COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – Four Mountain West players earned spots on The Associated Press All-America football teams, as announced today. The MW’s four selections are the most among the non-autonomous conferences.
Hawai‘i senior kicker Kansei Matsuzawa earned a first-team nod, while San José State wide receiver Danny Scudero and San Diego State senior defensive back Chris Johnson claimed spots on the second team and Colorado State sophomore linebacker Owen Long was named to the third team.
Matsuzawa, who was one of three finalists for the Lou Groza Place-Kicker of the Year award, is the only player from a non-autonomous conference on the AP’s first-team offense and is one of just four such players to earn first-team honors overall. He leads the FBS in field-goal percentage (.962), field goals per game (2.08) and total made field goals (25) and matched the FBS record for consecutive field goals in a season by hitting his first 25 attempts of the year. He was named the MW Special Teams Player of the Year.
Scudero finished his sophomore campaign leading the FBS in receiving yards (1,291) and receiving yards per game (107.6). He is also fourth in the nation in receptions per game (7.33).
Johnson, the MW’s Co-Defensive Player of the Year, is ninth in the FBS with 1.18 passes defended per game and 10th with 13 total passes defended. He is 16th in the nation with four interceptions, two of which he returned for touchdowns.
Long wrapped up his season leading the FBS with 151 total tackles and 12.6 tackles per game. He also ranks 12th with two fumble recoveries.
The Associated Press All-America
First Team
K – Kansei Matsuzawa, Sr., Hawai‘i
Second Team
WR – Danny Scudero, So., San José State
DB – Chris Johnson, Sr., San Diego State
Third Team
LB – Owen Long, So., Colorado State
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