Recruiting 2011 - Mountain West Team Rankings

Ranking and analyzing the 2011 Mountain West Recruiting Classes

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Recruiting 2011 

Mountain West Rankings

Recruiting 2011 | Recruiting 2010 | Recruiting 2009

CFN Top Prospects for 2011
- No. 1 to 50 | No. 51 to 100 | No. 101 to 150
- No. 151 to 200 |  No. 201 to 250 | No. 251 to 300
- Quarterbacks | Running Backs | Receivers
- Tight Ends | Off. Tackles | Guards & Centers 
- Def. Ends | Def. Tackles | Linebackers | Corners | Safeties 
- 2009 CFN Top 150 | 2010 CFN Top 200  
 
- Recruiting 2011  

1. TCU | Scout List

The 2011 Class Is Heavy On … The passing game. Call this a training year before going to the Big East, and the fantastic prospects for the passing attack will get time to work. The Horned Frogs went heavy on quarterback last year, but they still got three interesting passers this year with runner Trevone Boykin and 6-5 bomber Dominic Merka to get their chances. This class is loaded, loaded at receiver with Ladarius Brown, Brandon Carter, Cameron White, and David Porter all good enough to play anywhere in the Big 12. This is a big class good enough to rank with anyone in the new league … next season.

2010 CFN Recruiting Ranking: 61. That Class Was Heavy On ... Quarterback. Andy Dalton isn't going to be around forever, and Gary Patterson and his staff have brought in three interesting quarterback prospects to wage a battle for the starting job, possibly, in 2011. Sam Carter is the best of the three with excellent all-around skills, while Matt Brown and Antonio Graves are also good athletes who'll get their shot to shine. Linebackers Marcus Mallett and Blake Roberts fit the Horned Frog mold, but as always, don't assume that any TCU recruit will stick with his original position. Patterson is a master at moving around the talent to the right spots.

2009 CFN Recruiting Ranking: 55. That Class Was Heavy On ... Offensive tackle. The Horned Frogs got commitments from a few very nice running backs like Jurell Thompson and Matthew Tucker, and someone has to pave the way for them. The interior of the line wasn’t ignored, Eric Tausch is a good prospect at either guard or center, but the tackles got the attention with three tall, athletic options in Ty Horn, James Dunbar, and John Wooldridge.

2. Boise State | Scout List

The 2011 Class Is Heavy On … Defensive front seven. How much impact has Boise State’s move to the Mountain West had on recruiting? Yawwwwwwn. Down the road, the move up might matter a little bit, but it didn’t do much this year with a good class, but not an elite one. However, JUCO transfer safety Dextrell Simmons is a special prospect and corner Eric Agbaroji is a nice pickup for the secondary. The strength is on the defensive front, including linebacker Blake Renaud for the middle, with tackle Jeff Worthy and ends Sam Ukwachu and Robert Ash all expected to be rocks over the next several years.

2010 CFN Recruiting Ranking: 94. That Class Was Heavy On ... Quality over quantity. There simply weren't any spots to fill, and it showed with a light class. However, the players brought in were good ones highlighted by big receiver Matt Miller, QB Grant Hedrick, who won't be in the mix until at least 2013, and corner Bryan Douglas, the next great Bronco shut-down defender. This year's defensive line didn't need a whole bunch of work, but it got a little boost from JUCO transfer Tyrone Crawford, a speed rusher for the outside.

2009 CFN Recruiting Ranking: 62. That Class Was Heavy On ... Linebacker. While the Broncos were able to come up with a little something for several spots, the stars are at linebacker where John Michael Davis and Allen Mooney were two tremendous gets, while Gabe Linehan should be excellent with a little time in the weight room. This is the Boise State 2013 starting linebacking corps. Two good quarterbacks, Joe Southwick and Mikey Tamburo, were also signed to develop until Kellen Moore is done.

3. Colorado State | Scout List

The 2011 Class Is Heavy On … Running back. Head coach Steve Fairchild took over the job a few years ago wanting to get physical with the ground game. The Rams were 103rd in the nation in rushing last year (partly because of all the sacks the line gave up). This class revolves around the backfield to help out franchise quarterback Pete Thomas with five good recruits led by big, fast Dorian Brown and with thumper George Talanoa, who could be a linebacker is he’s not a fullback.

