Fresno State Athletics
2020 Preseason All-Mountain West Team includes Justin Rice
7/22/2020 11:00:00 AM | Football
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – The preseason recognition for linebacker Justin Rice continues to pour in as the senior was named to the 2020 Preseason All-Mountain West football team on Wednesday. The annual team consists of a 28-member squad chosen by select members of the media.
Entering Wednesday, the sole Bulldog of the 2020 preseason all-conference team has been revealed on both the Bednarik Award watch list, on July 13, and the Bronko Nagurski Trophy watch list, on July 20. Both awards similarly honor the nation's defensive player of the year but are selected by two different organizations.
Rice enters the 2020 season as the Mountain West's only returning first team all-conference linebacker from the 2019 season as the other three that made up the quartet – former teammate Mykal Walker, and San Diego State's Kyahva Tezino and Utah State's David Woodward – have all moved on from collegiate football.
The preseason all-conference team follows Tuesday's predicted order of finish as a series of announcements this week in lieu of the 2020 MW Football Virtual Media Days being postponed. The week of announcements will be capped on Thursday with the release of this year's offensive, defensive and special teams' preseason players of the year.
2020 MOUNTAIN WEST FOOTBALL PRESEASON ALL-CONFERENCE TEAM
Offense
QB: Hank Bachmeier, Boise State
WR: Khalil Shakir, Boise State
WR: Warren Jackson, Colorado State
WR: Tre Walker, San José State
RB: Charles Williams, UNLV
RB: Xazavian Valladay, Wyoming
OL: Parker Ferguson, Air Force
OL: Nolan Laufenberg, Air Force
OL: John Ojukwu, Boise State
OL: Ilm Manning, Hawai'i
OL: Keegan Cryder, Wyoming
TE: Trey McBride, Colorado State
Defense
DL: Scale Igiehon, Boise State
DL: Dom Peterson, Nevada
DL: Cameron Thomas, San Diego State
DL: Keshawn Banks, San Diego State
LB: Justin Rice, Fresno State
LB: Demonte Meeks, Air Force
LB: Riley Whimpey, Boise State
LB: Dequan Jackson, Colorado State
DB: Kekaula Kaniho, Boise State
DB: Avery Williams, Boise State
DB: Darren Hall, San Diego State
DB: Tariq Thompson, San Diego State
Specialists
P: Ryan Stonehouse, Colorado State
PK: Brandon Talton, Nevada
KR: Savon Scarver, Utah State
PR: Avery Williams, Boise State
MW Preseason Announcement Schedule
Tuesday, July 21 – Mountain and West Division Predicted Order of Finish
Wednesday, July 22 – Preseason All-Mountain West Team
Thursday, July 23 – Offensive, Defensive and Special Teams Preseason Players of the Year
"Fresno State Athletics: The Pride of the Valley ''– The Bulldog Foundation creates championship experiences for Fresno State student-athletes as they strive for excellence in the classroom, in competition, and in life. To become a BDF member, please visit bulldogfoundation.org.
Entering Wednesday, the sole Bulldog of the 2020 preseason all-conference team has been revealed on both the Bednarik Award watch list, on July 13, and the Bronko Nagurski Trophy watch list, on July 20. Both awards similarly honor the nation's defensive player of the year but are selected by two different organizations.
Rice enters the 2020 season as the Mountain West's only returning first team all-conference linebacker from the 2019 season as the other three that made up the quartet – former teammate Mykal Walker, and San Diego State's Kyahva Tezino and Utah State's David Woodward – have all moved on from collegiate football.
The preseason all-conference team follows Tuesday's predicted order of finish as a series of announcements this week in lieu of the 2020 MW Football Virtual Media Days being postponed. The week of announcements will be capped on Thursday with the release of this year's offensive, defensive and special teams' preseason players of the year.
2020 MOUNTAIN WEST FOOTBALL PRESEASON ALL-CONFERENCE TEAM
Offense
QB: Hank Bachmeier, Boise State
WR: Khalil Shakir, Boise State
WR: Warren Jackson, Colorado State
WR: Tre Walker, San José State
RB: Charles Williams, UNLV
RB: Xazavian Valladay, Wyoming
OL: Parker Ferguson, Air Force
OL: Nolan Laufenberg, Air Force
OL: John Ojukwu, Boise State
OL: Ilm Manning, Hawai'i
OL: Keegan Cryder, Wyoming
TE: Trey McBride, Colorado State
Defense
DL: Scale Igiehon, Boise State
DL: Dom Peterson, Nevada
DL: Cameron Thomas, San Diego State
DL: Keshawn Banks, San Diego State
LB: Justin Rice, Fresno State
LB: Demonte Meeks, Air Force
LB: Riley Whimpey, Boise State
LB: Dequan Jackson, Colorado State
DB: Kekaula Kaniho, Boise State
DB: Avery Williams, Boise State
DB: Darren Hall, San Diego State
DB: Tariq Thompson, San Diego State
Specialists
P: Ryan Stonehouse, Colorado State
PK: Brandon Talton, Nevada
KR: Savon Scarver, Utah State
PR: Avery Williams, Boise State
MW Preseason Announcement Schedule
Tuesday, July 21 – Mountain and West Division Predicted Order of Finish
Wednesday, July 22 – Preseason All-Mountain West Team
Thursday, July 23 – Offensive, Defensive and Special Teams Preseason Players of the Year
"Fresno State Athletics: The Pride of the Valley ''– The Bulldog Foundation creates championship experiences for Fresno State student-athletes as they strive for excellence in the classroom, in competition, and in life. To become a BDF member, please visit bulldogfoundation.org.
Players Mentioned
LB
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