BOISE, Idaho — KTVB Sports Director Jay Tust voted in the Mountain West Preseason Media Poll for the 13th consecutive season this week. Here is a look at his offensive ballot, which includes his picks for all-conference quarterback (1), running back (2), wide receiver (3), tight end (1) and offensive line (5).
Only players nominated by their respective schools were eligible for preseason awards.
Note: Mountain West Media Days are scheduled for Wednesday, July 10 and Thursday, July 11 in Las Vegas. The conference’s official preseason ballot will be released at that point in time, but again, here is a look at the ballot I submitted.
Quarterback (1)
The Pick: QB | Mikey Keene | JR | Fresno State
2023 Stats: 283-422 (67.1 comp%) | 2,976 YDS | 24 TD | 10 INT | 140.3 QB Eff. Rating
The Reason: Keane played outstanding in Power 5 road wins at Purdue and at Arizona State last season, throwing for 323.5 yards per game and six total touchdowns while posting a 145.3 QB efficiency rating. He wasn’t great in November when the Bulldogs lost three straight games to the likes of San Jose State, New Mexico, and San Diego State, but to be fair, he was battling an injury at the time. A healthy Keane means Fresno State should be in contention for a conference title this fall.
#TuSTATS: When Keene was even just average last fall, the Bulldogs were unbeatable. In games he posted a QB efficiency rating of at least 130.0, Fresno State was 6-0, compared to just 2-4 when he failed to hit the mark. Furthermore, the Bulldogs were 8-0 when he threw for at least 230 yards, compared to 0-4 when he didn’t.
Others that were considered: Colorado State sophomore Brayden Fowler-Nicolosi and Hawai’i senior Brayden Schager both return after decent seasons last year, but both turned the ball over a lot and Keene gets the edge due to expected team success.
Running Back (2)
The Pick: RB | Ashton Jeanty | JR | Boise State
2023 Stats: 220 CAR | 1,347 YDS | 6.1 AVG | 14 TD – 43 REC | 569 YDS | 13.2 AVG | 5 TD
The Reason: He’s the best running back in college football, and you’ll have a difficult time convincing me otherwise. A dual threat out of the backfield, Jeanty became the first FBS player with at least 1,000 yards rushing and 500 yards receiving in a single season since 2019. With former Boise State running back George Holani now in the NFL, Jeanty’s usage will increase and 2,000 yards from scrimmage is absolutely in play.
#TuSTATS: Jeanty was the only running back in the Mountain West with over 270 yards receiving in 2023, “barely” eclipsing that total with 569 yards. When you combine his yards after contact (981) and yards after catch (621), Jeanty created 1,602 yards of additional offense with the ball in his hands. Also, his 356 receiving yards off screen passes led the FBS last season.
The Pick: RB | Harrison Waylee | SR | Wyoming
2023 Stats: 164 CAR | 947 YDS | 5.8 AVG | 5 TD
The Reason: Waylee transferred from Northern Illinois and immediately took over as RB1 in Laramie. He missed three games last fall, but his 94.7 rushing yards per game in 2023 ranks second amongst all returning players in the Mountain West this season, trailing only Jeanty.
#TuSTATS: The Cowboys were 7-1 when Waylee rushed for at least 70 years last season with the lone loss coming on the road against a Texas team that would go on to play in the College Football Playoff.
Others that were considered: Jeanty was a no-brainer, while the decision between Waylee and Fresno State senior Malik Sherrod was much closer.
Wide Receiver (3)
This Pick: WR | Tory Horton | GR | Colorado State
2023 Stats: 96 REC | 1,136 YDS | 11.3 AVG | 8 TD
The Reason: Few if any players are more loyal to their respective head coach than Tory Horton is to Jay Norvell. The two were together for two seasons at Nevada before Horton followed Norvell to Fort Collins.
#TuSTATS: Horton needs 73 catches to break the Colorado State career record held by Rashard Higgins (239, 2013-15), and only 45 to set the Mountain West career record (Ryan Wolfe, UNLV – 289, 2006-09).
