The Mountain West announced its 2025 All-Conference football teams and annual award winners on Tuesday, highlighting standout players and coaches across the league. The selections recognize a season defined by breakout stars, historic performances, and dramatic program turnarounds.
Offensive Player of the Year: Anthony Colandrea, QB, UNLV
UNLV junior quarterback Anthony Colandrea becomes the first UNLV player to be named the MW Offensive Player of the Year. He is the 18th quarterback to earn the honor and the first since 2021. A member of the Davey O’Brien Award Class of 2025 and on the Manning Award watch list, Colandrea was a four-time Old Trapper Mountain West Offensive Player of the Week, a UNLV record.
He completed 238 of 349 passes for a MW-best 3,050 yards and a league-leading 22 touchdowns. His 68.2 completion percentage ranks 17th in the FBS and is on pace to set a program record. Colandrea also rushed for a career-high 555 yards and eight touchdowns, leading the MW in total offense at 300.4 yards per game and ranking ninth nationally. He is one of just four FBS quarterbacks with at least 3,000 passing yards and 500 rushing yards this season.
Colandrea led the Rebels (10-2) to their fourth 10-win season in program history and their third straight MW Football Championship game appearance and bowl appearance.
Defensive Player of the Year (Co-Winners)
Jaxton Eck, LB, New Mexico
Eck becomes the first New Mexico player to be named the MW Defensive Player of the Year since the award separated categories. He recorded 126 total tackles (8th in the FBS), including 64 solo tackles (5th nationally). Eck added 6.5 tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks, seven double-digit tackle games, and key forced turnovers throughout the season.
He helped lead the nation’s most improved rushing defense and the third-most improved scoring defense. His 18 tackles against Boise State were tied for the seventh-most in the FBS this season.
Chris Johnson, DB, San Diego State
Johnson was a first-team midseason All-American and semifinalist for the Jim Thorpe Award. He ranked ninth nationally with 1.18 passes defended per game, totaling 13 in 11 games. He recorded four interceptions, returning two for touchdowns, and added 49 tackles, three tackles for loss, and a sack.
Opposing quarterbacks were just 18-for-45 for 185 yards, no touchdowns, and four interceptions when targeting Johnson this season, reflecting an elite defensive efficiency rating of 56.76.
Special Teams Player of the Year: Kansei Matsuzawa, K, Hawai‘i
Matsuzawa, a Lou Groza Award finalist, led the FBS with 25 made field goals and went 25-for-26 on the season (96.2%). He matched the MW record with 26 consecutive made field goals dating back to last season. He went 11-for-11 from 40+ yards and kicked multiple game-winning and long-distance field goals, including a 52-yarder against Fresno State.
Freshman of the Year: Micah Alejado, QB, Hawai‘i
Alejado is Hawai‘i’s first MW Freshman of the Year. He completed 253 of 384 passes for 2,832 yards and 21 touchdowns despite missing two games. His 21 touchdowns are a program freshman record, and he posted consecutive 400-yard passing games earlier in the season.
Coach of the Year: Jason Eck, New Mexico
Eck becomes the second New Mexico coach to receive this honor and the first since 2002. In his debut season, he led New Mexico to a 9-3 record and a 6-2 MW mark—their best since 2016. His team won six straight to close the regular season and posted a perfect 6-0 home record, a first since 1934. The Lobos also earned their first win over a Big Ten opponent in program history.
