TUCKER: How I Voted in the Mountain West Preseason Poll

LAS VEGAS -- Sixth.

Sixth?

The Mountain West media Wednesday predicted the Cowboys would finish behind the three California schools -- San Jose State, San Diego State and Fresno State -- along with Front Range foe Air Force and supposed champion Boise State.

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That's not how I see it shaking out.

I selected Wyoming to finish second. Unapologetically, I might add.

The Pokes return arguably the best defense in the conference, anchored by newly crowned preseason defensive player of the year Easton Gibbs. Edge rusher DeVonne Harris and tackle Jordan Bertagnole also earned a first-team nod.

No Cole Godbout? He'll remember that.

Frank Crum, who is making the move from the right side to Andrew Peasley's blindside, also landed first-team honors. So did placekicker John Hoyland.

No Treyton Welch?

Here's how I voted:

1. Boise State

2. Wyoming

3. Air Force

4. Fresno State

5. San Jose State

6. San Diego State

7. Colorado State

8. UNLV

9. Hawaii

10. Nevada

11. New Mexico

12. Nevada

Here's how the media voted:

1. Boise State

2. Air Force

3. Fresno State

4. San Diego State

5. San Jose State

6. Wyoming

7. Colorado State

8. Utah State

9. UNLV

10. Hawaii

11. Nevada

12. New Mexico

Boise State is returning one of the most exciting players in the game in quarterback Taylen Green. The running back tandem of George Holani and Ashton Jeanty could be the nation's best.

That, along with the school's pedigree, is why I selected the Broncos.

Air Force is solid and seasoned on both lines of scrimmage. Its defense has been one of the country's best. We all know what the Falcons running game can and will do, however, this fall Troy Calhoun will need to replace a three-year starter, Haaziq Daniels, under center and find an answer at running back. Brad Roberts led the country in 2022 with 1,728 rushing yards.

We all know Air Force's offense is nothing short of a machine, but that's a lot of production to replace.

Remember when Jake Haener was injured for a four-game span early last season?

The would-be league champions sputtered, dropping games against USC, UConn and Boise State. The offense was anemic without Haener, averaging just 17 points per outing.

Haener is gone. So is leading rusher Jordan Mims, top receivers Jalen Moreno-Cropper and Nikko Remigio. David Perales and his league-leading 11.5 sacks is now suiting up for the Steelers.

Will Fresno State be a contender? Most likely. The third-best team in this conference? Not so sure about that.

Here's how I voted for the All-MW team:

Offense

QB: Taylen Green - Boise State

RB: Ashton Jeanty - Boise State

RB: John Lee Eldridge - Air Force

WR: Tory Horton - CSU

WR: Justin Lockhart - San Jose State

WR: Charles Ross - San Jose State

TE: Treyton Welch - Wyoming

OL: Cade Beresford - Boise Stae

OL: Thor Paglialong - Air Force

OL: Cade Bennett - San Diego State

OL: Frank Crum - Wyoming

OL: Nofoafia Tulafono - Wyoming

Defense

DL: Cole Godbout - Wyoming

DL: Mohamed Kamara - CSU

DL: Jordan Bertagnole - Wyoming

DL: DeVonne Harris - Wyoming

LB: Easton Gibbs - Wyoming

LB: Levelle Bailey - Fresno State

LB: DJ Schramm - Boise State

LB: Drue Watts - Nevada

DB: Jack Howell - CSU

DB: Ike Larsen - Utah State

DB: Trey Taylor - Air Force

DB: Cam Stone - Hawaii

Specialists

PK: John Hoyland - Wyoming

P: Aaron Rodriguez - New Mexico

PR: Tory Horton - CSU

KR: Terrell Vaughn - Utah State

Offensive Player of the Year: Taylen Green - Boise State

Defensive Player of the Year: Easton Gibbs - Wyoming

Special Teams Player of the Year: John Hoyland - Wyoming

How the media voted:

Offense

QB        Chevan Cordeiro       Sr.         San José State

WR       Tory Horton               Sr.        Colorado State

WR       Justin Lockhart              Jr.         San José State

RB        John Lee Eldridge III        Sr.        Air Force

RB        George Holani             Sr.        Boise State

OL        Thor Paglialong               Sr.        Air Force

OL        Cade Beresford          Sr.        Boise State

OL        Mose Vavao                   Sr.        Fresno State

OL        Cade Bennett             Jr.        San Diego State

OL        Frank Crum                   Sr.         Wyoming

TE        Mark Redman                  Sr.        San Diego State

Defense

DL        Payton Zdroik                  Jr.         Air Force

DL        Mohamed Kamara      Sr.        Colorado State

DL        Devo Bridges                   Sr.        Fresno State

DL        Jordan Bertagnole         Jr.         Wyoming

DL        DeVonne Harris             Jr.         Wyoming

LB        DJ Schramm                Sr.        Boise State

LB        Cody Moon                      Jr.         San Diego State

LB        Easton Gibbs               Jr.         Wyoming

DB        Trey Taylor                      Sr.        Air Force

DB        Jack Howell                   Jr.         Colorado State

DB        Cam Stone                      Sr.        Hawai’i

DB        Ike Larsen                 So.       Utah State

Specialists

P   ��      Jack Browning               Sr.        San Diego State

PK        John Hoyland              Jr.         Wyoming

PR        Tory Horton                     Sr.        Colorado State

KR        Christian Washington     So.       New Mexico

Offensive Player of the Year: Chevan Cordeiro, Sr., QB, San José State

Defensive Player of the Year: Easton Gibbs, Jr., LB, Wyoming

Special Teams Player of the Year: Jack Browning, Sr., PK/P, San Diego State

- University of Wyoming’s Top 50 Football Players