Boise State picked to win Mountain Division of Mountain West

LAS VEGAS — The Boise State football team was the unanimous pick to win the Mountain Division, and both quarterback Brett Rypien and returner Avery Williams took home preseason Player of the Year honors in balloting released Tuesday morning at the start of the Mountain West Media Summit.

In a poll of media members that cover the Mountain West the Broncos also had eight players land on the preseason all-Mountain West team.

Boise State has been picked to win its division or conference in each of the eight years the Broncos have been in the Mountain West, and in 11 straight years dating back to the WAC.

Rypien is the second Boise State player ever to be named the Mountain West Preseason Player of the Year. The first was Kellen Moore in 2011.

Williams was named the Mountain West preseason Special Teams Player of the Year after scoring on two punt returns last season. He’s the first Bronco to earn preseason Special Teams Player of the Year honors since Mitch Burroughs in 2012.

Rypien, running back Alexander Mattison and offensive linemen Ezra Cleveland and John Molchon were named to the preseason team from the offense, while corner Tyler Horton, defensive tackle David Moa and STUD Curtis Weaver were on the defense. Williams was named the first-team returner.

Boise State received all 22 votes to sit atop the Mountain Division with 132 points. Wyoming was second with 95 points, Colorado State was third with 82 points, Utah State was fourth with 78 points, Air Force was fifth with 52 points and New Mexico was last with 23 points.

In the West Division Fresno State was the predicted champion with 16 of 22 first-place votes for 126 points. San Diego State had six first-place votes and was second with 116 points, while UNLV was third with 78 points. Nevada was fourth with 72 points, Hawai’i was fifth with 45 votes and San Jose State was last with 25 votes.