2025 All-Mountain West Football First Team
Offense
QB Anthony Colandrea Jr. (UNLV)
WR Jackson Harris So. (Hawai‘i)
WR Danny Scudero So. (San José State)
WR Braden Pegan Jr. (Utah State)
RB Lucky Sutton Jr. (San Diego State)
RB Jai’Den Thomas Jr. (UNLV)
TE Dorian Thomas So. (New Mexico)
OL Costen Cooley Sr. (Air Force)
OL Kage Casey Jr. (Boise State)
OL Mason Randolph Sr. (Boise State)
OL Jacob Spomer Sr. (Fresno State)
OL Ross Ulugalu-Maseuli Sr. (San Diego State)
PK Kansei Matsuzawa Sr. (Hawai‘i)
KR Damon Bankston Sr. (New Mexico)
Defense
DL Jackie Johnson III Sr. (Hawai‘i)
DL Dylan LaBarbera Jr. (Nevada)
DL Keyshawn James-Newby Sr. (New Mexico)
DL Trey White Jr. (San Diego State)
LB Owen Long So. (Colorado State)
LB Jaxton Eck Jr. (New Mexico)
LB Owen Chambliss So. (San Diego State)
LB Jordan Pollard Sr. (San José State)
LB John Miller Sr. (Utah State)
DB Ty Benefield Jr. (Boise State)
DB A’Marion McCoy Sr. (Boise State)
DB Chris Johnson Sr. (San Diego State)
DB Noah Avinger Sr. (Utah State)
P Bryan Hansen Jr. (Colorado State)
PR Jordan Napier So. (San Diego State)
2025 All-Mountain West Football Second Team
Offense
QB Bryson Barnes Gr. (Utah State)
WR Pofele Ashlock Jr. (Hawai‘i)
WR Jordan Napier So. (San Diego State)
WR Jaden Bradley Sr. (UNLV)
RB Dylan Riley So. (Boise State)
RB Miles Davis Sr. (Utah State)
TE Rocky Beers Sr. (Colorado State)
OL Jack Burnett Sr. (Air Force)
OL Kaden Robnett R-Fr. (New Mexico)
OL Christian Jones Sr. (San Diego State)
OL Reid Williams Sr. (UNLV)
OL Caden Barnett Sr. (Wyoming)
PK Gabe Plascencia Sr. (San Diego State)
KR Cam Barfield Jr. (Hawai‘i)
Defense
DL Payton Zdroik Sr. (Air Force)
DL Braxton Fely Sr. (Boise State)
DL Jayden Virgin-Morgan Jr. (Boise State)
DL De’Jon Benton Gr. (Hawai‘i)
LB Blake Fletcher Jr. (Air Force)
LB Jadon Pearson Sr. (Fresno State)
LB Marsel McDuffie Sr. (UNLV)
LB Brayden Johnson Sr. (Wyoming)
DB Jeremiah Earby Sr. (Boise State)
DB Al’Zillion Hamilton Sr. (Fresno State)
DB Murvin Kenion III Sr. (Nevada)
DB Aamaris Brown Sr. (UNLV)
P Hunter Green Jr. (San Diego State)
PR Javion Kinnard Fr. (Colorado State)
2025 Honorable Mention
Air Force: Bruin Fleischmann (TE); Luke Freer (P); Cade Harris (WR); Roger Jones Jr. (DB); Liam Szarka (QB)
Boise State: Roger Carreon (OG); Oscar Doyle (P); Matt Lauter (TE)
Colorado State: Jace Bellah (S); Lemondre Joe (CB)
Fresno State: Finn Claypool (DE); Josiah Freeman (WR); Simeon Harris (DB); Deijon Laffitte (DL); Rayshon Luke (RB/PR/KR)
Hawai‘i: Micah Alejado (QB); Peter Manuma (S); Jamih Otis (LB); Elijah Palmer (DB); Zhen Sotelo (OL)
Nevada: Jett Carpenter (TE); Bailey Ettridge (P); Jace Henry (TE); Jonathan Maldonado (DE); AJ Odums (CB)
New Mexico: Brian Booker (DL); Luke Drzewiecki (PK); Daniel Hughes (P); Keagan Johnson (WR); Brett Karhu (DE)
San Diego State: Seth Adams (TE); Bayo Kannike (OG); Tano Letuli (LB); Bryce Phillips (CB); Dalesean Staley (S)
San José State: Walker Eget (QB); Gafa Faga (DL); Kyri Shoels (WR); Leland Smith (WR); Vili Taufatofua (DE)
UNLV: Tunmise Adeleye (DL); Austin Boyd (OT); Jaheem Joseph (DB); Daejon Reynolds (WR); Laterrance Welch (DB)
Utah State: Brady Boyd (WR); Brevin Hamblin (S); Gabe Iniguez Jr. (DT); Ike Larsen (S); Bronson Olevao Jr. (LB)
Wyoming: Tyrese Boss (CB); Evan Eller (LB); Ben Florentine (DL); Dainsus Miller (CB); Jack Walsh (C)