July 21, 2008
LAS VEGAS - The Mountain West Conference announced its 2008 preseason all-conference team today as selected by members of the league's media.
Air Force junior offensive guard Nick Charles and senior defensive end Ryan Kemp were named to the team. Charles was a second-team all-MWC selection last season at guard. The San Antonio, Texas, native started all 13 games and was part of the offensive line that helped the Falcons to 299.5 yards rushing per game, ranking second in the nation and first in the MWC. Charles also earned MWC all-academic honors last season.
Kemp was an honorable mention all-MWC selection last season. He was the team' top tackler among the defensive linemen with 54 tackles, including four sacks and 8.5 for loss. Max Hall (BYU) was named Preseason MWC Offensive Player of the Year, Jason Phillips (TCU) was selected Preseason MWC Defensive Player of the Year, Louie Sakoda (Utah) was chosen Preseason MWC Special Teams Player of the Year and Braylon Broughton (TCU) was tabbed Preseason MWC Freshman of the Year.
Hall, a first-team all-MWC honoree last season, passed for league-highs of 3,848 yards and 26 touchdowns in 2007, ranking as the top sophomore quarterback nationally. His passing and total yardage (3,862) numbers set MWC records for a sophomore signal-caller.
Phillips, a 2008 preseason All-American, was a second-team all-MWC selection on defense a year ago after collecting a team-high 87 tackles while ranking ninth in the league with 11.0 tackles for loss in 13 games played.
Sakoda, a 2008 preseason All-American, led the league with a 44.3 punting average and was 38-of-40 in point-after attempts last season while leading Utah in scoring for the second consecutive year with 95 points.
Broughton was a two-time all-District selection in high school, recording 50 tackles and three sacks as a junior and ranking as the nation's No. 59 defensive end following his senior year in 2006.
The 2008 preseason team is loaded with experience, featuring 18 players that were all-Conference selections in 2007, including six first-team honorees. Fifteen seniors, eight juniors and two sophomores comprise the 25-member squad.
| 2008 Preseason All-Mountain West Football Team | ||||
| Position | Student-Athlete | Class | School | |
| OFFENSE | ||||
| WR | Austin Collie** | Jr. | BYU | |
| WR | Ryan Wolfe | Jr. | UNLV | |
| OL | Nick Charles** | Jr. | Air Force | |
| OL | Ray Feinga* | Sr. | BYU | |
| OL | Dallas Reynolds* | Sr. | BYU | |
| OL | Blake Schlueter** | Sr. | TCU | |
| OL | Robert Conley** | Sr. | Utah | |
| TE | Dennis Pitta* | Jr. | BYU | |
| QB | Max Hall* | Jr. | BYU | |
| RB | Harvey Unga** | So. | BYU | |
| RB | Rodney Ferguson* | Sr. | New Mexico | |
| DEFENSE | ||||
| DL | Jan Jorgensen* | Jr. | BYU | |
| DL | Paul Kruger | So. | Utah | |
| DL | John Fletcher** | Jr. | Wyoming | |
| DL/LB | Ryan Kemp | Sr. | Air Force | |
| LB | Ward Dobbs** | Sr. | Wyoming | |
| LB | Russell Allen | Sr. | San Diego State | |
| LB | Jason Phillips** | Sr. | TCU | |
| DB | Brice McCain** | Sr. | Utah | |
| DB | DeAndre Wright* | Sr. | New Mexico | |
| DB | Stephen Hodge** | Sr. | TCU | |
| DB | Robert Johnson | Jr. | Utah | |
| SPECIALISTS | ||||
| P | Louie Sakoda* | Sr. | Utah | |
| PK | Louie Sakoda** | Sr. | Utah | |
| Ret. | Devin Moore | Sr. | Wyoming | |
| * member of the 2007 All-Mountain West Conference first-team. ** member of the 2007 All-Mountain West Conference second-team. |
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| Offensive Player of the Year: Max Hall, Jr., QB, BYU |
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| Defensive Player of the Year: Jason Phillips, Sr., LB, TCU |
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| Special Teams Player of the Year: Louie Sakoda, Sr., PK/P, Utah |
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| Freshman of the Year: Braylon Broughton, DE, TCU |
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