Mountain West Football: Five Named To Biletnikoff Award Watch List

Warren Jackson, Khalil Shakir, Jared Smart, Elijah Cooks, and Tre Walker are named among the nation’s best pass catchers.


Mountain West Football: Five Named To Biletnikoff Award Watch List


The Mountain West is stacked with talented running backs in 2020, seven of whom were named among the nation’s best to watch.


Contact/Followย @MattK_FS & @MWCwire

Flush with backfield talent.

Miss anything? Check out the Mountain West Wire watch list tracker.

College football’s watch list season continued today with the reveal of athletes in the running for the Biletnikoff Award, which is given annually to the nation’s best pass catcher. Five different Mountain West wide receivers made the overall preseason cut.

Three different receivers in this particular group of five topped 1,100 yards receiving in 2019. Colorado State’s Warren Jackson caught 77 passes for 1,119 yards and eight touchdowns, while Hawaii’s Jared Smart had 1,129 yards and five touchdowns on 87 catches, the most among any returning receiver in the Mountain West, and San Jose State’s Tre Walker led the conference with 1,161 yards and two scores on 79 catches.

Boise State’s Khalil Shakir, meanwhile, comes into the 2020 campaign as Pro Football Focus’s highest-graded player at any position last fall. He led the Broncos with 63 catches and finished the year with 872 yards and six touchdowns.

Elijah Cooks helped lead the Nevada Wolf Pack’s Air Raid attack by catching a team-high 76 catches, good for sixth in the Mountain West, for 926 yards and eight touchdowns. That tied with Jackson for the most among returning conference pass catchers.

Last year’s Biletnikoff Award winner was Louisiana State’s Ja’Marr Chase.

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Mountain West Football: Seven Named To Doak Walker Award Watch List

The Mountain West is stacked with talented running backs in 2020, seven of whom were named among the nation’s best to watch.


Mountain West Football: Seven Named To Doak Walker Award Watch List


The Mountain West is stacked with talented running backs in 2020, seven of whom were named among the nation’s best to watch.


Contact/Followย @MattK_FS & @MWCwire

Flush with backfield talent.

College football’s watch list season continued today with the reveal of athletes in the running for the Doak Walker Award, which is given annually to the nation’s best running back. It’s no secret that the Mountain West has an embarrassment of riches at the position, so it’s not surprise that the conference landed a whopping seven different players among the 80 on the overall list.

Two of the seven Mountain West backs on the 2020 list were also on the preseason list last year. Nevada’s Toa Taua contributed 992 yards from scrimmage in his sophomore year for the Wolf Pack, accounting for six touchdowns, while Fresno State’s Ronnie Rivers ran for 899 yards and led all conference running backs with 43 catches, 348 receiving yards, and 16 total touchdowns.

Three of the four players who ran for 1,000 yards in 2019 are among the newcomers, headlined by Wyoming’s Xazavian Valladay. The conference’s rushing champion ran for 1,265 yards and scored six touchdowns last fall. UNLV’s Charles Williams finished right behind him with 1,257 rushing yards and trailed only Rivers among Mountain West running backs with 11 rushing touchdowns, while Boise State’s George Holani finished with 1,014 yards and seven touchdowns, extending the program’s famed streak of 1,000-yard rushers to twelve years in a row, and chipped in with 26 catches for 206 yards, as well.

Hawaii’s Miles Reed proved to be a critical difference maker despite not hitting that benchmark, providing explosiveness on the ground for the West division champions in 2019. He ran for 908 yards and scored eight touchdowns last fall.

Lastly, Utah State’s Jaylen Warren may have been in a timeshare last fall, but he made as much of his chances as anyone in the conference. Despite receiving just 112 carries, Warren ran for 569 yards and five touchdowns.

Last year’s Doak Walker Award winner was Wisconsin’s Jonathan Taylor.

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Hank Bachmeier, Donald Hammond III Named To Davey O’Brien Award Watch List

Air Force and Boise State represent the Mountain West on the list of college football’s best quarterbacks.


