A 7-Armed Monster Talented Quarterbacks Headline Big West Race

David Neill, John Welsh, Cleo Lemon, Bart Hendricks, K.C.

Enzminger, Jason Attaway, Jeff Crosbie. Seven returning quarterbacks, one for each Big West school.

Neill could develop into Nevada’s best quarterback ever, coach Jeff Tisdel says. Idaho’s Welsh already has led a team to a conference title and a bowl win.

If Hendricks has an average season, he’ll be first or second in BSU history in most passing categories. And he’s just a junior. Enzminger is the lone non-starter of the seven QBs, but he’s moved up with an injury to Ty Houghtaling. Enzminger passed for 203 yards against BSU last season. Lemon, a junior, has four of the five best passing days in Arkansas State history.

“It’s a very impressive group, without a doubt,” Nevada coach Jeff Tisdel said. “And they are still young guys, so all of our futures are bright.”

How bright? Depends on who can stop some of these aerial artists. As secondaries go, Boise State, Idaho, Utah State and Nevada probably rate as the best in the Big West.

Idaho has moved Bryson Gardner from free to strong safety to take advantage of his coverage ability. Dennis Gibbs has been considered Idaho’s best coverage cornerback for two years, but transfer Cleavon Bradshaw, who will start at the other corner, is making a strong bid for that title.

“In our scheme we run a lot of man coverage and you’ve got to have guys who can take on a receiver man-to-man,” UI coach Chris Tormey said. “I think we’re in better shape.”

Boise State’s Dempsey Dees is perhaps the most adhesive corner in the conference. He had five interceptions last year and broke up 12 passes. Damien Schilling, Dees’ sidekick at corner, broke up 14 passes last year. Head coach Dirk Koetter considers safety the deepest position on the team.

Nevada returns All-Big West safety Maxzell Williams and cornerback Mack Carminer, who will miss the the first three games because of a rules violation. Del Bates, the team’s fastest player and the man who was to step in at the other corner, has been declared academically ineligible. Utah State is stocked with safety Donald Dicko and Vashon Garman at corner.

Pass defense, of course, is more than just sticky coverage. A forceful pass rush can unnerve the headiest quarterbacks.

Idaho and Boise State generally are regarded as having the best defensive lines. But it won’t be easy to collar Nevada.

Neill, a sophomore, is aided by Chris Lemon, a two-time 1,000-yard rusher. Receiver Trevor Insley and tight end Darin Higgins were All-Big West last year.

Tisdel says it might be Nevada’s best collection of talent.

Perhaps even good enough to win the conference, but the Pack had better listen to the words of their coach.

“The team that can defend the pass has a very good chance to win it,” Tisdel said.

RANKING THE FIELD Best of the Big West As chosen by Jim Meehan, staff writer Offense WR Trevor Insley Nevada 6-1 195 Sr. T Rick DeMulling Idaho 6-5 295 Jr. T Ben Holbrook Utah St. 6-6 297 Sr. C Jeremy Wallace Idaho 6-3 278 Jr. G Ryan Scuffy Nevada 6-2 285 Sr. G Jeremy Mankins Boise St. 6-5 324 Sr. TE Darin Higgins Nevada 6-4 225 Sr. QB David Neill Nevada 6-5 200 So. WR Ryan Shaw NMSU 6-3 179 Sr. RB Chris Lemon Nevada 5-11 200 Sr. RB Demario Brown Utah St. 6-1 213 Sr. PK Brad Bohn Utah St. 5-7 177 Jr.

Defense DL Corbin Montgomery N.Texas 6-0 247 Sr. DL Tim Englehardt NMSU 6-2 278 Sr. DL Mao Tosi Idaho 6-6 298 Sr. DL Jon Rydman Boise St. 6-2 273 Sr. LB Chris Nofoaiga Idaho 5-10 206 Jr. LB Jason Burk Nevada 6-1 235 Sr. LB Bryan Johnson Boise St. 6-1 228 Sr. CB Dempsey Dees Boise St. 5-10 174 Jr. CB Dennis Gibbs Idaho 5-10 180 Jr. SS Maxzell Williams Nevada 5-11 185 Sr. FS Sean Mitchell Ark. St. 5-9 190 Jr. P John Baker N.Texas 6-3 212 Sr. Best head coach: 1, Chris Tormey, Idaho. 2, Tony Samuel, NMSU. 3. Dirk Koetter, Boise St. Best coaching staff: Idaho Best offensive assistant: Phil Earley, Idaho Best defensive assistant: Paul Arslanian, Utah St. Offensive player of the year: David Neill, Nevada Best offensive line: Idaho Best wide receiver: Trevor Insley, Nevada Best backfield: Nevada Best backup quarterback: Ty Houghtaling, NMSU Best clutch receiver: Trevor Insley, Nevada Defensive player of the year: Mao Tosi, Idaho Best defensive line: Idaho Best linebackers: Idaho Best defensive backs: Boise St.