Boise State QB Brett Rypien gets top Mountain West honor
Boise State senior quarterback Brett Rypien was named the Mountain West Offensive Player of the Year on Wednesday.
Rypien is Boise State’s first MW Offensive Player of the Year since quarterback Kellen Moore in 2011. Rypien ranks 11th nationally in pass efficiency with 29 touchdown passes and seven interceptions.
“It means a lot, couple great names, especially at quarterback, that have received that award ... great to be in that type of company,” Rypien said.
Currently with 13,456 career passing yards, Rypien is the Mountain West’s all-time leader and No. 15 in FBS history. His touchdown total is his career best, and he’s 67 yards shy of topping his best season in terms of yardage (3,646 in 2016). He also has a chance Saturday to lead Boise State to back-to-back Mountain West titles for the first time when the Broncos host Fresno State.
“It’s been everything I’ve ever dreamed of so far. We want to finish this out strong,” Rypien said.
Rypien was named All-Mountain West first team for the third time, leading seven Broncos on the 2018 team. The others: running back Alexander Mattison, offensive linemen Ezra Cleveland and John Molchon, STUD ends Jabril Frazier and Curtis Weaver and cornerback Tyler Horton.
Mattison has rushed for 1,215 yards and 16 touchdowns this season and has three consecutive games with 144 or more yards. Cleveland and Molchon, a sophomore tackle and junior guard, respectively, have started all 12 games on the left side and have allowed only four sacks combined. It’s the first first-team nod for all three.
“It’s a true honor, it’s a blessing, couldn’t have done it without those guys up front,” Mattison said.
Rypien, Frazier and Horton are the Broncos’ three senior captains. Frazier has a career-best 44 tackles and 8.5 for loss, while Horton has scored three defensive touchdowns this season (two fumbles, one interception). Weaver was honored as a first-teamer for the second time. He’s led the Mountain West in sacks in both seasons he’s played, racking up 9.5 this season.
Wide receiver Sean Modster (64 catches and 933 yards, seven TDs) made the second team. Defensive end Durrant Miles, safety Kekoa Nawahine and cornerback/return specialist Avery Williams received honorable mention.
Fresno State linebacker Jeff Allison was named Defensive Player of the Year and Utah State coach Matt Wells the Coach of the Year. Wyoming kicker Cooper Rothe was Special Teams Player of the Year and Nevada running back Toa Taua was Freshman of the Year.
OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Brett Rypien, Sr., QB, Boise State
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Jeff Allison, Jr., LB, Fresno State
SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Cooper Rothe, Jr., PK, Wyoming
FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR
Toa Taua, RB, Nevada
COACH OF THE YEAR
Matt Wells, Utah State
2018 ALL-MOUNTAIN WEST FOOTBALL FIRST TEAM
OFFENSE
Pos. Player Cl. Team
QB Brett Rypien** Sr. Boise State
WR Preston Williams Jr. Colorado State
WR John Ursua Jr. Hawai‘i
RB Alexander Mattison Jr. Boise State
RB Nico Evans Sr. Wyoming
TE Josh Oliver Sr. San José State
OL Ezra Cleveland So. Boise State
OL John Molchon Jr. Boise State
OL Christian Cronk Sr. Fresno State
OL Keith Ismael So. San Diego State
OL Quin Ficklin Sr. Utah State
PK Cooper Rothe Jr. Wyoming
PR/KR Savon Scarver So. Utah State
DEFENSE
Pos. Player Cl. Team
DL Jabril Frazier Sr. Boise State
DL Curtis Weaver* So. Boise State
DL Mykal Walker Jr. Fresno State
DL Korey Rush Sr. Nevada
LB Jeff Allison* Jr. Fresno State
LB Malik Reed* Sr. Nevada
LB Kyahva Tezino Jr. San Diego State
DB Tyler Horton* Sr. Boise State
DB Tank Kelly Sr. Fresno State
DB Dakari Monroe Sr. San José State
DB Andrew Wingard** Sr. Wyoming
P Ryan Stonehouse So. Colorado State
*Two-Time First-Team Selection | **Three-Time First-Team Selection
2018 ALL-MOUNTAIN WEST FOOTBALL SECOND-TEAM
OFFENSE
Pos. Player Cl. Team
QB Jordan Love So. Utah State
WR Sean Modster Sr. Boise State
WR KeeSean Johnson* Sr. Fresno State
RB Lexington Thomas Sr. UNLV
RB Darwin Thompson Jr. Utah State
TE Jared Rice Jr. Fresno State
OL Griffin Landrum Sr. Air Force
OL Micah St. Andrew Sr. Fresno State
OL Aaron Jenkins Sr. New Mexico
OL Ryan Pope Sr. San Diego State
OL Roman Andrus Sr. Utah State
PK John Baron II Sr. San Diego State
PR/KR Marcus Hayes Fr. New Mexico
DEFENSE
Pos. Player Cl. Team
DL Jordan Jackson So. Air Force
DL Kaimana Padello Jr. Hawai‘i
DL Bryson Bridges Sr. San José State
DL Carl Granderson Sr. Wyoming
LB Josh Watson Sr. Colorado State
LB Tipa Galeai Jr. Utah State
LB David Woodward So. Utah State
DB Mike Bell Jr. Fresno State
DB Juju Hughes Jr. Fresno State
DB Tariq Thompson* So. San Diego State
DB Jontrell Rocquemore Sr. Utah State
P Blake Cusick Jr. Fresno State
This story was originally published November 28, 2018 at 11:19 AM.