Broncos Dominate All-MW Honors

BOISE, Idaho – Boise State football claimed three of the five individual honors, and had 17 Broncos claim a total of 19 All-Mountain West honors as the conference announced its postseason awards Wednesday.

STUD Curtis Weaver was named Mountain West Defensive Player of the Year, CB/PR Avery Williams was named Mountain West Special Teams Player of the Year, and running back George Holani took home Mountain West Freshman of the Year.

Weaver is the second Bronco overall to claim the conference's top defender honor, joining Leighton Vander Esch (2017). Holani is also the second Bronco to be voted the conference's top freshman, joining quarterback Brett Rypien (2015).

Williams, meanwhile, is not only the first Bronco to claim Mountain West Special Teams Player of the Year, but the first in program history to win the honor in any conference in which Boise State has competed.

Weaver and Williams were also named to the All-Mountain West First Team in their respective roles (STUD and punt returner), while Holani was voted to the Second Team. Williams claimed a second All-Mountain West nod, being voted honorable mention in his cornerback role.

Joining Weaver and Williams on the First Team were offensive linemen Ezra Cleveland and John Molchon, and nickel Kekaula Kaniho.

John Hightower earned two selections to the All-Mountain West Second Team, at wide receiver and kick returner, being joined on the offensive side by Holani and center Garrett Larson. On the defensive side, defensive tackles Chase Hatada and David Moa, along with linebacker Riley Whimpey, cornerback Jalen Walker, and safety Kekoa Nawahine were also tabbed.

Earning honorable mention were Williams, tight end John Bates, offensive lineman Eric Quevedo, wide receiver Khalil Shakir, and nose tackle Sonatane Lui.

Boise State (11-1), winner of the Mountain Division with an 8-0 conference record, hosts Hawai'i (9-4), the West Division standard bearer, in Saturday's Mountain West Championship Game, set for a 2 p.m. kickoff on ESPN.

Weaver, voted the Preseason Mountain West Defensive Player of the Year back in July, proved the voters prophets with a monster performance in 2019. The Long Beach, Calif., native has racked up a Mountain West-leading 13.5 sacks, also ranking fifth in the nation, as well as a career-high 47 tackles, including 17.0 tackles-for-loss, a figure which also paces the conference and ranks tied for 10th in the FBS.

A Midseason All-America pick by The Athletic and a Bednarik Award Semifinalist, Weaver has recorded at least a share of a sack in eight of Boise State's 12 games, along with three multi-sack performances. He set a Boise State single-game record with 4.0 sacks Sept. 14 against Portland State, and, with three sacks Oct. 5 at UNLV, passed the previous conference career benchmark of 29.5 to become the Mountain West's career sack king. With 34.0 sacks to his name over his three seasons, Weaver ranks second in Boise State history, and is the FBS' active career leader.

The special teams honor cements Williams' reputation as an explosive difference maker. He returned two punts for touchdowns in his first active season in 2017, and so far in 2019 has matched that feat, being one of just two FBS players with two punt-return scores (TCU's Jalen Reagor is the other). Williams' first housed punt came Nov. 2 at San Jose State, a 66-yard return, followed by a 74-yard return in the Broncos' 56-21 win at Utah State on Nov. 23.

Williams' 12.8 yards per punt return lead the Mountain West, and rank sixth in the nation. And his impact isn't limited to just returns. Williams has utilized his speed on the edge as a kick rusher, notching a blocked PAT (Sept. 20 against Air Force) and a blocked punt (Nov. 9 against Wyoming).

On the defensive side of things, the Pasadena, Calif., native has broken up three passes, forced a fumble, and made 30 tackles, including 1.5 for loss.

Holani has emerged as Boise State's No. 1 back late in the season, leading the team, and all freshmen in the Mountain West, with 912 rushing yards, third-best in the conference. The rookie's production has not been limited to the ground, as Holani has also nabbed 21 passes for 166 yards and a pair of touchdowns, to add to his seven rushing scores for a total of nine on the season.

Holani's nine touchdowns, and 54 points, are tied for 10th among non-kickers in the Mountain West, and lead all freshmen. He's also put up three 100-yard games this season, highlighted by his 178 yards on just 16 carries (11.1 yards per attempt) with a pair of touchdowns Nov. 23 at Utah State.

For the first time in program history, four Bronco offensive linemen earned all-conference recognition. For both Cleveland and Molchon, Wednesday's announcement marked the second-straight first-team selection, and third all-conference honor overall (both were named honorable mention in 2017). Larson, named to the Second Team, and Quevedo, named honorable mention, each earned their first-career All-Mountain West nods.

The quartet worked on a line that anchored a Bronco offense that leads the Mountain West and ranks 13th in the country with 37.3 points per game, in addition to ranking second in the conference and 29th in the country at 448.0 yards per game. This all despite members of the quartet missing a combined four games (two for Quevedo, one each for Cleveland and Molchon) due to injuries.

Five different Broncos have rushed for over 100 yards this season, while 11 different Bronco ballcarriers have found the end zone in 2019, led by seven from Holani and six from redshirt junior running back Robert Mahone.

Kaniho earned his first all-conference nod thanks to being the chaos-bringer of the Bronco secondary. The Kahuku, Hawaii, native ranks second on the team in tackles (57), tackles-for-loss (11.0), and pass breakups (six), while adding two forced fumbles, an interception, and 3.0 sacks.

Hightower headlines the second-team selections for the Broncos by grabbing slots at both wide receiver and kick returner. As a receiver, Hightower has 45 catches for 859 yards and seven touchdowns, his four 100-yard receiving games helping him to rank fifth in the conference with 71.6 yards per contest.

