Madsen Voted Preseason Offensive Player of the Year, 10 Broncos Named Preseason All-Mountain West
7/16/2025 8:00:00 AM | Football
LAS VEGAS – Boise State placed a league-high 10 players on the Preseason All-Mountain West team, the conference announced at the start of Old Trapper Mountain West Football Media Days. Quarterback Maddux Madsen headlined the list for the Broncos, garnering Preseason Offensive Player of the Year selection.
Boise State's 10 Preseason All-MW selections mark the program's most during its time in the conference, which began in 2011. Madsen is the eighth Bronco to be named MW Preseason Player of the Year, a group that now includes four offensive selections. He joins a list of quarterbacks that includes Kellen Moore (2011) and Brett Rypien (2018). The Broncos' other offensive selection was Ashton Jeanty, who was tabbed in 2024.
Madsen was joined by wide receiver Latrell Caples, tight end Matt Lauter and offensive linemen Kage Casey and Mason Randolph on the conference's offensive team. Defensively, Boise State was represented by defensive lineman Braxton Fely, EDGE Jayden Virgin-Morgan, linebacker Marco Notarainni and defensive backs Ty Benefield and A'Marion McCoy.
Last season, Madsen led the conference in passing yards (3,018) and touchdowns (23) while ranking second in passing efficiency (142.5) and adding 221 yards and five touchdowns on the ground. He was the only player in the country with at least 12 passing touchdowns and one interception. He was named to the Davey O'Brien Award Quarterback Class of 2024 while earning All-MW Honorable Mention. This preseason, the redshirt junior already secured Preseason All-MW First Team selection from Athlon Sports and Phil Steele.
Caples tallied 473 yards and five touchdowns on 38 receptions last season. He gained a first down or scored on 28 receptions. In a 56-24 win over San Diego State, he caught three touchdowns, tied for the MW single-game high. For his efforts, he was selected Earl Campbell Tyler Rose National Player of the Week Honorable Mention. The sixth year was also tabbed Preseason All-MW First Team by Athlon Sports and Phil Steele.
Lauter caught seven touchdowns last season, leading MW tight ends and ranking fifth among FBS tight ends. This is also the most among any returning MW player. He led conference tight ends in receptions (47), yards (619), yards after catch (381) and first downs (29), ranking in the nation's top 20 in each category. The 2024 All-MW First Team selection was also included on the Athlon Sports and Phil Steele Preseason All-MW First Teams.
Casey earned All-America honors from five outlets in 2024, including second team selection from The Athletic and Walter Camp. He led MW offensive tackles and ranked in the country's top 15 in multiple in Pro Football Focus metrics, including pass blocking efficiency (99.3), pass blocking grade (87.0) and offensive grade (83.3). He did not allow a sack in 440 opportunities and was placed on 2025 Preseason All-America teams by Walter Camp (first team), Athlon Sports (second team) and Phil Steele (fourth team).
Randolph appeared in four games in 2024 due to injury, but was an integral piece of Boise State's season-high rushing yards (371) and total yards (651) effort at Georgia Southern. He was the team's top-rated run blocking offensive lineman in the MW Championship win over UNLV and did not allow a sack in any of his appearances. The redshirt senior was a FWAA Freshman All-American in 2022 and earned Preseason All-MW First Team honors from Phil Steele.
Fely notched 5.5 sacks and 9.0 tackles for loss in 2024, most among MW interior defensive linemen. He was tabbed All-MW Second Team. Boise State led the nation in sacks (55) while ranking fifth in TFLs per game (7.9). The Broncos ranked second in the conference in rushing defense (122.3 ypg) and scoring defense (22.6 ppg). The senior secured Preseason All-MW First Team selection from Athlon Sports and Phil Steele.
Virgin-Morgan recorded 10.0 sacks last year, ranking second in the conference and 14th in the nation. He added 15.5 TFLs, third-most in the MW and 17th-most in the FBS. He tallied at least 1.0 TFL in all seven conference games and the 2024 MW Championship, earning All-MW First Team Honors. The redshirt junior was named to the 2025 Lott IMPACT Trophy Watch List and earned a Preseason All-America nod from Athlon Sports.
Notarainni totaled 60 tackles, 7.5 TFLs, 3.5 sacks and three pass breakups in 2024, earning College Sports Communicators Academic All-America Second Team and All-MW First Team honors. His PFF run defense grade (81.1) and defense grade (77.1) are highest among returning MW linebackers and he tied for the conference lead with two fumble recoveries. The redshirt senior was included on the Preseason All-MW First Team by Athlon Sports and Phil Steele.
In 2024, Benefield led Boise State in total tackles (82), solo tackles (59), interceptions (2), fumble recoveries (2), defensive snaps (899) and total snaps (1,070). He added 5.0 TFLs, five pass breakups and a forced fumble. He was a Cornish Trophy Finalist and earned All-MW Honorable Mention. The junior was featured on the Athlon Sports and Phil Steele Preseason All-MW First Teams.
McCoy led the FBS with 19 forced incompletions and ranked second-nationally with 14 pass breakups in 2024. When targeting him, opposing quarterbacks had a 50.5 completion percentage (51/101). He returned an interception 35 yards for a touchdown against San Diego State and was tabbed Honorable Mention All-America by College Football Network. The fifth year garnered Preseason All-MW First Team honors from Athlon Sports and Phil Steele.
