Mountain West Football: Key Newcomers Atop Each Week 2 Depth Chart
Every Mountain West team will play in Week 2. We identify new names atop each depth chart who could be important.
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Which unfamiliar names are worth following?
Boise State — DJ Schramm, LB
The former three-star recruit from Fresno waited a long time for his chance to replace Riley Whimpey and his debut in the starting lineup against Oregon State was a decent one. He finished the night with 11 tackles, second-most on the defense, though Pro Football Focus was a little more lukewarm about his stat sheet, grading him at 54.5 overall in the season opener. New Mexico definitely looked more spry in their win over Maine on Saturday, but the Lobos offense should be a much more manageable test of whether Schramm can make bigger plays.
New Mexico — Geordon Porter, WR
The Lobos shuffled a huge number of pass catchers into the game last week against Maine, but the Arizona State transfer Porter stood out in his New Mexico debut. He caught all five of his targets for 54 yards and a touchdown, displaying a bit of yards-after-catch ability that should come in handy when the Boise State defense comes to town this Friday night.
Colorado State — Drew Kulick, LB
It came as something of a surprise when Kulick was listed ahead of veteran Cam’ron Carter ahead of the season opener against Michigan, and it remains at least a little bit so after Carter outperformed the freshman against the Wolverines. Kulick played a total of 35 snaps in Week 1, according to Pro Football Focus, and had three tackles but posted a 34.0 overall grade that is the third-worst among conference linebackers in this early going. If Carter plays well again against Middle Tennessee State, it could force a change in the starting eleven.
Utah State — Brian Cobbs, WR
Last Saturday’s contest against Alabama wasn’t pretty, but through two games the Maryland transfer has, more or less, played as well as advertised. For the moment, he’s tied for the Mountain West lead with ten receptions and ranks second with 141 receiving yards, including two catches for 33 catches against the Crimson Tide, and he’s racked up an 83.3 receiving grade from Pro Football Focus in the early going, as well. Expect big things from him against Weber State and moving forward.
Wyoming — DeVonne Harris, DE
With the departures of every major edge rusher from last year’s Cowboys roster, the onus was on Harris and his peers to step in the breach right away and he’s responded well through two games. Harris collected his first career sack last week against Tulsa and has two tackles for loss in two contests, so while health remains a concern for a defensive end unit that is precariously thin overall, he’s so far looked like a potential anchor alongside Jordan Bertagnole and Cole Godbout.
Nevada — Grant Starck, OT
Another new member of the rebuilt Union, Starck got his first career start in last year’s Quick Lane Bowl and has been tasked with holding down the left tackle role. He’s quietly been a big reason for the Wolf Pack’s strong start: After two games, he owns the sixth-best overall PFF grade of any offensive tackle in the country, 86.2.
San Diego State — Ross Ulugalu-Maseuli, G
While Ulugalu-Maseuli didn’t arrive on the Mesa with quite as much recruiting hype as Josh Simmons, the plan was always for the Mater Dei High School product to get elevated into the starting offensive line after serving as a part-time contributor in 2021. He helped the Aztecs rushing attack flash some explosiveness, though consistency was an issue in the opening loss to Arizona, though a stronger performance against Idaho State should quell the skeptics.
