Following one of the best individual seasons in recent Fresno State history, quarterback Jake Haener has been selected as the Preseason Mountain West Offensive Player of the Year by the media.
Haener threw for 4,096 yards and 33 touchdowns last year, which ranked second and third in the conference, respectively.
Those totals also ranked in the top 11 of the nation for the 2021 season as Haener helped the Bulldogs to a 10-3 record.
Along with the expectation of being the conference’s best offensive player, Haener and four other Bulldogs were selected to the Preseason All-Mountain West Team.
Running back Jordan Mims, wide receiver Jalen Cropper and tackle Dontae Bull joined Haener on the first team.
Mims split carries with former Bulldog Ronnie Rivers last year to the tune of 710 yards and six touchdowns with an average of 5.59 yards per carry.
Cropper was the ‘Dogs’ top receiver last year as he hauled in 11 touchdowns and racked up 899 receiving yards.
Cropper was also named to the Biletnikoff Award watch list Thursday, which honors the nation’s top receiver at the end of the season.
Safety Evan Williams rounds up Fresno State’s all-conference selections after being named to the All-Mountain West First Team at the end of last season.
Williams led the Bulldogs with 3 interceptions and 93 tackles in 2021 and returns for his senior season at Fresno State.
2022 Preseason All-Mountain West Team
Offense
QB Jake Haener Sr. Fresno State
WR Jalen Cropper Sr. Fresno State
WR Jesse Matthews Sr. San Diego State
RB Brad Roberts Sr. Air Force
RB Jordan Mims Sr. Fresno State
OL Isaac Cochran Sr. Air Force
OL John Ojukwu Sr. Boise State
OL Dontae Bull Sr. Fresno State
OL Aaron Frost Sr. Nevada
OL Alama Uluave Sr. San Diego State
TE Tanner Arkin RS-Fr. Colorado State
Defense
DL Scott Matlock Sr. Boise State
DL Keshawn Banks Sr. San Diego State
DL Jonah Tavai Sr. San Diego State
DL Viliami Fehoko Sr. San José State
DL Cade Hall Sr. San José State
LB Vince Sanford Sr. Air Force
LB Caden McDonald Sr. San Diego State
LB Kyle Harmon Sr. San José State
DB JL Skinner Sr. Boise State
DB Evan Williams Sr. Fresno State
DB Jerrick Reed II Sr. New Mexico
DB Patrick McMorris Sr. San Diego State
Specialists
P Aaron Rodriguez Jr. New Mexico
PK Jonah Dalmas Jr. Boise State
PR Jordan Byrd Sr. San Diego State
KR Jordan Byrd Sr. San Diego State
Offensive Player of the Year: Jake Haener, Sr., QB, Fresno State
Co-Defensive Player of the Year: Patrick McMorris, Sr., DB, San Diego State and Cade Hall, Sr., DL, San José State
Special Teams Player of the Year: Jordan Byrd, Sr., PR/KR, San Diego State
