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Boise State Athletics
Eight Selections To Preseason All-Mountain West Team
7/22/2020 12:00:00 PM | Football
BOISE, Idaho – Boise State picked up a conference-best eight selections (among seven players) to the 2020 Preseason All-Mountain West Team Wednesday, highlighted by being one of just two schools to have at least one selection on offense, defense, and special teams.
Avery Williams led the group with two selections, being tabbed as a defensive back and as a punt returner on special teams.
On offense, the Broncos led all teams with three selections: sophomore quarterback Hank Bachmeier, junior wide receiver Khalil Shakir, and redshirt junior offensive lineman John Ojukwu.
On the defensive side, Williams was joined by junior defensive lineman Scale Igiehon, senior linebacker Riley Whimpey, and senior nickel Kekaula Kaniho, as the Broncos and San Diego State shared the conference-best with four selections apiece.
Williams, the reigning Mountain West Special Teams Player of the Year, and a 2019 All-Mountain West first-team selection at punt returner, was named to both Phil Steele's and Athlon Sports' 2020 Preseason All-Mountain West First Teams at punt returner.
The Pasadena, Calif., native led the Mountain West in punt-return average (13.2 yards per return) for the second time in three years in 2019, and ranked seventh in the country. His two punt-return scores tied for the most in the country, and he even chipped in two blocked kicks on special teams.
Williams was also named to the College Football America 2020 Yearbook's "Group of Five Starting Lineup" at punt returner this summer.
A two-time Paul Hornung Award candidate, Williams has made his mark with the Bronco defense, as well, being named All-Mountain West Honorable Mention at cornerback a season ago. At cornerback, Williams broke up four passes, made 39 tackles, and had 1.5 tackles-for-loss.
Bachmeier garnered attention right from the start in 2019, becoming the first Bronco true freshman to start a season opener at quarterback in Boise State's FBS Era (1996-present) when he took the reins last Aug. 31 at Florida State. In front of a hostile crowd in Tallahassee, and before a national television audience, Bachmeier put together a stunning debut in which he went 30-for-51 for 407 yards and a touchdown in Boise State's 36-31 victory over the Seminoles.
The Murrieta, Calif., native would start all eight games in which he appeared, despite missing six to injury. Bachmeier finished the season 7-1 as a starter, throwing for 1,879 yards and nine touchdowns while rushing for another score, and had multiple scoring tosses in three of his eight games.
Shakir was named All-Mountain West Honorable Mention in 2019, finishing as Boise State's leading receiver with 63 receptions and ranking eighth in the Mountain West with 872 receiving yards. A triple-threat player, Shakir accounted for 10 Bronco touchdowns last season, catching six, rushing for three, and throwing another.
Additionally, he posted a pair of 100-yard receiving games, topped by 111 yards on seven catches at UNLV. Over nine games vs. MW teams, Shakir caught 42 passes for 587 yards and five touchdowns, ran for three touchdowns and threw for one. He caught seven passes for 89 yards and a touchdown in Boise State's 31-10 victory over Hawai'i in the Mountain West Championship Game.
Ojukwu received his first recognition from the Mountain West with Wednesday's announcement. Last season, the Boise native started each of his 11 games played at right tackle, providing protection for an offense that ranked 14th in the country in scoring (36.8 PPG). Ojukwu, who is expected to make the move to left tackle in 2020, was part of a Bronco offensive line that opened holes for running back George Holani's 1,014 rushing yards, extending Boise State's national-leading streak of consecutive seasons with a 1,000-yard rusher to 11.
Last season, Kaniho was named to the All-Mountain West First Team. The Kahuku, Hawaii, native was third among Boise State defenders in tackles-for-loss (11.0) and fourth in tackles (61), in addition to picking off a pass, recovering a fumble, and making 3.0 sacks. His performance helped the Broncos to a 12-2 record and a perfect 8-0 mark in Mountain West play, and Boise State would go on to capture the conference title with a 31-10 victory over Hawai'i in the Mountain West Championship Game.
