Dec. 2, 2014
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - San Diego State sophomore running back Donnel Pumphrey (Las Vegas/Canyon Springs HS) has been named to the 2014 Mountain West Football All-Conference First Team, the league announced today.
The Aztecs also had four players - senior left tackle Terry Poole (Seaside, Calif./Monterey Peninsula CC), cornerbacks Damontae Kazee (San Bernardino, Calif./Cajon HS) and J.J. Whittaker (Oceanside, Calif./Oceanside HS), and sophomore punt returner Lloyd Mills (Chandler, Ariz./Chandler HS) - selected to the second team.
Additionally, senior linebacker Josh Gavert (Lakewood, Calif./Mayfair HS), junior right guard Darrell Greene (Oakley, Calif./Freedom HS), sophomore nose tackle Alex Barrett (Mesa, Ariz./Desert Ridge HS), sophomore linebacker Calvin Munson (St. Charles, Mo./Francis Howell HS) and sophomore Warrior (safety) Malik Smith (Compton, Calif./Dominguez HS) each were honorable-mention picks.
The 10 overall all-conference selections were the most in the West Division of the MW and the fourth most overall. The 10 players recognized (one first team, four second team, five honorable mention) are two more than last year (one first team, one second team, six honorable mention). Six of the 10 award winners this year are sophomores and eight could have eligibility remaining (should Whittaker choose to come back after receiving an NCAA waiver) next year.
Pumphrey has amassed a sophomore school-record 1,761 rushing yards on the season, which ranks second in school single-season history and 142 more than the next rusher in the MW on 47 fewer carries. Pumphrey, who also leads the MW in rushing yards per carry (6.9, min. 10 att.), ranks fourth in the country in rushing yards per game (146.8), tied for sixth in rushing touchdowns (19), ninth in rush average (6.9) and all-purpose yards per game (156.6), and 15th in points per game (9.5) (T-11th among non-kickers). Additionally, his nine, 100-yard rushing games this season is tied for the most in school history (Ronnie Hillman in 2011 and George Jones in 1995) and tied for the most in the MW this year. A true sophomore, Pumphrey is the first SDSU running back to earn first-team honors since Ronnie Hillman did it in 2010 and 2011, and the fourth in the MW era (since 1999) (also Lynell Hamilton in 2003 and Larry Ned in 2001).
Poole, meanwhile, earned second-team accolades this year at left tackle after being an honorable-mention selection as a junior in 2013 at right tackle. Poole blocked for quarterbacks Quinn Kaehler and Nick Bawden's blindside, anchoring an offensive line and team that ranks in a tie for 16th in the nation in tackles for loss allowed per game (4.6) and 52nd in sacks allowed per game (1.9). Additionally, Poole has helped San Diego State rush for 2,623 yards (218.6 avg.), which ranks 29th in the country, and average 5.4 yards per attempt (15th in the nation). A team captain and MW scholar-athlete, Poole allowed just two sacks in 327 dropbacks (0.6 pct.) and had 39 knockdowns on the year (heading into last week's win over San Jose State).
Kazee, a sophomore, picked up his first MW accolade after registering 52 tackles (35 solo), a team-high 13 pass breakups, three tackles for loss, two quarterback hurries, an interception and a fumble recovery in his first 12 career starts this year. The 1.17 pass deflections per game (14 total - 13 PBUs and one INT) rank second in the MW and tied for the 29th most in the country. Kazee and Whittaker have helped the Aztec pass defense rank sixth in the nation in touchdown-to-interception percentage (0.71), tied for sixth in touchdowns (10), eighth in touchdown percentage (2.9), 16th in interceptions percentage (4.0), 20th in yards per game (192.0) and 22nd in pass efficiency (112.8).
Whittaker, a senior, improved to second team this year after being an honorable-mention selection last season. Whittaker, who has started 25 straight games at cornerback, has totaled 58 tackles (41 solo), six PBUs, two interceptions and two tackles for loss. He was also a preseason all-MW team selection and was on the Thorpe Award Watch List, which goes out to the nation's top defensive back. A team captain, Whittaker also led SDSU in tackles on pass plays (36).
Mills made the all-conference team as a punt returner after returning 17 for 205 yards, including a 67-yard touchdown. The 12.1 average ranks second in the MW and 12th in the country. Mills, who is one of 52 players in the nation this year with a punt return for a touchdown, also has 22 receptions for 310 yards (14.1 avg.) and a touchdown catch, and four rushes for 103 yards (25.8 avg.). He became the first San Diego State player to make a first or second team as a punt returner in the MW history.
