CASPER, Wyo. — The Mountain West Conference on Wednesday released its 2023 Preseason Predicted Order of Finish and Preseason All-Conference Team as selected by Mountain West media members. Wyoming was picked to finish sixth in the 12-team Mountain West Conference and five Cowboys were named to the Preseason MW First Team, led by junior linebacker Easton Gibbs, who was named the Preseason Defensive Player of the Year.
The announcement kicked off 2023 Mountain West Football Media Days being held at the Circa Resort and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Joining Gibbs on the MW First Team were junior defensive tackle Jordan Bertagnole, graduate offensive tackle Frank Crum, junior defensive end DeVonne Harris and junior place-kicker John Hoyland. Wyoming’s five selections were the most of any team, followed by four selections each from Air Force, Colorado State and San Diego State.
Gibbs and Hoyland were First Team All-MW selections at the conclusion of the 2022 season in voting by MW head coaches and media. Harris was a ‘22 Honorable Mention All-Mountain West honoree.
Gibbs becomes the first MW Preseason Defensive Player of the Year since former Cowboy safety Andrew Wingard was the preseason selection prior to both the 2017 and 2018 seasons. The most recent Cowboy to earn any of the Preseason Player of the Year honors was former place-kicker Cooper Rothe, who was named the Preseason Special Teams Player of the Year prior to the 2019 season.
Wednesday’s Mountain West Media Day schedule will feature two football student-athletes from each Mountain West school being interviewed by MW television partners CBS Sports Network, FOX Sports and the Mountain West Network, as well as media members from around the conference. On Thursday, all 12 head coaches from each Mountain West school will take center stage.
Wyoming is being represented by head coach Craig Bohl, junior linebacker Gibbs and graduate quarterback Andrew Peasley.
2022 Mountain West predicted order of finish
Rank Team (First-place Votes) Points:
- Boise State (28), 433
- Air Force (2), 364
- Fresno State (5), 351
- San Diego State (1), 338
- San José State, 293
- Wyoming, 281
- Colorado State, 201
- Utah State, 194
- UNLV (1), 177
- Hawaii, 102
- Nevada, 92
- New Mexico, 60
2023 Mountain West Football Preseason All-Conference Team
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., Hawaii
- 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
* — member of the 2022 All-Mountain West first team
** — member of the 2022 All-Mountain West second team
The Wyoming Cowboys will report for fall camp on Tuesday, Aug. 1 and will begin practice on Wednesday, Aug. 2. Wyoming will kick off the 2023 season on Saturday, Sept. 2 vs. Texas Tech in Laramie.
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