May 26, 2011
CLEVELAND - Fifteen San Diego State players were named to the Phil Steele Preseason All-MWC team, the publication recently announced. Six players, including three defensive members, garnered first-team honors.
Sophomore running back Ronnie Hillman, senior defensive tackle Jerome Long, senior linebacker Miles Burris, junior cornerback Leon McFadden and senior punter Brian Stahovich all were first-team selections. On the second team were senior quarterback Ryan Lindley, sophomore Gavin Escobar, junior offensive guard Nik Embernate, senior offensive tackle Tommie Draheim, senior punt returner Larry Parker and senior kicker Abel Perez. Junior Dominique Sandifer and senior offensive tackle Kurtis Gunther were named to the third team, while senior linebacker Logan Ketchum and senior safety Brandon Davis rounded out the Aztec preseason picks as fourth-team selections.
Last year, Hillman was named a Freshman All-American by four publications and was picked as the MWC Freshman of the Year. Hillman, who also was named to the all-MWC first team, ended his first season on The Mesa with 1,532 rushing yards, the most in MWC history and the fifth most in program history, and 17 touchdowns. He was named the Poinsettia Bowl Offensive MVP on Dec. 23 after rushing for a bowl-record 228 yards and four total touchdowns (three rushing, one receiving) as SDSU defeated Navy, 35-14.
Long joined Hillman on the first team after making 30 tackles on the season, including 16 solo stops. Long had six tackles for a loss that totaled 18 yards and had 1.5 sacks, a fumble recovery and a blocked kick.
Burris led San Diego State with 80 tackles, and topped the Mountain West in both sacks (9.5) and tackles for loss (20.0). Burris, who ranked in a tie for 22nd in the nation and 11th in the two respective categories, also forced four fumbles, which was third in the league and tied for 15th in the country. Burris ended his junior season as a first-team all-MWC pick.
McFadden registered 55 tackles a year ago, including seven behind the line of scrimmage. McFadden led the MWC with 14 passes defended and his 1.08 per game were tied for 18th in the nation. For his efforts, McFadden garnered first-team all-MWC accolades last year.
Rounding out the Phil Steele 2011 Preseason All-MWC first team for the Aztecs is Stahovich. Last year, Stahovich earned first-team all-MWC honors after leading the conference with a 45.4 punt average. The 45.4 yards per punt was the eighth-best mark in the country and the third-highest average in program history.
Leading the second-team Phil Steele 2011 Preseason All-MWC second-team honorees is Lindley, who led the conference and was seventh in the nation with 294.6 yards per game. Lindley, who was named to the all-MWC second team, completed 243-of-421 passes for 28 touchdowns and a 149.4 pass efficiency ratio (second in MWC, 21st in nation). Lindley also led the league with 292.2 yards of total offense per game, which was 14th in the country.
Escobar joined Lindley on the preseason second team after a breakout first season on The Mesa in 2010. As a freshman, Escobar caught 29 passes for 323 yards and four touchdowns en route to being named to the all-MWC second team.
Embernate and Draheim, along with honorable mention preseason selection Kurtis Gunther, anchored an offensive line that allowed just nine sacks in 2010, tied for the fifth-least in the country. The Aztecs also finished 12th in passing offense, 16th in total offense and 20th in scoring offense.
Parker was picked on the preseason second team as a punt returner after returning 19 for 117 yards last year. Parker, who had a season long of 29 yards, averaged 6.2 yards per return, which ranked third in the MWC.
Perez, who earned second-team all-MWC honors last year in his first season with SDSU, converted 17 of his 22 field goal attempts and was second in the MWC in scoring with 105 points. His 1.31 field goals per game tied for second in the league and 31st in the country.
Sandifer had 23 catches for 263 yards (20.2 yards per catch), Ketchum was fourth on the team with 52 tackles and Davis had 32 stops and a sack.
Season tickets for the 2011 San Diego State Aztec football team will go on sale this Friday, May 20, at 9 a.m. PT. Packages start at just $66 and include reserved seats to all seven Aztec home games, the most regular-season home contests the team has played in a single year since 1995.
Season tickets can be purchased online through GoAztecs.com, over the phone by calling (619) 283-7378, or by visiting the Aztec Ticket Office at Qualcomm Stadium's Window "E." The ticket office is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday.
Phil Steele's 2011 Preseason All-MWC Team
(SDSU Players Only)
First Team
RB Ronnie Hillman DT Jerome Long LB Miles Burris CB Leon McFadden P Brian Stahovich
Second Team
QB Ryan Lindley TE Gavin Escobar OG Nik Embernate OT Tommie Draheim PR Larry Parker K Abel Perez
Third Team
WR Dominique Sandifer OT Kurtis Gunther
Fourth Team
LB Logan Ketchum S Brandon Davis