Boise State linebacker named Mountain West Defensive Player of the Year
Boise State junior linebacker Leighton Vander Esch was named Mountain West Defensive Player of the Year on Wednesday.
The Riggins native has 113 tackles this season, as well as three sacks, two interceptions and three forced fumbles. He is the Broncos’ first conference defensive player of the year since Korey Hall in the Western Athletic Conference in 2006.
“It’s a great honor, super thankful for it, got to thank everyone around me,” Vander Esch said. “... (Hall) was always a guy I thought was awesome, seeing him fly around the field and everything.”
Vander Esch, who moved into a starting role this season after being a key backup in 2016, has six games with at least 10 tackles. His 71 solo stops are No. 2 in the Mountain West. He had eight tackles Saturday at Fresno State.
“Extremely consistent, been very productive for us, even last week, he did a lot of different things on the field,” defensive coordinator Andy Avalos said. “The stat line doesn’t always tell the story. ... He provided pressure on the quarterback, made a ton plays in the run game, did a good job in coverage.”
San Diego State’s Rashaad Penny was named offensive and special teams player of the year, Fresno State coach Jeff Tedford was named coach of the year and UNLV quarterback Armani Rogers was named freshman of the year.
Boise State had six players named first-team All-Mountain West: Vander Esch, tight end Jake Roh, center Mason Hampton, wide receiver Cedrick Wilson, STUD end Curtis Weaver and cornerback Tyler Horton.
On the Mountain West’s second team were quarterback Brett Rypien, offensive tackle Archie Lewis, STUD end Jabril Frazier, defensive tackle David Moa, safety Kekoa Nawahine and returner Avery Williams.
Earning honorable mention were offensive tackle Ezra Cleveland, offensive guard John Molchon, running back Alexander Mattison, linebacker Tyson Maeva, defensive end Durrant Miles, safety DeAndre Pierce and kicker Haden Hoggarth.
Click here for the complete all-conference teams.
...
Here is how I voted:
QUARTERBACK
Nick Stevens, Colorado State
Brett Rypien, Boise State
RUNNING BACK
Rashaad Penny, San Diego State
Lexington Thomas, UNLV
Diocemy Saint Juste, Hawai'i
Dalyn Dawkins, Colorado State
WIDE RECEIVER
Michael Gallup, Colorado State
Cedrick Wilson, Boise State
Wyatt Demps, Nevada
KeeSean Johnson, Fresno State
TIGHT END
Jake Roh, Boise State
Dalton Fackrell, Colorado State
OFFENSIVE LINE
Mason Hampton, Boise State
Jake Bennett, Colorado State
Aaron Mitchell, Fresno State
Dejon Allen, Hawai'i
Austin Corbett, Nevada
Tyler Roemer, San Diego State
Quin Ficklin, Utah State
Christian Cronk, Fresno State
Zack Golditch, Colorado State
Ezra Cleveland, Boise State
DEFENSIVE LINE
Carl Granderson, Wyoming
Malik Reed, Nevada
Curtis Weaver, Boise State
Youhanna Ghaifan, Wyoming
Jabril Frazier, Boise State
Tobenna Okeke, Fresno State
Mike Hughes Jr., UNLV
Malik Forrester, Fresno State
LINEBACKER
Leighton Vander Esch, Boise State
Frank Ginda, San Jose State
Jahlani Tavai, Hawai'i
Austin Paulhus, Nevada
Grant Ross, Air Force
Logan Wilson, Wyoming
DEFENSIVE BACK
Jalen Davis, Utah State
Andrew Wingard, Wyoming
Kekoa Nawahine, Boise State
Tariq Thompson, San Diego State
Kameron Kelly, San Diego State
Tyler Horton, Boise State
Jaron Bryant, Fresno State
Dallin Leavitt, Utah State
PLACEKICKER
Dominik Eberle, Utah State
Jimmy Camacho, Fresno State
PUNTER
Corey Bojorquez, New Mexico
Michael Carrizosa, San Jose State
RETURN SPECIALIST
Rashaad Penny, San Diego State
Avery Williams, Boise State
OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Rashaad Penny, San Diego State
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Leighton Vander Esch, Boise State
SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Rashaad Penny, San Diego State
FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR
Curtis Weaver, Boise State
COACH OF THE YEAR
Jeff Tedford, Fresno State
This story was originally published November 29, 2017 at 11:17 AM with the headline "Boise State linebacker named Mountain West Defensive Player of the Year."