Already this preseason, Kaniho has been named to three award watch lists: the Bronko Nagurski Trophy, the Jim Thorpe Award, and the Lott IMPACT Trophy. Â
Whimpey was named to the 2019 All-Mountain West Second Team after leading Boise State in tackles with 83, while starting all 14 games. Whimpey registered 7.0 tackles-for-loss and 2.0 sacks, in addition to posting three games with at least 10 tackles, all against Mountain West teams (10 vs. Air Force, 10 vs. Hawai'i, 12 vs. Wyoming).
Igiehon continued his rise on Boise State's defensive line in 2019, appearing in all 14 games and making two starts, and registering 3.0 tackles-for-loss among his 38 tackles. The Del Valle, Texas, native played particularly well against Mountain West competition, recording a career-high seven tackles, including a shared TFL, against Wyoming, and making six tackles in the win over Air Force.
Offense
QBÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Hank Bachmeier, Boise State
WRÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Khalil Shakir, Boise State
WRÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Warren Jackson, Colorado State
WRÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Tre Walker, San José State
RBÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Charles Williams, UNLV
RBÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Xazavian Valladay, Wyoming
OLÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Parker Ferguson, Air Force
OLÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Nolan Laufenberg, Air Force
OLÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â John Ojukwu, Boise State
OLÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Ilm Manning, Hawai'i
OLÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Keegan Cryder, Wyoming
TEÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Trey McBride, Colorado State
Defense
DLÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Scale Igiehon, Boise State
DLÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Dom Peterson, Nevada
DLÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Cameron Thomas, San Diego State
DLÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Keshawn Banks, San Diego State
LBÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Demonte Meeks, Air Force
LB          Riley Whimpey, Boise State
LBÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Dequan Jackson, Colorado State
LBÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Justin Rice, Fresno State
DBÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Kekaula Kaniho, Boise State
DB         Avery Williams, Boise State
DBÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Darren Hall, San Diego State
DBÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Tariq Thompson, San Diego State
Specialists
PÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Ryan Stonehouse, Colorado State
PKÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Brandon Talton, Nevada
KRÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Savon Scarver, Utah State
PRÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Avery Williams, Boise State
Avery Williams led the group with two selections, being tabbed as a defensive back and as a punt returner on special teams.
On offense, the Broncos led all teams with three selections: sophomore quarterback Hank Bachmeier, junior wide receiver Khalil Shakir, and redshirt junior offensive lineman John Ojukwu.
On the defensive side, Williams was joined by junior defensive lineman Scale Igiehon, senior linebacker Riley Whimpey, and senior nickel Kekaula Kaniho, as the Broncos and San Diego State shared the conference-best with four selections apiece.
Williams, the reigning Mountain West Special Teams Player of the Year, and a 2019 All-Mountain West first-team selection at punt returner, was named to both Phil Steele's and Athlon Sports' 2020 Preseason All-Mountain West First Teams at punt returner.
The Pasadena, Calif., native led the Mountain West in punt-return average (13.2 yards per return) for the second time in three years in 2019, and ranked seventh in the country. His two punt-return scores tied for the most in the country, and he even chipped in two blocked kicks on special teams.
Williams was also named to the College Football America 2020 Yearbook's "Group of Five Starting Lineup" at punt returner this summer.
A two-time Paul Hornung Award candidate, Williams has made his mark with the Bronco defense, as well, being named All-Mountain West Honorable Mention at cornerback a season ago. At cornerback, Williams broke up four passes, made 39 tackles, and had 1.5 tackles-for-loss.
Bachmeier garnered attention right from the start in 2019, becoming the first Bronco true freshman to start a season opener at quarterback in Boise State's FBS Era (1996-present) when he took the reins last Aug. 31 at Florida State. In front of a hostile crowd in Tallahassee, and before a national television audience, Bachmeier put together a stunning debut in which he went 30-for-51 for 407 yards and a touchdown in Boise State's 36-31 victory over the Seminoles.
