE, SJSU |
Kendall Brock, RB, Nevada | Kivon Cartwright, TE, Colorado State |
| 33. Kevin Whimpey, OL, Utah State | Nick Vigil, LB, Utah State | Grant Hedrick, QB, Boise State | Donnel Pumphrey, RB, SDSU |
Jake Fely, LB, SDSU |
Joey Ioesefa, RB, Hawaii | Dominic Rufran, WR, Wyoming | Jordan Stanton, LB, Wyoming | Karl Mickelsen. LB, Fresno State |
| 34. Robert Waterman, C, UNLV | Joe Hill, RB, Utah State | Kevin Whimpey, OL, Utah State | Darian Thompson, S, Boise State | Ty Sambrailo, OL, Colorado State | Jarrod Lawson, RB, San Jose State | Aaron Davis, LB, Colorado State | ||
| 35. Ty Sambrailo, OL, Colorado State | Rashard Higgins, WR, Colorado State | Jordan Stanton, LB, Wyoming | Shaun Wick, RB, Wyoming | Beau Yap, DE, Hawaii | Jeremy Ioane, S, Boise State | Shane Williams-Rhodes, WR, Boise State | Cody Wichmann, OL, Fresno State | Donavon Lewis, LB, Fresno State |
| 36. Trent Matthews, S, Colorado State |
Sonny Puletasi, DE, Wyoming |
Jamal Price, OL, New Mexico | BJ Larsen, DE, Utah State | Rykeem Yates, DT, Nevada | Beau Yap, DE, Hawaii | Grant Hedrick, QB, Boise State | BJ Larsen, DE, Utah State | Max Morgan, LB, Colorado State |
| 37. Carlos Wiggins, KR/WR, New Mexico |
Tajh Hasson, CB, UNLV |
Tyler Winston, WR, San Jose State | Cody Wichmann, OL, Fresno State | Kendall Brock, RB, Nevada | BJ Larsen, DE, Utah State | Brett Bowers, DE, New Mexico | Quinn Kaehler, QB, SDSU | Ben Weaver, LB, Boise State |
| 38. BJ Larsen, DE, Utah State | Christian Tago, LB, SJSU | J.J. Whittaker, CB, San Diego State | Jonathan McNeal, LB, Nevada |
Don Jackson, RB, Nevada |
Dominic Rufran, WR, Wyoming | Jonathan McNeal, LB, Nevada |
||
| 39. Beau Yap, DE, Hawaii | Tyler Winston, WR, San Jose State | Robert Waterman, C, UNLV | Beau Yap, DE, Hawaii | Jon Lee, RB, Air Force | Shane Williams-Rhodes, WR, Boise State | Kendall Brock, RB, Nevada | Kevin Whimpey, OL, Utah State | Josh Quezada, RB, Fresno State |
| 40. LaMar Bratton, OL, New Mexico | Cody Wichmann, OL, Fresno State | Kivon Cartwright, TE, Colorado State | Kivon Cartwright, TE, Colorado State | Broam Hart, RB, Air Force | Brett Boyko, OL, UNLV | Robert Waterman, C, UNLV | Joe Hill, RB, Utah State |
Mark Nzeocha, LB, Wyoming |
| 41. Christian Tago, LB, San Jose State | Trent Matthews, S, Colorado State | Sonny Puletasi, DE, Wyoming | Broam Hart, RB, Air Force |
Max Morgan, LB, Colorado State | Grant Hedrick, QB, Boise State | Peni Vea, S, UNLV | Shaun Wick, RB, Wyoming | Kendall Brock, RB, Nevada |
| 42. Quinn Kaehler, QB, San Diego State | Beau Yap, DE, Hawaii | Max Morgan, LB, Colorado State | Tyler Horn, DT, Boise State | Carlos Wiggins, KR/WR, New Mexico | Vince Buhagiar, LB, San Jose State | Jake Fely, LB, SDSU |
Brandon Swindall, WR, Utah State |
Travis Raciti, DL, San Jose State |
| 43. Donnel Pumphrey, RB, San Diego State | Ben Weaver, LB, Boise State | Joey Ioesefa, RB, Hawaii | Brett Boyko, OL, UNLV | Ty Sambrailo, OL, Colorado State | Shaun Wick, RB, Wyoming | Christian Tago, LB, SJSU | Christian Tago, LB, SJSU | Carlos Wiggins, KR/WR, New Mexico |
| 44. Jake Fely, LB, San Diego State | Brock Hekking, DE, Nevada | Carlos Wiggins, KR/WR, New Mexico |
Jake Fely, LB, SDSU |
Kivon Cartwright, TE, Colorado State | Mark Nzeocha, LB, Wyoming | Cody Wichmann, OL, Fresno State | Donnel Pumphrey, RB, SDSU | Beau Yap, DE, Hawaii |
| 45. Kivon Cartwright, TE, Colorado State | Brett Bowers, DE, New Mexico | Brett Boyko, OL, UNLV |
Marcus Sullivan, WR, UNLV |
Peni Vea, S, UNLV | Brandon Connette, QB, Fresno State | Trent Matthews, S, Colorado State | LaMar Bratton, OL, New Mexico | BJ Larsen, DE, Utah State |
| 46. Kendall Brock, RB, Nevada |
Quinn Kaehler, QB, SDSU | Richy Turner, WR, Nevada | Brian Douglas, DB, Boise State |
Cole Gautsche, QB, New Mexico | Peni Vea, S, UNLV | Carlos Wiggins, KR/WR, New Mexico | Brett Boyko, OL, UNLV | Dakota Cox. LB, New Mexico |
| 47. Joey Iosefa, RB, Hawaii | Jake Jones, OL, Wyoming | Vince Buhagiar, LB, SJSU | Brett Bowers, DE, New Mexico | Sonny Puletasi, DE, Wyoming | Ty Sambrailo, OL, Colorado State | Jarrod Lawson, RB, SJSU |
Marteze Waller, RB, Fresno State |
Justin Northern, OL, Fresno State |
| 48. Brett Bowers, DE, New Mexico | Darian Thompson, S, Boise State |
Scott Harding, WR/KR, Hawaii |
Nick Vigil, LB, Utah State |
Ben Clarke, OL, Hawaii | LaMar Bratton, OL, New Mexico | Kenneth Penny, DB, UNLV |
Brock Hekking, DE, Nevada | |
| 49. Peni Vea, S, UNLV | Brian Suite, S, Utah State | Kevin Whimpey, OL, Utah State | Jeremy Ioane, S, Boise State | Jake Jones, OL, Wyoming | Dasheon Frierson, CB, SJSU | Shaquille Murray-Lawrence, RB, UNLV | Kivon Cartwright, TE, Colorado State |
Christian Spears, S, Air Force |
| 50. Bruce 'JoJo' Natson, WR/PR, Utah State |
Will Conant, K, Air Force |
Jared Roberts, K, Colorado State | Trent Matthews, S, Colorado State | Vince Buhagiar, LB, SJSU | Ben Weaver, LB, Boise State | Jonathan McNeal, LB, Nevada | Jared Roberts, K, Colorado State | Darian Thompson, S, Boise State |