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Top 50 Mountain West Players: No. 3 is Nick Vigil from Utah State

The highest ranked defensive player on the Mountain West Top 50 list is linebacker Nick Vigil from Utah State. A versatile football player, he played some running back in 2014, is hoping to help Utah State cash in on their high expectations in 2015.

By Duane Grasmick
Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports

Coming in as the highest rated defensive player on the Mountain West Top 50 list is Utah State Aggies linebacker Nick Vigil. The 2014 first team All-Mountain West performer is coming off a season where he not only was the anchor of the Aggies defense but played running back for the team in five games as well, rushing for 152 yards and three touchdowns. But make no mistake, defense is where Vigil excels for the team. In 2014, the junior had 16.5 tackles for loss, seven quarterback sacks and one interceptions. He also forced five fumbles and recorded 123 total tackles. His domination in 2014 has landed Vigil on the Chuck Bednarik Award list as well as first team preseason honors by all major publications.

Our player countdown will be posted in the morning each and every day, and here is our StoryStream of our countdown. Feel free to agree or disagree, civilly of course, in the comments about the list. New players are in bold.

Overall Jeremy Mauss Chris Hondros Duane Grasmick Scott Tejerian Ben Mitchum Dont Warrior Bout It erwinism Chris Strickley Brandon Truffa Matthew Kenerly Parker Robertson
1.
2. Nick Vigil, LB, USU Eddie Yarbrough, DL, WYO Nick VIgil, LB, USU
3. Nick Vigil, LB, USU Eddie Yarbrough, DL, WYO Weston Steelhammer, DB, AFA Nick Vigil, LB, USU Eddie Yarbrough, DL, WYO Nick Vigil, LB, USU Nick Vigil, LB, USU Nick VIgil, LB, USU Nick Vigil, LB, USU Nick Vigil, LB, USU Kyler Fackrell, LB, USU Kyler Fackrell, LB, USU
4. Eddie Yarbrough, DL, WYO Devonte Boyd, WR, UNLV Devonte Boyd, WR, UNLV Eddie Yarbrough, DL, WYO Eddie Yarbrough, DL, WYO Eddie Yarbrough, DL, WYO Devonte Boyd, WR, UNLV Devonte Boyd, WR, UNLV Nick Vigil, LB, USU
5. Devonte Boyd, WR, UNLV Jhurell Pressley, RB, UNM Eddie Yarbrough, DL, WYO Devonte Boyd, WR, UNLV Weston Steelhammer, DB, AFA Marcus Henry, OL, BSU Devonte Boyd, WR, UNLV Devonte Boyd, WR, UNLV Eddie Yarbrough, DL, WYO Jhurell Pressley, RB, UNM Kamalei Correa, DL, BSU Devonte Boyd, WR, UNLV
6. Weston Steelhammer, DB, AFA Nick Vigil, LB, USU Jhurell Pressley, RB, UNM Weston Steelhammer, DB, AFA Marcus Henry, OL, BSU Devonte Boyd, WR, UNLV Jhurell Pressley, RB, UNM Weston Steelhammer, DB, AFA Jhurell Pressley, RB, UNM Eddie Yarbrough, DL, WYO J.J. Whittaker, DB,SDSU Kamalei Correa, DL, BSU
7. Jhurell Pressley, RB, UNM Ian Seau, DL, NEV Max Wittek, QB, UH Jhurell Pressley, RB, UNM Kamalei Correa, DL, BSU Hunter Sharp, WR, USU Weston Steelhammer, DB, AFA Kamalei Correa, DL, BSU Weston Steelhammer, DB, AFA Marcus Henry, OL, BSU Marcus Henry, OL, BSU Jhurell Pressley, RB, UNM
8. Marcus Henry, OL, BSU Weston Steelhammer, DB, AFA Nick Vigil, LB, USU Tyler Winston, WR, SJSU Darian Thompson, DB, BSU Weston Steelhammer, DB, AFA Marcus Henry, OL, BSU

