MW Preview: Will Nevada play for a bowl? A Q&A with Nevada Sports Net's Chris Murray

Journal staff writer Sean Reider was joined by Nevada Sports Net columnist and longtime Nevada beat writer Chris Murray last week to preview the Wolf Pack’s upcoming season on an episode of Reider’s Block, a New Mexico football podcast.

The first in a 12-episode weekly series previewing each team in the Mountain West, the full conversation is available on YouTube, Spotify and Apple Podcasts. Episodes can also be found at abqjournalcast.com.

Questions and responses have been edited for clarity.

Q: In his first year at the helm, Jeff Choate led Nevada to a 3-10 finish. The team did show a ton of pluck, notably against a pair of future playoff teams in SMU and Boise State — but without actually finishing said games. What is the mood around the program entering Choate’s second season?

A: His first season came after some pretty, uh, lean years in the Ken Wilson era … Nevada went to 14 bowl games in a 17-year period before the last three seasons, during which they’ve gone 2-10, 2-10 and 3-10.

So last year was Choate’s first in that run … The goal was to be the most improved team in the FBS in win total. They went from two wins to three wins, so that’s not a huge improvement, but the team was much better on the field (when) you look at scoring differential, you look at the offensive productivity, the defensive productivity.

… I think people in the community, they’re somewhat apathetic just because of how the last three seasons have gone. But those who have stuck with Nevada and actually watched the team last year, I think they’re optimistic that Jeff Choate will get Nevada back to what it used to be.

Q: What transfer on either side of the ball will have the biggest impact this season?

A: I would go with (Utah State transfer running back) Herschel Turner … Nevada wants to run the ball 60% of the time. Nevada doesn’t have a bell cow back … it’s a wide open job, and I think he’s going to go and take it.

… If you look on the defensive side of the ball, I will go with (Sacramento State transfer safety) Murvin Kenion III. That’s actually a guy that wanted to play for Nevada coming out of high school in the Bay Area … I think he’s going to be an impact defensive back this year.

Q: Is there a returner you’re eyeing to have a breakout year?

A: I’ll go with (wide receiver) Marcus Bellon … Nobody really expected much (from Bellon last season) — actually, Jeff Choate was calling him Mason at the beginning of fall camp. Didn’t even know his first name (laughs)

… He is just really good with the ball in his hands in space. He’s really tough. He’s not a big kid — usually if I’m taller than you, you shouldn’t be an FBS football player and I am. I think he’s listed at like 5-foot-9 … If you told me he was gonna catch 75 balls for 1,000 yards and eight touchdowns, I would take that.

He’s an elite kick and punt returner, too … a very good pick to be a breakout player on the offense as well.

Q: Tough question to ask in June, but do you have a record prediction?

A: I’m going 6-6 overall, 4-4 in conference. The betting line, (the) win total is 4.5 from Vegas, so that’s a little bit over last year’s (record) … They can’t afford a lot of injuries because the roster is still pretty thin in areas, but getting to six wins, I think, would be a successful season — which is (kind of) sad? If this was the Chris Ault days and you went 6-6, that would be a terrible season.

But that’s just not where Nevada is. Nevada’s trying to get out of the basement, they’re trying to show a competency level that they haven’t really displayed in recent years … 6-6 is probably, maybe a touch optimistic, but it’s a realistic goal and I think a necessary goal given where this program is.