Hank Bachmeier, Donald Hammond III Named To Davey O’Brien Award Watch List


Air Force and Boise State represent the Mountain West on the list of college football’s best quarterbacks.


Contact/Followย @MattK_FS & @MWCwire

A select group of top players.

Watch list season rolls on with the release of the Davey O’Brien Award’s quarterbacks to watch. Given annually to the nation’s best signal-caller, a pair of players from the Mountain West are among the 30 that could bring home some of college football’s most prestigious hardware.

Boise State’s Hank Bachmeier made a name for himself almost immediately as a true freshman and though he missed most of the second half of 2019 with injury, he still finished the season with a 62.6% completion rate, 1,879 passing yards and nine touchdowns against six interceptions. He also established himself as one of the toughest quarterbacks in the Mountain West when on the field, too, which enabled him to average 8.6 yards per attempt, the highest in the conference among those with at least 200 attempts.

Air Force’s Donald Hammond III was just as potent, albeit in a much different way. The Falcons quarterback completed 50.5% of his 111 passes for a whopping 11.9 yards per attempt with 13 touchdowns and six interceptions, finishing the year with a 177.88 passer rating, while adding 553 yards and 13 more touchdowns on the ground.

Last year’s Davey O’Brien Award winner was Louisiana State’s Joe Burrow.

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2020 Phil Steele Mountain West All-Conference Teams

Find out how magazine guru Phil Steele put together his preseason all-conference team.

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2020 Phil Steele Mountain West All-Conference Teams


Who made the all-league team?


Contact/Follow @JeremyMauss & @MWCwire

Phil Steele makes his proclamation

Magazine guru Phil Steele has announced his all-Mountain West team and it goes four deep. The depth of going four deep is impressive but at the top there are some issues, and it starts at the quarterback position.

Boise State’s Hank Bachmeier is really good and giving him the first-team spot is not out of the ordinary, but the big omission is putting Air Force’s Donald Hammond III on the fourth-team. Now, Hammond is not a traditional quarterback but he is great at moving that Falcons offense and an argument can be made to name him on the first team.

The second-team signal-caller is Colorado State’s Patrick O’Brien and the third-team is Chevan Cordeiro of Hawaii.

Running back is extremely deep so seeing Air Force’s Kadin Remsberg is a third-team back and Nevada’s Toa Taua.

One of the biggest surprises of this list is putting Hawaii linebacker Darius Muasau on the first team. These preseason all-league teams are the time to take a bit of a chance and name players might be higher than other things while going off of potential for the 2020 season.

Leading the way in total players on the list is Hawaii with 16 and then there is a three-way tie for 13 with Colorado State, Boise State and San Diego State.

First-Team Offense

QBย โ€“ Hank Bachmeier, Boise State
RBย โ€“ Xazavian Valladay, Wyoming
RBย โ€“ Charles Williams, UNLV
WRย โ€“ Warren Jackson, Colorado State
WRย โ€“ Jared Smart, Hawai’i
WRย โ€“ Tre Walker, San Josรฉ State
TEย โ€“ Trey McBride, Colorado State
Cย โ€“ Keegan Cryder, Wyoming
OLย โ€“ Teton Saltes, New Mexico
OLย โ€“ Ilm Manning, Hawai’i
OLย โ€“ Nolan Laufenberg, Air Force
OLย โ€“ Gene Pryor, Hawai’i

First-Team Defense

DLย โ€“ Keshawn Banks, San Diego State
DLย โ€“ Dom Peterson, Nevada
DLย โ€“ Manny Jones, Colorado State
DLย โ€“ Cameron Thomas, San Diego State
LBย โ€“ Riley Whimpey, Boise State
LBย โ€“ Demonte Meeks, Air Force
LBย โ€“ Justin Rice, Fresno State
LBย โ€“ Darius Muasau, Hawai’i
DBย โ€“ Tariq Thompson, San Diego State
DBย โ€“ Kekaula Kaniho, Boise State
DBย โ€“ Jalen Walker, Boise State
CBย โ€“ Darren Hall, San Diego State