Tyler Winston, WR, SJSU

 Marcus Henry, OL, BSU Hunter Sharp, WR, USU Donte Deayon, DB, BSU Weston Steelhammer, DB, AFA
9. Hunter Sharp, WR, USU Donte Deayon, DB, BSU Kamalei Correa, DL, BSU Hunter Sharp, WR, USU Tyler Winston, WR, SJSU Kamalei Correa, DL, BSU Kamalei Correa, DL, BSU Marcus Henry, OL, BSU Kamalei Correa, DL, BSU Darian Thompson, DB, BSU Eddie Yarbrough, DL, WYO Eddie Yarbrough, DL, WYO
10. Ian Seau, DL, NEV Darian Thompson, DB, BSU Marteze Waller, RB, FSU Darian Thompson, DB, BSU Marteze Waller, RB, FSU Brian Hill, RB, WYO Hunter Sharp, WR, USU Darian Thompson, DB, BSU Darian Thompson, DB, BSU Calvin Munson, LB, SDSU Cory James, LB, CSU Marcus Henry, OL, BSU
11. Darian Thompson, DB, BSU Marteze Waller, RB, FSU Ian Seau, DL, NEV Marteze Waller, RB, FSU Devonte Boyd, WR, UNLV Jhurell Pressley, RB, UNM Darian Thompson, DB, BSU Marteze Waller, RB, FSU Brian Hill, RB, WYO Kamalei Correa, DL, BSU Chuckie Keeton, QB, USU Trent Matthews, DB, CSU
12. Marteze Waller, RB, FSU Marcus Henry, OL, BSU Donte Deayon, DB, BSU Marcus Henry, OL, BSU Jhurell Pressley, RB, UNM Darian Thompson, DB, BSU Donte Deayon, DB, BSU Jhurell Pressley, RB, UNM Trent Matthews, DB, CSU Trent Matthews, DB, CSU Darian Thompson, DB, BSU Darian Thompson, DB, BSU
13. Donte Deayon, DB, BSU Hunter Sharp, WR, USU Marcus Henry, OL, BSU Kamalei Correa, DL, BSU Trent Matthews, DB, CSU Ian Seau, DL, NEV Marteze Waller, RB, FSU Hunter Sharp, WR, USU Hunter Sharp, WR, USU Chuckie Keeton, QB, USU Shane Williams-Rhodes, WR, BSU Donte Deayon, DB, BSU
14. Kamalei Correa, DL, BSU Trent Matthews, DB, CSU Hunter Sharp, WR, USU Tyler Ervin, RB, SJSU Ian Seau, DL, NEV Trent Matthews, DB, CSU Ian Seau, DL, NEV Donte Deayon, DB, BSU Tyler Ervin, RB, SJSU Brian Hill, RB, WYO

Rees Odhiambo, OL, BSU

 Tyler Winston, WR, SJSU
15. Kyler Fackrell, LB, USU Jacobi Owens, RB, AFA Kyler Fackrell, LB, USU Donte Deayon, DB, BSU Hunter Sharp, WR, USU Donte Deayon, DB, BSU Tyler Winston, WR, SJSU Trent Matthews, DB, CSU Peni Vena, DB, UNLV Donte Deayon, DB, BSU Weston Steelhammer, DB, AFA Marteze Waller, RB, FSU
16. Cory James, LB, CSU Kyrie Wilson, LB, FSU Calvin Munson, LB, SDSU Ian Seau, DL, NEV Alex Barrett, DL, SDSU Teriyon Gipson, RB, UNM Trent Matthews, DB, CSU Tyler Ervin, RB, SJSU Chuckie Keeton, QB, USU Marteze Waller, RB, FSU Brian Hill, RB, WYO Hunter Sharp, WR, USU
17. Tyler Ervin, RB, SJSU Shaun Wick, RB, WYO Shaun Wick, RB, WYO Trent Matthews, DB, CSU Tyler Ervin, RB, SJSU Uso Olive, DL, WYO Kyler Fackrell, LB, USU Ian Seau, DL, NEV Calvin Munson, LB, SDSU Kyler Fackrell, LB, USU Devonte Boyd, WR, UNLV J.J. Whittaker, DB, SDSU
18. Trent Matthews, DB, CSU Uso Olive, DL, WYO Jacobi Owens, RB, AFA Calvin Munson, LB, SDSU Peni Vea, DB, UNLV Marteze Waller, RB, FSU Tyler Ervin, RB, SJSU Kyler Fackrell, LB, USU Charles Washington, DB, FSU Tyler Ervin, RB, SJSU Max Wittek, QB, UH Chuckie Keeton, QB, USU
19. Jacobi Owens, RB, AFA Kamalei Correa, DL, BSU Trent Matthews, DB, CSU Alex Barrett, DL, SDSU Kyler Fackrell, LB, USU Kyler Fackrell, LB, USU Cory James, LB, CSU Dakota Cox, LB, SDSU Marteze Waller, RB, FSU Weston Steelhammer, DB, AFA Trent Matthews, DB, CSU Max Wittek, QB, UH
20. Chuckie Keeton, QB, USU Kyler Fackrell, LB, USU Lamar Jordan, QB UNM Kyler Fackrell, LB, USU Charles Washington, DB, FSU Cory James, LB, CSU Jacobi Owens, RB, AFA Steven Walker, TE, CSU Cory James, LB, CSU Ian Seau, DL, NEV Hunter Sharp, WR, USU Shane Williams-Rhodes, WR, BSU
21. Dakota Cox, LB, UNM Max Wittek, QB, UH Alex Barrett, DL, SDSU Dakota Cox, LB, UNM Donte Deayon, DB, BSU Tyler Winston, WR, SJSU Alex Barrett, DL, SDSU Alex Barrett, DL, SDSU Jacobi Owens, RB, AFA Dakota Cox, LB, UNM Marteze Waller, RB, FSU Ian Seau, DL, NEV
22. Calvin Munson, LB, SDSU Calvin Munson, LB, SDSU Tyler Ervin, RB, SJSU Jacobi Owens, RB, AFA Chuckie Keeton, QB, USU Jake Roh, TE, BSU Christian Tago, LB, SJSU Rees Odhiambo, OL, BSU Ryan Finley, QB, BSU Charles Washington, DB, FSU Tanner Vallejo, LB, BSU Darrell Green, OL, SDSU

