Fresno State QB makes preseason all-conference team. Does that give Bulldogs an edge?

Fresno State quarterback Mikey Keene was one of four Bulldogs to be selected to the Mountain West preseason all-conference team on Wednesday at the league’s media days in Las Vegas, and if history holds that could lead to a big season. The past three Bulldogs quarterbacks to make the preseason team ended up winning conference championships: Jake Haener in 2022 and Derek Carr in 2012 and ‘13.

Keene, a returning starter in a conference that has only four at the position, has production around him in running back Malik Sherrod and wideouts Jalen Moss and Josiah Freeman and a veteran offensive line.

Sherrord also was picked for the preseason all-conference team along with offensive guard Mose Vavao and defensive end Devo Bridges — the four selections are tied for third-most for the Bulldogs, who had seven in 2013, five in 2022 and four in 2014.

Boise State running back Austin Jeanty was selected as the preseason offensive player of the year, Boise State defensive end Ahmed Hassanein and UNLV linebacker Jackson Woodard shared the defensive player of the year and UNLV return man Jacob De Jesus was the special teams player of the year.

But Keene also has a solid platform to work from in his second year in the Bulldogs offense, when efficiency and production can spike for a quarterback. In comparing the four Fresno State quarterbacks to start for a second season in a row in the Mountain West era, the 5-foot-11 junior ranks well in a group that includes Haener in his first year in 2020, Marcus McMaryion in 2017 and Carr in 2012.

Completion percentage

Carr, 67.3

Keene, 67.1

Haener, 64.7

McMaryion, 62.1

Note: Keene last season led the conference by a wide margin, well ahead of Jayden Maiva (63.5) from UNLV, who has since transferred to USC.

Passing efficiency

Carr, 155.94

Haener, 153.43

Keene, 140.33

McMaryion, 137.65

Note: Keene ranked fourth in the conference, and none of the three quarterbacks that ranked ahead of him are back in 2024.

Third down, completion percentage

Haener, 64.7

Carr, 64.7

Keene, 64.5

McMaryion, 41.4

Note: Keene led Mountain West quarterbacks with 80 or more third-down passing attempts, again, ahead of Maiava at 63.3.

Third down, passing efficiency

Haener, 161.19

Carr, 157.79

Keene, 142.66

McMaryion, 90.52

Note: Keene ranked second among conference quarterbacks with 80 or more attempts, trailing only San Jose State’s Chevan Cordeiro.

Red zone, completion percentage

Carr, 61.4

Keene, 59.4

Haener, 56.3

McMaryion, 47.2

Note: Keene ranked second in the Mountain West among quarterbacks with 20 or more passing attempts inside an opponent’s 20-yard line.

Red zone, passing efficiency

Carr, 196.83

Haener, 175.03

Keene, 151.73

McMaryion, 123.69

Note: Keene ranked only sixth in the conference, but threw 12 touchdown passes to one interception when in the red zone, the third best ratio in the Mountain West.

McMaryion and Carr led Fresno State to conference championships in their second seasons, and Haener went 10-3 in 2021 before capping his career the following season with a Mountain West title.

Does that experience give Fresno State an edge? Those are critical statistics, and Keene also ranked second in the conference in completion percentage when under pressure, according to Pro Football Focus.

There are several transfers who figure to make an impact in the Mountain West including Malachi Nelson at Boise State, a former 5-star recruit who started his college career at USC. But experience in a system would appear to mean something — of the 22 quarterbacks to start in the Mountain West championship game, only two were transfers in their first year at new schools.

McMaryion transferred to Fresno State from Oregon State during fall camp in 2017, made his first start for the Bulldogs in a Week Five conference opener against Nevada and went 8-1 as a starter before a loss at Boise State in the title game.

Logan Bonner transferred to Utah State in 2021 after four years at Arkansas State including one as the Red Wolves’ starter, and led a team with two conference losses to a title clinching victory over San Diego State.

MOUNTAIN WEST PRESEASON ALL-CONFERENCE TEAM

Offense

QB - Mikey Keene (Fresno State)

RB - Austin Jeanty (Boise State)

RB - Malik Sherrod (Fresno State)

WR - Tory Horton (Colorado State)

WR - Ricky White III (UNLV)

WR - Jalen Royals (Utah State)

TE - John Michael Gyllenborg (Wyoming)

OL - Mose Vavao (Fresno State)

OL - Kage Casey (Boise State)

OL - Jacob Gardner (Colorado State)

OL - Tiger Shanks (UNLV)

OL - Jack Walsh (Wyoming)

Defense

DL - Devo Bridges (Fresno State)

DL - Ahmed Hassanein (Boise State)

DL - Soane Toia (San Jose State)

DL - Jordan Bertagnole (Wyoming)

LB - Andrew Simpson (Boise State)

LB - Chase Wolson (Colorado State)

LB - Jordan Pollard (San Jose State)

LB - Jackson Woodard (UNLV)

DB - A’Marion McCoy (Boise State)

DB - Jack Howell (Colorado State)

DB - Camerson Oliver (UNLV)

DB - Ike Larsen (Utah State)

Specialists

K - Jonah Dalmas (Boise State)

P - James Ferguson-Reynolds (Boise State)

KOR - Jacob De Jesus (UNLV)

PR - Jacob De Jesus (UNLV)

Offensive player of the year

Austin Jeanty (Boise State)

Co-defensive players of the year

Ahmed Hassanein (Boise State)

Jackson Woodard (UNLV)

Special teams player of the year

Jacob De Jesus (UNLV)