Utah State safety Ajani Carter (12) returns an interception against San Jose State during the second half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Nov. 13, 2021, San Jose, Calif. Utah State won 48-17. (AP Photo/Tony Avelar)
LOGAN, Utah – Defending Mountain West and Jimmy Kimmel LA Bowl Champions Utah State had 12 football players named to Phil Steele’s preseason all-Mountain West team, it was announced by the publication on Wednesday.
Utah State’s 12 all-conference selections ranked as the fifth-most in the league behind Fresno State (15), Boise State (14), Colorado State (13) and San Diego State (13).
Utah State had four players named to the first team in senior cornerback Ajani Carter, senior wide receiver Justin McGriff, junior punter Stephen Kotsanlee and sophomore long snapper Jacob Garcia. Two more offensive players were named to the second team in graduate senior quarterback Logan Bonner and graduate senior offensive lineman Alfred Edwards. Four Aggies garnered preseason third-team accolades in graduate senior wide receiver Brian Cobbs, senior defensive tackle Hale Motu’apuaka, senior inside linebacker AJ Vongphachanh and junior defensive end Byron Vaughns. And, two more players were named to the preseason fourth team in graduate senior running back Calvin Tyler Jr. and senior safety Gurvan Hall.
Four of the Aggies named preseason all-MW by Phil Steele have garnered previous all-conference accolades as Edwards was named honorable mention all-MW last season, while Kotsanlee and Vongphachanh were both named honorable mention all-MW following the 2020 season. Furthermore, Bonner garnered honorable mention all-Sun Belt Conference honors at Arkansas State following the 2020 campaign.
Utah State opens the 2022 season at home against Connecticut on Saturday, Aug. 27. The game will be televised nationally on Fox Sports 1, at 2 p.m.
Season ticket renewals are currently being accepted. To renew, fans should visit www.utahstateaggies.com, or do so in person or by phone through the USU Ticket Office during regular business hours (435-797-0305). New season ticket orders can also be made.
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