2017 Mountain West Football Preseason All-Conference Team

2017 Mountain West Football Preseason All-Conference Team

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LAS VEGAS — The 2017 Preseason All-Mountain West Football Team was announced today at the league’s annual Media Summit, being held at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas. The team, as selected by members of the media, features 14 student-athletes who were All-MW selections in 2016. The 25-member squad is comprised of 14 seniors, 10 juniors and one sophomore.

Wyoming junior quarterback Josh Allen was named Preseason MW Offensive Player of the Year, while his teammate Andrew Wingard, a junior defensive back, has earned Preseason MW Defensive Player of the Year accolades. San Diego State’s Rashaad Penny, a two-time MW Special Teams Player of the Year (2015-16), garnered Preseason MW Special Teams Player of the Year honors.

Allen enters the 2017 campaign as one of the top quarterbacks in the nation. In his first full season with the Cowboys, the native of Firebaugh, California, threw for 3,203 yards and 28 touchdowns, while rushing for 523 yards, on his way to earning Second Team All-MW honors. The 28 passing touchdowns led the Conference and ranked 20th nationally. Allen led Wyoming to the 2016 Mountain West Championship Game and an appearance in the San Diego County Credit Union Poinsettia Bowl. During the past week, Allen has been named to the preseason watch lists for the Maxwell Award and Davey O’Brien Award.

Wingard, who earned first-team all-conference honors in 2016, enters his junior season as the nation’s leader in career solo tackles per game (6.08). Last year, the native of Arvada, Colorado, led the MW and was tied for fourth nationally with 131 total tackles. Wingard also registered 7.5 tackles for loss, including two sacks, and had two interceptions. Last week, Wingard was named to the Bronko Nagurski Trophy, Paycom Jim Thorpe Award and Bednarik Award Preseason Watch Lists.

Penny returned 20 kicks in 2016 for an average of 31.2 yards despite being kicked away from most of the year. This average ranked fourth in the nation and led the league. He also ranked No. 2 nationally in kick return touchdowns with two. Last week, Penny was named to the Paul Hornung Award Preseason Watch List.