June 11, 2015
SAN DIEGO -
2015 SDSU FOOTBALL PRESEASON ACCOLADES
ESPN College Football Preview has picked the San Diego State football team to win the West Division of the Mountain West. ESPN is now the fourth publication to choose the Aztecs to rule the west, joining Sporting News, Athlon Sports and Lindy's Sports.
Following the Aztecs, according to the magazine, are Nevada, Fresno State, San José State, Hawai`i and UNLV.
Additionally, junior Donnel Pumphrey (Las Vegas, Nev.) was named the MW Offensive Player of the Year by the magazine and was joined on the all-conference team by senior offensive lineman Darrell Greene (Oakley, Calif.) and senior kicker Donny Hageman (Covina, Calif.).
Pumphrey continues to rack up the preseason all-conference accolades and now has been named MVP of two publications (ESPN and Lindy's Sports), and a first-team selection by Phil Steele, Sporting News, Athlon Sports, Lindy's Sports and ESPN. Last year, Pumphrey set a San Diego State single-season record with 1,867 yards and 20 touchdowns on 276 carries, averaging 6.8 yards per attempt. He also caught 23 passes for 260 yards (12.3 avg.) en route to being named a first-team all-MW performer.
Greene, who also has garnered first-team accolades by Phil Steele and Lindy's Sports, and second-team honors by Athlon Sports, blocked for Pumphrey and helped SDSU rush for 2,809 yards last year, averaging 216.1 yards per game, and 26 touchdowns. The 2,809 rushing yards were the second most in school history, while the 216.1 yards per game ranked 26th in the country. Greene also backed an offensive line that ranked ninth in the nation in tackles for loss allowed per game (4.46) and tied for 42nd in sacks allowed per game (1.77). Greene was an honorable-mention all-MW pick last year.
Like Pumphrey, Hageman picked up his fifth first-team honor (also Phil Steele, Sporting News, Athlon Sports and Lindy's Sports) of the preseason after finishing 20-for-25 on field goal attempts and a perfect 37-for-37 in PAT's last year as a junior. The 20 field goals ended up setting a San Diego State school record, while the field goal percentage (80.0) ranked fifth all-time.
No player on the defensive side of the ball made the preseason all-MW team, despite SDSU returning eight starters from a squad that finished 2014 with national ranks of 10th in passing (178.5), 13th in scoring (19.8), 16th in total (332.5) and 19th in pass efficiency (112.10).
Season tickets and mini-plan tickets went on sale yesterday to the general public. They can be purchased at GoAztecs.com, by calling (619) 283-7378 or visiting the Aztec Athletic Ticket Office at Qualcomm Stadium Window E.
San Diego State, one of 27 schools to play in a bowl game each of the last five seasons and one of just three from the "Group of 5" conferences, finished 2014 with a 7-6 record and 5-3 in MW action.
The Aztecs kick off the 2015 campaign on Sept. 5 at Qualcomm Stadium against San Diego at 5 p.m. PT.
ESPN College Football Preview
2015 Preseason Mountain West Team
(SDSU athletes listed only)
Mountain West Offensive Player of the Year
RB - Donnel Pumphrey, Jr.
First Team (only team)
RB - Donnel Pumphrey, Jr.
OL - Darrell Greene, Sr.
K - Donny Hageman, Sr.