First-Team Specialists

Kย โ€“ Matt Araiza, San Diego State
Pย โ€“ Ryan Stonehouse, Colorado State
KRย โ€“ย Savon Scarver, Utah State
PRย โ€“ Avery Williams, Boise State
LSย โ€“ Turner Bernard, San Diego State

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Second-Team Offense

QBย โ€“ Patrick O’Brien, Colorado State
RBย โ€“ Ronnie Rivers, Fresno State
RBย โ€“ George Holani, Boise State
WRย โ€“ Bailey Ganther, San Josรฉ State
WRย โ€“ Elijah Cooks, Nevada
WRย โ€“ Khalil Shakir, Boise State
TEย โ€“ John Bates, Boise State
Cย โ€“ Taaga Tuulima, Hawai’i
OLย โ€“ John Ojukwu, Boise State
OLย โ€“ Elijah Johnson, Colorado State
OLย โ€“ Syrus Tuitele, Fresno State
OLย โ€“ Jack Snyder, San Josรฉ State

Second-Team Defense

DLย โ€“ Solomon Byrd, Wyoming
DLย โ€“ Jordan Jackson, Air Force
DLย โ€“ Scale Igiehon, Boise State
DLย โ€“ Kevin Atkins, Fresno State
LBย โ€“ Arron Mosby, Fresno State
LBย โ€“ Chad Muma, Wyoming
LBย โ€“ Brock Miller, Boise State
LBย โ€“ Dequan Jackson, Colorado State
DBย โ€“ Cortez Davis, Hawai’i
DBย โ€“ Jay Lenard, San Diego State
DBย โ€“ย Shaq Bond, Utah State
DBย โ€“ Milton Bugg, Air Force

Second-Team Specialists

Kย โ€“ Brandon Talton, Nevada
Pย โ€“ Tyson Dyer, New Mexico
KRย โ€“ Melquise Stovall, Hawai’i
PRย โ€“ Dante Wright, Colorado State
LSย โ€“ Ross Reiter, Colorado State

Mountain West Football: 2020 Award Watch List Tracker

Miss anything in watch list season? Here’s the list of college football’s preseason honors and which Mountain West players are recognized.


Mountain West Football: 2020 Award Watch List Tracker


Miss anything in watch list season? Follow along as lists of college football’s best are unveiled and Mountain West football is recognized.


Contact/Follow @MattK_FS & @MWCwire

Your landing page for all of the latest in watch lists.

The 2020 college football season might be up in the air, but watch list season is full steam ahead.

Though it has been some time since a Mountain West player has taken home some postseason hardware — Luke Staley actually stands alone, having won the Doak Walker Award for BYU way back in 2001! — it doesn’t stop hungry fan bases from staking their claim to rooting for some of the country’s best athletes.

With that in mind, check back here every day as various roll calls are revealed:

Lott IMPACT Award (exemplary player of integrity, maturity, performance, academics, community and tenacity)

Bednarik Award (defensive player of the year)

Maxwell Award (college football player of the year) — to be revealed July 24

Davey O’Brien Award (best quarterback) — to be revealed July 14

Doak Walker Award (best running back) — to be revealed July 15

Biletnikoff Award (best wide receiver) — to be revealed July 16

Rimington Trophy (best center)

John Mackey Award (best tight end) — to be revealed July 17

Butkus Award (best linebacker) — to be revealed July 20

Jim Thorpe Award (best defensive back) — to be revealed July 20

Outland Trophy (best interior lineman) — to be revealed July 21

Bronco Nagurski Trophy (outstanding defensive player) — to be revealed July 21

Lou Groza Award (best kicker) — to be revealed July 22

Ray Guy Trophy (best punter) — to be revealed July 22

Paul Hornung Trophy (college football’s most versatile player) — to be revealed July 23

Wuerffel Trophy (exemplary community service with athletic and academic performance) — to be revealed July 23

Dodd Trophy (best head coach who emphasizes scholarship, leadership, and integrity)

Walter Camp Award (most outstanding player)

Polynesian College Football Player of the Year

Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award (best college football player with a tie to Texas)

Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award (best senior or 4th-year junior quarterback)

Ted Hendricks Award (best defensive end)

Manning Award (best quarterback after bowl season)

Senior Bowl Watch List 2020

Mortell HOTY (best holder)

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Mountain West Football: Five Named To Chuck Bednarik Award Watch List

The list of athletes who could be college football’s best defensive player includes five players from the Mountain West.


