RENO, Nev. – The Nevada football team placed three players on the Mountain West Preseason All-Conference team, and the Wolf Pack was picked fourth in the West Division in the preseason media poll.

Sophomore receiver McLane Mannix, a freshman All-American in 2017, was picked for the All-Conference Preseason team, which honored 25 players with 11 on each side of the ball and three specialists. Mannix caught 57 passes for 778 yards and six touchdowns as a true freshman last year.

Senior safety Dameon Baber was picked on the defensive side along with senior linebacker Malik Reed. Baber is a two-time All-Mountain West selection, earning the honor as a true freshman in 2015 and again last season as a junior. Reed, also a two-time all-conference pick, was selected as he converts from defensive end to linebacker for his senior season.

Nevada, coming off a 3-9 record in 2017, was picked fourth in the West Division by the media panel. Fresno State was picked to win the West, followed by San Diego State, UNLV, Nevada, Hawai`i and San Jose State.

Boise State was a unanimous selection to win the Mountain Division, followed by Wyoming, Colorado State, Utah State, Air Force and New Mexico.

The preseason honorees and the media poll were announced Tuesday morning by the Mountain West as the league opens up its two-day media summit at the Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas.

Second-year head coach Jay Norvell along with team representatives Reed and quarterback Ty Gangi will take part in league social media initiatives and meet with members of the media on Wednesday.

Season tickets for the 2018 season, featuring the best home schedule in school history, are on sale now. Call (775) 348-PACK or visit NevadaWolfPack.com for more information today!

2018 MOUNTAIN WEST FOOTBALL PRESEASON ALL-CONFERENCE TEAM
Offense
QB          Brett Rypien**                   Sr.           Boise State
WR         KeeSean Johnson**           Sr.           Fresno State
WR         McLane Mannix                  So.          Nevada
RB           Alexander Mattison           Jr.           Boise State
RB           Lexington Thomas*            Sr.           UNLV
OL           Ezra Cleveland                    So.          Boise State
OL           John Molchon                     Jr.           Boise State
OL           Aaron Jenkins                     Sr.           New Mexico
OL           Keith Ismael**                    So.          San Diego State
OL           Tyler Roemer**                  So.          San Diego State
TE           Dax Raymond                     Jr.           Utah State
 
Defense
DL           David Moa**                      Sr.           Boise State
DL           Curtis Weaver*                   So.          Boise State
DL           Youhanna Ghaifan*           Jr.           Wyoming
DL           Carl Granderson*                Sr.           Wyoming
LB           Jeffrey Allison*                   Jr.           Fresno State
LB           Jahlani Tavai**                   Sr.           Hawai'i
LB           Malik Reed                          Sr.           Nevada
DB          Tyler Horton*                     Sr.           Boise State
DB          Dameon Baber**                Sr.           Nevada
DB          Tariq Thompson**             So.          San Diego State
DB          Andrew Wingard *             Sr.           Wyoming
 
Specialists
P             Ryan Stonehouse So.          Colorado State
PK           Dominik Eberle*                 Jr.           Utah State
KR/PR    Avery Williams** So.          Boise State
 
Offensive Player of the Year: Brett Rypien, Sr., QB, Boise State
Defensive Player of the Year: Andrew Wingard, Sr., DB, Wyoming
Special Teams Player of the Year: Avery Williams, So., KR/PR, Boise State
 
* - member of the 2017 All-Mountain West first team
** - member of the 2017 All-Mountain West second team
 
PREDICTED ORDER OF FINISH
Mountain Division
Rank      Team (first-place votes)    Points
1.            Boise State (22)                  132
2.            Wyoming                            95
3.            Colorado State                    82
4.            Utah State                           78
5.            Air Force                              52
6.            New Mexico                        23
 
West Division
Rank      Team (first-place votes)    Points
1.            Fresno State (16)                126
2.            San Diego State   (6)          116
3.            UNLV                                   78
4.            Nevada                                72
5.            Hawai'i                                45
6.            San José State                     25