The Mountain West Conference released on Wednesday its 2023 Preseason Predicted Order of Finish and Preseason All-Conference Team as selected by Mountain West media members. Wyoming was picked to finish sixth in the 12-team Mountain West Conference and five Cowboys were named to the Preseason MW First Team led by junior linebacker Easton Gibbs, who was named the Preseason Defensive Player of the Year. The announcement kicked off 2023 Mountain West Media Days being held at the Circa Resort and Casino in Las Vegas.

Joining Gibbs on the MW First Team were: junior defensive tackle Jordan Bertagnole, graduate offensive tackle Frank Crum, junior defensive end DeVonne Harris and junior place-kicker John Hoyland. Wyoming’s five selections were the most of any team, followed by four selections each for Air Force, Colorado State and San Diego State.

Gibbs and Hoyland were First Team All-MW selections at the conclusion of the 2022 season in voting by MW head coaches and media. Harris was a 2022 Honorable Mention All-Mountain West honoree.

Gibbs becomes the first MW Preseason Defensive Player of the Year since former Cowboy safety Andrew Wingard was the preseason selection prior to both the 2017 and 2018 seasons. The most recent Cowboy to earn any of the Preseason Player of the Year honors was former place-kicker Cooper Rothe, who was named the Preseason Special Teams Player of the Year prior to the 2019 season.

Wyoming is being represented by coach Craig Bohl, junior linebacker Gibbs and graduate quarterback Andrew Peasley.

The Wyoming Cowboys will report for fall camp on Tuesday, Aug. 1 and will begin practice on Wednesday, Aug. 2. Wyoming will kick off the 2023 season on Saturday, Sept. 2 vs. Texas Tech in Laramie.

2022 MOUNTAIN WEST PREDICTED ORDER OF FINISH

Rank — Team (First-place Votes) — Points

1 — Boise State (28) — 433

2 — Air Force (2) — 364

3 — Fresno State (5) — 351

4 — San Diego State (1) — 338

5 — San José State — 293

6 — Wyoming — 281

7 — Colorado State — 201

8 — Utah State — 194

9 — UNLV (1) — 177

10 — Hawai’i — 102

11 — Nevada — 92

12 — New Mexico — 60

2023 MOUNTAIN WEST FOOTBALL PRESEASON ALL-CONFERENCE TEAM

Offense

QB — Chevan Cordeiro ** Sr. — San José State

WR Tory Horton* Sr. — Colorado State

WR — Justin Lockhart Jr. — San José State

RB — John Lee Eldridge III Sr. — Air Force

RB — George Holani** Sr. — Boise State

OL — Thor Paglialong Sr. — Air Force

OL — Cade Beresford** Sr. — Boise State

OL — Mose Vavao Sr. — Fresno State

OL — Cade Bennett** Jr. — San Diego State

OL — Frank Crum Sr. — Wyoming

TE — Mark Redman Sr. — San Diego State

Defense

DL — Payton Zdroik Jr. — Air Force

DL — Mohamed Kamara** Sr. — Colorado State

DL — Devo Bridges Sr. — Fresno State

DL — Jordan Bertagnole Jr. — Wyoming

DL — DeVonne Harris Jr. — Wyoming

LB — DJ Schramm** Sr. — Boise State

LB — Cody Moon Jr. — San Diego State

LB — Easton Gibbs* Jr. — Wyoming

DB — Trey Taylor Sr. — Air Force

DB — Jack Howell* Jr. — Colorado State

DB — Cam Stone Sr. — Hawai’i

DB — Ike Larsen** So. — Utah State

Specialists

P — Jack Browning* Sr. — San Diego State

PK — John Hoyland* Jr. — Wyoming

PR — Tory Horton Sr. — Colorado State

KR — Christian Washington So. — New Mexico

* - member of the 2022 All-Mountain West first team 

** - member of the 2022 All-Mountain West second team

Offensive Player of the Year: Chevan Cordeiro, Sr., QB, San José State

Defensive Player of the Year: Easton Gibbs, Jr., LB, Wyoming

Special Teams Player of the Year: Jack Browning, Sr., PK/P, San Diego State