Confused? See the glossary at the bottom.

2011 Schedule & Results
Record: 8-5 | Adj. Record: 1-12 | Final F/+ Rk: 103 | |||||
Date | Opponent | Score | W-L | Adj. Score | Adj. W-L |
3-Sep | Weber State | 35-32 | W | 26.3 - 33.9 | L |
10-Sep | Texas State | 45-10 | W | 27.0 - 29.1 | L |
17-Sep | at Bowling Green | 28-27 | W | 24.4 - 29.3 | L |
24-Sep | Nebraska | 14-38 | L | 23.3 - 32.3 | L |
8-Oct | at Utah State | 19-63 | L | 27.5 - 33.0 | L |
15-Oct | UNLV | 41-14 | W | 25.1 - 25.6 | L |
29-Oct | at San Diego State | 30-27 | W | 30.7 - 31.3 | L |
5-Nov | TCU | 20-31 | L | 28.5 - 31.1 | L |
12-Nov | at Air Force | 25-17 | W | 25.0 - 20.9 | W |
19-Nov | New Mexico | 31-10 | W | 24.9 - 28.8 | L |
26-Nov | at Boise State | 14-36 | L | 22.6 - 28.9 | L |
3-Dec | at Colorado State | 22-19 | W | 25.0 - 30.5 | L |
17-Dec | vs Temple | 15-37 | L | 27.0 - 31.5 | L |
Category | Offense | Rk | Defense | Rk |
Points Per Game | 26.1 | 67 | 27.8 | 67 |
Adj. Points Per Game | 25.9 | 88 | 29.7 | 95 |
2012 Schedule & Projection Factors
2012 Schedule | ||
Date | Opponent | Proj. Rk |
1-Sep | at Texas | 10 |
8-Sep | Toledo | 71 |
15-Sep | Cal Poly | NR |
22-Sep | at Idaho | 118 |
6-Oct | at Nevada | 63 |
13-Oct | Air Force | 103 |
20-Oct | at Fresno State | 81 |
27-Oct | Boise State | 39 |
3-Nov | Colorado State | 102 |
10-Nov | at New Mexico | 124 |
17-Nov | at UNLV | 119 |
24-Nov | San Diego State | 86 |
Five-Year F/+ Rk | 104 |
Two-Year Recruiting Rk | 93 |
TO Margin/Adj. TO Margin* | +12 / +5.8 |
TO Luck/Game | +2.4 |
Approx. Ret. Starters (Off. / Def.) | 13 (6, 7) |
Yds/Pt Margin** | -0.6 |
Offense

Category | Yards/ Game Rk |
S&P+ Rk | Success Rt. Rk |
PPP+ Rk |
OVERALL | 59 | 94 | 94 | 89 |
RUSHING | 34 | 86 | 88 | 78 |
PASSING | 79 | 90 | 88 | 88 |
Standard Downs | 95 | 105 | 90 | |
Passing Downs | 84 | 59 | 90 | |
Redzone | 102 | 100 | 103 |
Q1 Rk | 74 | 1st Down Rk | 106 |
Q2 Rk | 78 | 2nd Down Rk | 86 |
Q3 Rk | 111 | 3rd Down Rk | 79 |
Q4 Rk | 94 | ||
Adj. Line Yards Rk | 83 | ||
Adj. Sack Rate Rk | 13 |
Quarterback
Note: players in bold below are 2012 returnees. Players in italics are questionable with injury/suspension.