The Pick: WR | Ricky White III | SR | UNLV
2023 Stats: 88 REC | 1,483 YDS | 16.9 AVG | 8 TD
The Reason: White exploded for a school-record 1,483 receiving yards last season, eighth most in a single season in Mountain West history. He was dominant and consistent. He had seven 100-yard receiving games last season, including a string of five straight to cap the regular season.
#TuSTATS: White led the Mountain West with 570 yards receiving on throws that traveled at least 20 yards in the air in 2023. He averaged 51.8 yards per catch on throws specifically, the highest single-season average in the FBS in the last decade by anyone with at least 10 such catches.
The Pick: WR | Jalen Royals | SR | Utah State
2023 Stats: 71 REC | 1,080 YDS | 15.2 AVG | 15 TD
The Reason: Royals may have been the most improved player in the Mountain West last season. After failing to post a single catch as a sophomore in 2022, he exploded for 71 grabs in 2023, 10th most in program history. He also racked up 15 touchdown receptions, breaking the 33-year-old program record.
#TuSTATS: Royals was explosive and consistent last season. He found the end zone in 10 of 13 games, including seven of eight Mountain West games. He’s also had seven catches of at least 50 yards, tied for most in the conference.
Others that were considered: There are some really talented receivers in the Mountain West, but these three just stand out above everyone else. I’ll throw Hawai’i senior Steven McBride out there, since he had his first 1,000-yard season last fall and should replicate that again this fall.
Tight End (1)
The Pick: TE | Matt Lauter | JR | Boise State
2023 Stats: 9 REC | 157 YDS | 17.4 AVG | 3 TD
The Reason: This one might irk some fans around the Mountain West, but who is a clear-cut better option? From what I saw with my own eyes this spring, Lauter is going to make a big jump this fall. He only had nine catches in 2023, but he turned them into 157 yards, an average of 17.4 yards per catch. Also, three of his nine catches went for touchdowns.
#TuSTATS: His three touchdown receptions last season were the most by a Boise State tight end since Garrett Collingham also had three in 2019.
Others that were considered: Wyoming's John Michael Gyllenborg was a great option, but I think Lauter plays a big role in a more prolific offense and ultimately winds up here on the postseason awards.
Offensive Line (5)
The Pick: LT | Kage Casey | R-SO | Boise State
2023 Stats: Started all 14 games at left tackle - 75.9 PFF Run Block Grade in regular season (T-7th in MW)
The Reason: Boise State has made a habit of putting left tackles in the NFL for the last two decades, and Casey is on pace to continue that legacy. He stepped in as a redshirt freshman and started every game at one of the most demanding positions on the field in 2023.
The Pick: RT | Tiger Shanks | R-SR | UNLV
2023 Stats: Started all 14 games at guard – 73.2 PFF Offensive Grade (13th among qualified OL in MW)
The Reason: Played all 965 of UNLV’s offensive snaps for the best Rebels team we’ve seen in decades last season.
The Pick: OG | Mose Vavao | SR | Fresno State
2023 Stats: Started all 13 games at right guard – 71.0 PFF Run Block Grade (25th among qualified OL in MW)
The Reason: Vavao is Mr. Reliable, having strung together a streak of 42 straight starts, dating back to the end of his true freshman season. He also played 771 offensive snaps last season without committing a single penalty.
The Pick: C | Jacob Gardner | GR | Colorado State
2023 Stats: Started all 12 games at center – 78.3 PFF Pass Block Grade (7th among qualified OL in MW)
The Reason: Gardner followed Norvell to Fort Collins just like Horton. The two-time team captain has started every game throughout his career and will anchor the offensive line again in 2024.
The Pick: RT | Jack Walsh | JR | Wyoming
2023 Stats: Started all 13 games at guard – 78.7 PFF Run Block Grade (4th among qualified OL in MW)
The Reason: He’s appeared in 24 of 26 games over the last two seasons and started all 13 last fall. The plan is for Walsh to slide from right guard to right tackle in 2024, according to the depth chart on Wyoming’s website.
Others that were considered: Wyoming senior center Nofoafia Tulafono and Boise State senior left guard guard Ben Dooley will certainly be in contention for postseason All-Mountain West honors.
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