Mountain West announces 2022 football Preseason All-Conference Teams – Cache Valley Daily


LAS VEGAS – The 2022 Preseason All-Mountain West Football Team was announced today at the league’s annual media days, being held at Mandalay Bay Las Vegas. The team, as selected by members of the media, features 14 student-athletes who were first or second team All-MW selections in 2021. The 27-member squad is comprised of 24 seniors, two juniors and one redshirt-freshman.

Fresno State senior quarterback Jake Haener is the Preseason MW Offensive Player of the Year, while San José State senior defensive lineman Cade Hall shares Preseason MW Defensive Player of the Year accolades with San Diego State defensive back Patrick McMorris. San Diego State punt and kickoff returner Jordan Byrd garnered Preseason MW Special Teams Player of the Year honors.

Haener, who was a Davey O’Brien Award semifinalist last season, is coming off a career year in which he threw for 4,096 yards, just the seventh MW signal-caller all-time to throw for at least 4,000 yards in a season, and 33 touchdowns. Nationally, the native of Danville, California, finished in the top 10 in passing yards per game (315.1; 8th), completions per game (25.3; 9th) and passing yards (4,096; 9th). Haener is the first Bulldog to earn preseason offensive player of the year distinction since Derek Carr in 2012 and 2013.

Hall, who is the first back-to-back MW Preseason Defensive Player of the Year honoree since Wyoming’s Andrew Wingard in 2017-18, tallied 40 tackles, including six tackles for loss and four sacks in 2021. The native of Morgan Hill, California, who is a four-year starter on the San José State defensive line, shared preseason honors with McMorris. The Aztec safety finished 2021 ranked top-25 nationally in interceptions (4; T-14th), passes defended (13; T-20th) and pass breakups (11; T-23rd). McMorris is the first Aztec to earn preseason defensive player of the year honors since Damontae Kazee in 2016 and third all-time (Leon McFadden; 2012).

Byrd is the third Aztec to be named MW Preseason Special Teams Player of the Year, joining Rashaad Penny (2016, ’17) and Donny Hageman (2015). The native of Albuquerque, New Mexico, is a two-time All-MW kick returner. He averaged 27.3 yards per kick return in 2021, and 7.1 yards per punt return. Byrd led the Conference in punt returns (27, 4th nationally), combined kick return yards (794, 6thnationally), kick return average (27.3, 15th nationally), punt return yards (193, 18th nationally) and punt return average (7.1, 30thnationally). He tied for first in kick return touchdowns (1, T-13th nationally).

2022 MOUNTAIN WEST FOOTBALL PRESEASON ALL-CONFERENCE TEAM

Offense

QB        Jake Haener**              Sr.        Fresno State

WR       Jalen Cropper**            Sr.        Fresno State

WR       Jesse Matthews             Sr.        San Diego State

RB        Brad Roberts*               Sr.        Air Force

RB        Jordan Mims                 Sr.        Fresno State

OL        Isaac Cochran               Sr.        Air Force

OL        John Ojukwu*                Sr.        Boise State

OL        Dontae Bull                   Sr.        Fresno State

OL        Aaron Frost**               Sr.        Nevada

OL        Alama Uluave               Sr.        San Diego State

TE        Tanner Arkin                 RS-Fr.   Colorado State

Defense

DL        Scott Matlock               Sr.        Boise State

DL        Keshawn Banks**         Sr.        San Diego State

DL        Jonah Tavai                  Sr.        San Diego State

DL        Viliami Fehoko*            Sr.        San José State

DL        Cade Hall                      Sr.        San José State

LB        Vince Sanford**            Sr.        Air Force

LB        Caden McDonald*         Sr.        San Diego State

LB        Kyle Harmon*               Sr.        San José State

DB        JL Skinner**                 Sr.        Boise State

DB        Evan Williams*             Sr.        Fresno State

DB        Jerrick Reed II               Sr.        New Mexico

DB        Patrick McMorris*         Sr.        San Diego State 

Specialists

P          Aaron Rodriguez            Jr.        New Mexico

PK        Jonah Dalmas*             Jr.        Boise State

PR        Jordan Byrd                   Sr.        San Diego State

KR        Jordan Byrd*                 Sr.        San Diego State

 

Offensive Player of the Year: Jake Haener, Sr., QB, Fresno State

Co-Defensive Player of the Year: Patrick McMorris, Sr., DB, San Diego State and Cade Hall, Sr., DL, San José State

Special Teams Player of the Year: Jordan Byrd, Sr., PR/KR, San Diego State 

* – member of the 2021 All-Mountain West first team

** – member of the 2021 All-Mountain West second team



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