23. Shane Williams-Rhodes, WR, BSU

 Tyler Ervin, RB, SJSU Rykeem Yates, LB, Nev Max Wittek, QB, UH Christian Tago, LB, SJSU Jacobi Owens, RB, AFA Calvin Munson, LB, SDSU Tanner Vallejo, LB, BSU Christian Tago, LB, SJSU Ryan Finley, QB, BSU Ejiro Ederaine, LB, FSU Brian Hill, RB, WYO
24. Tyler Winston, WR, SJSU Tyler Winston, WR, SJSU Steven Walker, TE, CSU Steven Walker, TE, CSU Rees Odhiambo, OL, BSU Carlos Wiggins, WR, UNM Austin Stephens, C, USU Darrell Green, OL, SDSU Shane Williams-Rhodes, WR, BSU Carlos Wiggins, WR, UNM Rees Odhiambo, OL, BSU
25. Alex Barrett, DL, SDSU Nate Romine, QB, AFA Carlos Wiggins, WR, UNM Christian Tago, LB, SJSU Darrell Greene, OL, SDSU Dakota Cox, LB, SDSU Damontae Kazee, DB, SDSU Max Wittek, QB, UH Alex Hansen, DL, AFA Cory James, LB, CSU Jhurell Pressley, RB, UNM Alex Hansen, DL, AFA
26. Max Wittek, QB, UH Alex Barrett, DL, SDSU Chuckie Keeton, QB, USU Cory James, LB, CSU Cory James, LB, CSU Christian Tago, LB, SJSU Charles Washington, DB, FSU Cory James, LB, CSU Jalen Robinette, WR, AFA Jacobi Owens, RB, AFA Dakota Cox, LB, UNM Dakota Cox, LB, UNM
27. Shaun Wick, RB, WYO Cory James, LB, CSU

