Fresno State’s Justin Rice unanimous selection to preseason All-Mountain West team

Fresno State linebacker Justin Rice, already on watch lists for two prestigious national awards, was one of three unanimous selections on Wednesday to the Mountain West Conference preseason all-conference team.

Rice, a senior from Modesto, is the only Bulldogs player to make the team and a 4-8 finish to 2019 no doubt has a lot to do with that. So, too, does the way the Bulldogs hobbled across the line, losing four games in a row after playing their way into bowl contention.

Of the nine players who started every game for Fresno State last season only four return in 2020 – Rice, running back Ronnie Rivers, defensive tackle Kevin Atkins and outside linebacker Arron Mosby.

Injuries were a major issue – the 22 starters on offense and defense in the season-opener at USC averaged 8.5 starts on the year and only 11 were able to start the final game at San Jose State in the same spot.

Rice, who is on the watch lists for the Chuck Bednarik Award and the Bronko Nagurski Trophy, is only the sixth Fresno State player to be on the preseason all-conference team since 2016. Selection is done on voting by media covering the Mountain West.

Tight end Jared Rice, linebacker Mykal Walker and safety Juju Hughes were on the preseason team from Fresno State last year.

UNLV’s Williams on team

UNLV running back Charles Williams, a Bullard High grad, also was selected to the Mountain West team.

Colorado State wide receiver Warren Jackson and Boise State linebacker Riley Whimpey join Rice as the other unanimous selections to the team. The conference will announce its preseason offensive, defensive and special teams players of the year on Thursday.

Boise State, which was picked to win the Mountain Division in a preseason media poll, has the most players on the all-conference team with eight including Avery Williams, who was selected as a defensive back and as a punt returner.

San Diego State, which was picked to win the West Division, has four defensive players on the team.

Offense

QB – Hank Bachmeier, Boise State

WR – Khalil Shakir, Boise State

WR – Warren Jackson, Colorado State

WR – Tre Walker, San Jose State

RB – Charles Williams, UNLV

RB – Xazavian Valladay, Wyoming

OL – Parker Ferguson, Air Force

OL – Nolan Laufenberg, Air Force

OL – John Ojukwu, Boise State

OL – Ilm Manning, Hawaii

OL – Keegan Cryder, Wyoming

TE – Trey McBride, Colorado State

PK – Brandon Talton, Nevada

KR – Savon Scarver, Utah State

Defense

DL – Scale Igiehon, Boise State

DL – Dom Peterson, Nevada

DL – Cameron Thomas, San Diego State

DL – Keshawn Banks, San Diego State

LB – Demonte Meeks, Air Force

LB – Riley Whimpey, Boise State

LB – Dequan Jackson, Colorado State

LB – Justin Rice, Fresno State

DB – Kekaula Kaniho, Boise State

DB – Avery Williams, Boise State

DB – Darren Hall, San Diego State

DB – Tariq Thompson, San Diego State

P – Ryan Stonehouse, Colorado State

PR – Avery Williams, Boise State

This story was originally published July 22, 2020 at 11:59 AM.