--BroncoSports.com--
Boise State's 10 Preseason All-MW selections mark the program's most during its time in the conference, which began in 2011. Madsen is the eighth Bronco to be named MW Preseason Player of the Year, a group that now includes four offensive selections. He joins a list of quarterbacks that includes Kellen Moore (2011) and Brett Rypien (2018). The Broncos' other offensive selection was Ashton Jeanty, who was tabbed in 2024.
Madsen was joined by wide receiver Latrell Caples, tight end Matt Lauter and offensive linemen Kage Casey and Mason Randolph on the conference's offensive team. Defensively, Boise State was represented by defensive lineman Braxton Fely, EDGE Jayden Virgin-Morgan, linebacker Marco Notarainni and defensive backs Ty Benefield and A'Marion McCoy.
Last season, Madsen led the conference in passing yards (3,018) and touchdowns (23) while ranking second in passing efficiency (142.5) and adding 221 yards and five touchdowns on the ground. He was the only player in the country with at least 12 passing touchdowns and one interception. He was named to the Davey O'Brien Award Quarterback Class of 2024 while earning All-MW Honorable Mention. This preseason, the redshirt junior already secured Preseason All-MW First Team selection from Athlon Sports and Phil Steele.
Caples tallied 473 yards and five touchdowns on 38 receptions last season. He gained a first down or scored on 28 receptions. In a 56-24 win over San Diego State, he caught three touchdowns, tied for the MW single-game high. For his efforts, he was selected Earl Campbell Tyler Rose National Player of the Week Honorable Mention. The sixth year was also tabbed Preseason All-MW First Team by Athlon Sports and Phil Steele.
Lauter caught seven touchdowns last season, leading MW tight ends and ranking fifth among FBS tight ends. This is also the most among any returning MW player. He led conference tight ends in receptions (47), yards (619), yards after catch (381) and first downs (29), ranking in the nation's top 20 in each category. The 2024 All-MW First Team selection was also included on the Athlon Sports and Phil Steele Preseason All-MW First Teams.
Casey earned All-America honors from five outlets in 2024, including second team selection from The Athletic and Walter Camp. He led MW offensive tackles and ranked in the country's top 15 in multiple in Pro Football Focus metrics, including pass blocking efficiency (99.3), pass blocking grade (87.0) and offensive grade (83.3). He did not allow a sack in 440 opportunities and was placed on 2025 Preseason All-America teams by Walter Camp (first team), Athlon Sports (second team) and Phil Steele (fourth team).
Randolph appeared in four games in 2024 due to injury, but was an integral piece of Boise State's season-high rushing yards (371) and total yards (651) effort at Georgia Southern. He was the team's top-rated run blocking offensive lineman in the MW Championship win over UNLV and did not allow a sack in any of his appearances. The redshirt senior was a FWAA Freshman All-American in 2022 and earned Preseason All-MW First Team honors from Phil Steele.
Fely notched 5.5 sacks and 9.0 tackles for loss in 2024, most among MW interior defensive linemen. He was tabbed All-MW Second Team. Boise State led the nation in sacks (55) while ranking fifth in TFLs per game (7.9). The Broncos ranked second in the conference in rushing defense (122.3 ypg) and scoring defense (22.6 ppg). The senior secured Preseason All-MW First Team selection from Athlon Sports and Phil Steele.
Virgin-Morgan recorded 10.0 sacks last year, ranking second in the conference and 14th in the nation. He added 15.5 TFLs, third-most in the MW and 17th-most in the FBS. He tallied at least 1.0 TFL in all seven conference games and the 2024 MW Championship, earning All-MW First Team Honors. The redshirt junior was named to the 2025 Lott IMPACT Trophy Watch List and earned a Preseason All-America nod from Athlon Sports.
Notarainni totaled 60 tackles, 7.5 TFLs, 3.5 sacks and three pass breakups in 2024, earning College Sports Communicators Academic All-America Second Team and All-MW First Team honors. His PFF run defense grade (81.1) and defense grade (77.1) are highest among returning MW linebackers and he tied for the conference lead with two fumble recoveries. The redshirt senior was included on the Preseason All-MW First Team by Athlon Sports and Phil Steele.
In 2024, Benefield led Boise State in total tackles (82), solo tackles (59), interceptions (2), fumble recoveries (2), defensive snaps (899) and total snaps (1,070). He added 5.0 TFLs, five pass breakups and a forced fumble. He was a Cornish Trophy Finalist and earned All-MW Honorable Mention. The junior was featured on the Athlon Sports and Phil Steele Preseason All-MW First Teams.
McCoy led the FBS with 19 forced incompletions and ranked second-nationally with 14 pass breakups in 2024. When targeting him, opposing quarterbacks had a 50.5 completion percentage (51/101). He returned an interception 35 yards for a touchdown against San Diego State and was tabbed Honorable Mention All-America by College Football Network. The fifth year garnered Preseason All-MW First Team honors from Athlon Sports and Phil Steele.
--BroncoSports.com--
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