Every Mountain West/Pac-12 Team’s Best Defensive Player in 2026

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Continuing the theme of this week, we are highlighting the best offensive player on each of the eighteen teams in either the Mountain West or Pac-12 conference. See below for who begins the year as each team’s best player.

Air Force

LB Blake Fletcher

Fletcher is a throwback at linebacker, specializing in downhill tackles that plug up the gaps and shut down the run game. He is disciplined and gritty, core traits of Falcon defenders. He enters 2026 as the heart and soul of the Air Force defense and should be a tackle machine once again this season.

Boise State

EDGE Jayden Virgin-Morgan

Virgin-Morgan has been a force off the edge the past two seasons. He’s totaled 16 sacks and 31 tackles for loss in his career, with advanced metrics that may even be more impressive. Jayden is sure to be a terror for opposing offenses in 2026 and could end up as the newest Pac-12 defensive player of the year with another season like the last two.

Colorado State

LB Oumar Diomande

Colorado State has a ton of new players looking to make their mark, but Diomande is the most established. Entering his senior season hoping to lead a reformed Rams defense for his senior season. He broke out in a big way last year at UConn, totaling 116 tackles, 8 for loss, to go along with 5 sacks. He will be a force in the middle of the defense this year.

Fresno State

DB Simeon Harris

Harris has made a few stops in his college career, but returns to the Bulldogs in 2026 as their best defensive player. The safety stuffed the stat sheet last season, notching 54 tackles, 6 for loss, a sack, and a conference-leading five interceptions. He will look to add to those numbers this season, and hopefully lead Fresno State to a conference championship-caliber season.

Hawaii

DB Elijah Palmer

The Rainbow Warriors have had surprisingly solid defenses the past two seasons, and defensive back Elijah Palmer has been one of the main reasons why. He was stout in run defense and in coverage last year, accounting for 6.5 tackles for loss as well as 10 passes defended. Elijah’s ability to be well-rounded and versatile will no doubt aid Hawaii once again in the upcoming season.

Nevada

EDGE Dylan LaBarbera

Obviously, LaBarbera is leading the charge for the Wolf Pack defense. After a 2025 campaign where he compiled 6.5 sacks and a whopping 17 tackles for loss, he will surely attract double teams, but his abilities should not be questioned. Dylan is one of the front-runners for Mountain West Defensive Player of the Year, and having a DPOY-caliber season should help Nevada win more games in 2026.

New Mexico

LB Jaxton Eck

Eck had no issue transitioning from a star FCS player to a star Mountain West linebacker. He returns to the Lobos as the reigning Mountain West Defensive Player of the Year, and there is no reason why he can’t mimic, or even exceed, that production in 2026. New Mexico is set up to compete for a conference championship in 2026, and Jaxton is one of the biggest reasons why.

North Dakota State

LB Donovan Woolen

Woolen did a bit of everything for the Bison last season. He led the team in tackles with 86, notched 1.5 sacks, came away with three interceptions, and added a touchdown for good measure. The junior linebacker is ready for an encore and should lead the North Dakota State defense in 2026.

Northern Illinois

DEJay’Shon Thomas

Thomas had modest stats last season, but could be in line for a big jump in production for the 2026 campaign. It’s easy to see him building on the 21 tackles, 3 TFLs, and 2 sacks as a senior if he can make the most of his snaps. The Huskies will need a strong pass rush to anchor their defense and Thomas is a good bet to be the one to step up.

Oregon State

LB Aiden Sullivan

The Beavers have a ton of new players this season following the coaching change, so consider them and their personnel a bit of an unknown. That being said, Sullivan is a holdover from the previous coaching staff, and he was one of the bright spots last year. For the 2025 season, he put up 72 tackles, with 7 of those coming for a loss, plus 3 forced fumbles. The hope is Aiden can be a consistent presence and leader for Oregon State as they try to bounce back this year.

San Diego State

DB Dalesean Staley

Staley returns to lead a strong Aztec defense this season. He had a quietly strong 2025, posting 81 tackles for the safety position. While not always ideal for a defensive back, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see him lead San Diego State in tackles once again this year. Expect more people to know Dalesean’s name by the end of the 2026 season if he can build on last year’s production.

San Jose State

DL Solomone Langi

The Spartans don’t have a ton of star power entering the season, but Langi emerged as a force on the defensive line. While he might seem like an odd choice for the team’s best player because he lacks gaudy stats, it doesn’t mean the talent isn’t there. Instead, Langi eats up blockers and opens up lanes for others to come through the gaps and shut down the run or get to the quarterback. Expect him to do more of the same in 2026.

Texas State

DB Ryan Nolan

The potential return of Tymere Jackson has Bobcat fans excited, but regardless, Nolan will still be the big name to know for this upcoming season. The safety was second on the team in tackles last year, with 79 altogether, and should only add to that total in 2026. With Nolan at the back of the Texas State defense as the line resort, they are in good hands.

UNLV

DBJake Pope

Pope is another defensive back on this list that is primed for a great season. He was part of a Rebels seconday that took their lumps last year, but he did his part, making 81 tackles (3.5 for loss) with 1.5 sacks, a pick, and 5 passes defended. The former Alabama and Georgia DB should be a key cog on an improved UNLV defense for 2026.

Utah State

LB Bronson Olevao

Olevao and safety Brevin Hamblin are the top two Aggie defenders, but Olevao is the choice here. The linebacker got to the 90-tackle mark in 2025, so hitting triple digits this season is within reach. The 7.5 tackles for loss, 4 sacks, and 2 interceptions move him from solid tackler to all-around great defender. Bronson’s diverse skill set should allow Utah State to use him in a variety of ways in 2026.

UTEP

LB Jayden Wilson

The Miners don’t have a lot of star power on the roster, but Wilson is undoubtedly one of the exceptions. A whopping 92 tackles, 8 for loss, 3 forced fumbles, 1 interception, and half a sack is quite a resume to build upon heading into a new season. UTEP may struggle in their first season in the Mountain West, but it won’t be because of Wilson.

Washington State

DB Jeremiah Bernard

The Cougars will bring in almost an entirely new starting defense for 2026, so a number of players could emerge as the team’s best defender. However, Bernard seems like as good a bet as any. The junior cornerback was stout in coverage last season, coming up with 4 interceptions in addition to the 6 passes he defended. If he can replicate that in 2026, it will go a long way for Washington State.

Wyoming

DB Jones Thomas

It’s fair to say that Wyoming’s defense is better than the sum of its parts. It’s also fair to say that Thomas is a very good player. Emerging as a starter last year in a solid secondary, he was able to collect 57 tackles, 4 passes defended, and 2 big interceptions. Expect those numbers to look even more impressive this season as he solidifies himself as one of the leaders for the Cowboys.

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