July 22, 2013
Las Vegas, Nev.----- A 41-member media panel picked San Jose State University to finish third out of six teams in the Mountain West Conference's West Division football standings in 2013.
The announcement was made at the 2013 Mountain West Football Preview at the Cosmopolitan Hotel. The 12 teams have a head coach and two players sharing their views in the two-day media event. San Jose State has head coach Ron Caragher, quarterback David Fales and linebacker Keith Smith representing the program.
The Spartans have 15 returning starters including 11 all-conference players are back from a nationally-ranked, bowl-winning season a year ago. Overall, San Jose State has wins in 13 of its last 15 football games dating back to the end of the 2011 season.
Fresno State, one of three Mountain West co-champions in 2012, received 39 of 41 first-place votes to claim the top spot in the media poll. San Diego State, another of the three teams to share the 2012 Mountain West championship, edged the Spartans for second place in the West Division with one first-place vote and 181 points. San Jose State matched San Diego State with a first-place tally and garnered 172 points.
Nevada, UNLV and Hawaii rounded out the predicted finish in the West Division.
Boise State, the third co-champion from 2012, is the preseason favorite to take the Mountain Division. The Broncos received 40 of the 41 first-place votes. Utah State had the other first-place vote for Mountain Division and was a clear-cut second. Air Force, Wyoming, Colorado State and New Mexico completed the six-team media prediction for the Mountain Division.
The media panel also chose a preseason All-Mountain West team of 25 players. Wide receiver Noel Grigsby, defensive tackle Travis Raciti, linebacker Keith Smith, cornerback Bené Benwikere and kicker Austin Lopez are listed. The five San Jose State selections are second only to Fresno State's seven.
The Spartans report for 2013 preseason practice, July 31 and begins practice sessions on August 1.
2013 Mountain West Football Predicted Order of Finish
Mountain Division
1. Boise State (40) 245
2. Utah State (1) 204
3. Air Force 143
4. Wyoming 116
5. Colorado State 90
6. New Mexico 63
West Division
1. Fresno State (39) 243
2. San Diego State (1) 181
3. San Jose State (1) 172
4. Nevada 135
5. UNLV 71
6. Hawaii 59
first-place votes in parentheses
2013 Mountain West Football Preseason All-Conference Team
Offense
WR Davante Adams, Fresno State
WR Noel Grigsby, San Jose State
OL Charles Leno, Boise State
OL Mat Paradis, Boise State
OL Weston Richburg, Colorado State
OL Austin Wentworth, Fresno State
OL Tyler Larsen, Utah State
TE Marcel Jensen, Fresno State
QB Derek Carr, Fresno State
RB Kasey Carrier, New Mexico
RB Adam Muema, San Diego State
Defense
DL Damarcus Lawrence, Boise State
DL Tyler Davison, Fresno State
DL Brock Hekking, Nevada
DL Travis Raciti, San Jose State
LB Keith Smith, San Jose State
LB Jake Fely, San Diego State
LB Kyler Fackrell, Utah State
DB Bené Benwikere, San Jose State
DB Nat Berhe, San Diego State
DB Derron Smith, Fresno State
DB L.J. Jones, Fresno State
P Ben Skaer, New Mexico
PK Austin Lopez, San Jose State
RET Chase Clayton, New Mexico
Preseason Offensive Player of the Year: Derek Carr, Fresno State
Preseason Defensive Player of the Year: Derron Smith, Fresno State
Preseason Special Teams Player of the Year: Chase Clayton, New Mexico