Story courtesy of the Mountain West Conference
Photo courtesy of Boise State Athletics
LAS VEGAS - Boise State was predicted to capture the 2012 Mountain West football title, the league announced today at its annual Media Days being held at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas. The Broncos garnered 27 first-place votes, and earned a total of 296 points in a poll of media members. Boise State posted a 12-1 overall mark in 2011, en route to top 10 rankings in the final USA Today/Coaches' (6) and Associated Press (8) polls.
The Broncos return five starters from an offensive unit that ranked fifth nationally in scoring offense (44.23 ppg) last year and ninth in total offense (481.3 yards per game). Three starters return for the Boise State defense, which ranked 12th nationally in scoring defense (18.7 points per game) and 16th in total defense (320.85 yards per game). The Broncos are led by preseason all-MW performers Mike Atkinson (DL), Mitch Burroughs (RS), Joe Kellogg (OL), Matt Miller (WR) and Jamar Taylor (DB).
Nevada, which enters its first season in the Mountain West, totaled 244 points for second place in the preseason media poll. The Wolf Pack posted a second-place finish (5-2) in its final season in the Western Athletic Conference, ending the 2011 campaign with an overall 7-5 mark. Nevada returns six starters on an offense that finished last season ranked sixth nationally in total offense at 506.7 yards per game and eighth in the country in rushing offense at 247.5 yards per game.
Fresno State collected 231 points and two first-place votes to capture the third spot in the preseason poll, while Wyoming was chosen fourth at 213 points. San Diego State claimed fifth position with 173 points and the remaining first-place vote, followed by Air Force at sixth (170 points) and Hawai`i at seventh (116 points). Colorado State (111 points), UNLV (63 points) and New Mexico (33 points) rounded out the poll finishing eighth, ninth and 10th, respectively.
2012 Mountain West Football
Predicted Order of Finish
Rk. Team (first-place votes) Points
1. Boise State (27) 296
2. Nevada 244
3. Fresno State (2) 231
4. Wyoming 213
5. San Diego State (1) 173
6. Air Force 170
7. Hawaii 116
8. Colorado State 111
9. UNLV 63
10. New Mexico 33
2012 Mountain West Football Preseason All-Conference Team
Offense
QB Derek Carr Jr. Fresno State
WR Matt Miller R-So. Boise State
WR Colin Lockett Jr. San Diego State
RB Robbie Rouse Sr. Fresno State
RB Chris Nwoke** Jr. Colorado State
OL Chris Barker Sr. Nevada
OL Joe Kellogg R-Sr. Boise State
OL Weston Richburg** Jr. Colorado State
OL Nick Carlson** Sr. Wyoming
OL Jeff Nady Sr. Nevada
TE Gavin Escobar* Jr. San Diego State
Defense
DL Mike Purcell Sr. Wyoming
DL Mike Atkinson R-Sr. Boise State
DL Paipai Falemalu Sr. Hawaii
DL Jack Reynoso Jr. Nevada
LB Travis Brown Sr. Fresno State
LB Shaquil Barrett Jr. Colorado State
LB Alex Means Sr. Air Force
DB Leon McFadden* Sr. San Diego State
DB Duke Williams Sr. Nevada
DB Luke Ruff** Sr. Wyoming
DB Jamar Taylor R-Sr. Boise State
Specialists
P Pete Kontodiakos** Sr. Colorado State
PK Parker Herrington#* Sr. Air Force
Ret. Mitch Burroughs R-Sr. Boise State
Preseason Offensive Player of the Year:
Derek Carr, Jr., QB, Fresno State
Preseason Defensive Player of the Year:
Leon McFadden, Sr., DB, San Diego State
Preseason Special Teams Player of the Year:
Mitch Burroughs, R-Sr., RS, Boise State
# - unanimous 2012 preseason selection
* - member of the 2011 All-Mountain West first-team
** - member of the 2011 All-Mountain West second-team