In a surprise to nobody, Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty was named the Mountain West Offensive Player of the Year on Tuesday while coach Spencer Danielson was named the Mountain West Coach of the Year as part of the 2024 All-Mountain West Postseason Awards.
Boise State also had seven first-team All-Mountain West selections in tight end Matt Lauter, offensive linemen Ben Dooley and Kage Casey, defensive linemen Ahmed Hassanein and Jayden Virgin-Morgan and linebacker Marco Notarainni, two second-team selections in defensive back Seyi Oladipo and defensive lineman Braxton Fely and five honorable mention picks in Ty Benefield, Alex Teubner, Maddux Madsen, Cam Camper and Jonah Dalmas.
It’s the second straight Offensive Player of the Year Award for Jeanty, who is also a finalist for the Doak Walker Award and likely to soon be named a finalist for the Heisman Trophy.
Here’s the full release from Boise State:
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty was named Mountain West Offensive Player of the Year for the second-consecutive year and Spencer Danielson was named MW Coach of the Year as the conference announced its 2024 All-MW selections and superlative awards.
Jeanty was also a unanimous All-MW first team selection. Joining him on the first team were tight end Matt Lauter, offensive linemen Kage Casey and Ben Dooley, defensive linemen Ahmed Hassanein and Jayden Virgin-Morgan, and linebacker Marco Notarainni. Defensive lineman Braxton Fely and defensive back Seyi Oladipo were recognized on the All-MW second team. Rounding out the selections were honorable mention picks Ty Benfield, Cameron Camper, Jonah Dalmas, Maddux Madsen and Alexander Teubner.
Jeanty has produced some of the greatest rushing numbers in FBS history, running for 2,288 yards and 28 touchdowns. His rushing yards total is the fifth-highest single-season total in FBS history and set the Boise State and Mountain West records. He has recorded 1,695 yards after contact and 130 missed tackles forced, both College Football Playoff-era records (since 2014). The 1,695 yards after contact are more than the total rushing yards of any other FBS player this season. The junior was named a finalist for the Doak Walker, Maxwell and Walter Camp Awards. He is the sixth player to earn multiple MW Offensive Player of the Year honors and first running back since San Diego State’s Donnel Pumphrey (2015-16). The HEI2MAN candidate is the third Bronco to be named Offensive Player of the Year by his conference, joining quarterbacks Bart Hendricks (Big West, 1999-00) and Kellen Moore (WAC, 2009-10; MW, 2011).
Danielson has guided Boise State to a 11-1 overall record and 7-0 mark in conference play in his first full season as head coach. The Broncos are ranked No. 10 in the AP and Coaches Polls, the highest they’ve been since the end of the 2011 campaign. Last week, Boise State was tabbed No. 11 in the College Football Playoff rankings, the highest spot in program history. Danielson is the fifth Bronco head coach to win conference coach of the year. He and Chris Petersen (WAC, 2006) are the lone coaches to achieve this feat in their first season at the helm.
Lauter leads MW tight ends in receptions (38), yards (461) and touchdowns (6), with his six receiving touchdowns ranking sixth among all conference pass-catchers. He is the first Bronco tight end with over 450 receiving yards since Jeb Putzier had 824 in 2001. The redshirt junior also leads MW tight ends in yards after catch (310) and first downs (25). This is the first All-MW selection for Lauter.
Casey leads all MW tackles in Pro Football Focus overall grade (90.0), run blocking grade (84.5) and pass blocking grade (89.4). He has not allowed a sack in 370 opportunities and has played a team-high 802 offensive snaps. The redshirt sophomore’s overall PFF grade is second-highest among all FBS tackles who have played over 700 snaps. The Broncos have the nation’s fifth-best total offense (478.3 ypg) and allow less than one sack per game. This is Casey’s second All-MW selection after earning second team honors in 2023.
Dooley ranks second among MW guards with a PFF overall grade of 75.7. He has allowed one sack in 358 opportunities and has not been penalized this season. The Broncos average 40.6 points per game, ranking third in the nation, and 253.3 rushing yards per game, sixth-most in the country. Boise State also ranks third in turnovers lost (8) and sixth in 3rd down conversion rate (50.0%). This is Dooley’s second All-MW selection after earning second team honors in 2021.
