Preview 2020: Previewing and looking ahead to the Mountain West season with the College Football News All-Mountain West Team & Top 30 players.
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– 2020 CFN All-Mountain West Team
– 2020 CFN Top 30 Mountain West Players
2020 Preseason CFN Mountain West Offensive Player of the Year
RB Xazavian Valladay, Jr. Wyoming
Wyoming head coach Craig Bohl might be known for his coaching up of Carson Wentz and Josh Allen into NFL stars, but his Cowboy teams have been all about defense and great running games.
There was a dip in 2017, but Brian Hill ripped off 1,860 yards and 22 scores in 2016, Nico Evans ran for 1,325 yards and eight touchdowns in 2018, and Xazavian Valladay ran for 1,265 yards and six scores last season – and he’s just getting started.
The 6-0, 196-pound quick back hit Missouri for 118 yards and a score to start the season, but didn’t get rolling until the second half of the season with six 100-yard games in the last seven, including a 204-yard effort in the NOVA Home Loans Arizona Bowl win over Georgia State.
This is a bit of a projection with so many other great Mountain West backs, receivers, and the potential of Boise State QB Hank Bachmeier, but watch out. Valladay is about to take off.
2020 Mountain West Team Previews
Mountain Air Force | Boise St | Colorado St
New Mexico | Utah State | Wyoming
West Fresno State | Hawaii | Nevada
San Diego State | San Jose State | UNLV
CFN in 60 Video: Nevada Preview
2020 Preseason CFN Mountain West Defensive Player of the Year
DE Dom Peterson, Jr. Nevada
He doesn’t quite fit the type.
When it comes to pass rushers, everyone wants a Chase Young type who fits a hybrid role of part defensive end and part linebacker, and that’s not Peterson. The Mountain West’s best pass rusher is part defensive tackle, part bowling ball, and all pass rusher.
The 6-0, 295-pounder played at way over 300 as a freshman and still made 44 tackles with three sacks and 10.5 tackles for loss, and then last season it all blew up with 40 tackles, nine sacks, and 15 tackles for loss – leading the league at getting into the backfield.
Best of all, he was steady with at least a sack in eight of the 12 games and a tackle for loss against everyone but Hawaii. The motor doesn’t stop, the production will continue to be there, and in a conference that’s beyond loaded with great talent – several San Diego State and Boise State defenders could be here – Peterson is about to stand out again.
NEXT: CFN 2020 Preseason All-Mountain West Team
College Football News 2020 Preseason All-Mountain West Team: Offense
QB – Hank Bachmeier, Soph. Boise State
RB – Xazavian Valladay, Jr. Wyoming
RB – Charles Williams, Sr. UNLV
WR – Warren Jackson, Sr. Colorado State
WR – Tre Walker, Sr. San Jose State
TE – Trey McBride, Jr. Colorado State
OT – Parker Ferguson, Sr. Air Force
OG – William Dunkle, Soph. San Diego State
C – Keegan Cryder, Jr. Wyoming
OG – Nolan Laufenberg, Sr. Air Force
OT – Ilm Manning, Jr. Hawaii
College Football News 2020 Preseason All-Mountain West Team: Defense
DE – Keshawn Banks, Jr. San Diego State
DT – Kevin Atkins, Sr. Fresno State
DT – Cameron Thomas, Soph. San Diego State
DE – Dom Peterson, Jr. Nevada
LB – Demonte Meeks, Sr. Air Force
LB – Justin Rice, Sr. Fresno State
LB – Riley Whimpey, Sr. Boise State
CB – Darren Hall, Jr. San Diego State
S – Kekaula Kaniho, Sr. Boise State
S – Tariq Thompson, Sr. San Diego State
CB – Jalen Walker, Sr. Boise State
College Football News 2020 Preseason All-Mountain West Team: Special Teams
PK – Brandon Talton, Soph. Nevada
P – Ryan Stonehouse, Sr. Colorado State
KR – Savon Scarver, Sr. Utah State
PR – Avery Williams, Sr. Boise State
NEXT: CFN 2020 Preseason Top 30 Mountain West Players
College Football News 2020 Preseason Top 30 Mountain West Players
30. S Tyson Williams, Jr. Nevada
29. KR/WR Savon Scarver, Sr. Utah State
28. QB Donald Hammond III, Sr. Air Force
27. DE Solomon Byrd, Soph. Wyoming
26. TE Trey McBride, Jr. Colorado State
25. WR Elijah Cooks, Sr. Nevada
24. DT Kevin Atkins, Sr. Fresno State
23. WR Rico Bussey, Sr. Hawaii
22. S Jay Lenard, Sr. San Jose State
21. C Keegan Cryder, Jr. Wyoming
20. CB Jalen Walker, Sr. Boise State
19. S Shaq Bond, Sr. Utah State
18. LB Riley Whimpey, Sr. Boise State
17. S Khoury Bethley, Jr. Hawaii
16. DE Keshawn Banks, Jr. San Diego State
15. QB Hank Bachmeier, Soph. Boise State
14. LB Demonte Meeks, Sr. Air Force
13. S Dwayne Johnson, Sr. San Diego State
12. LB Justin Rice, Sr. Fresno State
11. S Troy Lefeged, Sr. Utah State
10. RB George Holani, Soph. Boise State
9. RB Ronnie Rivers, Sr. Fresno State
8. WR Warren Jackson, Sr. Colorado State
7. WR Tre Walker, Sr. San Jose State
6. S Tariq Thompson, Sr. San Diego State
5. RB Charles Williams, Sr. UNLV
4. S Kekaula Kaniho, Sr. Boise State
3. RB Xazavian Valladay, Jr. Wyoming
2. DT Cameron Thomas, Soph. San Diego State
1. DE Dom Peterson, Jr. Nevada
2020 Mountain West Team Previews
Mountain Air Force | Boise St | Colorado St
New Mexico | Utah State | Wyoming
West Fresno State | Hawaii | Nevada
San Diego State | San Jose State | UNLV