The Murrieta, Calif., native would start all eight games in which he appeared, despite missing six to injury. Bachmeier finished the season 7-1 as a starter, throwing for 1,879 yards and nine touchdowns while rushing for another score, and had multiple scoring tosses in three of his eight games.
Shakir was named All-Mountain West Honorable Mention in 2019, finishing as Boise State's leading receiver with 63 receptions and ranking eighth in the Mountain West with 872 receiving yards. A triple-threat player, Shakir accounted for 10 Bronco touchdowns last season, catching six, rushing for three, and throwing another.
Additionally, he posted a pair of 100-yard receiving games, topped by 111 yards on seven catches at UNLV. Over nine games vs. MW teams, Shakir caught 42 passes for 587 yards and five touchdowns, ran for three touchdowns and threw for one. He caught seven passes for 89 yards and a touchdown in Boise State's 31-10 victory over Hawai'i in the Mountain West Championship Game.
Ojukwu received his first recognition from the Mountain West with Wednesday's announcement. Last season, the Boise native started each of his 11 games played at right tackle, providing protection for an offense that ranked 14th in the country in scoring (36.8 PPG). Ojukwu, who is expected to make the move to left tackle in 2020, was part of a Bronco offensive line that opened holes for running back George Holani's 1,014 rushing yards, extending Boise State's national-leading streak of consecutive seasons with a 1,000-yard rusher to 11.
Last season, Kaniho was named to the All-Mountain West First Team. The Kahuku, Hawaii, native was third among Boise State defenders in tackles-for-loss (11.0) and fourth in tackles (61), in addition to picking off a pass, recovering a fumble, and making 3.0 sacks. His performance helped the Broncos to a 12-2 record and a perfect 8-0 mark in Mountain West play, and Boise State would go on to capture the conference title with a 31-10 victory over Hawai'i in the Mountain West Championship Game.
Already this preseason, Kaniho has been named to three award watch lists: the Bronko Nagurski Trophy, the Jim Thorpe Award, and the Lott IMPACT Trophy. Â
Whimpey was named to the 2019 All-Mountain West Second Team after leading Boise State in tackles with 83, while starting all 14 games. Whimpey registered 7.0 tackles-for-loss and 2.0 sacks, in addition to posting three games with at least 10 tackles, all against Mountain West teams (10 vs. Air Force, 10 vs. Hawai'i, 12 vs. Wyoming).
Igiehon continued his rise on Boise State's defensive line in 2019, appearing in all 14 games and making two starts, and registering 3.0 tackles-for-loss among his 38 tackles. The Del Valle, Texas, native played particularly well against Mountain West competition, recording a career-high seven tackles, including a shared TFL, against Wyoming, and making six tackles in the win over Air Force.
Offense
QBÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Hank Bachmeier, Boise State
WRÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Khalil Shakir, Boise State
WRÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Warren Jackson, Colorado State
WRÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Tre Walker, San José State
RBÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Charles Williams, UNLV
RBÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Xazavian Valladay, Wyoming
OLÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Parker Ferguson, Air Force
OLÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Nolan Laufenberg, Air Force
OLÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â John Ojukwu, Boise State
OLÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Ilm Manning, Hawai'i
OLÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Keegan Cryder, Wyoming
TEÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Trey McBride, Colorado State
Defense
DLÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Scale Igiehon, Boise State
DLÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Dom Peterson, Nevada
DLÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Cameron Thomas, San Diego State
DLÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Keshawn Banks, San Diego State
LBÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Demonte Meeks, Air Force
LB          Riley Whimpey, Boise State
LBÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Dequan Jackson, Colorado State
LBÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Justin Rice, Fresno State
DBÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Kekaula Kaniho, Boise State
DB         Avery Williams, Boise State
DBÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Darren Hall, San Diego State
DBÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Tariq Thompson, San Diego State
Specialists
PÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Ryan Stonehouse, Colorado State
PKÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Brandon Talton, Nevada
KRÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Savon Scarver, Utah State
PRÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Avery Williams, Boise State
Players Mentioned
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