BOISE, Idaho — The Mountain West Conference revealed its annual postseason awards on Wednesday, and the Boise State football team cleaned up.
Junior STUD Curtis Weaver was named the Mountain West Defensive Player of the Year, junior cornerback and punt returner Avery Williams earned Mountain West Special Teams Player of the Year, and true freshman running back George Holani received Mountain West Freshman of the Year honors.
Weaver leads the Mountain West and ranks third in the FBS with 13.5 sacks this season. He becomes just the second Bronco be named the top defender in the Mountain West. Linebacker Leighton Vander Esch also earned the honor following a 141-tackle performance in 2017. Weeks after the announcement, Vander Esch announced he would forgo his senior season. He was then drafted 19th overall by the Dallas Cowboys the following spring.
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Holani is the second Bronco to be named the Mountain West Freshman of the Year, joining quarterback Brett Rypien who earned the designation in 2015. Holani ranks second in the FBS amongst true freshman running backs with 912 rushing yards this season.
Williams, on the other, is the first player in program history to earn a postseason special teams player for the year award regardless of conference affiliation. Williams in the only FBS player with multiple punt return touchdowns this season. He is also tied for first in the country with two blocked kicks this season.
In all, Boise State had a Mountain West-best 17 players received all-conference recognition today. Weaver, Williams and junior nickel Kekaula Kaniho were each named to the First-Team on defense, while senior John Molchon and junior Ezra Cleveland took home similar honors on offense. The Broncos have now had at least one offensive lineman earn First-Team All-Mountain West honors in each of the nine years that they have been in the league.
All-Mountain West First Team
Offense
OL Ezra Cleveland - R-Jr., Spanaway, Wash. (Bethel HS)
OL John Molchon - R-Sr., Las Vegas, Nev. (Faith Lutheran HS)
Defense
DL Curtis Weaver - R-Jr., Long Beach, Calif. (St. Anthony HS)
DB Kekaula Kaniho - Jr., Kahuku, Hawaii (Kahuku HS)
Special Teams
PR Avery Williams - R-Jr., Pasadena, Calif. (JSerra Catholic HS)
All-Mountain West Second Team
Offense
WR – John Hightower - Sr., Landover, Md. (Hinds CC)
RB – George Holani - Fr., Bellflower, Calif. (St. John Bosco HS)
OL – Garrett Larson - R-Sr., Fruitland, Idaho (Fruitland HS)
Defense
DL – Chase Hatada - Sr., Rocklin, Calif. (Rocklin HS)
DL – David Moa - 6Y-Sr., San Diego, Calif. (Kearny HS)
LB – Riley Whimpey - Jr., San Clemente, Calif. (San Clemente HS)
DB – Kekoa Nawahine - Sr., Meridian, Idaho (Rocky Mountain HS)
DB – Jalen Walker - R-Jr., Lawndale, Calif. (Lawndale HS)
Special Teams
KR – John Hightower - Sr., Landover, Md. (Hinds CC)
All-Mountain West Honorable Mention
Offense
OL – Eric Quevedo - R-Sr., West Covina, Calif. (West Covina HS)
TE – John Bates - R-Jr., Lebanon, Ore. (Lebanon HS)
WR – Khalil Shakir - So., Murrieta, Calif. (Vista Murrieta HS)
Defense
DL – Sonatane Lui - Sr., Sandy, Utah (Alta HS)
DB – Avery Williams - R-Jr., Pasadena, Calif. (JSerra Catholic HS)
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