Nevada 2005 Season | Team Page	Select Conference ACC Big East Big Ten Big 12 Conference USA Independents MAC Mountain West Pac-10 SEC Sun Belt WAC Select Team

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The Lowdown 2006 Schedule Coach: Chris Ault (22nd season 177-73-1) 2005 Record: 9-3 (beat UCF 49-48 in Hawaii Bowl) WAC finish: 7-1 (t-1st) 2005 I-A offensive rankings: Rushing 22nd (199.5 ypg) Passing 30th (249.5 ypg) 2005 I-A defensive rankings: Rushing 47th (141.3 ypg) Passing 104th (269.3 ypg) Date Opponent Sept. 1 at Fresno State Sept. 9 at Arizona State Sept. 16 Colorado State Sept. 22 Northwestern Sept. 30 at UNLV Oct. 7 at Hawaii Oct. 21 San Jose State Oct. 28 New Mexico State Nov. 4 at Idaho Nov. 11 Utah State Nov. 18 at Louisiana Tech Nov. 25 Boise State Depth Chart: Offense 7 returning starters in red Ps. No. Player Yr. No. Player Yr. WR 89 Mike McCoy So. 81 Art King Fr. WR 5 Kyle Sammons Sr. 42 Andy McIntosh So. WR 87 Caleb Spencer Sr. - Marko Mitchell So. ST 75 Charles Manu Jr. 64 A.J. Slater Jr. SG 70 Barrett Reznick Sr. 65 Brad Eskew So. C 76 Jimmy Wadhams Sr. 67 Reid Jacobs Jr. WG 60 Greg Hall So. 66 Kyle Robertson Jr. WT 61 Dominic Green So. 74 Alonzo Durham Fr. TE 88 Adam Bishop Jr. 83 Anthony Pudewell Sr. QB 3 Jeff Rowe Sr. 8 Nick Graziano Fr. RB 19 Robert Hubbard Sr. 32 Kyle Eklund Sr Depth Chart: Defense 7 returning starters in red Ps. No. Player Yr. No. Player Yr. DE 93 Charles Wilson Sr. 94 Mundrae Clifton So. NT 57 Matt Hines Jr. 54 Fred White Jr. DE 48 Erics Clark Jr. 97 Jay Dixon Jr. SLB 56 Ezra Butler Jr. 55 Selevasio Fauolo Sr. MLB 33 Jason DeMars Sr. 31 Kevin Porter Jr. WLB 30 Joshua Mauga So. 45 Scott Garrison Sr. BAN 44 Jeremy Engstrom Jr. 91 J.J. Milan Sr. CB 23 Joe Garcia Sr. 35 Paul Pratt Jr. CB 37 De’Angelo Wilson So. 14 Devon Walker Jr. SS 49 Uche Anyanwu So. 24 Mike Samples So. FS 28 Nick Hawthrone Sr. 25 Sergio Villasenor Jr. Special Teams Ps. No. Player Yr. Ps. No. Player Yr. K 99 Brett Jaekle So. P 40 Thomas Barcia So. KR 19 Robert Hubbard Sr. PR 23 Joe Garcia Sr.

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After six straight years without a winning season, Nevada finally broke through last year. Now, head coach Chris Ault has a fine line to walk with his team. On one side, he must instill in returners that last year is over and done -- respect still must be earned. On the other side, he wants those same players remember what took them to their first bowl game in nearly a decade.

"Just because we did what we did last year, we cannot command respect," says Ault, a member of the College Football Hall of Fame. "We have to earn everything all over again. We have to go back to work because that is how we did what we did. And these guys need to understand that."

But that work should come a bit easier this year because Nevada has had a taste of success. And this is now a Wolf Pack team that has, for the first time this millennium, a true swagger.

"All through spring, we felt confident," says quarterback Jeff Rowe. "This team works with a purpose now. There is a different feeling around here."

Rowe will be the focal point of the offense this year as the Reno native came into his own a year ago running the Ault-conceived "pistol" offense. While Rowe has some talent around him on the offense -- wideout Caleb Spencer, running back Robert Hubbard and three returning starters on the offensive line -- there are some positions that need to be filled.

But a defense that switched to a 3-4 scheme a year ago will be the big question mark this season. Last year, Nevada ranked 88th in the nation in total defense, and while the run-stopping was impressive at certain times, the secondary surrendered its share of big plays.

As important as last year was, it is indeed in the past. The next step for Nevada is to become one of those big-time players among the non-BCS schools, like WAC rivals Fresno State and Boise State.

Offense

Ault believes the country will know a lot more about Rowe by the end of the season.

Last year, Rowe, ran the new "pistol" offense, a formation that has the quarterback in a shotgun hybrid with the running back directly behind instead of offset. Rowe threw for nearly 3,000 yards with 21 touchdowns and only 10 interceptions, and Ault calls him "one of the best quarterbacks in the country."

But the key to Rowe's success, as well as Nevada's, will be the development of a rebuilt offensive line and a young, but talented, receiving corps.

Hubbard, who was splitting carries with WAC Offensive Player of the Year B.J. Mitchell by the end of the season last year, will be the showcase in the backfield. And Spencer is one of the top receivers within the WAC.

But gone are a pair of tackles in Tony Moll and Adam Kiefer who played every offensive snap of every game a year ago. And while Ault feels comfortable with the five starters on the line, the depth is a major concern as none of the reserves have any kind of real experience.

Defense

The run defense excelled down the stretch last year as Nevada did not allow a 100-yard rusher in the final eight regular season games. And the man spearheading that attack, nose tackle Matt Hines (affectionately known as "Dump Truck") is back, as are five other defensive starters.

The linebacking corps is going to be a key to Nevada's success this season. Talented sophomore Joshua Mauga has been moved from the outside to an inside linebacker spot so that he can make plays from sideline to sideline. That move sent Jeremy Engstrom outside, where the Pack hope he can flourish after a disappointing sophomore season.

Also on the outside is Ezra Butler, who became a star down the stretch last year as he learned the new 3-4 scheme. The 6-foot-2, 250-pound junior ran a sub-4.5 40-yard dash in spring drills and could be a difference-maker for the defense.

But the back end of the defense is a concern after the Pack ranked 104th in the nation in pass defense, allowing 269.3 yards per game. To be fair, Nevada did have three defensive backs miss most or all of the season with knee injuries. The coaching staff is hoping that added depth can help the team build around All-WAC corner Joe Garcia.

Specialists

Hubbard (kicks) and Garcia (punts) will likely handle the return duties for Nevada, and both have shown signs of excelling in those roles.

Placekicker Brett Jaekle converted 12-of-15 field goals last year, but only one of his attempts came from longer than 40 yards. Nevada was more likely to go for it on fourth down rather than attempt a field goal, especially from long range.

Walk-on Thomas Barcia is the main candidate to replace All-WAC punter Justin Bergendahl.

Final Analysis

Nevada's run last year wasn't a fluke, but this team won't be sneaking up on anybody this year. There is plenty of talent within this program and Nevada has a chance get on the same level as WAC rivals Fresno State and Boise State.

But the challenging early-season schedule that takes the Wolf Pack on the road for four of the first six games will decide the course of the season.