Boise State Leads with Most MW 25th Season Football Team Selections
11/30/2023 11:00:00 AM | Football
Broncos with eight selections alongside San Diego State
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – Boise State matched San Diego State for the most selections on the Mountain West 25th Season Football Team the conference announced Thursday.
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Jay Ajayi (RB), Kellen Moore (QB), Brett Rypien (QB), DeMarcus Lawrence (DL), Darian Thompson (DB), Leighton Vander Esch (LB), Curtis Weaver (LB) and Avery Williams (KR/PR) were the honorees for the Blue and Orange.
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The Broncos and Aztecs each had eight selections, four on defense. Colorado State followed with seven while New Mexico and TCU each had five players recognized.
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Jay Ajayi (RB)
A 2014 All-American, as well as a 2013 and 2014 All-Mountain West First Team selection, Ajayi is one of the most talented running backs to play in the Mountain West. His 32 touchdowns and 192 points scored in 2014 remains a single-season conference record and his 28 rushing touchdowns that season ranks second in league history. Over the course of his career, he ran for 50 touchdowns, the third-most in MW history. Ajayi was a 2012 and 2013 Academic All-MW honoree before being selected in the Fifth Round of the NFL Draft with the 149th overall pick by the Miami Dolphins.
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Kellen Moore (QB)
One of the best quarterbacks in school history, Moore was selected for the MW 25th Anniversary Team despite only playing one season in the league. The 2011 MW Offensive Player of the Year that was also a First Team All-Conference selection, Moore led the league in passing with 3,800 yards during the 2011 season. His .743 completion percentage (326-for-439) remains a Mountain West record for a single season and for a career. Moore completed 18 consecutive pass attempts at Colorado State on Oct. 15, 2011 to set a MW single game record with those 18 completions carrying over from the five consecutive completions he recorded against Fresno State the week before, setting the league record for consecutive completions overall at 23. Moore was also a 2011 Academic All-MW selection and his 43 passing touchdowns in 2011 ranks second in league history.
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Brett Rypien (QB)
The league's 2018 Offensive Player of the Year and four-time All-Mountain West selection, Rypien still holds the MW record with 13,581 career passing yards during his four-year career from 2015 to 2018. Rypien threw 90 touchdown passes over his career, a mark that ranks second in MW history, and his 1,036 career pass completions is still the conference standard. A four-time Academic All-MW honoree, Rypien received 2017 CoSIDA Academic All-District honors. During his rookie season in 2015, Rypien threw for 3,353 yards which remains the league's record for a freshman.
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DeMarcus Lawrence (DL)
A 2012 and 2013 All-Mountain West First Team honoree, Lawrence led the conference both of those seasons in sacks with 9.5 sacks in 2012 and 10.5 sacks in 2013. That performance in 2013 led him to receiving Second Team All-America accolades before he was selected in the second round of the 2014 NFL Draft, getting picked up by the Dallas Cowboys with the (34th overall pick).
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Darian Thompson (DB)
Thompson was a two-time All-American, receiving second team honors in both 2014 and 2015. Also claiming First Team All-MW honors those two years, Thompson set the conference record for career interceptions with 19 picks from 2012 to 2015.
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Leighton Vander Esch (LB)
The 2017 Mountain West Defensive Player of the Year, Vander Esch also claimed first team all-conference honors that season as he recorded 141 total tackles that year. He was also a three-time Academic All-MW honoree before being selected in the first round of the NFL Draft with the 19th overall pick by the Dallas Cowboys, joining fellow Bronco DeMarcus Lawrence.
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Curtis Weaver (DL)
Weaver received First Team All-America honors by four outlets during the 2019 season while also receiving a trio of second team accolades that same year. The Mountain West's 2019 Defensive Player of the Year, he led the league in sacks in 2017 (11.0) and 2019 (13.5) while leading the conference in sacks during league games (6.5). His 34.0 career sacks remains a MW record by 5.5 sacks and his 46.5 career tackles for loss recorded from 2017 to 2019 ranks third in conference history.
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Avery Williams (KR/PR)
A 2020 Consensus All-American, Williams holds the MW career record with six punt returns from 2017 to 2020. His 124 punt return yards against Troy on Sept. 2, 2017 is the league's freshman record with his two kickoff returns for a touchdown in 2020 ranking four in conference history. Named the MW's Special Teams Player of the Year in 2019 and 2020, he received all-conference honors as a return specialist in 2017 and 2018 before claiming first team honors in 2019. Following his senior year, Williams hit the MW trifecta, earning first team all-conference honors as a defensive back, kick returner and punt returner. He would also receive three Academic All-MW honors before being selected in the fifth round of the 2021 NFL Draft by the Atlanta Falcons with the 183rd overall pick.
