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 defensive and special teams ballot, which includes his picks for all-conference defensive line (4), linebacker (4) and defensive back (4), along with kicker (1), punter (1), kicker returner (1) and punt returner (1).
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.
Defensive Line (4)
The Pick: DE | Ahmed Hassanein | SR | Boise State
2023 Stats: 53 TKL | 12.5 SK | 16.5 TFL | 2 FF
The Reason: Hassanein was one of the most improved players in the Mountain West last season. After registering just 2.5 sacks in 2022, he jumped to 12.5 in 2023, the most by a Bronco since Curtis Weaver had 13.0 in 2019.
#TuSTATS: Hassanein was extremely consistent last season. He recorded at least a share of a sack in nine straight games at one point, the longest such streak in the FBS since 2015.
The Pick: DE | Devo Bridges | SR | Fresno State
2023 Stats: 51 TKL | 3.5 SK | 8.0 TFL | 1 INT
The Reason: Bridges has played a ton of football for the Bulldogs. He’s started all 27 games over the last two years and has played in all 40 games over the last three years. Bridges only had 3.5 sacks in 2023, but his 34 hurries ranked fourth in the Mountain West.
#TuSTATS: Fresno State was 6-2 in games Bridges recorded at least a share of a tackle-for-loss in 2023. Also, he’s just four sacks away from joining the top 10 career list at Fresno State.
The Pick: DL | Soane Toia | JR | San Jose State
2023 Stats: 37 TLK | 7.0 TFL | 5.0 SK
The Reason: SJSU has experienced a nice run of highly productive defensive lineman lately, and Toia is the latest. He set new career-highs in tackles, tackle-for-loss and sacks.
#TuSTATS: Toia had a hot streak late last season when he collected 4.5 of his five total sacks. Also, his 23 pressures were tied for third most among interior defensive lineman in the Mountain West in 2023.
The Pick: DT | Jordan Bertagnole | GR | Wyoming
2023 Stats: 60 TKL | 5.5 TFL | 2.0 SK | 1 FF
The Reason: Bertagnole has only missed two games over the last three seasons combined. His 82.1 PFF Tackle Grade ranked seventh-best amongst all regulars in the Mountain West in 2023.
#TuSTATS: His 60 tackles were the most amongst all interior defensive lineman in the FBS last season.
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Linebacker (4)
The Pick: LB | Andrew Simpson | JR | Boise State
2023 Stats: 66 TKL | 16.0 TFL | 6.5 SK | 2 INT | 2 FF
The Reason: Simpson was one of the more disruptive defensive players in college football in 2023. Midway through the season, Boise State coaches put him in position to be a playmaker and he responded with 16.0 tackles-for-loss, the most by a Bronco linebacker since Tanner Vallejo had 15.5 in 2014.
#TuSTATS: After only registering 2.0 tackles-for-loss in the first six games of the season, Simpson totaled up 14.0 in the final eight games. The craziest part? Most of that production came after Simpson injured himself, forcing him to play with a club on his right hand.
The Pick: LB | Jackson Woodard | SR | UNLV
2023 Stats: 116 TKL | 9.0 TFL | 2.5 SK | 1 INT
The Reason: Woodard, a transfer from Arkansas, was outstanding in his debut season at UNLV in 2023. He ranked second in the Mountain West with 52 stops, according to PFF. He also finished second in the conference with 116 total tackles and was tied for ninth in tackles-for-loss.
#TuSTATS: Woodard became the seventh underclassman in the Mountain West in the last 20 years to record at least 100 tackles, 9.0 tackles-for-loss and an interception in the same season.
The Pick: LB | Chase Wilson | SR | Colorado State
2023 Stats: 107 TKL | 8.5 TFL | 3.5 SK
The Reason: After playing as a backup his entire career prior to last season, Wilson was one of the most productive defensive players in the Mountain West in 2023. He posted double-digit tackle totals in six of 12 games. He had at least five tackles in every contest except the Boise State game when he was ejected for targeting.
#TuSTATS: Became the sixth Colorado State player with at least 100 tackles and 8.0 tackles-for-loss in a season in the last 20 years.
The Pick: LB | Shae Suiaunoa | GR | Wyoming
2023 Stats: 93 TKL | 5.5 TFL | 2.5 SK | 1 INT
The Reason: Wyoming almost always has a linebacker with gaudy numbers, and Suiaunoa will be that guy again this fall. His 12-tackle performance in an upset win against Texas Tech set the tone for an all-conference type season.
