Fresno State, on way to Mountain West title game, has seven make all-conference teams
Fresno State, on its way to the Mountain West championship game for a third time in four seasons under coach Jeff Tedford, had seven players selected to the all-conference team.
Quarterback Jake Haener, running back Jordan Mims, wideout Jalen Moreno-Cropper and defensive end David Perales were on the first team released by the conference on Tuesday, and safety Evan Williams, center Bula Schmidt and wideout Nikko Remigio were on the second team.
Remigio was honored on offense and as a punt return man.
Linebacker Levelle Bailey, offensive tackle Jacob Spomer, tight end Raymond Pauwels Jr., linebacker Malachi Langley and offensive guard Mose Vavao gained honorable mention.
Haener was not selected as the Mountain West offensive player of the year after missing four games due to an ankle injury including three in conference play, though he had a legitimate case.
Air Force running back Brad Roberts, a high-volume back in a run-heavy option offense, was selected as the offensive player of the year after leading the conference with 1,612 rushing yards with 15 touchdowns.
San Jose State defensive lineman Viiami Fehoko, first in the conference in tackles for loss and third in sacks, was defensive player of the year ranking first in the league in tackles for loss and third in sacks.
San Diego State kicker Jack Browning is the special teams player of the year, Boise State quarterback Taylen Green the freshman of the year and the Broncos’ Andy Avalos the coach of the year.
Fresno State and Boise State meet on Saturday for the conference championship.
Haener has not played in enough games to qualify for NCAA statistics — a quarterback must play in 75% of his teams games, with a minimum of 15 pass attempts per game. But the Fresno State quarterback has the highest touchdown to interception ratio (5.7) and touchdown percentage (5.9) in the conference, a higher completion percentage with 53 more passing attempts than conference leader Clay Millen from Colorado State (73.5% to 72.2%) and a significantly higher passing efficiency rating than conference-leader Millen (162.16 to 149.75).
He is averaging 304.0 passing yards per game and is 6-2 as a starter including 5-0 in conference games, the losses to Oregon State and at USC. Fresno State is averaging 39.0 points in those five Mountain West games.
The Bulldogs, who are playing in the Mountain West championship game for a West Division-record fifth time in its 10 years, last had a player of the year in the Mountain West Conference in 2018.
Linebacker Jeffrey Allison was selected the conference defensive player of the year that season when leading a defense that allowed just 321.6 yards and 14.1 points per game. Quarterback Derek Carr was the offensive player of the year in 2012 and again in ‘13, safety Phillip Thomas was the defensive player of the year in 2012 and wideout Davante Adams was freshman of the year in 2012.
MOUNTAIN WEST FIRST-TEAM OFFENSE
QB - Jake Haener, Sr., Fresno State
WR - Tory Horton, Jr., Colorado State
WR - Jalen Moreno-Cropper, Sr., Fresno State
WR - Elijah Cooks, Sr., San José State
RB - Brad Roberts, Sr., Air Force
RB - Jordan Mims, Sr., Fresno State
TE - Caleb Phillips, Sr., Hawai‘i
OL - Isaac Cochran, Sr., Air Force
OL - John Ojukwu, Sr., Boise State
OL - Ilm Manning, Sr., Hawai‘i
OL - Alama Uluave, Sr., San Diego State
OL - Alfred Edwards, Sr., Utah State
PK - John Hoyland, So., Wyoming
KR - Jordan Byrd, Sr., San Diego State
MOUNTAIN WEST FIRST-TEAM DEFENSE
DL - David Perales, Sr., Fresno State
DL - Jonah Tavai, Sr., San Diego State
DL - Viliami Fehoko, Sr., San José State
DL - Cade Hall, Sr., San José State
LB - Caden McDonald, Sr., San Diego State
LB - Kyle Harmon, Sr., San José State
LB - Austin Ajiake, Sr., UNLV
LB - Easton Gibbs, So., Wyoming
DB - JL Skinner, Sr., Boise State
DB - Jack Howell, So., Colorado State
DB - Bentlee Sanders, Sr., Nevada
DB - Patrick McMorris, Sr., San Diego State
P - Jack Browning, Sr., San Diego State
PR - Jordan Byrd, Sr., San Diego State
MOUNTAIN WEST SECOND-TEAM OFFENSE
QB - Chevan Cordeiro, Jr., San José State
WR - Nikko Remigio, Sr., Fresno State
WR - Tyrell Shavers, Sr., San Diego State
WR - Brian Cobbs, Sr., Utah State
RB - George Holani, Jr., Boise State
RB - Calvin Tyler, Jr., Sr., Utah State
TE - Mark Redman, Jr., San Diego State
OL - Everett Smalley, Jr., Air Force
OL - Cade Beresford, Sr., Boise State
OL - Bula Schmidt, Sr., Fresno State
OL - Micah Vanterpool, Sr., Hawai‘i
OL - Cade Bennett, So., San Diego State
PK - Daniel Gutierrez, Sr., UNLV
KR - Christian Washington, Fr., New Mexico
MOUNTAIN WEST SECOND-TEAM DEFENSE
DL - Scott Matlock, Sr., Boise State
DL - Mohamed Kamara, Sr., Colorado State
DL - Dom Peterson, Sr., Nevada
DL - Adam Plant, Jr., Sr., UNLV
LB - Vince Sanford, Sr., Air Force
LB - Ezekiel Noa, Sr., Boise State
LB - DJ Schramm, Sr., Boise State
LB - Michael Shawcroft, Sr., San Diego State
DB - Trey Taylor, Jr., Air Force
DB - Evan Williams, Sr., Fresno State
DB - A.J. Haulcy, Fr., New Mexico
DB - Ike Larsen, Fr., Utah State
P - Aaron Rodriguez, Jr., New Mexico
PR - Nikko Remigio, Sr., Fresno State