Player | Ht, Wt | 2012 Year |
Rivals | Comp | Att | Yards | Comp Rate |
TD | INT | Sacks | Sack Rate | Yards/ Att. |
Brett Smith | 6'3, 195 | So. | ** (5.4) | 253 | 415 | 2,622 | 61.0% | 20 | 11 | 10 | 2.4% | 6.0 |
Colby Kirkegaard | 6'3, 205 | Jr. | *** (5.5) | 5 | 10 | 37 | 50.0% | 0 | 0 | 1 | 9.1% | 2.9 |
Running Back
Player | Pos. | Ht, Wt | 2012 Year |
Rivals | Rushes | Yards | Yards/ Carry |
Hlt Yds/ Carry |
TD | Adj. POE |
Alvester Alexander | RB | 152 | 695 | 4.6 | 1.4 | 6 | -8.7 | |||
Brett Smith | QB | 6'3, 195 | So. | ** (5.4) | 129 | 792 | 6.1 | 2.9 | 10 | +7.5 |
Brandon Miller | RB | 6'0, 187 | Jr. | NR | 66 | 364 | 5.5 | 2.2 | 2 | -3.8 |
Ghaali Muhammad^ | RB | 60 | 379 | 6.3 | 2.9 | 2 | +2.0 | |||
Kody Sutton | RB | 5'8, 194 | So. | ** (5.4) | 30 | 146 | 4.9 | 1.2 | 0 | -3.7 |
Sam Stratton | WR | 5'11, 182 | So. | ** (5.4) | 16 | 49 | 3.1 | 0.8 | 0 | -1.7 |
Nehemie Kankolongo | RB | 5'11, 205 | So. | *** (5.6) | ||||||
Zaquoya Parham | RB | 5'10, 175 | RSFr. | ** (5.2) | ||||||
Evan Williams | RB | 6'0, 190 | Jr. | ** (5.4) |
^ Muhammad moved back to defense this spring after one year at running back.
Receiving Corps
Player | Pos. | Ht, Wt | 2012 Year |
Rivals | Targets | Catches | Yards | Catch Rate | Target Rate |
%SD | Adj. Yds/ Target |
Mazi Ogbonna | WR | 74 | 40 | 430 | 54.1% | 17.8% | 52.7% | 4.8 | |||
Robert Herron | WR | 5'10, 187 | Jr. | NR | 70 | 43 | 379 | 61.4% | 16.9% | 52.9% | 4.5 |
Dominic Rufran | WR | 6'0, 185 | So. | ** (5.4) | 65 | 44 | 402 | 67.7% | 15.7% | 47.7% | 6.1 |
Chris McNeill | WR | 6'1, 180 | Sr. | ** (4.9) | 63 | 42 | 510 | 66.7% | 15.2% | 46.0% | 7.6 |
Josh Doctson | WR | 53 | 35 | 393 | 66.0% | 12.8% | 62.3% | 7.1 | |||
Brandon Miller | RB | 6'0, 187 | Jr. | NR | 30 | 20 | 199 | 66.7% | 7.2% | 50.0% | 6.2 |
Alvester Alexander | RB | 20 | 12 | 194 | 60.0% | 4.8% | 35.0% | 6.0 | |||
Ghaali Muhammad | RB | 13 | 8 | 52 | 61.5% | 3.1% | 38.5% | 2.0 | |||
T.J. Smith | WR | 6'3, 220 | Jr. | ** (5.2) | 6 | 2 | 8 | 33.3% | 1.4% | 50.0% | 1.4 |
Sam Stratton | WR | 5'11, 182 | So. | ** (5.4) | 4 | 3 | 28 | 75.0% | 1.0% | 50.0% | 7.0 |
Spencer Bruce | WR | 6'5, 225 | Jr. | ** (5.2) | 4 | 3 | 27 | 75.0% | 1.0% | 100.0% | 6.8 |
Trey Norman | WR | 6'1, 170 | So. | ** (5.4) | 3 | 2 | 14 | 66.7% | 0.7% | 33.3% | 4.7 |
James Caraway | WR | 5'11, 192 | Sr. | ** (5.1) | |||||||
Josh Smith | WR | 6'3, 209 | So. | NR | |||||||
