The official all-conference team was released last week. Here at MWCConnection, we are getting involved in the fun by releasing our own post-season content as well.

Members of our team submitted their list of votes, and we took the top vote-getters at each position to form our two teams. There are 12 players selected for both offense and defense. Since offensive formations are so different, we put 2 RBs and 2 WRs on the team, plus a FLEX, which can be either a RB or WR. Defensively, we have two defensive linemen, two edge players, then three linebackers and four defensive backs, with a FLEX added as well. For special teams, we have a kicker, a punter, a long-snapper, and a returner. That adds up to 28 players on each team, and a total of 56 players recognized. For reference, here was our pre-season 2023 team from the start of the season.

Disclaimer: There are a lot of great players in the conference and only so many spots. Arguments can be made for many guys to be mentioned or on a higher team. There will always be snubs. Always. Try to treat this list as a group of guys who are for the most part deserving but it’s not as inclusive as it should be. There are other deserving players as well, but we feel everyone who did make it is deserving.

With that being said, here are the MWCConnection 2023 All-Mountain West First and Second Teams:

First Team:

Quarterback

• Chevan Cordeiro (San Jose State)

Running Backs

• Ashton Jeanty (Boise State)
• Kairee Robinson (San Jose State)

Wide Receivers

• Ricky White III (UNLV)
• Tory Horton (Colorado State)

Flex

• Jalen Royals (Utah State)

Tight End

• Dallin Holker (Colorado State)

Offensive Line

• Frank Crum (Wyoming)
• Adam Karas (Air Force)
• Cade Beresford (Boise State)
• Wesley Nadago (Air Force)
• Mason Randolph (Boise State)

Defensive Line

• Peyton Zdroik (Air Force)
• Daniel Williams (Hawaii)

Edge

• Mohamed Kamara (Colorado State)
• Ahmed Hassanein (Boise State)

Linebackers

• MJ Tafisi Jr (Utah State)
• Easton Gibbs (Wyoming)
• Andrew Simpson (Boise State)

Defensive Backs

• Ike Larsen (Utah State)
• Jack Howell (Colorado State)
• Trey Taylor (Air Force)
• Emany Johnson (Nevada)

Flex

• Chase Wilson (Colorado State)

Kicker

• Jose Pizano (UNLV)

Punter

• James Ferguson-Reynolds (Boise State)

Long Snapper

• Carson York (Wyoming)

Returner

• Jacob De Jesus (UNLV)

Second Team:

Quarterback

• Andrew Peasley (Wyoming)

Running Backs

• Jacory Croskey-Merritt (New Mexico)
• Malik Sherrod (Fresno State)

Wide Receivers

• Steven McBride (Hawaii)
• Terrell Vaughn (Utah State)

Flex

• Nick Nash (San Jose State)

Tight End

• Mark Redman (San Diego State)

Offensive Line

• JC Davis (New Mexico)
• Thor Paglialong (Air Force)
• Fernando Carmona Jr (San Jose State)
• Jamie Navarro (San Jose State)
• Tiger Shanks (UNLV)

Defensive Line

• Jordan Bertagnole (Wyoming)
• Jay Kakiva (San Jose State)

Edge

• Bo Richter (Air Force)
• PJ Ramsey (Air Force)

Linebackers

• Jackson Woodward (UNLV)
• Alec Mock (Air Force)
• Bryun Parham (San Jose State)

Defensive Backs

• Cedarious Barfield (San Diego State)
• Carlton Johnson (Fresno State)
• Peter Manuma (Hawaii)
• Jay’Vion Cole (San Jose State)

Flex

• Wyett Ekeler (Wyoming)

Kicker

• Jonah Dalmas (Boise State)

Punter

• Jack Browning (San Diego State)

Long Snapper

• Mason Hutton (Boise State)

Returner

• Jaelen Gill (Fresno State)

Breakdown by team (1st team in parenthesis): 56 total players

• Boise State: 8 (6)
• Air Force: 8 (4)
• San Jose State: 8 (2)
• Wyoming: 6 (3)
• Colorado State: 5 (5)
• UNLV: 5 (3)
• Utah State: 4 (3)
• Hawaii: 3 (1)
• Fresno State: 3 (0)
• San Diego State: 3 (0)
• New Mexico: 2 (0)
• Nevada: 1 (1)

Notes:

• There were 11 unanimous selections: Ashton Jeanty, Kairee Robinson, Ricky White, Tory Horton, Mohamed Kamara, MJ Tafisi Jr, Easton Gibbs, Ike Larson, Jack Howell, Jose Pizano, and Jacob De Jesus. A few others were one vote away from achieving that status.
• Just like the preseason, all 12 teams are represented. However, three teams did not have a first-team selection.
• Things went pretty much according to the script. Air Force, Boise State and San Jose State had the most players featured on the teams. While some may notice UNLV did not have as many players despite having a successful season, it’s notable to say their offense featured a lot of different players and spread the ball around, therefore spreading the stats out.
• For Boise State, Air Force, and San Jose State (and others), the number of players did not change much from the preseason. Wyoming had a drop in numbers, while UNLV saw an increase.
• Colorado State, UNLV, and Utah State made the most of their listed players, with the majority making the first team.
• The divide between the first and second-team players in terms of votes was pretty clear for some positions but not all. Flex, offensive line, and defensive back had the smallest separation in votes between the two teams.
• There were a few tough battles for second-team spots. Specifically, running back, wide receiver, offensive line, defensive line, and linebacker all had some tough calls, and arguments could have been made for a few others to appear on our lists.

There it is. So let’s hear it. Who did we snub? Who did we put on here that shouldn’t be? Let’s hear your feedback in the comments section.

Coming tomorrow: Our picks for Mountain West Conference awards.