Mountain West Football: Five Named To Chuck Bednarik Award Watch List


The long list of athletes in the running to be the nation’s best defensive player includes five players from Mountain West football.


Contact/Followย @MattK_FS & @MWCwire

Is there a dark horse to win in this group?

The bulk of revelations for college football watch list season began this morning with the reveal of athletes in the running for the Chuck Bednarik Award, which is given annually to the nation’s defensive player of the year.

After landing eight players on last year’s list, the Mountain West is again well-represented with five new entries on the Bednarik list released this morning. The quintet is headlined by a pair of defenders from San Diego State, defensive lineman Cameron Thomas and safety Tariq Thompson.

Thomas broke out in a big way in his first full season with the Aztecs, earning first-team all-Mountain West honors as a freshman (the only one to do so) by collecting 49 tackles, 13 quarterback hurries, nine tackles for loss, and 5.5 sacks. He was previously named a preseason second-team all-American by Pro Football Focus back in May.

Tariq Thompson, meanwhile, enters 2020 as one of the most productive defenders in the Mountain West in the past three seasons. He earned freshman all-American honors back in 2017 and was named a second-team all-Mountain West defender in 2017, 2018, and 2019, compiling 11 tackles for loss, 11 interceptions, 31 passes defended, and five forced fumbles in 39 career games.

Boise State cornerback Jalen Walker emerged as the head of a new class of Broncos defenders in 2019, landing on the all-Mountain West second team with Thompson after finishing the season with 53 tackles, ten passes defended and an interception.

Fresno State linebacker Justin Rice broke out as the best of the new Bulldogs linebacker unit last fall. He tied with Utah State’s David Woodward for a Mountain West-best four forced fumbles and landed on the all-Mountain West first team with 112 total tackles, eight tackles for loss, three sacks and two interceptions.

Lastly, Nevada’s Dom Peterson played like one of the most disruptive defensive linemen in the Group of 5 in 2019, finishing second in the Mountain West with 15 tackles for loss and nine sacks. Like Thomas and Rice, Peterson was named a first-team all-Mountain West performer.

Last year’s Bednarik Award winner was Ohio State’s Chase Young.

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Preview 2020: College Football News All-Mountain West Team

Preview 2020: Previewing the Mountain West season with the College Football News All-Mountain West Team & Top 30 players

Preview 2020: Previewing and looking ahead to the Mountain West season with the College Football News All-Mountain West Team & Top 30 players.ย 


Contact/Follow @ColFootballNewsย ย 

2020 CFN All-Mountain West Team
2020 CFN Top 30 Mountain West Players

2020 Preseason CFN Mountain West Offensive Player of the Year

RB Xazavian Valladay, Jr. Wyoming

Wyoming head coach Craig Bohl might be known for his coaching up of Carson Wentz and Josh Allen into NFL stars, but his Cowboy teams have been all about defense and great running games.

There was a dip in 2017, but Brian Hill ripped off 1,860 yards and 22 scores in 2016, Nico Evans ran for 1,325 yards and eight touchdowns in 2018, and Xazavian Valladay ran for 1,265 yards and six scores last season – and he’s just getting started.

The 6-0, 196-pound quick back hit Missouri for 118 yards and a score to start the season, but didn’t get rolling until the second half of the season with six 100-yard games in the last seven, including a 204-yard effort in the NOVA Home Loans Arizona Bowl win over Georgia State.

This is a bit of a projection with so many other great Mountain West backs, receivers, and the potential of Boise State QB Hank Bachmeier, but watch out. Valladay is about to take off.

