The Mountain West Conference announced its Preseason All-Conference Football Team on Tuesday at the MW Media Days in Las Vegas, Nev., and three Wyoming Cowboys were selected in voting by conference media members.
Junior running back Brian Hill, senior offensive guard Chase Roullier and sophomore free safety Andrew Wingard were all named to the 26-man Preseason All-MW team.
The trio of Pokes all earned Second Team All-Mountain West at the conclusion of the 2015 season.
The Mountain West also released on Tuesday the results of the MW media members Preseason Poll, and the Wyoming Cowboys were picked sixth in the six-team Mountain Division.
Boise State was picked to win the Mountain Division, receiving 27 of 29 first-place votes. Air Force received the other two first-place votes for the Mountain Division. Defending MW Champion San Diego State was a unanimous choice to win the West Division, receiving all 29 first-place votes.
Wyoming was one of only five of the 12 MW schools to have three or more Preseason All-Conference selections this season. San Diego State led the way with six honorees. Utah State had four individuals named to the Preseason All-MW squad, while Wyoming, Boise State and San Jose State each had three players selected.
Of the 26 individuals selected, 19 are seniors, four are juniors and three are sophomores.
Roullier earned the Preseason First Team honor after earning Second Team All-Conference at the conclusion of his junior season and Honorable Mention honors as a sophomore. Earlier this month, Roullier was named to the 2016 Outland Trophy Award Watch List.
Hill, who led the Mountain West Conference in rushing in 2015 averaging 135.9 yards per game, earned 2016 Preseason First Team All-Conference honors after earning Second Team All-MW accolades in 2015. The sophomore set a new University of Wyoming single-season rushing record in 2015, with 1,631 yards. He has been named to the 2016 Maxwell Award Watch List and the 2016 Doak Walker Award Watch List.
Wingard, who started at free safety as a true freshman in 2015, led the Cowboys in total tackles, with 122, and he ranked No. 2 in the Mountain West and No. 12 in the NCAA in total tackles, averaging 10.2 tackles per game. Earlier in July, Wingard was named a candidate for the 2016 Jim Thorpe Award.
2016 MOUNTAIN WEST FOOTBALL
ALL-CONFERENCE PRESEASON TEAM
Offense
QB Brett Rypien* So. Boise State
WR Thomas Sperbeck* Sr. Boise State
WR Devonte Boyd** Jr. UNLV
RB Brian Hill** Jr. Wyoming
RB Donnel Pumphrey* Sr. San Diego State
OL Chase Roullier** Sr. Wyoming
OL Fred Zerblis** Sr. Colorado State
OL Nico Siragusa* Sr. San Diego State
OL Jake Simonich Sr. Utah State
OL Austin Stephens Sr. Utah State
TE Billy Freeman* Sr. San José State
Defense
DL Nik D’Avanzo Sr. New Mexico
DL Alex Barrett* Sr. San Diego State
DL Travis Seefeldt Gr. Utah State
DL Ricky Ali’ifua Sr. Utah State
LB Christian Tago** Sr. San José State
LB Calvin Munson* Sr. San Diego State
LB Dakota Cox Sr. New Mexico
DB Andrew Wingard** So. Wyoming
DB Weston Steelhammer* Sr. Air Force
DB Damontae Kazee* Sr. San Diego State
DB Dameon Baber** So. Nevada
Specialists
P Hayden Hunt** Sr. Colorado State
Michael Carrizosa* Jr. San José State
PK Tyler Rausa* Sr. Boise State
Ret. Rashaad Penny* Jr. San Diego State
Preseason Offensive Player of the Year: Donnel Pumphrey, Sr., RB, San Diego State
Preseason Defensive Player of the Year: Damontae Kazee, Sr., DB, San Diego State
Preseason Special Teams Player of the Year: Rashaad Penny, Jr., KR, San Diego State
* – member of the 2015 All-Mountain West first team.
** – member of the 2015 All-Mountain West second team.
2016 PREDICTED ORDER OF FINISH
MOUNTAIN DIVISION
Rank Team (First-Place Votes) Points
1. Boise State (27) 172
2, Air Force (2) 126
3, Utah State 111
4, Colorado State 95
5. New Mexico 74
6. Wyoming 31
WEST DIVISION
Rank Team (First-place votes) Points
1. San Diego State (29) 174
2. Nevada 129
3. San José State 122
4. Fresno State 76
5. UNLV 73
6. Hawai‘i 35