July 18, 2005
CORONADO, Calif. – The Mountain West Conference announced its 2005 preseason all-conference team today as selected by members of the league’s media. DonTrell Moore (New Mexico) was named Preseason MWC Offensive Player of the Year, Steve Fifita (Utah) was selected Defensive Player of the Year and Nnamdi Ohaeri (Colorado State) was chosen Newcomer of the Year.
Moore was a first-team all-Conference selection in 2004 and finished second in the league in rushing with 1,091 yards in 11 games played. Moore has eclipsed the 1,000-yard rushing mark in each of the last three seasons and would become only the sixth player in NCAA history to rush for 1,000 yards in all four seasons if he can accomplish that feat again in 2005.
Fifita was an all-MWC first-team defensive lineman in 2004, collecting 45 tackles, nine tackles for loss and 4.5 sacks in 12 games played.
Ohaeri played defensive back and special teams for two seasons at UCLA, recording 33 tackles during his time with the Bruins. A four-year letterwinner at Aquinas High School in San Bernardino, Calif., he rushed for 2,155 yards and 24 touchdowns as a senior.
New Mexico’s Moore and Utah’s Fifita and Spencer Toone were the only unanimous choices among the league’s media on the 2005 Preseason all-MWC Team.
Wyoming led all schools with seven student-athletes selected to the preseason all-Conference team, including all three specialists. New Mexico had five players selected, followed by BYU and Utah with four players each. Colorado State had two players named to the 2005 preseason all-Conference squad, while Air Force, SDSU, TCU and UNLV each had one.
The 2005 preseason team features 16 players that were all-Conference selections in 2004, including seven first-team selections. Sophomore running back Lynell Hamilton (San Diego State) also returns this season after missing all of 2004 due to an ankle injury. Hamilton was the 2003 MWC Freshman of the Year and was selected to the 2004 preseason all-Conference team before sitting out the year.
2005 MWC Preseason All-MWC Team
2005 Preseason All-Mountain West Team
OffenseWR Todd Watkins* Sr. BYUWR David Anderson** Sr. Colorado StateOL Jon Wilson** Sr Air ForceOL Jake Kuresa Jr. BYUOL Michael Brisiel Sr. Colorado StateOL Ryan Cook* Sr. New MexicoOL Jesse Boone** Sr. UtahTE John Wadkowski** Sr. WyomingQB Corey Bramlet Sr. WyomingRB DonTrell Moore* Sr. New MexicoRB Lynell Hamilton# So. San Diego State
DefenseDL Manaia Brown Sr. BYUDL Steve Fifita* Sr. UtahDL Marcus Parker* Sr. New MexicoDL Ranorris Ray Sr. TCUDL Dusty Hoffschneider** Sr. WyomingLB Spencer Toone Sr. UtahLB Cameron Jensen Jr. BYULB Mike Mohoric Sr. New MexicoDB Gabriel Fulbright** Sr. New MexicoDB Eric Weddle** Jr. UtahDB Derrick Martin** Jr. WyomingDB Joe Miklos Sr. UNLV
SpecialistsP Adam Brooks** Sr. WyomingPK Deric Yaussi* Sr. WyomingRet. Hoost Marsh* So. Wyoming
Offensive Player of the Year: DonTrell Moore, Sr., New MexicoDefensive Player of the Year: Steve Fifita, Sr. UtahNewcomer of the Year: Nnamdi Ohaeri, Jr., Colorado State
* member of the 2004 All-Mountain West Conference first-team.** member of the 2004 All-Mountain West Conference second-team.# member of the 2003 All- Mountain West Conference first-team – sat out 2004 due to injury.