#TuSTATS: Suiaunoa played his best football against the best teams Wyoming faced in 2023. He averaged 8.4 tackles per game against opponents with winning records, fourth-most in the Mountain West.
Defensive Back (4)
The Pick: S | Jack Howell | SR | Colorado State
2023 Stats: 114 TKL | 0.5 TFL | 1 INT | 1 FF
The Reason: Howell has been a tackling machine ever since he arrived in Fort Collins, and he’s only getting better. He’s posted back-to-back 100 tackle seasons.
#TuSTATS: Howell is the only FBS defensive back to eclipse 100 tackles in each of the last two seasons. His 286 combined tackles over the last three seasons are the second-most by a defensive back in the FBS.
The Pick: S | Ike Larsen | JR | Utah State
2023 Stats: 103 TFL | 4.5 TFL | 4 INT | 1 FF
The Reason: Some guys that post huge tackle numbers benefit from the hometown score keeper. That’s not the case here. Larsen actually averaged more tackles away from Logan (8.71) than he did at home (7.0) last season. He also led the Mountain West with 970 defensive snaps, 76 more than any other player in the conference.
#TuSTATS: Larsen became the seventh player in the Mountain West with at least 100 tackles and four interceptions in a single season last fall. He was also one of just three players in the entire FBS to do it in 2023.
The Pick: FS | Wyett Ekeler | SR | Wyoming
2023 Stats: 77 TKL | 5.5 TFL | 2 SK | 2 INT | 2 FF
The Reason: I don’t think Ekeler received enough recognition for what he did on defense last season. His PFF Defensive Grade (81.3) was seventh-best in the Mountain West amongst players who were on the field for at least 500 snaps in 2023. He was also one of the best tacklers in the conference with a 82.5 PFF Tackle Grade.
#TuSTATS: Ekeler packed his stat line last season. He was one of five players in the Mountain West with at least 75 tackles, 5.0 tackles-for-loss and two interceptions.
The Pick: CB | Cameron Oliver | SR | UNLV
2023 Stats: 50 TKL | 4.5 TFL | 2.0 SK | 5 INT | 2 FF
The Reason: His 78.8 PFF Defensive Grade was the second-best in the Mountain West last season. Oliver’s five interceptions tied the most by a Rebel in a season in the last 20 years.
#TuSTATS: Oliver became just the second player since 2014 – and only the seventh in the last 20 seasons – to have at least 50 tackles, five interceptions and two sacks in a single season in 2023.
Kicker (1)
The Pick: K | Jonah Dalmas | SR | Boise State
2023 Stats: 24-27 FG | 88.9 FG% | 48-49 PAT
The Reason: Almost booted over 20 field goals in 2023, marking his third-straight season eclipsing that mark. No other active FBS player can boast about that achievement right now.
#TuSTATS: In the last 50 years, 87 different players have attempted at least 90 field goals in their respective careers. Amongst those people, Dalmas ranked No. 1 in career field goal percentage (88.9).
Punter (1)
The Pick: P | James Ferguson-Reynolds | JR | Boise State
2023 Stats: 55 P | 2,735 YDS | 49.73 AVG
The Reason: He led the FBS in punting average in 2023. His average of 49.7 yards per punt is the fourth-best by anyone in the FBS with at least 50 punts in a season in the last 45 years.
#TuSTATS: Ferguson-Reynolds averaged over 50.0 yards per punt in 10 of 14 games in 2023. He dropped 26 punts inside the 20 last season, tied for 13th most in the FBS.
Kickoff Returner (1)
The Pick: Jacob De Jesus - UNLV
2023 Stats: 32 KOR | 822 YDS | 25.7 AVG
The Reason: De Jesus led the Mountain West and ranked 14th national in kickoff return average in 2023. He was the first FBS player with over 800 kickoff return yards and 200 punt return yards in the same since season 2018.
#TuSTATS: De Jesus has nine kickoff returns go for at least 30 yards in 2023, the most in the FBS last season, and the most in a single season by a Mountain West player since 2013.
Punter Returner (1)
The Pick: Jacob De Jesus - UNLV
2023 Stats: 16 PR | 257 YDS | 16.6 AVG
The Reason: The Mountain West as a whole didn’t display much explosiveness on punt return last year, but De Jesus was the exception. He only returned 16 punts, but he averaged 16.6 yards per return, comfortably leading the conference in that category.
#TuSTATS: De Jesus has six punt returns of at least 20 years, the most in the Mountain West in a single season since 2018.
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