Peak Perspective: Reviewing the Mountain West 2020 Recruiting Class

With signing day today, this week’s Peak Perspective will take on a recruiting theme. When I started doing recruited-related posts in February of 2018, I had the thought that reviewing them in a few years would be a fun exercise. Today, we continue to carry out that thought.

This post will review our projections from the class of 2020. As everyone should know, recruiting is not an exact science. Much like the weather, rankings, and projections are based on the best info had at the time. Just because it’s not perfectly accurate doesn’t mean it isn’t beneficial. With that being said, this post is probably for both the “recruiting rankings are awesome” group, as well as the “stars don’t matter” people, as both will be justified in this post. Looking back at the class of 2020, it will show that some players who were projected to be impact players fulfilled that potential. Also, some didn’t come close at all to doing so. And some players were late-bloomers or diamonds in the rough, greatly exceeding their expectations. It’s a fun exercise to do with a new class signing their letters of intent today.

For those who wish to look back, here is the signing day tracker from this class. Also, the MWCConnection All-Mountain West recruit teams and top 10 players posts from 2020.

Also, here’s last year’s version.

The MWC 2020 All-Recruit Teams

Quarterback

First team:

• Doug Brumfield (UNLV): He emerged as a starter for the Rebels and, when healthy, is one of the better QBs in the conference. Although he lost the starting gig this year.

Second team:

• QB Logan Fife (Fresno State): Fife started a few games last year for the Bulldogs but showed flashes but was inconsistent. He has now transferred.

Missed: N/A

Running back

First team:

• RB John Gentry (Utah State): Gentry got some time for the Aggies in 2021, but didn’t do anything too impressive. He transferred last season.

Second team:

• RB Eleyon Noa (Utah State): He had a pretty good season for Utah State in 2021 and then transferred to Boise State, where he served as depth. He then left the Broncos after 2022.

Missed: Avery Morrow (Nevada), Nathaniel Jones (New Mexico)

Wide Receiver

First team:

• WR LaTrell Caples (Boise State): When he’s been healthy, Caples has produced. Thus far, he’s only been healthy for one season.
• WR Quin Bright (Hawaii): He didn’t log any stats for Hawaii and is now at a junior college.

Second team:

• WR Isaac Jernagin (Nevada): He played a bit as a true freshman but ran into legal trouble and was dismissed from the team.
• WR Tamatoa Mokiao-Atimalala (Hawaii): After being mostly on special teams his first two seasons, he started six games last year with limited production.

Missed: Tory Horton (Nevada), Kyle Williams (UNLV)

Tight End

First team:

• TE Austin Bolt (Boise State): Injuries and ineffectiveness have limited his time on the field since joining the college ranks. But the talent is there.

Second team:

• TE Alex Lines (UNLV): Lines ended up transferring to Arizona before making an impact for the Rebels.

Missed: N/A

Flex

First team:

• Nathaniel Jones (New Mexico): He had a breakout freshman season but then left the team and came back. He returned to action in 2022 as a contributor at running back.

Second team:

• Jaylon Armstead (San Diego State): Armstead has played sparingly over the past three seasons, increasing his snaps and production each year. 2023 was his biggest opportunity yet.

Missed: N/A

Offensive Line

First team:

• OL Brandon Hernandez (Boise State): He transferred after his only season with the program.
• OL Joey Wright (San Diego State): Wright hasn’t seen the field much at this point in his career.
• OL Grant Starck (Nevada): After two productive years on the offensive line, he transferred to Oregon State.
• OL Tai Marks (Colorado State): After two seasons with the Rams, Marks transferred to Tulsa.
• OL Wesley Ndago (Air Force): Wesley had become one of the top linemen in the conference over the past two seasons.

Second team:

• OL Leke Asenuga (New Mexico): After two years with the Lobos, he transferred to North Texas.
• OL Keydrell Lewis (San Jose State): Lewis was another player who transferred early in his career.
• OL Joseph Church (Fresno State): Through three seasons so far, he has not seen the field at all.
• OL Aidan Finney (San Diego State): After a short time at SDSU, Finney went the junior college route in hopes of bouncing back.
• OL Kyle Juergens (Boise State): He transferred out before seeing the field.

Missed: Adam Karas (Air Force), Mose Vavao (Fresno State), Nofoafia Tulafono (Wyoming)

Defensive Line

First team:

• DL Herbert Gums (Boise State): Gums has made steady progress each year in the program, stepping into a starting role and being a dependable player for the Broncos.
• DL LeShaun Bell (UNLV): His contributions on the field has been pretty sparse up to this point in his career.
• DL Blake Burris (Air Force): Burris played in every game last season... for Texas Tech, after leaving Air Force.
• DL Alven Johnson (UNLV): Johnson was a big-time recruit coming out of high school, but he never was able to get on the field for the Rebels.

Second team:

• DL James Mitchell (Colorado State): He has made contributions over the years, but he hasn’t broken into the starting lineup yet.
• DL Jalen Dixon (UNLV): Dixon is a defensive end who mixed into the starting lineup last season and saw his production increase as well.
• DL Casey Irons (Colorado State): He was on the roster for a year and then entered the transfer portal.
• DL Poukesi Vakauta (Utah State): Vakauta has developed into a reliable player who has been in and out of the starting lineup while playing the majority of the season.

