Gallup tops list of Rams named to all-conference team

The Mountain West released its all-conference football teams Tuesday and features eight players from Colorado State. The Rams put a trio on the first-team, as well as two on the second-team. Three others were named honorable mention.

Michael Gallup, Hayden Hunt and Fred Zerblis received the honor for being at the top of their position in the Mountain West.

At the beginning of the season, very few people had even heard of Gallup. But the junior wide receiver skyrocketed to the top of major statistical categories particularly since Nick Stevens took over for Collin Hill at quarterback. Gallup leads all Mountain West receivers with 11 touchdowns, while his 70 receptions and 1,164 receiving yards rank second.

Stevens’ favorite target is averaging an eye-popping 148.5 yards and 1.5 touchdowns per game over the past four.

Hunt’s recognition comes with no surprise. The senior was named the Ray Guy Award national punter of the week twice. What distinguishes Hunt’s season from others is that he successfully converted back-to-back on-side kicks in the same game and also pulled off two fake punts early in the season.

The first-team selection for Zerblis signifies the job that the offensive line did for the Rams in 2016. The right guard served as a veteran leader for Mike Bobo’s offense and helped open up holes for a trio of running backs that have given opponents fits the last five games.

CSU center Jake Bennett, named to the conference’s all-second team, couldn’t have dealt any better with the quarterback carousel at the beginning of the season. He, along with Zerblis, anchored an offensive line that paved the way for an unstoppable running game during the final stretch of 2016.

Senior linebacker Kevin Davis also got a nod to the MW’s all-second team. The numbers of the Fountain-Fort Carson product can’t be ignored – 101 tackles, 9.5 tackles for loss, four forced fumbles, one fumble recovery and an interception. Davis was also the lone bright spot in a blowout loss to CU, recording 19 tackles.

Defensive coordinator Marty English and Bobo credited Davis numerous times during the season for the job he did in coaching up the young players.

Offensive linemen Nick Callender and Paul Thurston, as well as Stevens received honorable mention accolades. Of the three, the recognition of Stevens is the most noteworthy.

The junior had a nightmare start to the season against the Buffaloes, before losing his job to Faton Bauta. But since reclaiming the starter’s job, nobody in the Mountain West has been better than Stevens. He’s completed nearly 72 percent of his passes for 1,414 yards and 14 touchdowns and just one interception.

Stevens and the rest of the Rams currently await the destination of their bowl game, which will be announced Sunday.