2010 CFN Recruiting Ranking: 104. That Class Was Heavy On ... Defensive linemen. LB Charles Favors might be the star of this recruiting class, but the Rams need a few linemen to shine. With all the quarterbacks brought in last year finding more signal calling prospects wasn't a pressing need, but the Rams still signed three decent ones highlighted by Peter Thomas, a big bomber who'll get a long look this offseason. But the strength-in-numbers part of the class is on the defensive line with six players led by end Ra'Shawde Myers.

2009 CFN Recruiting Ranking: 103. That Class Was Heavy On ... Quarterbacks. Billy Farris is gone opening up a hole at quarterback, and while there are options in Grant Stucker and Klay Kubiak waiting to step in, JUCO transfer Jon Eastman will be in the mix right away, Nico Ranieri might be the most talented player of the bunch, but the new recruit might have to wait around for a few years before getting his shot.

4. UNLV | Scout List

The 2011 Class Is Heavy On … Cornerback. The last two classes focused on the defense, with the 2009 haul loading up on defensive back. This class is trying to get more pop for the offense with a few decent quarterback prospects, led by JUCO transfer Sean Reilly, and the star of the entire class is JUCO linebacker Princeton Jackson, but the best position is corner. Fred Wilson and safety-sized Brandon Baker promising for down the line, while JUCO transfer Kenneth Spigner has to make a splash right away.

2010 CFN Recruiting Ranking: 100. That Class Was Heavy On ... Key defensive linemen. Bobby Hauck didn't have much time to put together the recruiting class he might have wanted, but he did a good job of sprinkling in some star prospects with the bulk. Only two defensive linemen were brought in, but tackle Desmond Tautofi could be a cornerstone tackle while Ian Bobak should be a pass rushing terror with a little bit of time. Overall, Houck wants a more physical team, and this class should be a good start. 

2009 CFN Recruiting Ranking: 81. That Class Was Heavy On ... Defensive backs. While this is a class full of variety, there isn’t a lot of star power. JUCO defensive end B.J. Bell will be asked to shine right away, Jordan Barrett is a top-shelf outside linebacker prospect, and the defensive backs should be solid. JUCO transfers Mike Grant and Warren Ziegler will provide instant depth at corner, while Courtney Bridget is a tall, promising corner for the other side. Chase Childers is a fast safety.

5. San Diego State | Scout List

The 2011 Class Is Heavy On … Skill players. New head coach Rocky Long is bringing in a huge class, and while there aren’t a lot of superstars after the departure of Brady Hoke, there are enough good players on offense to start pounding the rock the way the new staff wants to. QB Chad Jeffries and RB Brandon Wright will have to wait their turn for a few years, but they’re strong talents who’ll be the future, while WR Jemond Hazely and TE Sam Meredith will be a big part of the passing game.

2010 CFN Recruiting Ranking: 72. That Class Was Heavy On ... Offensive linemen. Brady Hoke has worked on improving the skill talent over the last two seasons, and this class was built to allow all the new players to shine. This was a big class that addressed several areas, but the best players were on the offensive front led by JUCO transfer Juan Bolanos, a massive player who'll be thrown into the rotation right away. Emmanuel Beavers and Zach Dilley who'll be the cornerstones for the future. JUCO transfers Riley Gauld and Joe Unga will also be counted on early.

2009 CFN Recruiting Ranking: 87. That Class Was Heavy On ... Skill positions. New head coach Brady Hoke needs to bring in the playmakers, and he has them in bunches with a few prospects for all the skill spots. QB Jake Bernard is a good-looking option for the near future, and Osmond Nicholas should be an eventual No. 1 target. The class is also big on corners, arguably the strength of the class, with several options coming in including Nat Berhe and Marcus Andrews.

