Fresno State Football: Can Bulldogs compete for Mountain West title in 2019?
By Zach Bigalke
Experience could be an issue on defense
No team featured a better red-zone defense in the FBS than Fresno State in 2018. The Bulldogs stymied teams with regularity, holding opponents scoreless on more than one-third of their trips inside the Fresno 20. Replicating that feat is going to be tough, as the Bulldogs have to replace a lot of key players throughout the unit.
The secondary lost Tank Kelly and Mike Bell, two of the most fearsome defensive backs in the Mountain West last season. They do at least have Jaron Bryant back at corner and Juju Hughes at safety, mitigating the losses. Around them will likely be a bunch of underclassmen getting their first experience of sustained playing time.
The defensive line should be great in the interior, with a trio of experienced tackles back this year. Kevin Atkins, Keiti Iakopo, and Jasad Haynes provide plenty of experience up the spine. The defensive end position is in flux, though, with new contributors needing to step up.
Focusing on the linebackers
The biggest question marks on the defense fall at the second level. Mykal Walker, who was impressive as a defensive end in 2018, moves to his natural position of middle linebacker as a redshirt senior. His shift should buttress an otherwise untested group.
Arron Mosby did show some promise last season, racking up 2.5 tackles for loss in reserve duty. Justin Rice also looks ready to step up into a more prominent role after taking a redshirt season in 2018 under the new rules. Flanking Walker at the outside linebacker positions, Mosby and Rice will need to emerge quickly as reliable starters.
Behind the trio the depth chart is heavy on underclassmen, so if there are injuries to any of the starters it could be a long year at Fresno State.