Combined with his kick-return ability, Hightower's receiving prowess has put him atop the conference rankings in all-purpose yardage, at 128.2 yards per game. Ranking third in the Mountain West at 35.4 yards per return, Hightower highlighted his return skillset with a 98-yard touchdown return Sept. 14 against Portland State.

Helping anchor the Bronco defensive line this season, Moa, Hatada, and Lui earned well-deserved recognition. Commanding plenty of attention and even double teams on the interior, Moa, returning from a 2018 campaign in which injuries limited him to just one game, fought his way to 30 tackles (15 solo) with a sack, 5.5 tackles-for-loss, as well as a fumble recovery. His selection to the Second Team was also his third-career All-Mountain West nod, following selections to the First Team in 2016 and Second Team in 2017.

Moa's performance and presence opened up opportunities that Hatada and Lui exploited to career seasons. Hatada earned his first-career all-conference nod with career highs in sacks (4.0), tackles-for-loss (9.0, third on the team), and tackles (33).

Lui, named honorable mention, also earned his first-career all-conference recognition, and posted career highs of 44 tackles, including a single-game best of 16 Sept. 20 against Air Force, 2.5 sacks, and 4.0 tackles-for-loss.

One of Lui's highlights this season was recovering two fumbles Nov. 16 against New Mexico, including one which he returned 21 yards for a touchdown on the game's opening play from scrimmage, earning himself a spot on the Piesman Trophy ballot.

Nawahine and Walker were part of a Bronco secondary that ramped it up as the season closed in on the Mountain West title game. Nawahine ranks tied for third on the team with 51 tackles, and has been his usual ball-hawking self, leading the Broncos with four total takeaways, with two interceptions and two fumble recoveries. Walker earned his first all-conference nod by staunchly defending his island, leading the Broncos with nine pass breakups, and nabbing a 15-yard pick-six in the Nov. 23 win at Utah State. Additionally, Walker ranks fifth on the team with 50 tackles.

Whimpey returned strong in 2019 from a torn ACL which ended his promising 2018 campaign last November. The linebacker out of San Clemente, Calif., remains right where he was when he was injured last year, atop the Broncos' tackling list with 62 (29 solo). That figure includes a pair of sacks and 5.5 tackles-for-loss, and Whimpey has effectively dropped into coverage, breaking up five passes while forcing a fumble.

Another Bronco having a career year and grabbing his first all-conference honor was Bates. The redshirt junior grabbed 19 passes for 226 yards and a touchdown in 2019, highlighted by four games in which he had at least three receptions. Bates was also a key factor in the Boise State rushing game, helping block the edge as 11 different Broncos recorded a rushing score in 2019.

Shakir emerged from a deep and crowded Boise State receiving corps to lead the Broncos with 53 receptions in 2019, and rank second in receiving yards (745) and touchdown catches (five). This season, the sophomore posted a pair of 100-yard games, both in Mountain West play (111 yards and a score at UNLV, 103 yards at Colorado State).

Yet it was Shakir's all-around ability which separated him as a true threat with the Bronco offense. He threw for a two-yard touchdown Nov. 16 at New Mexico, and, on the season, rushed 15 times for 61 yards and two more touchdowns. For the year, Shakir, with his hands, arm, and legs, has contributed to nine Boise State touchdowns.

2019 Boise State All-Mountain West Honors

Defensive Player of the Year
STUD Curtis Weaver - R-Jr., Long Beach, Calif. (St. Anthony HS)

Special Teams Player of the Year
CB/PR/KR Avery Williams - R-Jr., Pasadena, Calif. (JSerra Catholic HS)

Freshman of the Year
RB George Holani - Bellflower, Calif. (St. John Bosco HS)

All-Mountain West First Team
OL Ezra Cleveland - R-Jr., Spanaway, Wash. (Bethel HS)
DB Kekaula Kaniho - Jr., Kahuku, Hawaii (Kahuku HS)
OL John Molchon - R-Sr., Las Vegas, Nev. (Faith Lutheran HS)
DL Curtis Weaver - R-Jr., Long Beach, Calif. (St. Anthony HS)
PR Avery Williams - R-Jr., Pasadena, Calif. (JSerra Catholic HS)

All-Mountain West Second Team
DL Chase Hatada - Sr., Rocklin, Calif. (Rocklin HS)
WR/KR John Hightower - Sr., Landover, Md. (Hinds CC)
RB George Holani - Fr., Bellflower, Calif. (St. John Bosco HS)
OL Garrett Larson - R-Sr., Fruitland, Idaho (Fruitland HS)
DL David Moa - 6Y-Sr., San Diego, Calif. (Kearny HS)
DB Kekoa Nawahine - Sr., Meridian, Idaho (Rocky Mountain HS)
DB Jalen Walker - R-Jr., Lawndale, Calif. (Lawndale HS)
LB Riley Whimpey - Jr., San Clemente, Calif. (San Clemente HS)

All-Mountain West Honorable Mention
TE John Bates - R-Jr., Lebanon, Ore. (Lebanon HS)
DL Sonatane Lui - Sr., Sandy, Utah (Alta HS)
OL Eric Quevedo - R-Sr., West Covina, Calif. (West Covina HS)
WR Khalil Shakir - So., Murrieta, Calif. (Vista Murrieta HS)
DB Avery Williams - R-Jr., Pasadena, Calif. (JSerra Catholic HS)

Players Mentioned

John Bates

Ezra Cleveland

Chase Hatada

John Hightower

George Holani

Kekaula Kaniho

Garrett Larson

Sonatane Lui

Robert Mahone

David Moa

John Molchon

Kekoa Nawahine

Eric Quevedo

Brett Rypien

Khalil Shakir

Jalen Walker

Curtis Weaver

Riley Whimpey

Avery Williams

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