COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – Three Mountain West players have earned spots on The Athletic’s Freshman All-America teams.
Colorado State defensive lineman Nuer Gatkuoth earned first-team honors, while Hawai‘i wide receiver Pofele Ashlock and Boise State offensive tackle Kage Casey earned second-team distinction.
CSU’s Gatkuoth started 10 games this season for Colorado State as a defensive end and racked up 53 tackles, including 6.5 for loss, an interception, a forced fumble, and two pass breakups. Pro Football Focus credited Gatkuoth with 29 total quarterback pressures and 21 hurries to go along with seven hits. The outlet’s True Pass Set metric credited Gatkuoth with 15 total pressures, the best among Mountain West freshmen.
Hawai‘i’s Ashlock leads all FBS freshmen in receptions (83) and receiving yards (832) and is second in TD receptions (9) and receiving yards per game (64.0). The first freshman to lead UH in receptions since 2005, he became the first freshman in the school’s Division I era to start a career with back-to-back 100-yard receiving games. He earned Mountain West Freshman of the Week honors in each of those weeks.
BSU’s Casey has played 755 total snaps over 13 games this season. He has allowed only one sack, four QB hits and 17 QB hurries for a total of 22 pressures on the quarterback. He graded out at 100% efficiency in three games – against North Dakota, Wyoming and Air Force – and finished the year with a 96.5% efficiency.