Peni Vea, DB, UNLV

 Jarred Gipson, TE, NEV Jacobi Owens, RB, AFA Shaun Wick, RB, WYO Alex Hansen, DL, AFA Christian Tago, LB, SJSU Dakota Cox, LB, UNM Christian Tago, LB, SJSU Austin Stephens, C, USU Calvin Munson, LB, SDSU
28. Carlos Wiggins, WR, UNM Tanner Vallejo, LB, BSU Jalen Robinnette, WR, AFA Shaun Wick, RB, WYO Alex Hansen, DL, AFA Chuckie Keeton, QB, USU Shaun Wick, RB, WYO Marcus Kemp, WR, UH Austin Stephens, C, USU Damontae Kazee, DB, SDSU Kevin Pierre-Louis, DB, CSU Shaun Wick, RB, WYO
29. Tanner Vallejo, LB, BSU Teryion Gibson, RB, UNM Jake Roh, TE, BSU Peni Vea, DB, UNLV Max Wittek, QB, UH Alex Hansen, DL - AFA Carlos Wiggins, WR, UNM Jacobi Owens, RB, AFA Shaun Wick, RB, WYO Jake Roh, TE, BSU Ben Weaver, LB, BSU Devin Centers, DB, USU
30. Jalen Robinette, WR, AFA Chuckie Keeton, QB, USU Tanner Vallejo, LB, BSU Austin Stephens, C, USU Jalen Robinette, WR, AFA Ryan Finley, QB, BSU Brian Hill, RB, WYO Damontae Kazee, DB, SDSU Rykeem Yates, LB, Nev J.J. Whittaker, DB, SDSU Kennedy Tulimasealii, DL UH Tyler Ervin, RB, SJSU
31.Peni Vea, DB, UNLV Ben Weaver, LB, BSU Damontae Kazee, DB, SDSU Rykeem Yates, LB, Nev Austin Stephens, C, USU Don Jackson, RB, NEV Dakota Cox, LB, SDSU Austin Stephens, C, USU Marcus Kemp, WR, UH Austin Stephens, C, USU Alex Barrett, DL, SDSU Travis Averill, OL, BSU
32.Darrell Greene, OL, SDSU Carlos Wiggins, WR, UNM Kyrie Wilson, LB, FSU Jalen Robinette, WR, AFA Damontae Kazee, DB, SDSU Jalen Robinette, WR, AFA Steven Walker, TE, CSU J.J. Whittaker, DB, SDSU Tanner Vallejo, LB, BSU Rykeem Yates, LB, Nev Damontae Kazee, DB, SDSU Pearce Slater, OL, SDSU
33. Christian Tago, LB, SJSU
 Don Jackson, RB, NEV Marcus Kemp, WR, UH Brian Hill, RB, WYO Marcus Kemp, WR, UH Austin Stephens, C, USU Tanner Vallejo, LB, BSU Rykeem Yates, LB, Nev Jake Roh, TE, BSU Marcus Kemp, WR, UH Jalen Robinette, WR, AFA Jake Fely, LB, SDSU
34. Kyrie Wilson, LB, FSU Diocemy Saint-Juste, RB, Hawaii Thomas Sperbeck, WR, BSU Damontae Kazee, DB, SDSU Calvin Munson, LB, SDSU Rykeem Yates, LB, Nev Chuckie Keeton, QB, USU Calvin Munson, LB, SDSU Thomas Sperbeck, WR, BSU Max Wittek, QB, UH Peni Vea, DB, UNLV Alex Barrett, DL, SDSU
35. Brian Hill, RB, WYO
 Jeremy McNichols, WR/RB BSU Ben Weaver, LB, BSU Alex Hansen, DL - AFA Pearce Slater, OL, SDSU Damontae Kazee, DB, SDSU Jalen Robinette, WR, AFA Kyrie Wilson, LB, FSU Darrell Green, OL, SDSU Travis Averill, OL, BSU