2020ย Mountain West Team Previews
Mountain Air Force | Boise St | Colorado St
New Mexico | Utah State | Wyoming
West Fresno State | Hawaii | Nevada
San Diego State | San Jose State | UNLV


CFN in 60 Video: Nevada Preview
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2020 Preseason CFN Mountain West Defensive Player of the Year

DE Dom Peterson, Jr. Nevada

He doesn’t quite fit the type.

When it comes to pass rushers, everyone wants a Chase Young type who fits a hybrid role of part defensive end and part linebacker, and that’s not Peterson. The Mountain West’s best pass rusher is part defensive tackle, part bowling ball, and all pass rusher.

The 6-0, 295-pounder played at way over 300 as a freshman and still made 44 tackles with three sacks and 10.5 tackles for loss, and then last season it all blew up with 40 tackles, nine sacks, and 15 tackles for loss – leading the league at getting into the backfield.

Best of all, he was steady with at least a sack in eight of the 12 games and a tackle for loss against everyone but Hawaii. The motor doesn’t stop, the production will continue to be there, and in a conference that’s beyond loaded with great talent – several San Diego State and Boise State defenders could be here – Peterson is about to stand out again.

NEXT: CFN 2020 Preseason All-Mountain West Team

2020 Mountain West Football Schedule Updates

Here is an updated Mountain West football schedule.

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2020 Mountain West Football Schedule Updates


Updating the Mountain West schedule


Contact/Follow @JeremyMauss & @MWCwire

Mountain West schedule is changing.

Conferences are starting to move to conference-only games and with this means the Mountain West is losing many football games for the upcoming year. We are here to update what the 2020 Mountain West football schedule will look like.

Air Force

Sept. 5 Duquesne

Sept. 12 Boise State

Sept. 19 at Purdue (Cancelled)

Sept. 26 at Fresno State

Oct. 3 Navy

Oct. 10 at San Jose State

Oct. 17 Hawaii

Oct. 24 at Wyoming

Nov. 7 at Army

Nov. 14 Colorado State

Nov. 21 New Mexico

Nov. 28 at Utah State

Boise State

Sept. 5 Georgia Southern

Sept. 12 at Air Force

Sept. 19 Florida State

Sept. 26 at Marshall

Oct. 3 San Jose State

Oct. 17 Utah State

Oct. 24 at Hawaii

Oct. 31 UNLV

Nov. 6 BYU

Nov. 14 at New Mexico

Nov. 21 at Wyoming

Nov. 28 Colorado State

Colorado State

Sept. 5 Colorado (Cancelled)

Sept. 12 at Oregon State (Cancelled)

Sept. 19 Northern Colorado

Sept. 26 at Vanderbilt

Oct. 3 Fresno State

Oct. 10 New Mexico

Oct. 24 at UNLV

Oct. 31 Wyoming

Nov. 7 at San Diego State

Nov. 14 at Air Force

Nov. 21 Utah State

Nov. 28 at Boise State

Fresno State

Sept. 5 Idaho State

Sept. 12 at Colorado (Cancelled)

Sept. 26 Air Force

Oct. 3 at Colorado State

Oct. 10 at Texas A&M

Oct. 17 New Mexico State

Oct. 24 at Nevada

Oct. 31 Hawaii

Nov. 7 at UNLV

Nov. 14 at Utah State

Nov. 21 San Diego State

Nov. 28 San Jose State

Hawaii

Aug. 29 at Arizona (Cancelled)

Sept. 5 UCLA (Cancelled)

Sept. 12 Fordham (Cancelled)

Sept. 19 at Oregon (Cancelled)

Oct. 3 Nevada

Oct. 10 New Mexico State

Oct. 17 at Air Force

Oct. 24 Boise State

Oct. 31 at Fresno State

Nov. 7 New Mexico

Nov. 14 UNLV

Nov. 21 at San Jose State

Nov. 28 at San Diego State

2020 Mountain West Football Top 50 Players: #44, Boise State TE John Bates

The Boise State Broncos’ steady hand at tight end makes the cut for our countdown of Mountain West football’s best players.