6. Wyoming | Scout List

The 2011 Class Is Heavy On … The passing game. The defense wasn’t ignored with several interesting outside linebacker prospects brought in, but with the sudden departure of Austyn Carta-Samuels, doing more for the anemic passing attack was a must, With five true receivers coming in, led by the smallish, quick London Muse, the receiving corps is getting an infusion of bodies. The quarterback gig is open, and Adam Pittser out of Illinois will get an instant shot at the job, while athletic Brett Smith will be part of the mix.

2010 CFN Recruiting Ranking: 90. That Class Was Heavy On ... Receiver. Austyn Carta-Samuels has to throw to someone. After hitting the jackpot and getting a quarterback who could play right away last year, the Cowboys now need to upgrade the passing game with more dangerous targets. JUCO transfers Mazi Ogbonna and DeJay Lester need to be a big part of the offense right away, while C.J. Morgan will be a speedy target who could be the No. 1 in the near future. On the other side of the ball, JUCO transfer Austin Daniels might start right away at one corner.

2009 CFN Recruiting Ranking: 105. That Class Was Heavy On ... Quarterbacks. The rest of the class is mediocre, at generous best, but the quarterback recruits might be the best in the Mountain West. Austyn Carta-Samuels isn’t big, he isn’t fast, but he’s a player who could be the franchise sooner than later. For now, considering the woes at quarterback last season, the signing of JUCO transfer Robert Benjamin is a nod toward the present.

7. Air Force | Scout List

The 2011 Class Is Heavy On … Quarterbacks. The Falcons got plenty of help for the defensive line with fantastic ends coming in to provide a tremendous pass rush for the next several years. The secondary also got bodies with Cedric Parker leading a good group of corners. The focus will be at quarterback with Kent Rollins a ready-made option playmaker and Colton Huntsman and Teddy Ruben two runners who’ll get their shot. 6-4, 205-pound Christian Gann will be a No. 1 receiving target soon.

2010 CFN Recruiting Ranking: 83. That Class Was Heavy On ... Linebacker. This is a diverse class with a little something for all spots, but for the second straight season the top players are on the defensive side. Linebacker got the biggest influx of talent with three interesting prospects including Austin Arias, a safety-sized tackling machine who got a little interest from the Arizona schools but was too small for a big-time program. He, along with Joey Nichol and Seth Kline, will be the keys to the defense in a few years.

2009 CFN Recruiting Ranking: 117. That Class Was Heavy On ... Defense. As always, Air Force had to get a specific type of player, and as always, it went with smallish, quick defenders for the line and the secondary. Dan Zotto leads the way up front, while head coach Troy Calhoun brought in a few short, athletic corners. James Chambers could be a fixture at inside linebacker sooner than later.

8. New Mexico | Scout List

The 2011 Class Is Heavy On … Offensive linemen. Mike Locksley was supposed to be a great recruiter after rocking at Illinois, and while he has maintained his pipeline to Maryland/Washington D.C., he hasn’t gotten a slew of difference makers. This year, his class is trying to do more up front on offense with Korian Chambers, a 6-6, 350-pound JUCO transfer, needing to shine right away at tackle. 6-7, 345-pound Jamal Price will blot out the sun at one tackle spot.

2010 CFN Recruiting Ranking: 85. That Class Was Heavy On ... Wide receivers. After bringing aboard a slew of quarterbacks last year, the Lobos needed an upgrade in receiving talent for the near future. Head coach Mike Locksley, even after a bizarre and disastrous 2009, was able to use his talents as a recruiter, which was considered his strength when hired, to sign on four receivers led by Joshua Ford from Washington D.C., Locksley's pipeline that brought in so much talent to Illinois, and Detchauz Wray. Even with all the quarterbacks in last year's class, Locksley was still able to get Tarean Austin out of Florida.

2009 CFN Recruiting Ranking: 88. That Class Was Heavy On ... Quarterbacks. They might not be needed right away, and there are a few young options in Brad Gruner and Tate Smith already in place to push Donovan Porterie, who’s returning from injury, but the two new quarterbacks will be in the hunt for time by 2010. Darren Jones and Emmanuel Yeager are tall, athletic players who can do a little of everything.