The Mountain West Conference announced its Preseason All-Conference Football Team and Preseason Predicted Order of Finish on Tuesday at the Mountain West Media Summit in Las Vegas, Nev. Wyoming junior safety Andrew Wingard was voted as the MW Preseason Defensive Player of the Year, and Cowboy junior quarterback Josh Allen was selected as the MW Preseason Offensive Player of the Year in voting by 28 media members covering the Mountain West Conference. UW sophomore linebacker Logan Wilson was the third Cowboy selected to the MW Preseason All-Conference team and was the only sophomore in the conference to earn the honor.
The Cowboys were picked to finish third in the MW Mountain Division in the preseason vote of MW media.
It marks the first time that two Cowboys were named the Preseason Offensive and Defensive Players of the Year in the same year in the history of the Mountain West Conference. For the second consecutive year, Wyoming had three Cowboys named to the Preseason All-MW team, and for the second consecutive year Wingard was selected to the team. A year ago, he was joined by former Cowboy running back Brian Hill and former offensive lineman Chase Roullier on the Preseason All-Conference team.
In the preseason poll, Boise State was selected to finish first in the Mountain Division receiving 21 first-place votes and 161 total points. Colorado State was selected to finish second with six first-place votes and 135 total points. The Cowboys received one first-place vote and 114 total points. San Diego State was a unanimous selection to win the West Division for the second consecutive year. The Aztecs received all 28 first-place votes and 168 total points. Hawai'i was selected to finish second with 135 points, and UNLV came in third in the poll with 105 total points.
Wyoming was one of only six of 12 MW schools to have three or more Preseason All-Conference selections this season.
San Diego State led the way with four selections. Wyoming, Boise State, Hawai'i, New Mexico and San Jose State each had three players selected. Of the 25 individuals selected, 14 are seniors, 10 are juniors and one is a sophomore.
Wingard was a First Team All-MW selection by conference head coaches and media members at the conclusion of the 2016 season. Allen was a 2016 Second Team All-MW honoree, and Wilson was the 2016 Mountain West Freshman of the Year selection by conference head coaches and media.
2017 MOUNTAIN WEST FOOTBALL
ALL-CONFERENCE PRESEASON TEAM
Offense
QB Josh Allen** Jr. Wyoming
WR Michael Gallup*Sr. Colorado State
WR Devonte Boyd Sr. UNLV
RB Rashaad Penny* Sr. San Diego State
RB Tyrone Owens Jr. New Mexico
OL Jake Bennett** Sr. Colorado State
OL Austin Corbett** Sr. Nevada
OL Dejon Allen** Sr. Hawai‘i
OL Aaron Jenkins Jr. New Mexico
OL Mason Hampton Sr. Boise State
TE David Wells** Sr. San Diego State
Defense
DL David Moa* Jr. Boise State
DL Malik Reed** Jr. Nevada
DL Garrett Hughes* Sr. New Mexico
DL Mike Hughes, Jr. Sr. UNLV
LB Jahlani Tavai* Jr. Hawai‘i
LB Logan Wilson So. Wyoming
LB Frank Ginda Jr. San José State
DB Andrew Wingard* Jr. Wyoming
DB Andre Chachere* Sr. San José State
DB Tyler Horton Jr. Boise State
DB Trayvon Henderson Sr. Hawai‘i
Specialists
P Michael Carrizosa Sr. San José State
PK John Baron II* Jr. San Diego State
RET Rashaad Penny* Sr. San Diego State
Offensive Player of the Year: Josh Allen, Jr., QB, Wyoming
Defensive Player of the Year: Andrew Wingard, Jr., DB, Wyoming
Special Teams Player of the Year: Rashaad Penny, Sr., KR, San Diego State
* - member of the 2016 All-Mountain West first team.
** - member of the 2016 All-Mountain West second team.
2017 PREDICTED ORDER OF FINISH
MOUNTAIN DIVISION
Rank Team (First-Place Votes) Points
1. Boise State (21)- 161
2, Colorado State- (6) 135
3. Wyoming (1) - 114
4. Air Force- 82
5. New Mexico- 68
6. Utah State - 28
WEST DIVISION
Rank Team (first-place votes) Points
1. San Diego State (28) - 168
2. Hawai'i - 135
3. UNLV - 105
4. Nevada - 79
5. San Jose State- 54
6. Fresno State - 47