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Mountain West 25th Anniversary Football Team
Offense
Brad Roberts, RB, Air Force
Jay Ajayi, RB, Boise State
Kellen Moore, QB, Boise State
Brett Rypien, QB, Boise State
Dennis Pitta, TE, BYU
Luke Staley, RB, BYU
Michael Gallup, WR, Colorado State
Rashard Higgins, WR, Colorado State
Trey McBride, TE, Colorado State
Bradlee Van Pelt, QB, Colorado State
Davante Adams, WR, Fresno State
Derek Carr, QB, Fresno State
Romeo Doubs, WR, Nevada
Carson Strong, QB, Nevada
Ryan Cook, OL, New Mexico
DonTrell Moore, RB, New Mexico
Rashaad Penny, RB, San Diego State
Donnel Pumphrey, RB, San Diego State
Andy Dalton, QB, TCU
Jake Kirkpatrick, C, TCU
Ryan Wolfe, WR, UNLV
Jordan Gross, OT, Utah
Alex Smith, QB, Utah
Jordan Love, QB, Utah State Â
Josh Allen, QB, Wyoming
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Defense
Weston Steelhammer, DB, Air Force
Demarcus Lawrence, DL, Boise State
Darian Thompson, DB, Boise State
Leighton Vander Esch, LB, Boise State
Curtis Weaver, DL, Boise State
Brady Poppinga, DL, BYU
Shaquil Barrett, LB, Colorado State
Derron Smith, DB, Fresno State
Phillip Thomas, DB, Fresno State
Brian Urlacher, LB, New Mexico
Damontae Kazee, DB, San Diego State
Leon McFadden, DB, San Diego State
Kirk Morrison, LB, San Diego State
Cameron Thomas, DL, San Diego State
Viliami Fehoko, DL, San José State
Cade Hall, DL, San José State
Tank Carder, LB, TCU
Jerry Hughes, DE, TCU
Jamaal Brimmer, DB, UNLV
Kevin Thomas, DB, UNLV
Eric Weddle, DB, Utah
Zach Vigil, LB Utah State
Chad Muma, LB, Wyoming
Logan Wilson, LB, Wyoming
Andrew Wingard, DB, Wyoming
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Special Teams
Avery Williams, KR/PR, Boise State
Ryan Stonehouse, P, Colorado State
Dexter Wynn, KR, Colorado State
John Sullivan, PK, New Mexico
Carlos Wiggins, KR, New Mexico
Matt Araiza, P, San Diego State
Rashaad Penny, KR, San Diego State
Jeremy Kerley, KR/PR, TCU
Louie Sakoda, PK/P, Utah
Savon Scarver, AP/KR, Utah State
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For complete coverage of Boise State Football, download the Bronco Sports App or follow the team on social media on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter/X.
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Jay Ajayi (RB), Kellen Moore (QB), Brett Rypien (QB), DeMarcus Lawrence (DL), Darian Thompson (DB), Leighton Vander Esch (LB), Curtis Weaver (LB) and Avery Williams (KR/PR) were the honorees for the Blue and Orange.
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The Broncos and Aztecs each had eight selections, four on defense. Colorado State followed with seven while New Mexico and TCU each had five players recognized.
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Jay Ajayi (RB)
A 2014 All-American, as well as a 2013 and 2014 All-Mountain West First Team selection, Ajayi is one of the most talented running backs to play in the Mountain West. His 32 touchdowns and 192 points scored in 2014 remains a single-season conference record and his 28 rushing touchdowns that season ranks second in league history. Over the course of his career, he ran for 50 touchdowns, the third-most in MW history. Ajayi was a 2012 and 2013 Academic All-MW honoree before being selected in the Fifth Round of the NFL Draft with the 149th overall pick by the Miami Dolphins.
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Kellen Moore (QB)
One of the best quarterbacks in school history, Moore was selected for the MW 25th Anniversary Team despite only playing one season in the league. The 2011 MW Offensive Player of the Year that was also a First Team All-Conference selection, Moore led the league in passing with 3,800 yards during the 2011 season. His .743 completion percentage (326-for-439) remains a Mountain West record for a single season and for a career. Moore completed 18 consecutive pass attempts at Colorado State on Oct. 15, 2011 to set a MW single game record with those 18 completions carrying over from the five consecutive completions he recorded against Fresno State the week before, setting the league record for consecutive completions overall at 23. Moore was also a 2011 Academic All-MW selection and his 43 passing touchdowns in 2011 ranks second in league history.
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Brett Rypien (QB)
The league's 2018 Offensive Player of the Year and four-time All-Mountain West selection, Rypien still holds the MW record with 13,581 career passing yards during his four-year career from 2015 to 2018. Rypien threw 90 touchdown passes over his career, a mark that ranks second in MW history, and his 1,036 career pass completions is still the conference standard. A four-time Academic All-MW honoree, Rypien received 2017 CoSIDA Academic All-District honors. During his rookie season in 2015, Rypien threw for 3,353 yards which remains the league's record for a freshman.
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DeMarcus Lawrence (DL)
A 2012 and 2013 All-Mountain West First Team honoree, Lawrence led the conference both of those seasons in sacks with 9.5 sacks in 2012 and 10.5 sacks in 2013. That performance in 2013 led him to receiving Second Team All-America accolades before he was selected in the second round of the 2014 NFL Draft, getting picked up by the Dallas Cowboys with the (34th overall pick).
