Mountaintop View 5-6-19

Welcome to the first Monday in May and another week closer to the start of football season. Summer is great but the lack of prominent sports leaves some wanting at this point in the year. Anyway, we’re keeping the news going as much as possible and have a fresh set of links to start your week off on the right foot.

College Football Injury Report?

It could be coming to a team near you. And it’s being formalized by the NCAA Gambling Workgroup now that sports betting is legal thing. The counterargument is should student athletes have their medical health broadcast to an entire country? If this gets passed, it wouldn’t necessarily be total public info. They are proposing three status updates: available, possible, or unavailable. If I were you, I’d get ready for a lot of possible.

Former Aztec Pope is highest paid UDFA.

OL Ryan Pope. who played at San Diego State, became this year’s highest paid undrafted free agent when he signed with the Lions. Why was he in such high demand? For starters, about 19 other teams were trying to secure the services of the giant OL player. The depth chart seems pretty good for an offensive lineman, they scouted and met with him during the draft process and feel like he’s not done developing.

Wyoming post-spring stock report.

Wyoming concluded their spring practices last weekend and this link lists a few players who seemed primed for big roles this coming fall. Braden Smith is in line for a big role at safety now that two players with NFL teams have left. Chad Muma is poised for a breakout after his true freshman debut. Jackson Marcotte could be a huge weapon at tight end, while the coaches like Mario More at defensive tackle. And Skyler Miller looks to make an impact at fullback, an important spot in Wyoming’s offense.

Can Davie get New Mexico back on track?

Probably not, but he’ll get the chance anyway. Nothing is heading in the right direction after the 3-9 season last year, but divisive coach Bob Davie vowed to get the program back on track. They return 7 starters on offense, which may or may not be a good thing. They have to replace 10 starters on defense, which isn’t the worst thing after a terrible defensive showing. It may be another tough season for the Lobos.

Brett Rypien gets guaranteed deal.

MWC Golf wraps up, announces award winners.

On the horizon:

• Later today: A new MWC Recruiting Roundup, full of the latest offers and a new featured recruit.
• Coming Tuesday: The Good, The Bad, The Ugly looks at another one of the top games from the past football season.
• Coming Wednesday: A new Peak Perspective, looking at ten of the top storylines in the Mountain West this offseason.