Trent Sewell | WR | 6'2, 205 | Fr. | *** (5.7) | |||||||
Eric Nzeocha | WR | 6'1, 200 | Fr. | NR |
Offensive Line
Players | Pos. | Ht, Wt | 2012 Year |
Rivals | Career Starts/Honors/Notes |
Clayton Kirven | LT | 45 career starts, 2011 2nd All-MWC | |||
Nick Carlson | RG | 6'4, 292 | Sr. | ** (4.9) | 33 career starts, 2011 2nd All-MWC |
John Hutchins | RT | 25 career starts | |||
Josh Leonard | RT | 6'4, 296 | Sr. | ** (5.1) | 13 career starts |
Tyler Strong | LG | 6'3, 288 | Jr. | ** (5.3) | 11 career starts |
Brandon Self | C | 9 career starts | |||
Zach Rushing | LG | 6'3, 295 | Sr. | ** (5.4) | 4 career starts |
Kyle Magnuson | RG | 6'6, 317 | Sr. | ** (5.2) | 3 career starts |
Daniel Fleischmann | LT | 6'6, 297 | So. | ** (5.4) | |
Travis Bogard | C | 6'4, 301 | So. | ** (5.4) | |
Connor Rains | OL | 6'7, 320 | Jr. | *** (5.6) | |
Walker Madden | OL | 6'8, 270 | Jr. | NR |
Defense

Category | Yards/ Game Rk |
S&P+ Rk | Success Rt. Rk |
PPP+ Rk |
OVERALL | 98 | 99 | 112 | 88 |
RUSHING | 115 | 100 | 111 | 93 |
PASSING | 30 | 95 | 105 | 83 |
Standard Downs | 97 | 109 | 79 | |
Passing Downs | 112 | 116 | 109 | |
Redzone | 87 | 103 | 73 |
Q1 Rk | 102 | 1st Down Rk | 103 |
Q2 Rk | 102 | 2nd Down Rk | 110 |
Q3 Rk | 105 | 3rd Down Rk | 67 |
Q4 Rk | 77 | ||
Adj. Line Yards Rk | 112 | ||
Adj. Sack Rate Rk | 62 |
Defensive Line
Name | Pos | Ht, Wt | 2012 Year |
Rivals | GP | Tackles | % of Team | TFL | Sacks | Int | PBU | FF | FR |
Gabe Knapton | DE | 13 | 55.5 | 7.2% | 8.5 | 6.5 | 2 | ||||||
Josh Biezuns | DE | 13 | 49.0 | 6.4% | 11 | 5 | 3 | 5 | 2 | ||||
Mike Purcell | DT | 6'3, 286 | Sr. | ** (5.4) | 12 | 36.5 | 4.7% | 3 | 2 | 1 | |||
Patrick Mertens (2010^) | DT | 6'5, 287 | Jr. | NR | 12 | 26.0 | 3.6% | 3 | 2 | ||||
Ben Durbin^^ | DE | 13 | 20.0 | 2.6% | 3.5 | 2 | 2 | 1 | |||||
Kurt Taufa'asau | DT | 6'2, 279 | Sr. | *** (5.5) | 13 | 19.5 | 2.5% | 2.5 | 1 | 1 | 1 | ||
Mark Willis | DE | 6'4, 225 | Jr. | ** (5.2) | 9 | 10.0 | 1.3% | 2 | |||||
Sonny Puletasi | DE | 6'3, 234 | So. | ** (5.4) | 12 | 5.5 | 0.7% | 2 | 2 | 1 | |||
B.J. Sumter | DT | 6'1, 296 | Sr. | ** (5.4) | 8 | 3.5 | 0.5% | ||||||
Patrick Mertens | DT | 6'5, 287 | Jr. | NR | |||||||||
Justin Bernthaler | DE | 6'3, 240 | Jr. | *** (5.5) | |||||||||
Sam Awrabi | DE | 6'3, 240 | Fr. | *** (5.6) |
^ Mertens missed the 2011 season with illness.
^^ Durbin was Wyoming's starting defensive end last year and is eligible to play immediately at Iowa State.