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Darian Thompson (DB)
Thompson was a two-time All-American, receiving second team honors in both 2014 and 2015. Also claiming First Team All-MW honors those two years, Thompson set the conference record for career interceptions with 19 picks from 2012 to 2015.
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Leighton Vander Esch (LB)
The 2017 Mountain West Defensive Player of the Year, Vander Esch also claimed first team all-conference honors that season as he recorded 141 total tackles that year. He was also a three-time Academic All-MW honoree before being selected in the first round of the NFL Draft with the 19th overall pick by the Dallas Cowboys, joining fellow Bronco DeMarcus Lawrence.
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Curtis Weaver (DL)
Weaver received First Team All-America honors by four outlets during the 2019 season while also receiving a trio of second team accolades that same year. The Mountain West's 2019 Defensive Player of the Year, he led the league in sacks in 2017 (11.0) and 2019 (13.5) while leading the conference in sacks during league games (6.5). His 34.0 career sacks remains a MW record by 5.5 sacks and his 46.5 career tackles for loss recorded from 2017 to 2019 ranks third in conference history.
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Avery Williams (KR/PR)
A 2020 Consensus All-American, Williams holds the MW career record with six punt returns from 2017 to 2020. His 124 punt return yards against Troy on Sept. 2, 2017 is the league's freshman record with his two kickoff returns for a touchdown in 2020 ranking four in conference history. Named the MW's Special Teams Player of the Year in 2019 and 2020, he received all-conference honors as a return specialist in 2017 and 2018 before claiming first team honors in 2019. Following his senior year, Williams hit the MW trifecta, earning first team all-conference honors as a defensive back, kick returner and punt returner. He would also receive three Academic All-MW honors before being selected in the fifth round of the 2021 NFL Draft by the Atlanta Falcons with the 183rd overall pick.
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Mountain West 25th Anniversary Football Team
Offense
Brad Roberts, RB, Air Force
Jay Ajayi, RB, Boise State
Kellen Moore, QB, Boise State
Brett Rypien, QB, Boise State
Dennis Pitta, TE, BYU
Luke Staley, RB, BYU
Michael Gallup, WR, Colorado State
Rashard Higgins, WR, Colorado State
Trey McBride, TE, Colorado State
Bradlee Van Pelt, QB, Colorado State
Davante Adams, WR, Fresno State
Derek Carr, QB, Fresno State
Romeo Doubs, WR, Nevada
Carson Strong, QB, Nevada
Ryan Cook, OL, New Mexico
DonTrell Moore, RB, New Mexico
Rashaad Penny, RB, San Diego State
Donnel Pumphrey, RB, San Diego State
Andy Dalton, QB, TCU
Jake Kirkpatrick, C, TCU
Ryan Wolfe, WR, UNLV
Jordan Gross, OT, Utah
Alex Smith, QB, Utah
Jordan Love, QB, Utah State Â
Josh Allen, QB, Wyoming
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Defense
Weston Steelhammer, DB, Air Force
Demarcus Lawrence, DL, Boise State
Darian Thompson, DB, Boise State
Leighton Vander Esch, LB, Boise State
Curtis Weaver, DL, Boise State
Brady Poppinga, DL, BYU
Shaquil Barrett, LB, Colorado State
Derron Smith, DB, Fresno State
Phillip Thomas, DB, Fresno State
Brian Urlacher, LB, New Mexico
Damontae Kazee, DB, San Diego State
Leon McFadden, DB, San Diego State
Kirk Morrison, LB, San Diego State
Cameron Thomas, DL, San Diego State
Viliami Fehoko, DL, San José State
Cade Hall, DL, San José State
Tank Carder, LB, TCU
Jerry Hughes, DE, TCU
Jamaal Brimmer, DB, UNLV
Kevin Thomas, DB, UNLV
Eric Weddle, DB, Utah
Zach Vigil, LB Utah State
Chad Muma, LB, Wyoming
Logan Wilson, LB, Wyoming
Andrew Wingard, DB, Wyoming
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Special Teams
Avery Williams, KR/PR, Boise State
Ryan Stonehouse, P, Colorado State
Dexter Wynn, KR, Colorado State
John Sullivan, PK, New Mexico
Carlos Wiggins, KR, New Mexico
Matt Araiza, P, San Diego State
Rashaad Penny, KR, San Diego State
Jeremy Kerley, KR/PR, TCU
Louie Sakoda, PK/P, Utah
Savon Scarver, AP/KR, Utah State
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For complete coverage of Boise State Football, download the Bronco Sports App or follow the team on social media on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter/X.
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Head coach Spencer Danielson - Postgame Press Conference, vs. App State (Sept. 27, 2025)
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Maddux Madsen - Postgame Press Conference, vs. App State (Sept. 27, 2025)
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Braxton Fely - Postgame Press Conference, vs. App State (Sept. 27, 2025)
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