Aggies picked to finish 3rd in Mountain Division


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Despite having four players named to the preseason All-Conference team, the Utah State Aggie football team received no love from the media in the preseason polls.

According to the polls that were released Tuesday morning at the league's media days, the Aggies are picked to finish third in the Mountain Division, behind Boise State and Air Force.

Boise State received 27 of a possible 29 votes and 172 total points as the favorite to win the Mountain Division. Air Force received two first-place votes and 126 points as they were picked to finish second.

Defending conference champion San Diego State is the unanimous pick to win the West Division. It received 29 first-place votes and 174 points overall.

The Aztecs also swept the preseason player of the year awards. Senior running back Donnel Pumphrey, who only needs 702 yards to become the league's all-time leading rusher, was picked as the preseason Offensive Player of the Year. His teammate defensive back Damontae Kazee was picked as the preseason Defensive Player of the Year. Kazee tied the conference single-season record for interceptions in 2016 with eight. Aztecs kick returner Rashaad Penny rounded out the sweep, as he is the pick for preseason Special Teams Player of the Year.

USU offensive linemen Austin Stephens and Jake Simonich, along with defensive linemen Travis Seefeldt and Ricky Ali'ifua, were named to the preseason all-MW team.

San Diego State had six named to the preseason all-MW team, followed by USU with four. Boise State, San Jose State and Wyoming each had three players named to the preseason all-MW team. New Mexico and Colorado State had two, while Nevada and Air Force each had one.

Kyle McDonald is an avid sports fan especially for the Chicago Cubs and the Utah Valley University Wolverines. He is currently a communication major at UVU and will graduate in the spring of 2017. Email him at kyleuvu2014@gmail.com

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