Maurice McKnight, DB, SJSU

 Austin Stephens, C, USU
36. Austin Stephens, C, USU Devin Centers, DB, USU Dakota Cox, LB, UNM Tanner Vallejo, LB, BSU Kyrie Wilson, LB, FSU Shane Williams-Rhodes, WR, BSU Peni Vea, DB, UNLV Ben Clarke, OL, UH Damontae Kazee, DB, SDSU Tanner Vallejo, LB, BSU Thomas Sperbeck, WR, BSU Ben Clarke, OL, UH
37. Rykeem Yates, LB, NEV J.J. Whittaker, DB,SDSU Don Jackson, RB NE Chuckie Keeton, QB, USU J.J. Whittaker, DB, SDSU Marcus Kemp, WR, UH Quinton Pedroza, WR, UH Jordan Nielsen, DL, USU Alex Fifita, OT, FSU Pearce Slater, OL, SDSU Cleveland Wallace III, CB, SJSU Steven Walker, TE, CSU
38. Marcus Kemp, WR, UH Marcus Kemp, WR, UH Blake Decker, QB UNLV Charles Washington, DB, FSU Shane Williams-Rhodes, WR, BSU Chase Roullier, OL, WYO Rykeem Yates, LB, Nev Travis Averill, OL, BSU Joe Gray, QB, SJSU Jordan Nielsen, DL, USU Jimmy Pruitt, CB, SJSU Ben Weaver, LB, BSU
39. Jake Roh, TE, BSU Dakota Cox, LB, UNM Kennedy Tulimasealii, DL UH Cleveland Wallace III, CB, SJSU Kennedy Tulimasealii, DL UH Max Wittek, QB, UH Darrell Green, OL, SDSU Jarred Gipson, TE, NEV Jordan Nielsen, DL, USU Kennedy Tulimasealii, DL UH Ben Clarke, OL, UH Jacobi Owens, RB, AFA
40. Kennedy Tulimasealii, DL UH Kennedy Tulimasealii, DL UH Cory James, LB, CSU Marcus Kemp, WR, UH Jordan Nielsen, DL, USU Garrett Brown, WR, AFA Kyrie Wilson, LB, FSU Ryan Finley, QB, BSU Darrell Green, OL, SDSU Tyler Winston, WR, SJSU Peni Vea, DB, UNLV
41. Damontae Kazee, DB, SDSU Brian Hill, RB, WYO Teryion Gibson, RB, UNM Joe Gray, QB, SJSU Ejiro Ederaine, LB, FSU Devin Centers, DB, USU Marcus Kemp, WR, UH Kennedy Tulimasealii, DL UH Cleveland Wallace III, CB, SJSU Lucas Wacha, LB, WYO Tyler Gray, LB, BSU Christian Tago, LB, SJSU
42. Devin Centers, DB, USU Peni Vea, DB, UNLV Zack Greenlee, QB FSU Thomas Sperbeck, WR, BSU Tanner Vallejo, LB, BSU Tanner Vallejo, LB, BSU Rees Odhiambo, OL, BSU Alex Hansen, DL, AFA Kyrie Wilson, LB, FSU Kyrie Wilson, LB, FSU Alex Hansen, DL, AFA Damontae Kazee, DB, SDSU
43. Jalen Robinette, WR, AFA J.J. Whittaker, DB, SDSU Jordan Nielsen, DL, USU Todd Hunt, DL, FSU Cameron Coffman, QB, WYO Jordan Nielsen, DL, USU Lloyd Mills, KR, SDSU Devin Centers, DB, USU Cleveland Wallace III, CB, SJSU Jonathan Moxey, CB, BSU Jake Roh, TE, BSU
44. Thomas Sperbeck, WR, BSU Thomas Sperbeck, WR, BSU Ejiro Ederaine, LB FSU Devin Centers, DB, USU Rykeem Yates, LB, Nev Ryan Cummings, OL, WYO Lucas Wacha, LB, WYO Shaun Wick, RB, WYO Lucas Wacha, LB, WYO Devin Centers, DB, USU Devin Centers, DB, USU Uso Olive, DL, WYO
45. Charles Washington, DB, FSU Rykeem Yates, LB, Nev Hasaan Henderson, WR, NEV Dakota Cox, LB, UNM Lucas Wacha, LB, WYO Devin Centers, DB, USU Hasaan Henderson, WR, NEV Peni Vea, DB, UNLV Kevin Pierre-Louis, DB, CSU Ian Seau, DL, NEV Kyrie Wilson, LB, FSU
46. J.J. Whittaker, DB, SDSU Jake Roh, TE, BSU Christian Tago, LB, SJSU Rees Odhiambo, OL - BSU Justin Northern, OG, FSU Kevin Pierre-Louis, DB, CSU Hasaan Henderson, WR, NEV Devin Centers, DB, USU Max Wittek, QB, UH Garrett Brown, WR, AFA Marcus Kemp, WR, UH Nate Romine, QB, AFA
47. Jordan Nielsen, DL, USU Hasaan Henderson, WR, NEV Diocemy Saint-Juste, RB Hawaii Kelsey Young, RB, BSU Bo Bonnheim, C, FSU Brian Burrell, QB, FSU Joe Gray, QB, SJSU Charles Washington, DB, FSU Steven Walker, TE, CSU Lamar Jordan, QB UNM Kyrie Wilson, LB, FSU Lamar Jordan, QB UNM
48.Ryan Finley, QB, BSU Lamar Jordan, QB, UNM
J.J. Whittaker, DB, SDSU Joe Gray, QB, SJSU Thomas Sperbeck, WR, BSU Max Wittek, QB, UH Jake Fely, LB, SDSU Brett Rypien, QB, BSU Hasaan Henderson, WR, NEV Tau Lotulelei, LB, UNLV Jordan Nielsen, DL, USU
49.Ben Weaver, LB, BSU Garrett Brown, WR, AFA Brian Hill, RB, WYO Kyrie Wilson, LB, FSU Garrett Brown, WR, AFA Drew Van Maanan, FB, WYO Ben Clarke, OL, UH Lucas Wacha, LB, WYO Lloyd Mills, KR, SDSU Peni Vea, DB, UNLV Jacobi Owens, RB, AFA Cory James, LB, CSU
50. Steven Walker, TE, CSU Zack Greenlee, QB, FSU Darian Thompson, DB, BSU Garrett Brown, WR, AFA Brian Hill, RB, WYO J.J. Whittaker, DB, SDSU Thomas Sperbeck, WR, BSU Peni Vea, DB, UNLV Rafe Kiely, OL, WYO Jake Fely, LB, SDSU Rafe Kiely, OL, WYO Tanner Vallejo, LB, BSU

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