Christian Washington Named Preseason All-Mountain West
LAS VEGAS, Nev. — Christian Washington was one of only two sophomores to earn a slot on the 2023 Preseason All-Mountain West team, which was announced in conjunction with the start of Mountain West Media Days, which got underway in earnest at the Circa Resort & Casino in Las Vegas. Washington was the lone Lobo to make the squad, and he joined linebacker Ike Larsen of Utah State as the only sophomores on the squad.
San Jose State quarterback Chevan Cordiero was the preseason offensive player of the year, Wyoming junior linebacker Easton Gibbs was the preseason defensive player of the year and San Diego State kicker/punter Jack Browning.
Washington was named Second Team All-Mountain West as a kickoff returner in 2022, leading UNM with a 26.7 kickoff return average with 427 yards on 16 returns. He finished third nationally among all freshmen in kickoff returns. He was named Mountain West Freshman of the Week after his 100-yard kickoff return against Boise State, UNM’s ninth-ever 100-yard kickoff return for a touchdown. He also had kickoff returns of 63 yards against Fresno State and he totaled 84 yards on three returns against Boise State. He also finished second on the team in rushing with 310 yards on 73 attempts and tied for third in receptions with 12, going for 76 yards.
Fans can catch all of the action of Media Days via the Mountain West Network on Wednesday and Thursday, July 19 and 20. Quarterback Dylan Hopkins and cornerback Donte Martin will be live on the Mountain West Network with Jesse Kurtz at 9:30 am Pacific/10:30 am Mountain Time on Wednesday and head coach Danny Gonzales will be live at 9 am Pacific/10 Mountain on Thursday. Fans can watch those interviews via the Mountain West Network App, by downloading the Mountain West Netowrk App on Roku or by heading to golobos.com/watch.
Season tickets for what is shaping up to be an exciting season of Lobo Football are on sale now at www.golobos.com/tickets. You can follow Lobo Football on Twitter (@UNMLoboFB), Instagram (@UNMLoboFB), Threads, (@UNMLoboFB) and Facebook (www.facebook.com/unmlobofb).
2023 MOUNTAIN WEST FOOTBALL PRESEASON ALL-CONFERENCE TEAM
| Offense | |||
| QB | Chevan Cordeiro ** | Sr. | San José State |
| WR | Tory Horton* | Sr. | Colorado State |
| WR | Justin Lockhart | Jr. | San José State |
| RB | John Lee Eldridge III | Sr. | Air Force |
| RB | George Holani** | Sr. | Boise State |
| OL | Thor Paglialong | Sr. | Air Force |
| OL | Case Beresford** | Sr. | Boise State |
| OL | Mose Vavao | Sr. | Fresno State |
| OL | Frank Crum | Sr. | Wyoming |
| TE | Mark Redman | Sr. | San Diego State |
| Defense | |||
| DL | Payton Zdroik | Jr. | Air Force |
| DL | Mohamed Kamara** | Sr. | Colorado State |
| DL | Devo Bridges | Sr. | Fresno State |
| DL | Jordan Bertagnole | Jr. | Wyoming |
| LB | DJ Schramm** | Sr. | Boise State |
| LB | Cody Moon | Jr. | San Diego State |
| LB | Easton Gibbs* | Jr. | Wyoming |
| DB | Trey Taylor | Sr. | Air Force |
| DB | Jack Howell* | Jr. | Colorado State |
| DB | Cam Stone | Sr. | Hawai’i |
| DB | Ike Larsen** | So. | Utah State |
| Specialists | |||
| P | Jack Browning* | Sr. | San Diego State |
| PK | John Hoyland* | Jr. | Wyoming |
| PR | Tory Horton | Sr. | Colorado State |
| KR | Christian Washington | So. | New Mexico |
Offensive Player of the Year: Chevan Cordeiro, Sr., QB, San José State
Defensive Player of the Year: Easton Gibbs, Jr., LB, Wyoming
Special Teams Player of the Year: Jack Browning, Sr., PK/P, San Diego State
* – member of the 2022 All-Mountain West first team
** – member of the 2022 All-Mountain West second team