The end-of-season all-conference awards were announced today and 10 Utah State football players saw their names among those honored by the Mountain West for their performance in the 2025 gridiron season. Barden Pegan, John Miller and Noah Avinger received First Team All-Mountain West honors with Bryson Barnes and Miles Davis being named Second Team All-MW. Five Aggies were named as honorable mention, including wide receiver Brady Boyd, safety Brevin Hamblin, defensive tackle Gabriel Iniguez, safety Ike Larsen and linebacker Bronson Olevao Jr.
Although quarterback Bryson Barnes had been touted as a top candidate for the Offensive Player of the Year candidate by no less than three coaches in the Mountain West, Barnes did not receive the honor. UNLV quarterback Anthony Colandrea was tabbed for that award as the leader of the offense which topped the Mountain West in both points per game and total offense. The Mountain West’s Coach of the Year award went to New Mexico’s Jason Eck, with his son, Jaxton Eck, earning the league’s co-Defensive Player of the Year award. San Diego State cornerback Chris Johnson was named alongside Eck as the other co-DPOY. Special Teams Player of the Year was Hawaii kicker Kansei Matsuzawa, and Freshman of the year went to another Hawaii player, quarterback Micah Alejado.
Pegan concluded the regular season with 60 receptions for 929 yards and five receiving touchdowns (he also added one rushing score for six overall TDs), his catch and yard totals each good for third-best in the Mountain West this season. Should he add another 71 yards in USU’s bowl game, he’ll become the third Aggie since 2002 to eclipse 1,000 receiving yards in a single season. The most recent USU player to do so was Deven Thompkins (1,704 yards in 2021).
Miller earned his spot by way of being tied for third among MW players for most total tackles this season with 108. He also tied for the third-most sacks (7.5) and was eighth in tackles for loss (9.5).
Avinger led the Aggies with three interceptions this season and accounted for two other turnovers by forcing one fumble and recovering another. He also finished third on the team in total tackles (84), was second in solo tackles (40) and added 3.5 TFLs and 1.0 sacks). His 10 passes defended led USU and was also tied for second-most in the conference.
Barnes set multiple Utah State quarterback records this season, including rushing yards (733), rushing yards per game (61.1) and rushing touchdowns (nine). He also became one of two players on this year’s team, along with QB/WR Anthony Garcia, to have at least one passing, rushing and receiving touchdown this year. That made Barnes one of just seven USU players all-time to accomplish the feat. In all, Barnes accumulated 3,427 all-purpose yards (2,687 passing, 733 rushing, 7 receiving) and 28 touchdowns responsible for (18 passing, nine rushing, one receiving).
Davis finished second on the Aggies in total rushing yards (724) and rushing touchdowns (eight), both just behind Barnes. He led the team in yards per rush attempt (5.7, minimum of 15 rush attempts) and added 166 receiving yards and three TD catches to give Davis a total of 890 scrimmage yards and 11 total touchdowns.
