Spring football is behind us, and summer workouts will be starting before we know it. Last week, we started our quarterback previews with the Mountain Division. This week, we finish up with the schools in the West Division.
The Good:
San Jose State
Nick Starkel managed to do something I never thought possible. He brought a Mountain West Championship to San Jose. Starkel will be a trendy pick for offensive player of the year, but the loss of Tre Walker and Billy Gaither will be felt. It will be interesting to see if he can replicate his success with the turnover at wide receiver.
Nevada
Carson Strong is getting early NFL buzz and will likely be the pick for preseason offensive player of the year. He brings back the majority of his weapons at wide receiver. Strong is the real deal, and for that reason, Nevada will likely be the preseason pick in the West.
Fresno State
Jake Haener put up some monster numbers late in the season. His offensive line is the biggest question on an offense that is filled with weapons. Haener needs to start the season strong and maintain that momentum. Haener will be a part of some fun quarterback battles this year.
Hawaii
Chevan Cordeiro is a ton of fun to watch. He is dynamic with the ball in hands and is a great runner. He looked like he struggled to find himself at times this past season, but a familiarity with the coaching staff should allow him to take the next step this fall.
The Bad:
San Diego State
The Aztecs have a lot of quarterbacks on the roster, but do they have one that can lead them to a championship? The Aztecs have a championship defense, depth at running back, and a talented offensive line. The one thing they haven’t had in a long time is a championship quarterback. Maybe that changes this fall, but I am skeptical.
The Ugly:
UNLV
UNLV was a revolving door at the quarterback position during the COVID shortened season. I thought Justin Rogers was the answer, but he really struggled. I think they should give Doug Brumfield the keys to the car. Brumfield’s size and athleticism is intriguing. Let the young quarterback find his way; it will benefit the program in the long run.
One thing is clear, the quarterbacks in the West seem to have the upper hand on the quarterbacks in the Mountain. How would you rank the quarterbacks in the Mountain West? Leave your thoughts in the comments below.