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The Utah football team was picked to finish second in the conference in the 2008 Mountain West Conference media poll, released today at the annual MWC Football Preview. Utah, which received 274 points and five first-place votes, is coming off a 9-4 season in 2007 that concluded with a bowl win over Navy.
Utah placed five players in six positions on the 2008 preseason all-conference team - second only to BYU, which had seven nominations and was projected to win the league title.
The 2008 Utes welcome back 16 starters, including senior Brian Johnson, who is preparing for his third season as the starting quarterback. Johnson, a preseason all-conference pick a year ago, injured his shoulder in the first game of 2007. Upon returning to the starting lineup, he led Utah to wins in eight of its last nine games and he was voted the Poinsettia Bowl Offensive MVP.
Utah returns all-conference players at every offensive position, with Johnson (2005), Conley (2007), senior receiver Brent Casteel (2006), senior running back Darrell Mack (2007) and junior offensive lineman Zane Beadles (2007) winning second-team honors. Utah's six starters returning on defense include 2007 first-teamer McCain, as well as three 2007 honorable mention all-MWC picks: Robert Johnson, Kruger and junior linebacker Stevenson Sylvester. Sakoda, as a punter, is Utah's only returning first-team all-conference player.
| **2008 Mountain West Conference Preseason Football Poll** | ||
| **Rk.** | **Team (first place votes)** | **Points** |
| 1. | BYU (29) | 299 |
| 2. | Utah (5) | 274 |
| 3. | TCU | 239 |
| 4. | New Mexico | 197 |
| 5. | Wyoming | 156 |
| 6. | Air Force | 141 |
| 7. | San Diego State | 92 |
| 8. | Colorado State | 73 |
| 9. | UNLV | 59 |
