Colorado State University Athletics
Arkin Selected Preseason All-Mountain West
7/21/2022 9:16:00 AM | Football
Redshirt freshman expected to step into McBride’s former role
LAS VEGAS, Nev. – Tanner Arkin has big shoes to fill, and the local product quietly is going about the task. As of Thursday, there will be a few more eyes watching the progression of Colorado State's redshirt freshman tight end out of Fossil Ridge High School in Fort Collins as he was selected the Preseason All-Mountain West tight end.
Arkin, who played the final three games of 2021 and recorded his first catch in the season-finale with Nevada, is the only Ram to make the team. He is also the only non-senior among those selected on offense and defense, with a pair of junior specialists named.
The Rams have had at least one player selected to the preseason team since 2009. The voting was conducted among 28 media members who cover the conference.
Arkin is projected to fill the tight end spot held a season ago by John Mackey Award winner Trey McBride, who was then selected in the second round of the NFL Draft by the Arizona Cardinals. McBride became the program's first unanimous All-American and just the second major award winner, following the 1994 selection of Greg Myers for the Jim Thorpe Award.
The Preseason All-Mountain West team was selected by a 28-member media panel which covers the conference. San Diego State led the selections with eight players, including co-Defensive Player of the Year, defensive back Patrick McMorris; he shared the honor with San Jose State lineman Cade Hall. Fresno State quarterback Jake Haener was tabbed as the Offensive Player of the Year, while his teammate, returner Jordan Byrd, was picked as the Special Teams Player of the Year.
The preseason team features eight first-team selection for the end of the 2021 campaign and six who were named second-team.
2022 MOUNTAIN WEST FOOTBALL PRESEASON ALL-CONFERENCE TEAM
Offense
QB Jake Haener** Sr. Fresno State
WR Jalen Cropper** Sr. Fresno State
WR Jesse Matthews Sr. San Diego State
RB Brad Roberts* Sr. Air Force
RB Jordan Mims Sr. Fresno State
OL Isaac Cochran Sr. Air Force
OL John Ojukwu* Sr. Boise State
OL Dontae Bull Sr. Fresno State
OL Aaron Frost** Sr. Nevada
OL Alama Uluave Sr. San Diego State
TE Tanner Arkin RS-Fr. Colorado State
Defense
DL Scott Matlock Sr. Boise State
DL Keshawn Banks** Sr. San Diego State
DL Jonah Tavai Sr. San Diego State
DL Viliami Fehoko* Sr. San José State
DL Cade Hall Sr. San José State
LB Vince Sanford** Sr. Air Force
LB Caden McDonald* Sr. San Diego State
LB Kyle Harmon* Sr. San José State
DB JL Skinner** Sr. Boise State
DB Evan Williams Sr. Fresno State
DB Jerrick Reed II Sr. New Mexico
DB Patrick McMorris* Sr. San Diego State
Specialists
P Aaron Rodriguez Jr. New Mexico
PK Jonah Dalmas* Jr. Boise State
PR Jordan Byrd Sr. San Diego State
KR Jordan Byrd* Sr. San Diego State
Offensive Player of the Year: Jake Haener, Sr., QB, Fresno State
Co-Defensive Player of the Year: Patrick McMorris, Sr., DB, San Diego State and Cade Hall, Sr., DL, San José State
Special Teams Player of the Year: Jordan Byrd, Sr., PR/KR, San Diego State
* - member of the 2021 All-Mountain West first team
** - member of the 2021 All-Mountain West second team
Arkin, who played the final three games of 2021 and recorded his first catch in the season-finale with Nevada, is the only Ram to make the team. He is also the only non-senior among those selected on offense and defense, with a pair of junior specialists named.
The Rams have had at least one player selected to the preseason team since 2009. The voting was conducted among 28 media members who cover the conference.
Arkin is projected to fill the tight end spot held a season ago by John Mackey Award winner Trey McBride, who was then selected in the second round of the NFL Draft by the Arizona Cardinals. McBride became the program's first unanimous All-American and just the second major award winner, following the 1994 selection of Greg Myers for the Jim Thorpe Award.
The Preseason All-Mountain West team was selected by a 28-member media panel which covers the conference. San Diego State led the selections with eight players, including co-Defensive Player of the Year, defensive back Patrick McMorris; he shared the honor with San Jose State lineman Cade Hall. Fresno State quarterback Jake Haener was tabbed as the Offensive Player of the Year, while his teammate, returner Jordan Byrd, was picked as the Special Teams Player of the Year.
The preseason team features eight first-team selection for the end of the 2021 campaign and six who were named second-team.
2022 MOUNTAIN WEST FOOTBALL PRESEASON ALL-CONFERENCE TEAM
Offense
QB Jake Haener** Sr. Fresno State
WR Jalen Cropper** Sr. Fresno State
WR Jesse Matthews Sr. San Diego State
RB Brad Roberts* Sr. Air Force
RB Jordan Mims Sr. Fresno State
OL Isaac Cochran Sr. Air Force
OL John Ojukwu* Sr. Boise State
OL Dontae Bull Sr. Fresno State
OL Aaron Frost** Sr. Nevada
OL Alama Uluave Sr. San Diego State
TE Tanner Arkin RS-Fr. Colorado State
Defense
DL Scott Matlock Sr. Boise State
DL Keshawn Banks** Sr. San Diego State
DL Jonah Tavai Sr. San Diego State
DL Viliami Fehoko* Sr. San José State
DL Cade Hall Sr. San José State
LB Vince Sanford** Sr. Air Force
LB Caden McDonald* Sr. San Diego State
LB Kyle Harmon* Sr. San José State
DB JL Skinner** Sr. Boise State
DB Evan Williams Sr. Fresno State
DB Jerrick Reed II Sr. New Mexico
DB Patrick McMorris* Sr. San Diego State
Specialists
P Aaron Rodriguez Jr. New Mexico
PK Jonah Dalmas* Jr. Boise State
PR Jordan Byrd Sr. San Diego State
KR Jordan Byrd* Sr. San Diego State
Offensive Player of the Year: Jake Haener, Sr., QB, Fresno State
Co-Defensive Player of the Year: Patrick McMorris, Sr., DB, San Diego State and Cade Hall, Sr., DL, San José State
Special Teams Player of the Year: Jordan Byrd, Sr., PR/KR, San Diego State
* - member of the 2021 All-Mountain West first team
** - member of the 2021 All-Mountain West second team
Players Mentioned
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