Utah State defensive back Ike Larsen (19) males an interception in front of Alabama wide receiver Christian Leary (12) during the first half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Sept. 3, 2022, in Tuscaloosa, Ala. (AP Photo/Vasha Hunt)
LOGAN, Utah –Utah State had nine football players named to the Athlon Sports preseason all-Mountain West teams, it was announced by the publication on Wednesday.
Utah State’s nine all-conference selections ranked as the seventh-most in the league behind Boise State (16), San Diego State (14), Fresno State (13), Wyoming (13), Air Force (12) and Colorado State (11), and ahead of New Mexico (8), San José State (8), Hawai’i (7) and Nevada (6).
Utah State had one player named to the first team in sophomore safety Ike Larsen. Four players were named to the second team in senior punt returner Cooper Jones, senior defensive tackle Hale Motu’apuaka, senior linebacker MJ Tafisi and senior wide receiver Terrell Vaughn, who was recognized on the second team as both a wide receiver and kick returner. Three Aggies garnered preseason third-team accolades in senior cornerback Michael Anyanwu, senior punter Stephen Kotsanlee and sophomore running back/all-purpose player Robert Briggs. And, one Aggie was named to the preseason fourth team in graduate senior offensive lineman Wade Meacham.
Four of the Aggies named preseason all-MW by Athlon Sports have garnered previous all-conference accolades as Larsen was named a College Football News Honorable Mention Freshman All-American and a second-team all-MW selection last season, while Tafisi and Vaughn both garnered honorable mention all-MW honors in 2022. Furthermore, Kotsanlee was named honorable mention all-MW following the 2020 season.
Utah State opens the 2023 season at Iowa on Saturday, Sept. 2, while its home opener is the following weekend against Idaho State on Saturday, Sept. 9. USU begins Mountain West play at Air Force on Saturday, Sept. 16.
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.
For more information on the Utah State football program, follow the Aggies on Twitter at @USUFootball, on Facebook at USUFootball and on Instagram at USUFootball.