Linebackers
Name | Pos | Ht, Wt | 2012 Year |
Rivals | GP | Tackles | % of Team | TFL | Sacks | Int | PBU | FF | FR |
Brian Hendricks | WILL | 13 | 80.0 | 10.4% | 3.5 | 1 | 4 | 2 | 1 | ||||
Ghaali Muhammad (2010^) | SAM | 6'0, 221 | Sr. | ** (5.4) | 11 | 59.5 | 8.2% | 6 | 1 | 2 | 1 | ||
Devyn Harris | MIKE | 6'3, 225 | Jr. | ** (5.2) | 13 | 47.0 | 6.1% | 1.5 | 3 | 1 | |||
Korey Jones | WILL | 6'2, 225 | Sr. | *** (5.6) | 13 | 46.5 | 6.0% | 6 | 4 | 2 | 1 | ||
Oliver Schober (2010^^) | MIKE | 6'0, 235 | Sr. | ** (5.3) | 12 | 33.0 | 4.6% | 3 | 1 | ||||
Todd Knight | SAM | 6'2, 210 | Jr. | *** (5.5) | 13 | 10.5 | 1.4% | 1 | |||||
Alex Borgs | WILL | 6'2, 231 | So. | ** (5.4) | |||||||||
Zack Berg | SAM | 6'2, 226 | RSFr. | ** (5.4) |
^ Muhammad was a running back in 2011 before shifting back to defense.
^^ Schober missed 2011 with injury.
Secondary
Name | Pos | Ht, Wt | 2012 Year |
Rivals | GP | Tackles | % of Team | TFL | Sacks | Int | PBU | FF | FR |
Tashaun Gipson | FS | 13 | 83.5 | 10.9% | 2.5 | 0.5 | 3 | 5 | 1 | 2 | |||
Luke Ruff | FS | 5'11, 195 | Sr. | ** (5.2) | 13 | 78.0 | 10.1% | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | ||
Luke Anderson | NB | 5'10, 195 | Sr. | ** (5.4) | 13 | 63.5 | 8.3% | 3.5 | 2 | 9 | 2 | ||
Blair Burns | CB | 5'10, 170 | So. | ** (5.4) | 13 | 41.5 | 5.4% | 1.5 | 4 | 4 | 1 | ||
Marqueston Huff | CB | 6'0, 189 | Jr. | *** (5.5) | 13 | 37.0 | 4.8% | 2.5 | 3 | 2 | 3 | ||
Kenny Browder | FS | 5'11, 175 | Sr. | ** (5.3) | 10 | 13.5 | 1.8% | ||||||
Mark Nzeocha^ | SS | 6'3, 220 | So. | *** (5.5) | 10 | 11.5 | 1.5% | 0.5 | 1 | 2 | |||
Darrenn White | CB | 6'0, 184 | So. | *** (5.5) | 11 | 10.5 | 1.4% | 1 | 1 | ||||
DeAndre Jones | CB | 6'0, 180 | So. | ** (5.4) | 13 | 10.0 | 1.3% | ||||||
Chad Reese | SS | 5'11, 180 | So. | *** (5.5) | 13 | 10.0 | 1.3% | 1 | |||||
Andrew Meredith | SS | 6'0, 200 | Jr. | *** (5.5) | 13 | 4.5 | 0.6% | ||||||
B.J. Hendrix | DB | 5'10, 188 | Jr. | NR |
^ Nzeocha was a strongside linebacker last year.
Special Teams
Punter | Ht, Wt | 2012 Year |
Punts | Avg | TB | FC | I20 | FC/I20 Ratio |
Austin McCoy | 75 | 40.2 | 8 | 17 | 22 | 52.0% |
Kicker | Ht, Wt | 2012 Year |
Kickoffs | Avg | TB | TB% |
Daniel Sullivan | 5'10, 185 | So. | 63 | 59.7 | 6 | 9.5% |
Austin McCoy | 1 | 57 | 0 | 0.0% |
Place-Kicker | Ht, Wt | 2012 Year |
PAT | FG (0-39) |
Pct | FG (40+) |
Pct |
Daniel Sullivan | 5'10, 185 | So. | 30-34 | 6-8 | 75.0% | 1-3 | 33.3% |
Stuart Williams | 5'11, 175 | So. | 6-6 | 0-0 | N/A | 0-0 | N/A |
Returner | Pos. | Ht, Wt | 2012 Year |
Returns | Avg. | TD |
Dominic Rufran | KR | 6'0, 185 | So. | 17 | 21.7 | 0 |
Ghaali Muhammad | KR | 6'0, 221 | Sr. | 12 | 21.0 | 0 |
Chris McNeill | PR | 6'1 ,180 | Sr. | 6 | 16.8 | 1 |
Blair Burns | PR | 5'10, 170 | So. | 6 | 13.0 | 0 |
Category | Rk |
Special Teams F/+ | 97 |
Net Punting | 56 |
Net Kickoffs | 106 |
Touchback Pct | 84 |
Field Goal Pct | 86 |
Kick Returns Avg | 77 |
Punt Returns Avg | 16 |
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Glossary
Adj. Line Yards: A line measure derived from the formula found here. The idea is to divvy credit for a given rush between both the runner and the blockers.
