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Boise State Athletics
Williams, Shakir Headline Broncos’ All-MW Honorees
12/15/2020 11:03:00 AM | Football
BOISE, Idaho – The Boise State football team boasted 15 student-athletes combining for a league-high 17 All-Mountain West honors, including redshirt senior Avery Williams, who, in addition to picking up three first-team all-conference awards was also named the MW Special Teams Player of the Year for the second-straight season, the league office announced Tuesday.
Williams, a cornerback and return specialist, swept his nominations, earning first-team all-league accolades at defensive back, punt returner and kick returner, in addition to his player of the year award. Prior to the 2019 season, Boise State had never had a student-athlete earn a conference special teams player of the year award, and Williams has now done it in back-to-back seasons.
Since 2010, only three defensive players nationally have earned four all-league honors (including player of the year awards) in their respective conferences in the same season – Williams, Patrick Peterson (LSU, 2010; SEC) and Jabrill Peppers (Michigan, 2016; Big Ten).
Junior wide receiver Khalil Shakir also picked up first-team all-conference honors.
Shakir is the fourth Bronco wide receiver to earn All-MW First Team honors since Boise State joined the league in 2011 (Tyler Shoemaker, 2011; Thomas Sperbeck, 2015-16; Cedrick Wilson, 2017), and Williams is the Broncos' third first-team all-league cornerback during that time (Jamar Taylor, 2012; Tyler Horton, 2017-18).
Williams' accolade at punt returner is also his second-straight, the only Bronco to earn first-team all-conference honors as a return specialist in the MW.
Boise State had a pair of second-team all-league honorees on offense in linemen John Ojukwu, a redshirt junior, and Jake Stetz, a redshirt senior, and four on defense – redshirt junior defensive end Shane Irwin, senior linebacker Riley Whimpey, senior nickel Kekaula Kaniho and redshirt senior cornerback Jalen Walker.
The Broncos' 10 first- and second-team accolades were tied with Nevada for the most in the conference.
Picking up honorable mention all-conference honors were redshirt senior tight end John Bates, redshirt sophomore offensive lineman Garrett Curran, freshman kicker Jonah Dalmas, redshirt sophomore defensive tackle Scott Matlock, redshirt junior linebacker Ezekiel Noa, senior wide receiver CT Thomas and junior running back Andrew Van Buren.
Boise State is making its fourth-consecutive appearance in the MW Championship Game this weekend, traveling to Las Vegas to square off against San Jose State, Saturday (Dec. 19). Kickoff between the Broncos and Spartans is set for 2:15 p.m. (MT), and the game will be nationally televised on Fox.
Williams, a cornerback and return specialist, swept his nominations, earning first-team all-league accolades at defensive back, punt returner and kick returner, in addition to his player of the year award. Prior to the 2019 season, Boise State had never had a student-athlete earn a conference special teams player of the year award, and Williams has now done it in back-to-back seasons.
Since 2010, only three defensive players nationally have earned four all-league honors (including player of the year awards) in their respective conferences in the same season – Williams, Patrick Peterson (LSU, 2010; SEC) and Jabrill Peppers (Michigan, 2016; Big Ten).
Junior wide receiver Khalil Shakir also picked up first-team all-conference honors.
Shakir is the fourth Bronco wide receiver to earn All-MW First Team honors since Boise State joined the league in 2011 (Tyler Shoemaker, 2011; Thomas Sperbeck, 2015-16; Cedrick Wilson, 2017), and Williams is the Broncos' third first-team all-league cornerback during that time (Jamar Taylor, 2012; Tyler Horton, 2017-18).
Williams' accolade at punt returner is also his second-straight, the only Bronco to earn first-team all-conference honors as a return specialist in the MW.
Boise State had a pair of second-team all-league honorees on offense in linemen John Ojukwu, a redshirt junior, and Jake Stetz, a redshirt senior, and four on defense – redshirt junior defensive end Shane Irwin, senior linebacker Riley Whimpey, senior nickel Kekaula Kaniho and redshirt senior cornerback Jalen Walker.
The Broncos' 10 first- and second-team accolades were tied with Nevada for the most in the conference.
Picking up honorable mention all-conference honors were redshirt senior tight end John Bates, redshirt sophomore offensive lineman Garrett Curran, freshman kicker Jonah Dalmas, redshirt sophomore defensive tackle Scott Matlock, redshirt junior linebacker Ezekiel Noa, senior wide receiver CT Thomas and junior running back Andrew Van Buren.
Boise State is making its fourth-consecutive appearance in the MW Championship Game this weekend, traveling to Las Vegas to square off against San Jose State, Saturday (Dec. 19). Kickoff between the Broncos and Spartans is set for 2:15 p.m. (MT), and the game will be nationally televised on Fox.
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