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2020 Mountain West Football Top 50 Players: #44, Boise State TE John Bates


The Boise State Broncos’ steady hand at tight end makes the cut for our countdown of Mountain West football’s best players.


Contact/Followย @MattK_FS & @MWCwire

Proof that the things you can’t count matter.

Tight ends in college football are tough to stack up. Some teams don’t use them at all and it’s rare to see one light up the stat sheet like some of the nation’s best pass catchers, so you can be forgiven for overlooking just how valuable the next player on our list of the Mountain West’s top athletes has been to Boise State’s continued success.

John Bates has made 23 starts in his three years on the blue, but 2019 was his first year as a full-time starter and, given the wealth of new faces being broken in elsewhere on offense, his experience and zeal for doing all of the things beyond simply catching passes certainly came in handy. He still finished tied for fifth among Mountain West tight ends with 22 catches, averaging 12.4 yards per catch, but he was also an active hand in helping the Broncos’ running game improve throughout the year. Once the calendar turned to October, Boise State averaged a solid 4.73 yards per carry and scored 21 total touchdowns.

For his efforts, Bates earned an honorable mention when the all-Mountain West teams were unveiled at season’s end. He may not make as many headlines as Hank Bachmeier or George Holani, but he’s still clearly among the best tight ends in the conference.

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College Football News Preview 2020: Boise State Broncos

College Football News Preview 2020: Previewing, predicting, and looking ahead to the Boise State Broncos season with what you need to know.

College Football News Preview 2020: Previewing, predicting, and looking ahead to the Boise State Broncos season with what you need to know.


Contact/Follow @ColFootballNewsย & @PeteFiutak

– What You Need To Know: Offense | Defense
Top Playersย | Key Players, Games, Stats
What Will Happen, Win Total Prediction
Schedule Analysis
– Boise State Previews 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015

2019 Record: 12-2 overall, 8-0 in MW
Head Coach: Bryan Harsin, 7th year, 64-17
2019 CFN Final Opinion Ranking: 28
2019 CFN Final Season Formula Ranking: 10
2019 CFN Preview Ranking: 60

No one knows what’s going to happen to the 2020 college football season. We’ll take a general look at where each team stands – doing it without spring ball to go by – while crossing our fingers that we’ll all have some well-deserved fun this fall. Hoping you and yours are safe and healthy.

5. College Football News Preview 2020: Boise State Broncos Offense 3 Things To Know

–ย Theย offense managed to get through the seasonย averaging 429 yards and a league-high 35 points per game despite quarterback injuries, a massive turnover at all the skill spots, and with a line that was just okay in pass protection.

There’s still more work to be done, but it’s not like the program isn’t used to filling in the gaps.


CFN in 60 Video: Florida State Preview
Florida State at Boise State, Sept. 19
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It starts on the offensive line that paved the way for just 167 rushing yards per gameย but was okay at not allowing a ton of tackles for loss. Four starters are gone including star left tackle Ezra Cleveland, and the depth is going to be stretched thin early on.

Getting Rice transfer Uzoma Osuji for one tackle spot helps, and junior John Ojukwi will be a starter at one tackle, but this will be one of the team’s biggest area of early concerns.

The backs are there to make the ground game roll. 5-11, 205-pound Georgie Holani led the way with over 1,000 rushing yards and seven scores, and he caught 26 passes for 206 yards and three touchdowns. He doesn’t have to do it all with 425-yard, six-touchdown senior Robert Mahone and junior Andrew Van Buren back to rotate in.

The quarterback situation is solid.ย If he can stay healthy, Hank Bachmeier will be one of the Mountain West’s biggest stars. He came out red hot as a true freshman before getting banged up, and junior Chase Cord is a veteran who can step in and produce.

Leading downfield playmaker John Hightower is gone, but 63-catch Khalil Shakir is back along with 5-8 senior speedster CT Thomas. 6-6, 256-pound senior John Bates has the talent to do a whole lot more after catching 22 passes for 273 yards and a score.

NEXT: College Football News Preview 2020: Boise State Broncos Defense 3 Things To Know