Air Force picked second in Mountain Division
7/20/2022 8:20:00 AM | Football
Falcons receive 10 first-place votes, trail Boise State
Air Force was picked second in the Mountain Division in the preseason poll, released today by the league office during the 2022 Mountain West Football Media Day at Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino in Las Vegas, Nev. The Falcons received 10 first-place votes and had 136 points overall.
Boise State was picked to win the Mountain Division, receiving 14 first-place votes and 151 points. Utah State was third with 122 points and three first-place votes. Colorado State was fourth with 90 points and one first-place vote. Wyoming was picked fifth with 60 points and New Mexico sixth with 29 points.
Fresno State was picked first in the West division, garnering 160 points and a conference-best 20 first-place votes. San Diego State was selected second with 148 points and eight first-place votes. San Jose State was third with 105 points, Nevada fourth (66), UNLV fifth (58) and Hawaii sixth (51).
Air Force returns 14 starters from last season, including six on offense and five on defense. Senior fullback Brad Roberts, the conference's top returning rusher in 2022, rushed for 1,352 yards and 13 touchdowns a year ago. Senior quarterback Haaziq Daniels also returns after finishing second on the team in rushing with 731 yards, while hitting 52-104 passes for 1,184 yards and seven touchdowns. He was named most valuable player in Air Force's 31-28 First Responder Bowl victory over Louisville, hitting 9-10 passes for a career-best 252 yards and two touchdowns.
Senior Vince Sanford returns to lead the defense after recording 59 total tackles, 17.0 tackles for loss and 9.5 sacks. Sanford is the leading returner in the MW and ranks eighth nationally in tackles for loss with his 1.3 average per game. He is second in the MW and 13 nationally among returnees in sacks with a .73 average.
Air Force finished the season 10-3 overall and was co-champion of the Mountain West Mountain Division with a 6-2 mark. The Falcons posted double digit wins for the second time in three seasons (2019), fourth time under head coach Troy Calhoun and ninth time in school history. Air Force capped the season with a 31-28 victory over Louisville in the First Responder Bowl in Dallas, Texas, to record its third consecutive bowl win dating back to 2016, including two straight over Power 5 teams.
PREDICTED ORDER OF FINISH
MOUNTAIN DIVISION
# Team (first-place votes) Points
1. Boise State (14) 151
2. Air Force (10) 136
3. Utah State (3) 122
4. Colorado State (1) 90
5. Wyoming 60
6. New Mexico 29
WEST DIVISION
# Team (first-place votes) Points
1. Fresno State (20) 160
2. San Diego State (8) 148
3. San José State 105
4. Nevada 66
5. UNLV 58
6. Hawai'i 51
Boise State was picked to win the Mountain Division, receiving 14 first-place votes and 151 points. Utah State was third with 122 points and three first-place votes. Colorado State was fourth with 90 points and one first-place vote. Wyoming was picked fifth with 60 points and New Mexico sixth with 29 points.
Fresno State was picked first in the West division, garnering 160 points and a conference-best 20 first-place votes. San Diego State was selected second with 148 points and eight first-place votes. San Jose State was third with 105 points, Nevada fourth (66), UNLV fifth (58) and Hawaii sixth (51).
Air Force returns 14 starters from last season, including six on offense and five on defense. Senior fullback Brad Roberts, the conference's top returning rusher in 2022, rushed for 1,352 yards and 13 touchdowns a year ago. Senior quarterback Haaziq Daniels also returns after finishing second on the team in rushing with 731 yards, while hitting 52-104 passes for 1,184 yards and seven touchdowns. He was named most valuable player in Air Force's 31-28 First Responder Bowl victory over Louisville, hitting 9-10 passes for a career-best 252 yards and two touchdowns.
Senior Vince Sanford returns to lead the defense after recording 59 total tackles, 17.0 tackles for loss and 9.5 sacks. Sanford is the leading returner in the MW and ranks eighth nationally in tackles for loss with his 1.3 average per game. He is second in the MW and 13 nationally among returnees in sacks with a .73 average.
Air Force finished the season 10-3 overall and was co-champion of the Mountain West Mountain Division with a 6-2 mark. The Falcons posted double digit wins for the second time in three seasons (2019), fourth time under head coach Troy Calhoun and ninth time in school history. Air Force capped the season with a 31-28 victory over Louisville in the First Responder Bowl in Dallas, Texas, to record its third consecutive bowl win dating back to 2016, including two straight over Power 5 teams.
PREDICTED ORDER OF FINISH
MOUNTAIN DIVISION
# Team (first-place votes) Points
1. Boise State (14) 151
2. Air Force (10) 136
3. Utah State (3) 122
4. Colorado State (1) 90
5. Wyoming 60
6. New Mexico 29
WEST DIVISION
# Team (first-place votes) Points
1. Fresno State (20) 160
2. San Diego State (8) 148
3. San José State 105
4. Nevada 66
5. UNLV 58
6. Hawai'i 51
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Tuesday, November 25
