Wyoming was well represented as the Mountain West released its all-conference football teams Tuesday afternoon.
Those who voted were the 12 head coaches in the league, and selected media — including myself.
Craig Bohl
Third-year coach Craig Bohl was the Coach of the Year. Redshirt freshman linebacker Logan Wilson of Casper was the Freshman of the Year. Four players made the first team: junior running back Brian Hill, senior tight end Jacob Hollister, senior offensive lineman Chase Roullier and sophomore free safety Andrew Wingard — all of whom I had on my first-team ballot. I also voted for Bohl and Wilson in their respective awards.
Here’s the link to see the entire 2016 All-MW football honorees:
There was some controversy, at least among the fans.
Josh Allen
UW redshirt sophomore quarterback Josh Allen made the second team. Boise State sophomore quarterback Brett Rypien got the nod as the first-teamer. He’s the only player to be the first team quarterback in back-to-back years as a freshman and sophomore in league history. I had Allen as my first team quarterback, but if you look at the numbers, Rypien had the edge. You can’t go wrong with either one, and both were clearly the top two quarterbacks in the conference.
I was a little surprised that UW senior wide receiver Tanner Gentry didn’t make the first team. Colorado State junior Michael Gallup got the nod, along with Boise State senior Thomas Sperbeck, who was a no-brainer in terms of making the first team. Gentry and Gallup had similar numbers. Both caught 11 touchdown passes. Gallup had eight more catches (70 to 62) and 32 more yards (1,164 to 1,132). Gentry had a better yards-per-catch average (18.3 to 16.7).
Brian Hill
Boise State fans were miffed that junior running back Jeremy McNichols didn’t make the first team. He certainly had the numbers to be there, and the way this league has been with running backs the last couple of years they should have at least three guys on the first team. But you also can make strong arguments that Hill and San Diego State senior Donnel Pumphrey (the MW Offensive Player of the Year) should be on there, too. Who do you leave off? Last year it was Hill.
Below is how I voted. Most of it lines up with the official results.
QUARTERBACK
Josh Allen – Wyoming
Brett Rypien – Boise State
RUNNING BACK
Donnel Pumphrey – San Diego State
Brian Hill – Wyoming
Jeremy McNichols – Boise State
James Butler – RB – Nevada
WIDE RECEIVER
Thomas Sperbeck – Boise State
Tanner Gentry – Wyoming
Michael Gallup – Colorado State
Jalen Robinette – Air Force
TIGHT END
Jacob Hollister – Wyoming
David Wells – San Diego State
OFFENSIVE LINE
Chase Roullier – Wyoming
Nico Siragusa – San Diego State
Daniel Brunskill – San Diego State
Mario Yakoo – OL – Boise State
Dylan Vail – Air Force
Fred Zerblis – Colorado State
Austin Corbett – Nevada
Jake Simonich – Utah State
Reno Henderson – New Mexico
Jake Bennett – Colorado State
DEFENSIVE LINE
Alex Barrett – San Diego State
Ricky Ali’ifua – Utah State
Sam McCaskill – Boise State
Kyle Kelley – DE – San Diego State
Nik D’Avanzo – New Mexico
Meffy Koloamatangi – Hawai’i
Ryan Watson – Air Force
Malik Reed – Nevada
LINEBACKER
Tau Lotulelei – UNLV
Dakota Cox – New Mexico
Tanner Vallejo – Boise State
Calvin Munson – San Diego State
Christian Tago – San Jose State
Kevin Davis – Colorado State
DEFENSIVE BACK
Weston Steelhammer – Air Force
Damontae Kazee – San Diego State
Jonathan Moxey – Boise State
Andrew Wingard – Wyoming
Brodie Hicks – Air Force
Malik Smith – San Diego State
Andre Chachere – San Jose State
Trayvon Henderson – Hawai’i
KICKER
John Baron II – San Diego State
Luke Strebel – Air Force
PUNTER
Hayden Hunt – Colorado State
Michael Carrizosa – San Jose State
RETURN SPECIALIST
Rashaad Penny – San Diego State
D.J. May – Wyoming
OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Donnel Pumphrey – San Diego State
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Damontae Kazee – San Diego State
SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Rashaad Penny -San Diego State
FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR
Logan Wilson – Wyoming
COACH OF THE YEAR
Craig Bohl – Wyoming