Trio of Rams named to preseason All-Mountain West team

LAS VEGAS — Colorado State is well represented on the 2023 preseason All-Mountain West team. Wide receiver Tory Horton, defensive lineman Mohamed Kamara and safety Jack Howell were all recognized as preseason all-conference selections.

In addition to being chosen as a wide receiver, Horton was also honored as a punt returner. With four spots on the preseason all-conference team, CSU tied with Air Force, San Diego State and Wyoming for the most in the Mountain West. Boise State, who was once again tabbed preseason favorites, had the next most with three. Meanwhile the Rams are projected to finish seventh — just ahead of Utah State and just behind Wyoming.

The Rams

Horton is coming off an impressive junior campaign in which he paced the Green & Gold with 71 receptions for 1,131 yards and eight touchdowns. He also averaged 15.5 yards per punt return and took one 72 yards to the house in a narrow loss against Wyoming. Entering the 2023 season, he’s widely viewed as the top offensive prospect in the league.

Kamara, like Horton, hopes to continue to boost his NFL stock after a breakout 2022 campaign. The fifth-year graduate student recorded 16 tackles for loss and 8.5 sacks in his first full season as a starter last fall.

Finally, last but not least, Howell returns for his junior year after leading all defensive backs in the country with 108 tackles. Howell tied for the team lead in interceptions (3) and forced a fumble in 2022 too. He is easily one of the most productive defensive backs in the FBS and will have a ton of scouts paying attention to him this fall.

Preseason Projected Order of Finish

1. Boise State (28)
2. Air Force (2)
3. Fresno State (5)
4. San Diego State (1)
5. San Jose State
6. Wyoming
7. CSU
8. Utah State
9. UNLV (1)
10. Hawai’i
11. Nevada
12. New Mexico

Preseason All-Mountain West

Offense

QB Chevan Cordeiro (San Jose State)

RB George Holani (Boise State)

RB John Lee Eldridge III (Air Force)

WR Tory Horton (Colorado State)

WR Justin Lockhart (San Jose State)

TE Mark Redman (San Diego State)

OL Thor Pagialong (Air Force)

OL Cade Beresford (Boise State)

OL Mose Vavao (Fresno State)

OL Cade Bennett (San Diego State)

OL Frank Crum (Wyoming)

Defense

DL Payton Zdroik (Air Force)

DL Mohamed Kamara (Colorado State)

DL Devo Bridges (Fresno State)

DL Jordan Bertagnole (Wyoming)

DL DeVonne Harris (Wyoming)

LB DJ Schramm (Boise State)

LB Easton Gibbs (Wyoming)

LB Cody Moon (San Diego State)

DB Trey Taylor (Air Force)

DB Jack Howell (Colorado State)

DB Cam Stone (Hawai’i)

DB Ike Larsen (Utah State)

Specialists

K John Hoyland (Wyoming)

P Jack Browning (San Diego State)

PR Tory Horton (Colorado State)

KR Christian Washington (New Mexico)

Preseason Awards

Offensive Player of the Year: QB Chevan Cordeiro (San Jose State)

Defensive Player of the Year: LB Easton Gibbs (Wyoming)

Special Teams Player of the Year: P/K Jack Browning (San Diego State)