Reed II, Rodriguez Named Preseason All-Mountain West
LAS VEGAS, Nev. — The Mountain West released the preseason All-Mountain West team, and for the first time since 2017, the Lobos had multiple selections on the 26-person squad. Senior safety Jerrick Reed II and punter Aaron Rodriguez were both named to the squad.
Only Air Force and Boise State in the Mountain Division have more players on the team than UNM. The team was selected by a vote of local and national media members that cover the league.
It’s the first time for multiple preseason honors for UNM since 2017 when Garrett Hughes (DL), Tyrone Owens (RB) and Aaron Jenkins (OL) were all named to the preseason team. No Lobo was named to the preseason first teams of either the Phil Steele or Athlon preseason teams.
Reed II was named preseason All-Mountain West in 2021 as well, marking the first time that UNM has had back-to-back honorees since Carlos Wiggins was the preseason kick returner in both 2014 and 2015. Reed II was First Team All-Mountain West after the 2020 season, and he was UNM’s leading tackler in 2021 with 89.
Rodriguez, who had a sneaky good 2021, led the NCAA in total punts with 81. They were the most punts in a season by a Lobo since Ben Skaer punted 85 for the Lobos in 2011. He became just the sixth Lobo to ever punt 80 or more times in a season. Bob Ferguson in 1981 has the all-time Lobo record with 93 punts.
The best thing is Rodriguez was better with the pressure on. In the shadow of his own goal posts, he averaged 45.9 yards per kick, and in games where he punted with the game just a one-score difference, he averaged 49.0 yards per punt on 24 such boots. He is the first punter for UNM to be preseason All-Mountain West since Skaer was named to the team in 2013.
2022 MOUNTAIN WEST FOOTBALL PRESEASON ALL-CONFERENCE TEAM
Offense
QB Jake Haener** Sr. Fresno State
WR Jalen Cropper** Sr. Fresno State
WR Jesse Matthews Sr. San Diego State
RB Brad Roberts* Sr. Air Force
RB Jordan Mims Sr. Fresno State
OL Isaac Cochran Sr. Air Force
OL John Ojukwu* Sr. Boise State
OL Dontae Bull Sr. Fresno State
OL Aaron Frost** Sr. Nevada
OL Alama Uluave Sr. San Diego State
TE Tanner Arkin RS-Fr. Colorado State
Defense
DL Scott Matlock Sr. Boise State
DL Keshawn Banks** Sr. San Diego State
DL Jonah Tavai Sr. San Diego State
DL Viliami Fehoko* Sr. San José State
DL Cade Hall Sr. San José State
LB Vince Sanford** Sr. Air Force
LB Caden McDonald* Sr. San Diego State
LB Kyle Harmon* Sr. San José State
DB JL Skinner** Sr. Boise State
DB Evan Williams Sr. Fresno State
DB Jerrick Reed II Sr. New Mexico
DB Patrick McMorris* Sr. San Diego State
Specialists
P Aaron Rodriguez Jr. New Mexico
PK Jonah Dalmas* Jr. Boise State
PR Jordan Byrd Sr. San Diego State
KR Jordan Byrd* Sr. San Diego State
Offensive Player of the Year: Jake Haener, Sr., QB, Fresno State
Co-Defensive Player of the Year: Patrick McMorris, Sr., DB, San Diego State and Cade Hall, Sr., DL, San José State
Special Teams Player of the Year: Jordan Byrd, Sr., PR/KR, San Diego State
* – member of the 2021 All-Mountain West first team
** – member of the 2021 All-Mountain West second team