2021 Nevada Wolf Pack Preview and Predictions

(Photo Credit: Alan Smith/Icon Sportswire/Getty Images)

Key Players Returning:

QB Carson Strong, RB Devonte Lee, RB Toa Taua, WR Romeo Doubs, WR Melquan Stovall, TE Cole Turner, OC Tyler Orsini, OG Jermaine Ledbetter, OT Aaron Frost, DE Daniel Grzesiak, DE Sam Hammond, DE Kameron Toomer, DT Dom Peterson, LB Lawson Hall, LB Daiyan Henley, LB Trevor Price, LB Lamin Touray, CB A.J. King, CB Berdale Robins, FS Emany Johnson, FS Christian Swint, SS Tyson Williams, KR Jamaal Bell, PR Romeo Doubs, PK Brandon Talton, and PT Julian Diaz.

Key Players Departing:

OG Nate Brown, and NB E.J. Muhammad.

Top 10 Recruits:

3 Star Recruits: 
WR Marquis Spiker (Washington transfer), QB Clay Millen (Snoqualmie, Washington), LB Jeremiah Bodwin (Dallas, Texas), OG Jacob Nunez (Arizona State transfer), CB Isaiah Essissima (Wake Forest transfer), DE Christopher Whittaker (FIU transfer), OT Dominic Eldridge (Dallas, Texas), RB Jacques Badolato-Birdsell (Camas, Washington), OG Andrew Madrigal (Norco, California), and S Bentlee Sanders (South Florida transfer).

2020 Results:

G01  WYOMING  W | OT  37-34
G02  at UNLV  W  37-19
G03  UTAH STATE  W  34-9
G04  vs. New Mexico  W  27-20
G05  SAN DIEGO STATE  W  26-21
G06  at Hawaii  L  21-24
G07  FRESNO STATE  W  37-26
G08  vs. San Jose State  L  20-30
BOWL  vs. Tulane  W  38-27

Team Info:

2020 Overall:  7-2 (3rd in MWC)

Home:  4-0
Away:  1-1
Neutral:  2-1
MWC:  6-2
Non-MWC:  1-0

Head Coach:  Jay Norvell

Nevada:  25-22
Career:  25-22
Bowls:  2-1

Returning Statistical Leaders:

Passing:  Carson Strong (249-355, 2858 yards, 70.1%, 8.1 avg., 27 TD, 4 INT)
Rushing:  Toa Taua (114 car., 675 yards, 5.9 avg., 4 TD)
Receiving:  Romeo Doubs (58 rec., 1002 yards, 17.3 avg., 9 TD)
TD’s Scored:  Romeo Doubs/Cole Turner (9)
Sacks:  Dom Peterson (4.5)
Tackles:  Lawson Hall (65)
Interceptions:  Tyson Williams (2)
Pass Deflections:  Berdale Robins (5)
Tackles For Loss:  Lawson Hall (8.5)
Forced Fumbles:  Peter Montini/Tyson Williams (1)
Kick Returns:  Jamaal Bell (18 ret., 393 yards, 21.8 avg., 0 TD)
Punt Returns:  Romeo Doubs (11 ret., 100 yards, 9.1 avg., 0 TD)
Kicking:  Brandon Talton (15-18 fg/fga., 83%, xp/xpa., 28-31 xp/xpa., 73 pts.)
Punting:  Julian Diaz (23 punts, 1065 yards, 46.3 avg., 11 in 20)

Projected Offensive Starters:

QB:  12  Carson Strong  (RS JR)
RB:  35  Toa Taua  (SR)
WR:  4  Elijah Cooks  (GR)
WR:  1  Malquan Stovall  (JR)
WR:  7  Romeo Doubs  (SR)
TE:  19  Cole Turner  (SR)
LT:  75  Jacob Gardner  (SO)
LG:  54  Jermaine Ledbetter  (GR/TR)
OC:  55  Tyler Orsini  (GR/TR)
RG:  61  Nick Cannon  (SR/TR)
RT:  65  Aaron Frost  (SR)
KR:  3  Jamaal Bell  (SO)
PK:  43  Brandon Talton  (JR)

Projected Defensive Starters:

DE:  98  Sam Hammond  (GR)
DT:  99  Dom Peterson  (RS SR)
NT:  53  Zak Mahannah  (GR/TR)
DE:  7  Kameron Toomer  (GR)
LB:  30  Lawson Hall  (GR)
LB:  11  Daiyan Henley  (GR)
NB:  00  Bentlee Sanders  (GR/TR)
CB:  1  Berdale Robins  (GR)
CB:  00  Isaiah Essissima  (JR/TR)
FS:  5  Emany Johnson  (RS JR)
SS:  6  Tyson Johnson  (RS JR)
PR:  7  Romeo Doubs  (SR)
PT:  49  Julian Diaz  (GR/TR)

Team Grades:

Offense

Quarterbacks:  A
Running Backs:  B
Wide Receivers:  B
Offensive Line:  B

Defense

Defensive Line:  B
Linebackers:  B
Secondary:  C

Special Teams

Kick Returners:  C
Punt Returners:  B
Kickers:  A
Punters:  A

Schedule:

09/04 
at California Golden Bears  |  Nevada trails the series 4-29-1.  The Wolf Pack won (31-24) the last meeting between schools in 2012.

09/11 
IDAHO STATE BENGALS  |  Nevada leads the series 18-12.  The Wolf Pack lost (28-30) the last meeting between schools in 2017.

09/18  at Kansas State Wildcats  |  First meeting between schools.

10/02  at Boise State Broncos  |  Nevada trails the series 13-30.  The Wolf Pack are 0-6 since 2011, and they lost (27-31) the last meeting between schools in 2018.

10/09  NEW MEXICO STATE AGGIES  |   Nevada leads the series 13-2.  The Wolf Pack won (48-34) the last meeting between schools in 2011.

10/16  HAWAII RAINBOW WARRIORS  |  Nevada leads the series 14-11.  The Wolf Pack are 7-3 since 2011, and their last series win (40-22) was in 2018.

10/23  at Fresno State Bulldogs  |  Nevada trails the series 22-29-1.  The Wolf Pack are 5-5 since 2011, and their last series loss (3-21) was in 2018.

10/29  UNLV REBELS  |  Nevada leads the series 27-19.  The Wolf Pack are 6-4 since 2011, and their last series loss (30-33 OT) was in 2019.

11/06  SAN JOSE STATE SPARTANS  |  Nevada leads the series 22-10-2.  The Wolf Pack are 7-2 since 2011, and their last series win (41-38) was in 2019.

11/13  at San Diego State Aztecs  |  Nevada trails the series 6-7.  The Wolf Pack are 4-5 since renewing the series in 2012, and their last series loss (23-42) was in 2017.

11/19  AIR FORCE FALCONS  |  Nevada trails the series 2-3.  The Wolf Pack won (28-25) the last meeting between schools in 2018.

11/27  at Colorado State Rams  |  Nevada trails the series 4-12.  The Wolf Pack won (49-10) the last meeting between schools in 2018.

Predictions:

Home:  6-0
Away:  4-2
Neutral:  0-0
MWC:  7-1
Non-MWC:  3-1

Overall:  10-2 (2nd in MWC West)