2022 MW Football Preseason All-Conference Team

By Press release submission

Jul 21, 2022

The 2022 Preseason All-Mountain West Football Team was announced today at the league’s annual media days, being held at Mandalay Bay Las Vegas. The team, as selected by members of the media, features 14 student-athletes who were first or second team All-MW selections in 2021. The 27-member squad is comprised of 24 seniors, two juniors and one redshirt-freshman.

Fresno State senior quarterback Jake Haener is the Preseason MW Offensive Player of the Year, while San José State senior defensive lineman Cade Hall shares Preseason MW Defensive Player of the Year accolades with San Diego State defensive back Patrick McMorris. San Diego State punt and kickoff returner Jordan Byrd garnered Preseason MW Special Teams Player of the Year honors.

Haener, who was a Davey O’Brien Award semifinalist last season, is coming off a career year in which he threw for 4,096 yards, just the seventh MW signal-caller all-time to throw for at least 4,000 yards in a season, and 33 touchdowns. Nationally, the native of Danville, California, finished in the top 10 in passing yards per game (315.1; 8th), completions per game (25.3; 9th) and passing yards (4,096; 9th). Haener is the first Bulldog to earn preseason offensive player of the year distinction since Derek Carr in 2012 and 2013.

Hall, who is the first back-to-back MW Preseason Defensive Player of the Year honoree since Wyoming’s Andrew Wingard in 2017-18, tallied 40 tackles, including six tackles for loss and four sacks in 2021. The native of Morgan Hill, California, who is a four-year starter on the San José State defensive line, shared preseason honors with McMorris. The Aztec safety finished 2021 ranked top-25 nationally in interceptions (4; T-14th), passes defended (13; T-20th) and pass breakups (11; T-23rd). McMorris is the first Aztec to earn preseason defensive player of the year honors since Damontae Kazee in 2016 and third all-time (Leon McFadden; 2012).

Byrd is the third Aztec to be named MW Preseason Special Teams Player of the Year, joining Rashaad Penny (2016, ’17) and Donny Hageman (2015). The native of Albuquerque, New Mexico, is a two-time All-MW kick returner. He averaged 27.3 yards per kick return in 2021, and 7.1 yards per punt return. Byrd led the Conference in punt returns (27, 4th nationally), combined kick return yards (794, 6th nationally), kick return average (27.3, 15th nationally), punt return yards (193, 18th nationally) and punt return average (7.1, 30th nationally). He tied for first in kick return touchdowns (1, T-13th nationally). 2022 MOUNTAIN WEST FOOTBALL PRESEASON ALL-CONFERENCE TEAM Offense

QB - Jake Haener**, Sr., Fresno State

WR - Jalen Cropper**, Sr., Fresno State

WR - Jesse Matthews, Sr., San Diego State

RB - Brad Roberts*, Sr., Air Force

RB - Jordan Mims, Sr., Fresno State

OL - Isaac Cochran, Sr., Air Force

OL - John Ojukwu*, Sr., Boise State

OL - Dontae Bull, Sr., Fresno State

OL - Aaron Frost**, Sr., Nevada

OL - Alama Uluave, Sr., San Diego State

TE - Tanner Arkin, RS-Fr., Colorado State Defense

DL - Scott Matlock, Sr., Boise State