The Mountain West’s preseason honors continued Wednesday as the conference revealed the preseason All-Mountain West team.
Coming off a rough 4-8 2019 season, Bulldogs linebacker Justin Rice was the only Fresno State player to make the team heading into a 2020 season that has not yet been confirmed will take place amid the coronavirus pandemic.
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Rice was one of the best defensive players in the Mountain West last season, finishing third in the conference with 112 tackles en route to a selection to the all-conference team.
He is the only linebacker returning from the 2019 All-Mountain West team, which included former Bulldog Mykal Walker, who was drafted by the Atlanta Falcons.
In addition to the conference honors, Rice has received national recognition as well this offseason, being named to the Bednarik Award watch list and the Bronko Nagurski Trophy watch list, both of which name the defensive player of the year at the end of the season.
Rice was one of three unanimous selections to the preseason All-Mountain West team, along with Boise State linebacker Riley Whimpey and Colorado State wide receiver Warren Jackson.
Boise State dominated the list with eight nominees, and Colorado State and San Diego State were next with four apiece.
Offense
QB Hank Bachmeier So. Boise State
WR Khalil Shakir Jr. Boise State
WR Warren Jackson* Sr. Colorado State
WR Tre Walker* Sr. San Jose State
RB Charles Williams* Sr. UNLV
RB Xazavian Valladay* Jr. Wyoming
OL Parker Ferguson Sr. Air Force
OL Nolan Laufenberg* Sr. Air Force
OL John Ojukwu Jr. Boise State
OL Ilm Manning** Jr. Hawaii
OL Keegan Cryder** Jr. Wyoming
TE Trey McBride* Jr. Colorado State
Defense
DL Scale Igiehon Jr. Boise State
DL Dom Peterson* Jr. Nevada
DL Cameron Thomas* So. San Diego State
DL Keshawn Banks** Jr. San Diego State
LB Demonte Meeks** Sr. Air Force
LB Riley Whimpey** So. Boise State
LB Dequan Jackson So. Boise State
LB Justin Rice* Sr. Fresno State
DB Kekaula Kaniho* Sr. Boise State
DB Avery Williams Sr. Boise State
DB Darren Hall Jr. San Diego State
DB Tariq Thompson** Sr. San Diego State
Specialists
P Ryan Stonehouse* Sr. Colorado State
PK Brandon Talton** So. Nevada
KR Savon Scarver* Sr. Utah State
PR Avery Williams* Sr. Boise State
* member of the 2019 All-Mountain West first team
** member of the 2019 All-Mountain West second team
Photo: Fresno State Athletics
