The MWCConnection 2021 Preseason Awards and Predictions

Welcome to Kickoff Week here at MWCConnection! Coinciding with MWC Media Days week, it is the unofficial start to the football season. It’s a great time to get hyped about your team and start getting nuggets of football news. Yesterday was our all-conference team, which can be found here.

Today, we are releasing our preseason awards as well as our predictions for division standings and conference champion. Like yesterday’s post, our team members submitted their picks and the players and teams with the most votes won out. Take a look at what we compiled below:

Awards

Offensive Player of the Year:

• Carson Strong (Nevada)

Defensive Player of the Year:

• Cade Hall (San Jose State)

Special Teams Player of the Year:

• Calvin Turner Jr. (Hawaii)

Offensive Breakout Player of the Year:

• Tyler Nevens (San Jose State)

Defensive Breakout Player of the Year:

• C.J. Condon (Wyoming)

Offensive Freshman of the Year:

• Jordan Hornbeak (Fresno State)

Defensive Freshman of the Year:

• Nick Dimitris (UNLV)

Coach of the Year:

• Jay Norvell (Nevada)

Predictions

The points for voting went as followed: 6 points for a first-place vote, 5 for second, 4 for third place, and so on.

Mountain Division Standings:

1. Boise State
2. Wyoming
3. Air Force
4. Colorado State
5. Utah State
6. New Mexico

West Division Standings:

1. Nevada
2. San Jose State
3. Fresno State
4. San Diego State
5. Hawaii
6. UNLV

Conference Champion:

• Boise State

Notes:

• Carson Strong was the only unanimous selection in the voting this year.
• In the other races, Cade Hall, Jordan Hornbeak, and Nick Dimitris all won their categories relatively easily.
• On the other hand, STPOY, offensive, and defensive breakout players, and coach of the year were all tight races.
• The other two traditional player of the year awards were pretty conclusive, with no close races. However, DPOY had five players receiving votes and STPOY had four.
• For the second year in a row, UNLV has the predicted freshman DPOY.
• The West division continues to be wild, with 3 teams receiving first-place votes (Nevada, SJSU, and Fresno State). The Wolf Pack and Spartans were in a tight race for the top spot, with the former team narrowly edging out the latter.
• The Rebels were unanimously the last-place team in their division.
• Boise State was the unanimous choice in the Mountain, with Wyoming and Air Force splitting the second-place votes.
• Boise State and Nevada were the only two teams who received votes for conference champion.

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 you feedback in the comments section.

Coming tomorrow: Our Kickoff Week continues as Peak Perspective will take a look at which teams have the best position units heading into 2020.