Colorado State University Athletics
Stonehouse selected as 2019 preseason All-Mountain West punter
7/23/2019 8:00:00 AM | Football
Media votes Rams fifth in Mountain Division
FORT COLLINS, Colo. – Ryan Stonehouse opens up as the preseason pick to be the Mountain West's top punter, which makes sense, as the Colorado State junior from La Verne, Calif., closed the 2018 season as the first-team All-Mountain West selection.
The conference announced the 2019 preseason All-Mountain West team on Tuesday, the opening day of media days at Green Valley Ranch Resort. In voting conducted by those who regularly cover the league, Stonehouse was the only Ram to make the team.
His selection extends the program's streak of having at least one player make the preseason team since 2008. The past two seasons, Stonehouse has been the Rams' lone representative, continuing Colorado State's prominence at the position in the conference, as Hayden Hunt and Pete Kontodiakos previously earned the nomination dating back to 2012. Unlike his predecessors, Stonehouse has earned the nod twice.
He led the conference in gross average at 48.3 last season, ranking second nationally. It was the best single-season average in school history and boosted his career average to 47.3, which also ranks first in the CSU record book.
In his two seasons, 44 percent of his attempts have been 50 yards or longer, hitting a career-best effort of 70 yards in the win against Arkansas. He has placed 42 of his 111 punts inside the opponent's 20, having just one attempt blocked.
In other voting, the media have predicted the Rams to finish fifth in the Mountain Division standings (with 52 points), matching their finish from a season ago when they posted a 3-9 mark overall, 2-6 in conference play. Boise State was picked first, receiving 15 of 21 first-place votes, for 120 points. The Broncos were followed by Utah State, which picked up the remaining six first-place votes (108), Air Force (73), Wyoming (66), with New Mexico in sixth (22).
The projection came as no surprise to CSU coach Mike Bobo.
"Based on our performance last year, this seems about right. You are what you're record says you are, and we won two Mountain West games," Bobo said. "We feel good about the progress we've made through our EDGE program and summer conditioning. The numbers show our players are faster and they've gotten stronger. We believe we can be a really good football team, but we have to go out and prove it on the field."
Fresno State picked up 17 first-place votes to top the West Division (122), with San Diego State (three, 106), Nevada (74), Hawaii (one, 67), UNLV (51) and San Jose State (21) in order.
Utah State junior quarterback Jordan Love was chose as the offensive player of the year, headlining five selections to the preseason team for the Aggies. Boise State defensive lineman Curtis Weaver earned the distinction of the defensive player of the year, with the Broncos also totaling five players on the squad. Wyoming kicker Cooper Rothe was voted the special teams player of the year, the Cowboys' lone pick.
San Diego State had four players make the team, Fresno State three, Air Force and Nevada two each, with CSU, Hawaii, UNLV all with one player on the team.
Mountain West media days will run two days, with the West Division players and coaches on hand Tuesday. The Mountain Division concludes the sessions on Wednesday. The Rams will be represented by Bobo, quarterback Collin Hill and defensive end Emmanuel Jones.
The conference announced the 2019 preseason All-Mountain West team on Tuesday, the opening day of media days at Green Valley Ranch Resort. In voting conducted by those who regularly cover the league, Stonehouse was the only Ram to make the team.
His selection extends the program's streak of having at least one player make the preseason team since 2008. The past two seasons, Stonehouse has been the Rams' lone representative, continuing Colorado State's prominence at the position in the conference, as Hayden Hunt and Pete Kontodiakos previously earned the nomination dating back to 2012. Unlike his predecessors, Stonehouse has earned the nod twice.
He led the conference in gross average at 48.3 last season, ranking second nationally. It was the best single-season average in school history and boosted his career average to 47.3, which also ranks first in the CSU record book.
In his two seasons, 44 percent of his attempts have been 50 yards or longer, hitting a career-best effort of 70 yards in the win against Arkansas. He has placed 42 of his 111 punts inside the opponent's 20, having just one attempt blocked.
In other voting, the media have predicted the Rams to finish fifth in the Mountain Division standings (with 52 points), matching their finish from a season ago when they posted a 3-9 mark overall, 2-6 in conference play. Boise State was picked first, receiving 15 of 21 first-place votes, for 120 points. The Broncos were followed by Utah State, which picked up the remaining six first-place votes (108), Air Force (73), Wyoming (66), with New Mexico in sixth (22).
The projection came as no surprise to CSU coach Mike Bobo.
"Based on our performance last year, this seems about right. You are what you're record says you are, and we won two Mountain West games," Bobo said. "We feel good about the progress we've made through our EDGE program and summer conditioning. The numbers show our players are faster and they've gotten stronger. We believe we can be a really good football team, but we have to go out and prove it on the field."
Fresno State picked up 17 first-place votes to top the West Division (122), with San Diego State (three, 106), Nevada (74), Hawaii (one, 67), UNLV (51) and San Jose State (21) in order.
Utah State junior quarterback Jordan Love was chose as the offensive player of the year, headlining five selections to the preseason team for the Aggies. Boise State defensive lineman Curtis Weaver earned the distinction of the defensive player of the year, with the Broncos also totaling five players on the squad. Wyoming kicker Cooper Rothe was voted the special teams player of the year, the Cowboys' lone pick.
San Diego State had four players make the team, Fresno State three, Air Force and Nevada two each, with CSU, Hawaii, UNLV all with one player on the team.
Mountain West media days will run two days, with the West Division players and coaches on hand Tuesday. The Mountain Division concludes the sessions on Wednesday. The Rams will be represented by Bobo, quarterback Collin Hill and defensive end Emmanuel Jones.
Players Mentioned
Thursday, May 14
Monday, May 11
Friday, May 08
Tuesday, April 28