Gavert, Barrett, Munson and Smith all garnered honorable-mention accolades after leading a defense that currently leads the MW in scoring defense (20.1) and total defense (337.6), and ranks second in passing defense (192.0) and third in rushing defense (145.6). Among the national leaders, SDSU is 15th in scoring, 20th in passing, 22nd in total and tied for 40th in rushing. In all, the six defensive all-conference performers were the most in the West Division with four (possibly five) having eligibility left after this season.
Gavert is tied for the San Diego State lead with 78 tackles (45 solo), to go along with 4.5 tackles for loss, a sack, four pass breakups, five quarterback hurries, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery. He's one of only two players in the Rocky Long defensive coordinator era (since 2009) to record at least one interception, sack, forced fumble and fumble recovery in the same season, which he has done each of the last three years (2012-14).
Barrett, who has missed the past two games with a foot injury, has made 39 tackles (21 solo) in his first 10 career starts. He also has nine tackles for loss, three sacks, three PBUs, six quarterback hurries, a forced fumble and a blocked kick. Barrett ranks 10th in the MW in tackles for loss per game (0.90) and seventh among defensive lineman. He's also 10th in the league among defensive linemen with 3.9 tackles per game.
Munson, a true sophomore, has recorded 78 tackles (51 solo), 10.5 tackles for loss, four sacks, four interceptions for 146 yards, including a touchdown, two forced fumbles and two quarterback hurries. Munson, who has started his first career 12 games this year, leads the Aztecs in tackles (tied), solo stops, sacks, interceptions and forced fumbles (tied). He leads the MW and ranks sixth in the country in interceptions yards (146), the most by an Aztec since 1996, and is fifth in interceptions per game (0.33) and tied for 35th in the nation.
Smith, meanwhile, has started all 12 games (the first of his career), registering 53 tackles (28 solo), 3.5 tackles for loss, three interceptions, seven PBUs, a fumble recovery and a quarterback hurry. At 0.83 passes defended per game, Smith ranks ninth in the league. He's also second on the team in pass breakups and interceptions.
Like Poole, Greene has helped the SDSU offense rush for 2,623 yards (218.6 avg.) on the season and average 5.4 yards per attempt, which are ranked 29th and 15th, respectively, in the country. Greene, who has started all 12 games at right guard this season and 24 over the past two years, allowed just one sack in 327 dropbacks (0.3 percent) and had 35 knockdowns this season (heading into last week's win over San Jose State).
In all, the Aztecs had seven non-seniors earn all-league recognition, which is three more than the next highest total in the West Division.
San Diego State, which finished tied for first in the West Division with Fresno State at 5-3, and is bowl eligible for a fifth straight year at 7-5, will await for a possible bowl selection on Sunday.
Aztec football season ticket holders and Aztec Club donors can pre-order tickets to any one or all of the possible SDSU bowl destinations by logging onto their ticket account page at GoAztecs.com. Season ticket holders and members of the Aztec Club have until Tuesday, Dec. 9, to order and receive their priority seats.
Although credit card information will be taken at the time of the pre-order, the card will not be charged until the bowl announcement becomes official. For questions or additional information, please contact the SDSU ticket office at (619) 283-7378.
Members of the general public can begin purchasing the San Diego State bowl ticket allotment block beginning on Monday, Dec. 8 at 9 a.m. PT at the SDSU ticket office at Qualcomm Stadium, window E, by calling (619) 283-7378 or by visiting GoAztecs.com.
Current San Diego State students will have the opportunity to purchase discounted bowl tickets at the Viejas Arena ticket office with a reduced cost of $10 beginning on Dec. 8 at 10 a.m. PT (first 500 students will get the discounted price). Additionally, Aztec students can purchase two additional tickets for $35 apiece.
In addition to securing some of the most desired seats, purchasing bowl tickets through San Diego State helps the school reach its ticket obligation for the bowl game and helps the Aztecs secure the best possible game in the future.
2014 Mountain West All-Conference Football Awards (SDSU winners only)
First Team
RB Donnel Pumphrey, So.
Second Team
OL Terry Poole, Sr.
DB Damontae Kazee, So.
DB J.J. Whittaker, Sr.
PR Lloyd Mills, So.
Honorable Mention
DL Alex Barrett, So.
LB Josh Gavert, Sr.
OL Darrell Greene, Jr.
LB Calvin Munson, So.
DB Malik Smith, So.