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The preseason team predictions are in the books at the 2012 edition of Mountain West media days, and now come out are who the media believes will be the best performers in the upcoming season. The top billed awards went to Fresno St. Bulldogs quarterback Derek Carr for offensive player of the year, San Diego St. Aztecs defensive back Leon McFadden was named the defensive player of the year and the prestigious special teams award went to Boise St. Broncos returner Mitch Burroughs.
It is a minor upset that Wyoming quarterback Brett Smith did not earn the honor over Carr. Those were the only two logical selections for the quarterback position, and with it not being unanimous there were likely media members who chose Smith.
Boise State leads the way with four first-team selections -- five if you include Burroughs -- they are the preseason favorites. While coming in second is a surprise as Colorado State earned four players to the preseason first-team.
On the other end of the spectrum both UNLV and New Mexico had no players make the cut this year, and justifies their bottom two rankings in the preseason prediction.
| 2012 Mountain West Football Preseason All-Conference Team |
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| Offense | |||
| QB | Derek Carr | Jr. | Fresno State
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| WR | Matt Miller | R-So. | Boise State
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| WR | Colin Lockett | Jr. | San Diego State
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| RB | Robbie Rouse | Sr. | Fresno State
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| RB | Chris Nwoke** | Jr. | Colorado State
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| OL | Chris Barker | Sr. | Nevada
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| OL | Joe Kellogg | R-Sr. | Boise State
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| OL | Weston Richburg** | Jr. | Colorado State
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| OL | Nick Carlson** | Sr. | Wyoming
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| OL | Jeff Nady | Sr. | Nevada
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| TE | Gavin Escobar* | Jr. | San Diego State
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| Defense | |||
| DL | Mike Purcell | Sr. | Wyoming
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| DL | Mike Atkinson | R-Sr. | Boise State
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| DL | Paipai Falemalu | Sr. | Hawai`i
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| DL | Jack Reynoso | Jr. | Nevada
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| LB | Travis Brown | Sr. | Fresno State
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| LB | Shaquil Barrett | Jr. | Colorado State
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| LB | Alex Means | Sr. | Air Force
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| DB | Leon McFadden* | Sr. | San Diego State
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| DB | Duke Williams | Sr. | Nevada
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| DB | Luke Ruff** | Sr. | Wyoming
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| DB | Jamar Taylor | R-Sr. | Boise State
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| Specialists | |||
| P | Pete Kontodiakos** | Sr. | Colorado State
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| PK | Parker Herrington#* | Sr. | Air Force
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| Ret. | Mitch Burroughs | R-Sr. | Boise State
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| Preseason Offensive Player of the Year: | |||
| Derek Carr, Jr., QB, Fresno State | |||
| Preseason Defensive Player of the Year: | |||
| Leon McFadden, Sr., DB, San Diego State | |||
| Preseason Special Teams Player of the Year: | |||
| Mitch Burroughs, R-Sr., RS, Boise State | |||
| # - unanimous 2012 preseason selection. * - member of the 2011 All-Mountain West first-team. ** - member of the 2011 All-Mountain West second-team. |
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