RENO, Nev. - Nevada Football boasted five selections to Phil Steele's Preseason All-Mountain West First Team as the eponymous college football preseason annual dropped this week.

The Wolf Pack's five first-team picks matches New Mexico for the most in the conference, with Nevada represented over the four all-conference teams by 12 players total.

EDGE Dylan LaBarbera, a returning member of the 2025 All-Mountain West First Team and the Wolf Pack's leader in tackles, sacks, and tackles-for-loss, was joined on Phil Steele's First Team by offensive lineman Jack Foster, defensive back Aiden Walker, kicker Joe McFadden and long snapper Cian Stack.

Returning linebacker EJ Smith was joined by two Wolf Pack newcomers in wide receiver Gary Givens III and offensive lineman Ethan Newman on the Second Team, while another member of The Union, Zach Cochnauer, earned a spot on the Third Team.

Running back Herschel Turner, defensive lineman Logologo Va'a and defensive back Bryson Snelling were all named to the Fourth Team.

LaBarbera, who also earned spots on HERO Sports Group of Five All-America Team and Pro Football Focus (PFF) All-Group of Six Team for his performance last season, finished last season tied for eighth in the country with 17.0 tackles-for-loss and sixth with 1.42 TFLs per game.

Walker made an immediate impact for the Wolf Pack defense as a freshman in 2025. The Round Rock, Texas native appeared in 11 games with two starts, making 24 tackles including one for loss. Walker quickly locked down a corner spot against opposing offenses, turning back challenges and establishing himself as one of the Mountain West's top returning defensive backs in 2026.

Foster and Cochnauer established themselves as anchors of The Union in 2025, bookending the Wolf Pack line. Foster, who started all 12 games last season and was named the team's Basalite Big Blocker Award winner by coaching staff, firmed up the left-tackle spot last season while Cochnauer held down right tackle while starting 11 games. Newman played the 2025 season at Memphis, appearing in 12 games and made one start after appearing in 16 games with one start for Kennesaw State from 2023-24.

McFadden and Stack boost the Wolf Pack special teams with their returns in 2026. McFadden's 19 field goals a season ago ranked eighth in Nevada's single-season records, and he was a perfect 20-for-20 on PAT attempts. Stack took on a significant role as a true freshman in 2025, earning the job of Nevada's long snapper straight out of fall camp. The rookie from Reno handled both punt and field-goal/PAT snapping duties the entire season and his return boosts the Wolf Pack special teams unit in 2026. 

Smith will return to his linebacker spot in 2026 looking to build off a promising 2025 campaign which was cut short due to injury after seven games. His impact was felt for the Pack over that first half of the season as Smith had 29 tackles with two interceptions and a forced fumble prior to his campaign's abrupt end.

Givens will make his Wolf Pack debut in 2026 after spending the previous two seasons at NIU and Valparaiso, respectively. For the Huskies in 2025, Givens made nine catches for 100 yards and a touchdown following a freshman campaign at Valparaiso during which he caught 23 balls for 352 yards.

Three Wolf Pack returners made Steele's Fourth Team, with the offense represented by Turner who averaged 5.1 yards per carry, going for 353 yards on 69 attempts while starting four of the 10 games in which he appeared. Defensive lineman Logologo Va'a emerged as one of the Wolf Pack's key run-stoppers last season, sharing a sack and recording 2.5 tackles-for-loss while appearing in 11 games, while Snelling was another emerging contributor in the defensive backfield, starting the final three games at cornerback and picking off a pass while breaking up four more including the game-winning breakup in the Pack's win at Wyoming.

Nevada opens the 2026 campaign with two home contests, and three in September. The Wolf Pack hosts New Orleans Bowl champion Western Kentucky Saturday, September 5 at 7:30 p.m. followed by the reigning FCS champion Montana State Bobcats coming to Reno for a 7:30 p.m. kickoff Saturday, Sept. 12. Two weeks later, the Mountain West slate kicks off as Nevada hosts Air Force Saturday, Sept. 26.

Season tickets and parking for the 2026 Nevada Football campaign are now on sale. General Admission season tickets start at $135 for adults and just $100 each if when purchasing the Family 4-Pack. The Family 4-Pack includes four General Admission season tickets and complimentary parking for only $400. Season tickets for the 2026 season can be purchased HERE.

For more information, call 775-348-PACK. Fans can take advantage of signing up for a convenient interest-free payment plan upon purchasing season tickets.

Phil Steele 2026 Preseason All-Mountain West selections
First Team
OT Jack Foster
EDGE Dylan LaBarbera
CB Aiden Walker
K Joe McFadden
LS Cian Stack

Second Team
WR Gary Givens III
OG Ethan Newman
LB EJ Smith

Third Team
OT Zach Cochnauer

Fourth Team
RB Herschel Turner
DL Logologo Va'a
CB Bryson Snelling