Note: The All-WAC teams can be found by clicking on the PDF link.
DENVER – The Western Athletic Conference announced its all-WAC teams and coach and players of the year awards as voted upon by the WAC’s nine head coaches. Boise State led the league with seven first-team all-WAC honorees, while Fresno State placed six on the first team and Hawai‘i, Louisiana Tech and Nevada each placed three. All nine schools were represented on the first team. Boise State’s Kellen Moore was named the Offensive Player of the Year, Nevada’s Dontay Moch earned Defensive Player of the Year honors, and Nevada’s Brandon Wimberly was named the Freshman of the Year. Boise State’s Chris Petersen was voted the WAC’s Coach of the Year for the second consecutive season.
Nevada had 10 players named to the first or second teams, including first-team selections Alonzo Durham, Vai Taua and Moch.
"I am very happy for the players who were honored and for their acheivements this season," Nevada coach Chris Ault said.
Moch, a junior defensive end from Chandler, Ariz. (Hamilton HS), leads the WAC and is eighth in the nation in tackles for loss with 19.5 for a loss of 92 yards on the season. He has a total of 57 tackles (35 solo), including 6.5 sacks for a loss of 49 yards. He has also broken up three passes and forced two fumbles on the year. Moch has helped lead the Nevada defense to first in the WAC in rushing defense and third in total defense. This is Nevada’s first ever WAC Defensive Player of the Year award.
"I am very proud of Dontay. He has been outstanding all year long and he is very deserving of this award," Ault said. "Wimberly has been one of our big playmakers this year and I am excited for his future."
Wimberly, a redshirt-freshman wide receiver from Los Angeles, Calif. (Gardena HS), leads Nevada and is 10th in the WAC in both receptions per game (3.8) and receiving yards per game (54.4). He has caught 46 passes for 653 yards and five touchdowns. This is Nevada’s third WAC Freshman of the Year award as running back Chance Kretschmer won it in 2001 and quarterback Colin Kaepernick won it in 2007.
"This is a great honor and I am proud of it," Wimberly said. "It's something that I share with my coaches and teammates."
Moore, a sophomore quarterback from Prosser, Wash. (Prosser HS), leads the nation in passing efficiency with a 167.35 rating. He has completed 254-of-392 passes for 3,325 yards and 39 touchdowns with just three interceptions in leading the Broncos to a perfect 13-0 record and a berth in the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl on Jan. 4. As a starter, Moore is now 25-1 in just two seasons. He was named the WAC’s Freshman of the Year last season. This is Boise State’s third WAC Offensive Player of the Year award as running back Brock Forsey won it in 2002 and quarterback Ryan Dinwiddie won it a year later.
Petersen earned his second WAC Coach of the Year award after directing Boise State to a perfect 13-0 record and the Broncos’ seventh WAC title in eight years. Petersen has racked up a record of 48-4 (31-1 WAC) in four seasons with Boise State. It is the fourth Coach of the Year award for a Boise State head coach as Dan Hawkins won it in both 2002 and 2004.
Hawai‘i’s John Estes made the first team for the third consecutive year. Other repeat first team all-WAC selections from last season include Nevada running back Vai Taua, Boise State defensive lineman Ryan Winterswyk, Louisiana Tech defensive lineman D’Anthony Smith, Boise State defensive back Kyle Wilson and San Jose State defensive back Duke Ihenacho.
Nevada placed a WAC-high seven players on the second team while Boise State, Fresno State and Idaho had four apiece.