Adj. Pace: Part of the offensive footprint, this takes into account both the number of plays a team attempts and the type of play. Since passes, on average, take up less time (thanks to the fact that 30-50 percent of them are incomplete and stop the clock), pass-heavy offenses are prone to run more plays, therefore limiting the effectiveness of a general plays-per-game measure. Adj. Pace takes a team's run-pass ratio into account.
Adj. POE: An opponent-adjusted "Points Over Expected" measure for running backs that looks both at what a runner gained and what would have been expected given the opponents involved. For more information, start here.
Adj. Points: A look at how a team would have performed in a given week if playing a perfectly average team, with a somewhat average number of breaks and turnovers. The idea for the measure is simple: what if everybody in the country played exactly the same opponent every single week? Who would have done the best? It is an attempt to look at offensive and defensive consistency without getting sidetracked by easy or difficult schedules. And yes, with adjusted score you can allow a negative number of points. For more, start here.
Adj. Record: See Adj. Points.
Adj. Sack Rate: An opponent-adjusted measure of sack rates.
Adj. Score: See Adj. Points.
Adj. TO Margin: What a team's turnover margin would have been if they had recovered exactly 50 percent of all the fumbles that occurred in their games. If there is a huge difference between TO Margin and Adj. TO Margin (in other words, if fumbles, dropped interceptions, or other unlucky bounces were the main source of a good/bad TO margin), that suggests that a team's luck was particularly good or bad and might even out the next season.
Adj. Yards Per Target: A look at a receiver's total receiving yards divided by the number of times he was targeted. Slight adjustments are made for the percentage of times a receiver was targeted on standard ("%SD") and passing downs. Players targeted more on passing downs are likely to have a lower overall per-target average, since passing is more difficult on passing downs.
Bend-Don't-Break: Part of the defensive footprint, this is a comparison of a team's Def. Success Rate (efficiency) to its Def. PPP (explosiveness). The higher the number, the higher percentage of a team's overall S&P was made up by success rate, i.e. the more willing a team was to sacrifice efficiency to prevent big plays. (The lower the number, the more likely a team was to take aggressive risks.)
Covariance: Covariance is a statistical tool that provides a measure of the strength of the correlation between two or more sets of random variates. For these purposes, it is used to compare a team's performance (using opponent-adjusted Adj. Score) to the quality of the opponent at hand. Some teams play their best games against their worst opponents, and some teams do the opposite. This measure is used for both the offensive and defensive footprint. For more, go here.
Go After the Ball: Part of the defensive footprint, this looks at a team's forced fumbles, interceptions and passes broken up. In other words, it looks at their ability to go after the ball. The higher the number, the more they got their hands on the football.
Highlight Yards: The portion of a given run that is credit only to the running back; after a certain number of yards, the line has done its job, and most of the rest of the run will be determined by the running back himself. For more information, start here.
Need for Blitzes: Part of the defensive footprint, this compares a team's standard downs sack rate to its passing downs sack rate. The lower the number, the more they were able to generate pressure on standard downs, and the less need for blitzes.
Turnovers Luck: Presented in Points Per Game fashion, Turnovers Luck looks at the difference between a team's Turnover and Adj. TO Margins and, using the average point value of a turnover (~5.0 points), projects how many points a team gained or lost per game last season.
Yards Per Point: A measure long tracked by Phil Steele as a means of looking at teams that were a little too efficient or inefficient the previous season. A positive YPP Margin means a team's offense was less efficient than opponents' offenses, and to the extent that luck was involved, their luck might even out the next year.