Hassanein has produced another dominant pass-rushing season. He recorded 8.5 sacks, ranking third in the conference, and 12.5 tackles for loss, fourth in the MW. The senior compiled 13 quarterback hits, the fourth-most in the nation, and 51 pressures, ranking seventh in the country. He captains a Bronco defense that tallied 45 sacks, second-most in the FBS this season. This is the second-straight year Hassanein has earned All-MW first team honors.
Virgin-Morgan has had an elite pass-rushing season of his own, ranking second in the MW and 16th in the nation with 9.0 sacks. He also has a team-high 13.5 tackles for loss, placing him third in the conference. The redshirt sophomore has forced one fumble and recovered another, contributing to a Boise State defense that leads the MW with 12 fumbles forced. This is the first All-MW selection for Virgin-Morgan.
Notarainni has a PFF overall grade of 78.4, second among MW linebackers. He also ranks second in rush defense grade (83.9). The redshirt junior has totaled 53 tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss and 1.0 sack. He is tied for the conference lead with two fumbles recovered. He is also a standout performer on special teams, ranking third in the MW with seven special teams tackles and converting on a fake punt with a 6-yard rush. This is the second All-MW honor of Notarainni’s career. He was named honorable mention in 2023.
Fely leads all MW defensive tackles with 5.5 sacks, ranking fifth in the entire conference. He is fifth among MW defensive tackles with 21 pressures and finished the regular season with 8.0 tackles for loss. The junior anchors a front that has helped Boise State limit opponents to 106.6 rushing yards per game, ranking second in the MW and 17th in the nation. The Broncos rank second nationally in sacks (45) and sixth in tackles for loss (93). This is Fely’s first All-MW honor.
Oladipo is one of the best pass-rushing defensive backs in the nation, tying for the FBS lead with 5.5 sacks. He is tied with Fely for fifth in the conference in sacks, contributing to a group that ranks 16th in the country with 206 total pressures. The senior has 15 of those pressures, most in the MW among safeties. Of his 53 tackles, 39 have been solo and eight have been for loss. He also has a pair of pass breakups. This is the second All-MW award for Oladipo, who was an honorable mention selection in 2023.
Benefield is one of two MW players with multiple interceptions (2) and fumble recoveries (2). He has played a team-high 766 defensive snaps, totaling a team-high 65 tackles, including 49 solo. He has 3.5 tackles for loss and three pass breakups. The sophomore also has one forced fumble and has been on the field for 146 special teams plays. This is the first All-MW honor of Benfield’s career.
Camper has been Boise State’s top receiver this season, catching 51 passes for 811 yards and four touchdowns. He had multiple catches in every regular season game, including a seven-reception, 111-yard effort at Hawai’i. The fifth year has 12 receptions of 20+ yards and four of 30+ yards. Camper averages 15.9 yards per catch, ranking fifth in the MW, and has gained 38 first downs, ranking sixth in the conference. This is the first All-MW selection for Camper.
Dalmas ranks second in the MW with a 81.3% success rate on field goals, making 13-of-16. He is second among conference kickers with 99 points, a mark that places him fourth among all players. He is 60-for-60 on PAT, the second-most makes in the FBS. The fifth year holds the school and conference career records for field goals (93), field goal percentage (87.7%) and points (503). This is the fifth time Dalmas has earned All-MW honors. He was named first team in 2021, second team in 2023 and honorable mention in 2020 and 2022.
Madsen is one of the most productive quarterbacks in the conference, ranking second in passing efficiency at 144.9. He leads the MW with 21 touchdown passes and threw just three interceptions, the best ratio among FBS quarterbacks with at least 20 touchdowns. The redshirt sophomore finished the regular season completing 206-of-334 passes (61.7%) for 2,556 yards. He added 215 yards and four touchdowns on the ground and was a member of the Davey O’Brien Class of 2024. This is Madsen’s first All-MW selection.
Teubner has a coverage grade of 83.9 that ranks second among MW safeties with at least 450 snaps. He has 49 total tackles, including 3.5 for loss and one solo sack. He has forced two fumbles, recovered one and tallied an interception. The sixth year has a pair of pass breakups and is tied for third among MW safeties with eight pressures. He captains a Boise State defense that leads the conference in sacks (45) and tackles for loss (93). This is the second-straight year Teubner has earned honorable mention All-MW.
No. 11/10/10 Boise State will host No. 22/19/19 UNLV in the 2024 Old Trapper Mountain West Championship at 6 p.m. on Friday. The game will be televised on FOX. The network’s Big Noon Kickoff crew will broadcast a pregame show on The Blue, beginning at 5 p.m.