Missed: Payton Zdroik (Air Force), Grady Manley (San Jose State), Braden Siders (Wyoming)

Linebacker

First team:

• LB Brennon Scott (UNLV): At the time of his signing, he was the highest-rated UNLV recruit ever. He started most of the games in 2021, but injuries caused him to miss the entire season last year.
• LB Kobah Fuamatu (San Diego State): Fuamatu transferred after one season with the Aztecs.
• LB Vai Kaho (San Diego State): Kaho has slowly climbed the depth chart and his production has come along with it over the years.

Second team:

• LB Darrell Masaniai (San Diego State): It doesn’t look like he’s been able to make an impact or stay on the team.
• LB Dahlin Mesake (Utah State): A great pickup by the Aggies at the time, but it has yet to translate to the field.
• LB Aaron Moore (Colorado State): After playing four games as a true freshman, injuries have caused him to miss the next two seasons.

Missed: Alec Mock (Air Force), Chase Wilson (Colorado State)

Defensive Back

First team:

• DB Semaj Verner (Boise State): Verner was a promising recruit but couldn’t crack the rotation, and then he transferred.
• DB Donovan Clark (Boise State): Ditto for Clark, who left after one season and is now playing for Missouri State.
• DB Lincoln Tuioti-Mariner (Air Force): He was one of the Falcon’s better commits on paper, but it doesn’t seem like he has seen the field.
• DB Jalen Apalit-Williams (San Jose State): He has played in a few games over his first few seasons, but the impact has been minimal.

Second team:

• DB Mikale Greer (San Jose State): Greer played a few seasons with little stats to show before transferring.
• DB Rodney Robinson (Boise State): He has been a reliable starter for the Broncos at a safety spot.
• DB Luke Marion (Utah State): Marion has assumed a backup and special teams role so far.
• DB Xavier Carter (Wyoming): He has been a backup in the secondary for the Cowboys.

Missed: Cameron Stone (Wyoming), Henry Blackburn (Colorado State), Tavian Combs (New Mexico)

Special Teams

First team:

• K Fabrizio Pinton (Air Force): He ended up at Illinois and it doing some kicking duties there.
• P Stephen Kotsanlee (Utah State): Kostanlee has been the primary punter for the Aggies since 2020. He has developed into one of the best punters in the Mountain West.
• LS Nick Barcelos (Nevada): He has been the Wolf Pack’s starting long-snapper since 2021 and has done an admirable job.

Second team:

• K Joey Rouly (Utah State): He has been a backup kicker for the Aggies.
• P Matthew Shipley (Hawaii): Shipley has been one of the best kickers in the Mountain West during his time while also doing some punting and kick-off responsibilities. It has cemented special teams for Hawaii. He did transfer at the end of this season.
• LS Jacob Garcia (Utah State): Garcia has been a reliable long-snapper for Utah State over the past three seasons, getting the job done every year.

Missed:

JUCO/Grad Transfer Team:

This team is tough to evaluate. Many players fail to make a significant impact for their teams after transferring. Some became depth players, and quite a few transferred again after a season or two. And a few didn’t even arrive on campus for the schools they committed to.

Missed: DE Shane Irwin (Boise State), DB Cam Lockridge (Hawaii/Fresno State), QB Nick Starkell (San Jose State)

Quarterback

• QB Justin Rogers (UNLV)

Running back

• N/A

Wide Receiver

• WR Justin McGriff (Utah State)
• WR John Humphrey (Nevada)

Tight End

• TE Collin O’Brien (Wyoming)

Flex

• Flex Calvin Turner (Hawaii)

Offensive Line

• OL Riden Leong (Boise State)
• OL Ben Davis (New Mexico)
• OL Lamar Barrett (San Jose State)
• OL Sebastian Hernandez (San Diego State)
• OL Isaak Gutierrez (New Mexico)

Defensive Line

• DL Marcus Moore (Utah State)
• DL Divine Obichere (Boise State)
• DL Jay Kakiva (San Jose State)
• DL Kemon Smith (Hawaii)

Linebacker

• LB Brock Miller (Boise State)
• LB Isaiah Tufaga (Hawaii)
• LB Keegan Duncan (Utah State)

Defensive Back

• DB Kenyon Reed (San Jose State)
• DB Logan Taylor (Hawaii)
• DB Zeke Robbins (Nevada)
• DB Jonathan Earl (Boise State)

Special Teams

• K JUCO K Tanner Brown (UNLV)
• P N/A
• LS N/A

Top 10 Players from the 2020 recruiting class

1. LB Brennon Scott (UNLV)

2. DB Semaj Verner (Boise State)

3. WR LaTrell Caples (Boise State)

4. RB Nathaniel Jones (New Mexico)

5. OL Joey Wright (San Diego State)

6. DL Herbert Gums (Boise State)

7. DE LeShaun Bell (UNLV)

8. TE Austin Bolt (Boise State)

9. DB Donovan Clark (Boise State)

10. RB John Gentry (Utah State)

Revised Top 10 List

1. WR Tory Horton (Colorado State)

2. DL Payton Zdroik (Air Force)

3. DB Cam Stone (Wyoming/Hawaii)

4. LB Alec Mock (Air Force)

5. WR LaTrell Caples (Boise State)

6. OL Wesley Ndago (Air Force)

7. QB Doug Brumfield (UNLV)

8. RB Avery Morrow (Nevada/Colorado State)

9. DL Herbert Gums (Boise State)

10. K Matthew Shipley (Hawaii)