Spartans don’t want to settle into WAC's second tier

This is the seventh in a series on UH opponents

If not for Colt Brennan, Adam Tafralis would be the Western Athletic Conference's winningest returning quarterback.

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If not for Boise State's Ian Johnson, Yonus Davis would be the league's top running back.

If not for his own teammate, linebacker Matt Castelo would likely be the WAC preseason defensive player of the year.

It's kind of fitting that San Jose State -- the team representing the Bay Area's third (but largest) city -- has a chip on its shoulder pads. In the WAC worlds of perception and respect, the Spartans often have a lock on a place a few miles behind Hawaii and Bolse State -- and even Nevada and New Mexico State -- despite a breakout 2006 season.

San Jose State Spartans 2006 results (9-4) at Washington L 35-29 Stanford W 35-34 Cal Poly W 17-7 San Diego State W 31-10 Utah State W 21-14 at Nevada L 23-7 Louisiana Tech W 44-10 at New Mexico St. W 31-21 Boise State L 23-20 at Hawaii L 54-17 at Idaho W 28-13 Fresno State W 24-14 New Mexico W 20-12 2007 schedule Sept. 1 at Arizona State Sept. 8 at Kansas State Sept. 15 at Stanford Sept. 22 at Utah State Sept. 29 UC Davis Oct. 6 Idaho Oct. 12 Hawaii Oct. 20 at Fresno State Nov. 3 at Boise State Nov. 10 New Mexico State Nov. 17 at Louisiana Tech Nov. 24 Nevada

San Jose State went 9-4 in its first winning year since 2000, including a bowl victory. But while some of the best players in the conference -- and the nation -- return to the Silicon Valley, a four-game road march to start the season and a lack of depth on the front lines could betray the Spartans' hopes to climb another rung, or even maintain the current level.

The WAC coaches picked them to finish fifth in the league.

"Facing the toughest schedule since we've been here, we have to be greatly improved. We're working hard to make that happen," said coach Dick Tomey, the former Hawaii skip. "Just because somebody did something one year doesn't mean it's going to be automatic the next year. The good news for me is when you come out and watch our players work, they are taking nothing for granted."

Tafralis (6-2, 219) wasn't close to matching Brennan's unbelievable numbers last season, but he comes from the same school of efficiency. He posted 21 touchdowns to just seven interceptions with a 65.6 completion percentage -- good for an A+ if the geniuses (Brennan and NMSU's Chase Holbrook) hadn't messed up the curve.

Then there's Davis (5-7, 185), UH receiver Davone Bess' old wingman from Skyline High in Oakland. He rushed for 1,007 yards last season. A group of new receivers will have to show they can do it under the lights to keep defenses from keying on Davis.

The Spartans' defense features two of the best players at their positions in the country. Linebacker Castelo (5-10, 230) led the nation with 165 tackles last year, and has put on 20 pounds of muscle, while retaining his sideline-to-sideline range.

Castelo isn't even the marquee guy. That would be cornerback Dwight Lowery, who picked off nine passes and an invitation to Hugh Hefner's house as a Playboy All-American -- one of many accolades bestowed upon the JC transfer, including preseason WAC defensive player of the year.