2006 Mountain West Recruiting Rankings

Ranking the 2006 Mountain West recruiting classes and trying to figure out what it all means to the college football world.

1. BYU
The class is heavy on ... The secondary. The offensive line also got a big boost of prospects, but the secondary got the best players with JUCO transfers Tico Pringle and Andre Saulsberry sure to be in the mix from day one, and safeties Mike Hague and Michael Moore solid future prospects.
The player who'll someday be a really big deal ... QB James Lark
The player you might care about this year ... CB Tico Pringle
What it all means to the real world of college football ...  There's a great buzz around the Cougar program again under second year head coach Bronco Mendenhall. Many of the top prospects in this class will play bigger roles down the line after serving church missions, but there's a lot to get excited about. QB James Lark will be groomed to be a star by 2008.

2. Utah
The class is heavy on ... Defensive tackle. Six were brought in to clog up the middle, and there are some very, very good prospects with Joe Faifili, Neli A'asa and Pauli Latu tremendous talents for the 2007 season and beyond, and JUCO transfer Aaron Tonga ready for right now. End Tereinga Tuinei adds even more talent to the line.
The player who'll someday be a really big deal ... OL Walter Watts
The player you might care about this year ... DT Aaron Tonga
What it all means to the real world of college football ... Offensive lineman Walter Watts highlights the offense, but this is the class for the defensive front. The future of the Utah run defense is in this class with its fantastic group of tackles coming in. After a down recruiting year following the loss of head coach Urban Meyer, the Utes came roaring back.

3. TCU
The class is heavy on ... The offensive line. JUCO transfer Ryan Sefton leads a very big group of five recruits coming in to boost the line. There aren't any sure-things besides Sefton, but there's size to work with thanks to 317-pound Marshall Newhouse and 6-4, 295-pound Marcus Cannon.
The player who'll someday be a really big deal ... WR Clint Renfro
The player you might care about this year ... CB Matt Andrews
What it all means to the real world of college football ... The defending Mountain West champions didn't get any eye-popping difference makers, but it's an above-average class which fits in well with what head coach Garry Patterson will want to do. There's speed coming in at corner right away with JUCO transfer Matt Andrews, while Clint Renfro has the speed to be a deep threat and a major weapon one he puts a few pounds on.

4. UNLV
The class is heavy on ... Offensive linemen. Mike Sanford's offense can't go without the guys up front, so he and his staff went hard after live bodies to mold into potential starters. Outside of JUCO transfer Johan Asiata and 320-pound Ramsey Feagai, the talent is extremely raw, so the hope is to get some production out of this group by 2008.
The player who'll someday be a really big deal ... DT Tim High
The player you might care about this year ... WR Aaron Straiten
What it all means to the real world of college football ... Sanford had little time to put together his first recruiting class, but he came back with a good effort this year replenishing the program with 25 recruits and six JUCO transfers to add immediate depth. No quarterbacks were added, so next year will need a special emphasis on bringing in at least two to fit the system.

5. Colorado State
The class is heavy on ... Offensive linemen. Sonny Lubick brought in a diverse class addressing several needs on both sides of the ball, but the offensive line got the biggest boost with five prospects led by JUCO transfer Marvin Arnold and star-of-the-class Ryan Griffith. Griffith needs at least a year in the weight room to fill out his 6-6 frame, but Arnold should be ready to roll right now.
The player who'll someday be a really big deal ... OL Ryan Griffith
The player you might care about this year ... OT Marvin Arnold
What it all means to the real world of college football ... Considering the issues with the run defense last year, you'd think Lubick would've made more of a push to get more immediate help from the JUCO ranks for the front seven. Even so, Michael Johnson is a good looking linebacker with speed to burn to lead a decent haul of future defenders.

6. San Diego State
The class is heavy on ... Defensive ends. It's all about the numbers with Chuck Long's first class. There might not be a lot of true talents out of the six ends Long brought in, other than JUCO transfer Brian Stanbra, so there has to be hope that they can develop over the next few years.
The player who'll someday be a really big deal ... RB Brandon Sullivan
The player you might care about this year ... DE Brian Stanbra
What it all means to the real world of college football ... Considering his background, you'd think Long would go heavy on offense with his first recruiting class. Not so. He only brought in one quarterback, the relatively unheralded Kelsey Sokoloski, and lighting fast running backs Brandon Sullivan and Davon Brown, but that's about it. Fortunately for Long, he didn't need to do too much this year able to live off of Tom Craft's tremendous 2005 class.

7. Wyoming
The class is heavy on ... Offensive linemen. In a relatively disappointing class, the offensive line got the most bodies for the future with big Nick Brousseau leading the way. JUCO transfer Zach Kennedy should be good enough to provide some depth early on.
The player who'll someday be a really big deal ... WR Greg Bolling
The player you might care about this year ... QB Ian Hetrick
What it all means to the real world of college football ... Considering Wyoming was everyone's up and coming hot program last year at this time, things certainly cooled off. This isn't a class that'll scare anyone in the Mountain West, but there are a few interesting pieces that could fit the puzzle this year. JUCO transfer Ian Hetrick was the best catch of the class and will provide a big push to the rest of the young quarterbacks on the roster. The defensive line was completely ignored.

8. New Mexico
The class is heavy on ... Wide receiver. Only three were brought in, but they're the stars of the class with JUCO transfer Jermaine McQueen looking to fill some of the void left by Hank Baskett, while Nicholas Lawson is a big target with the talent to eventually be a dependable number two.
The player who'll someday be a really big deal ... OL Michael Cannon
The player you might care about this year ... WR Jermaine McQueen
What it all means to the real world of college football ... This was a stunningly uninspiring class considering the excellent group of prospects brought in last year. There's almost no immediate help, and there aren't many sure talents to count on being major players until at least 2008. Thank goodness for the 2005 class, and now the pressure is on for a good 2007.

9. Air Force
Air Force doesn't release its recruiting list.