Four former Bulldogs were honored Thursday as part of the Mountain West’s 25th Season Football Team, celebrating the best players in the conference’s history.
All four players all played together at Fresno State and were part of the program when the university transitioned from the WAC to the Mountain West in 2012.
Driving the news: Quarterback Derek Carr, wide receiver Davante Adams and safeties Derron Smith and Phillip Thomas were the four Bulldogs selected to the team.
- The team includes 25 offensive players, 25 defensive players and 10 special teams players and includes players from universities no longer in the conference, such as TCU and Utah.
- The four Bulldogs led Fresno State to back-to-back Mountain West championships in 2012 and 2013 and were all selected in the NFL draft.
- Carr won Mountain West Offensive Player of the year twice and threw for over 5,000 yards and 50 touchdowns in 2013.
- Adams was Carr’s favorite target, catching 38 touchdowns in just two seasons – setting the Mountain West record.
- Smith made the All-Mountain West team three times at safety as he had 15 interceptions throughout his career.
- Thomas joined Smith at the other safety position and was the first player in Fresno State history to be a unanimous All-American, leading the nation with 8 interceptions in 2012.
More local recognition: Wyoming quarterback and Firebaugh native Josh Allen was also selected to the team.
- Allen played for Wyoming from 2015-2017 and was selected seventh overall by the Buffalo Bills in the 2018 NFL Draft.
Offense
Brad Roberts, RB, Air Force
Jay Ajayi, RB, Boise State
Kellen Moore, QB, Boise State
Brett Rypien, QB, Boise State
Dennis Pitta, TE, BYU
Luke Staley, RB, BYU
Michael Gallup, WR, Colorado State
Rashard Higgins, WR, Colorado State
Trey McBride, TE, Colorado State
Bradlee Van Pelt, QB, Colorado State
Davante Adams, WR, Fresno State
Derek Carr, QB, Fresno State
Romeo Doubs, WR, Nevada
Carson Strong, QB, Nevada
Ryan Cook, OL, New Mexico
DonTrell Moore, RB, New Mexico
Rashaad Penny, RB, San Diego State
Donnel Pumphrey, RB, San Diego State
Andy Dalton, QB, TCU
Jake Kirkpatrick, C, TCU
Ryan Wolfe, WR, UNLV
Jordan Gross, OT, Utah
Alex Smith, QB, Utah
Jordan Love, QB, Utah State
Josh Allen, QB, Wyoming
Defense
Weston Steelhammer, DB, Air Force
Demarcus Lawrence, DL, Boise State
Darian Thompson, DB, Boise State
Leighton Vander Esch, LB, Boise State
Curtis Weaver, DL, Boise State
Brady Poppinga, DL, BYU
Shaquil Barrett, LB, Colorado State
Derron Smith, DB, Fresno State
Phillip Thomas, DB, Fresno State
Brian Urlacher, LB, New Mexico
Damontae Kazee, DB, San Diego State
Leon McFadden, DB, San Diego State
Kirk Morrison, LB, San Diego State
Cameron Thomas, DL, San Diego State
Viliami Fehoko, DL, San José State
Cade Hall, DL, San José State
Tank Carder, LB, TCU
Jerry Hughes, DE, TCU
Jamaal Brimmer, DB, UNLV
Kevin Thomas, DB, UNLV
Eric Weddle, DB, Utah
Zach Vigil, LB Utah State
Chad Muma, LB, Wyoming
Logan Wilson, LB, Wyoming
Andrew Wingard, DB, Wyoming
Special Teams
Avery Williams, KR/PR, Boise State
Ryan Stonehouse, P, Colorado State
Dexter Wynn, KR, Colorado State
John Sullivan, PK, New Mexico
Carlos Wiggins, KR, New Mexico
Matt Araiza, P, San Diego State
Rashaad Penny, KR, San Diego State
Jeremy Kerley, KR/PR, TCU
Louie Sakoda, PK/P, Utah
Savon Scarver, AP/KR, Utah State