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LAS VEGAS (AP) — Utah State quarterback Chuckie Keeton has been chosen preseason offensive player of the year in the Mountain West Conference a media vote, with Fresno State safety Derron Smith taking defensive player honors.
New Mexico return specialist Carlos Wiggins was tabbed preseason special teams player of the year after winning the award last season.
Keeton, a senior, threw for 1,388 yards and 18 touchdowns with two interceptions last season before a knee injury against BYU in his team's sixth game ended his season.
Smith enters his final season leading all returning FBS players with 14 career interceptions. The senior is the reigning defensive player of the year after leading the Mountain West and finishing second nationally with seven interceptions in 2013.
Wiggins was the 2013 FBS leader in kick-return yardage, finishing with a conference-best 29.6 yards per return average.
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