July 24, 2018
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. -
2018 Football Preseason Accolades
Three San Diego State football players were named to the 2018 Mountain West Preseason All-Conference Team, the league announced Tuesday at the Mountain West Football Media Summit in Las Vegas. The three players - offensive linemen Keith Ismael and Tyler Roemer, and warrior (safety) Tariq Thompson - are all sophomores this season after earning second-team all-league accolades in 2017 as freshmen.
The all-conference team and preseason poll are voted on by media representatives who cover the conference.
Ismael and Roemer, who were the only freshmen offensive linemen on either the all-MW first or second team (the other eight players on the first or second team were seniors), blocked for a running back group than averaged 252.5 yards per game on the ground in 2017 and scored 33 touchdowns in 13 games (2.54 TD per game). Roemer was named a USA Today Freshman All-American last season and San Diego State's Offensive Lineman of the Year, while Ismael shared the Aztecs' Outstanding Freshman Award with Tariq Thompson.
Thompson, meanwhile, totaled 63 tackles (46 solo) with three tackles for loss in 2017 as a true freshman, while recording a team-high five interceptions for 83 yards and a touchdown, four pass breakups, a forced fumble, a fumble recovery and three quarterback hurries. For his efforts, Thompson was named a FWAA Freshman All-American and a USA Today Freshman All-American.
SDSU's three preseason all-conference selections were tied for the second most in the league. Boise State's Brett Rypien was chosen as the preseason offensive player of the year, while teammate Avery Williams was named the preseason special teams player of the year. Wyoming's Andrew Wingard was chosen as the preseason defensive player of the year for the second straight season. This marks the first time since 2014 that an Aztec was not one of the preseason players of the year.
Additionally, San Diego State was picked to finish second in the West Division with 116 points and six first-place votes, just 10 points behind Fresno State's 126 (and 16 first-place votes). The Aztecs had been selected to win the West Division the previous three seasons (2015-17).
SDSU, which averaged a predicted finish of 6.5 from 2005-12, has ended up at or better than its predicted finish in eight of the last nine seasons and 11 times over the past 13 years. San Diego State has won two of the last three Mountain West titles (2015 and 2016) and three of the past six (also 2012).
Following Fresno State (126) and San Diego State (116) in the West Division was UNLV (78), Nevada (72), Hawai'i (45) and San José State (25).
The Aztecs finished 2017 with a 10-3 record, their school-record third consecutive season with at least 10 victories. SDSU is one of just seven active schools in the nation to win at least 10 games in three straight seasons (also Alabama, Clemson, Ohio State, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State and Wisconsin). San Diego State returns seven starters on offense and seven on defense, along with its kicker and punter.
Boise State has been picked to win the Mountain Division for the sixth consecutive season after making the MW championship game last year for the first time since 2014. The Broncos defeated Fresno State, 17-14, in the 2017 MW Championship game at Albertsons Stadium in Boise, Idaho. BS picked up all 22 first-place votes in the Mountain Division and 132 total, followed by Wyoming (95), Colorado State (82), Utah State (78), Air Force (52) and New Mexico (23).
San Diego State is accepting new account deposits on 2018 season tickets through the Aztec Ticket Office, while current season-ticket holders can also renew their tickets for the 2018 campaign. Fans can purchase tickets through GoAztecs.com, over the phone by calling (619) 283-7378, or by visiting SDCCU Stadium's Window E between 9 a.m. PT and 5 p.m. PT.
The Aztecs kick off their season at Stanford on Friday, Aug. 31, and begin a three-game homestand against Sacramento State on Saturday, Sept. 8.
Notes: SDSU has 63 of the 79 first-place votes in the West Division (79.7 pct.) over the last three seasons (since 2016) and 90 of the 109 votes (82.7 pct.) over the last four seasons (since 2015) … In the last five seasons (since 2014), SDSU has 105 first-place votes after picking up just seven first-place votes combined over the first 15 years in the league … San Diego State placed multiple players on the offensive all-conference team for a fourth consecutive season… SDSU has a defensive player on the preseason all-MW team for the seventh time in eight seasons.
2018 Mountain West Preseason Poll
West Division
1. Fresno State (16 first-place votes) - 126
2. San Diego State (6) - 116
3. UNLV - 78
4. Nevada - 72
5. Hawai'i - 45
6. San José State - 25
Mountain Division
1. Boise State (22) - 132
2. Wyoming - 95
3. Colorado State - 82
4. Utah State - 78
5. Air Force - 52
6. New Mexico - 23
2018 Mountain West Football Preseason All-Conference Team
Preseason Offensive Player of the Year: Brett Rypien, Sr., QB, Boise State
Preseason Defensive Player of the Year: Andrew Wingard, Sr., DB, Wyoming
Preseason Special Teams Player of the Year: Avery Williams, So., KR/PR, Boise State
Offense
QB Brett Rypien, Sr., Boise State
WR KeeSean Johnson, Sr., Fresno State
WR McLane Mannix, So., Nevada
RB Alexander Mattison, Jr., Boise State
RB Lexington Thomas, Sr., UNLV
OL Ezra Cleveland, So., Boise State
OL John Molchon, Jr., Boise State
OL Aaron Jenkins, Sr., New Mexico
OL Keith Ismael, So., San Diego State
OL Tyler Roemer, So., San Diego State
TE Dax Raymond, Jr., Utah State
Defense
DL David Moa, Sr., Boise State
DL Curtis Weaver, So., Boise State
DL Youhanna Ghaifan, Jr., Wyoming
DL Carl Granderson, Sr., Wyoming
LB Jeffrey Allison, Jr., Fresno State
LB Jahlani Tavai, Sr., Hawai'i
LB Malik Reed, Sr., Nevada
DB Tyler Horton, Sr., Boise State
DB Dameon Baber, Sr., Nevada
DB Tariq Thompson, So., San Diego State
DB Andrew Wingard, Sr., Wyoming
Specialists
P Ryan Stonehouse, So., Colorado State
PK Dominik Eberle, Jr., Utah State
KR/PR Avery Williams, So., Boise State