Utah and BYU were shut out of the Mountain West Conference football awards announced Tuesday, but a total of 25 Utes and Cougars were recognized by the league.
TCU, which is which is undefeated and bound for a BCS bowl for the second consecutive season, and San Diego State, which is going to a bowl for the first time in 12 years, dominated the MWC honors.
Horned Frog senior quarterback Andy Dalton earned the offensive player of the year award after throwing for 2,638 yards and 26 touchdowns. Dalton's teammate, linebacker Tank Carder, was named defensive player of the year. Special teams player of the year honors went to TCU's Jeremy Kerley, who beat out Utah's Shaky Smithson.
SDSU coach Brady Hoke engineered an impressive turnaround for his program this season and he received the coach of the year award. Aztec running back Ronnie Hillman, who rushed for 1,300 yards and 14 touchdowns, was the league's freshman of the year.
The All-MWC first-team offense included Utah offensive linemen Caleb Schlauderaff and Zane Taylor; Ute placekicker Joe Phillips; and BYU offensive lineman Matt Reynolds.
The first-team defense featured defensive lineman Vic So'oto and safety Andrew Rich from BYU and Utah defensive lineman Christian Cox. The Utes continued their streak of 10 consecutive seasons with a first-team all-MWC defensive lineman.
The Utes placed wide receiver Jereme Brooks, offensive lineman Tony Bergstrom, and Smithson on the All-MWC second-team offense while defensive back Brandon Burton, who blocked a last-second field goal to preserve a 17-16 victory over BYU last Saturday, and linebacker Chaz Walker were on the second-team defense.
"I think we had fairly good representation," said Utah coach Kyle Whittingham.
Running back JJ Di Luigi was the lone Cougar on the All-MWC second-team.
Reynolds, who has given up just one sack from his left tackle spot this season, made the All-MWC first-team for the second consecutive season. Rich, who was a second-team All-MWC selection last year, leads the Cougars in tackles, solo tackles, assisted tackles, interceptions, forced fumbles, fumble recoveries and pass breakups. So'oto also earned first-team honors for the first time in his career after leading the Cougars in sacks and quarterback hurries. Di Luigi is No. 2 in the MWC in receiving and rushing yards combined and No. 3 in rushing yards per game and all-purpose yards per game.
"Our players honored are all very deserving," said BYU head coach Bronco Mendenhall. "This recognition highlights their strong contributions to our football team."
Five Utah players received honorable mention: defensive backs Brian Blechen and Lamar Chapman; wide receiver DeVonte Christopher; linebacker Matt Martinez; and defensive lineman Sealver Siliga.
For BYU, wide receiver Luke Ashworth, offensive linemen Terence Brown, Jason Speredon and Braden Hansen; linebacker Shane Hunter; cornerback Brian Logan; and kicker Mitch Payne all received honorable mention.
The all-conference team was voted on by the nine league coaches and a media panel.
OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Andy Dalton, Sr., QB, TCU
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Tank Carder, Jr., LB, TCU
SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Jeremy Kerley, Sr., KR/PR, TCU
FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR
Ronnie Hillman, RB, San Diego State
COACH OF THE YEAR
Brady Hoke, San Diego State
2010 All-Mountain West Football First-Team
Offense
Pos..........Player..........Class..........School
QB..........Andy Dalton*#..........Sr..........TCU
WR..........Vincent Brown..........Sr..........San Diego State
WR..........DeMarco Sampson..........Sr..........San Diego State
RB..........Ronnie Hillman..........Fr..........San Diego State
RB..........Ed Wesley..........So..........TCU
TE..........Lucas Reed..........So..........New Mexico
OL..........Matt Reynolds*..........Jr..........BYU
OL..........Jake Kirkpatrick..........Sr...........TCU
OL..........Marcus Cannon*..........Sr..........TCU
OL..........Caleb Schlauderaff..........Sr..........Utah
OL..........Zane Taylor..........Sr...........Utah
PK..........Joe Phillips..........Sr...........Utah
KR/PR..........Jeremy Kerley**..........Sr..........TCU
Defense
Pos...........Player...........Class...........School
DL...........Vic So'oto...........Sr...........BYU
DL...........Guy Miller...........Sr............Colorado State
DL...........Wayne Daniels#...........Sr...........TCU
DL...........Christian Cox...........Sr...........Utah
LB...........Miles Burris...........Jr...........San Diego State
LB...........Tank Carder...........Jr...........TCU
LB...........Tanner Brock...........So...........TCU
DB...........Reggie Rembert*...........Sr...........Air Force
DB...........Andrew Rich...........Sr...........BYU
DB...........Leon McFadden...........So...........San Diego State
DB...........Tejay Johnson...........Sr...........TCU
P...........Brian Stahovich...........Jr...........San Diego State
*--Two-Time First-Team Selection
**--Three-Time First-Team Selection
#--Unanimous Selection
2010 All-Mountain West Football Second-Team
Offense
Pos...........Player...........Class...........School
QB...........Ryan Lindley...........Jr...........San Diego State
WR...........Jeremy Kerley...........Sr...........TCU
WR...........Jereme Brooks...........Sr............Utah
RB...........Asher Clark...........Jr...........Air Force
RB...........JJ Di Luigi...........Jr...........BYU
TE...........Gavin Escobar...........Fr...........San Diego State
OL...........A.J. Wallerstein...........Jr...........Air Force
OL...........Chase Darden...........Sr...........Air Force
OL...........Paul Madsen...........Jr............Colorado State
OL...........Trask Iosefa...........Sr............San Diego State
OL...........Tony Bergstrom...........Jr...........Utah
PK...........Abel Perez...........Jr...........San Diego State
KR/PR...........Shaky Smithson...........Sr...........Utah
Defense
Pos...........Player...........Class...........School
DL...........Rick Ricketts...........Sr...........Air Force
DL...........Cory Grant...........Sr...........TCU
DL...........Stansly Maponga...........Fr...........TCU
DL...........Josh Biezuns...........Jr...........Wyoming
LB...........Mychal Sisson...........Jr...........Colorado State
LB...........Carmen Messina...........So...........New Mexico
LB...........Chaz Walker...........Jr...........Utah
DB...........Colin Jones...........Sr...........TCU
DB...........Jason Teague...........Sr...........TCU
DB...........Brandon Burton...........Jr...........Utah
DB...........Chris Prosinski...........Sr...........Wyoming
P...........Pete Kontodiakos...........So...........Colorado State
2010 Honorable Mention
Air Force: Jon Davis, Jr., DB; Tim Jefferson, Jr., QB; Jonathan Warzeka, Jr., WR/KR; Anthony Wright, Jr., DB.
BYU: Luke Ashworth, Sr., WR; Terence Brown, Jr., OL; Braden Hansen, So., OL; Shane Hunter, Sr., LB; Brian Logan, Sr., DB; Mitch Payne, Sr., K; Jason Speredon, Sr., OL.
Colorado State: Ricky Brewer; Sr., LB; Weston Richburg, Fr., OL.
New Mexico: James Aho, Jr., K; Byron Bell, Sr., OL; Bubba Forrest, Jr., DB.
San Diego State: Ernie Lawson, Sr., DL; Jose Perez, Sr., DB; Andrew Preston, Sr., DB.
TCU: Evan Frosch, Sr., TE; D.J. Yendrey, So., DL; Jimmy Young, Sr., WR, TCU.
UNLV: Will Chandler, Jr., DB; Matt Murphy, Sr., OL.
Utah: Brian Blechen, Fr., DB; Lamar Chapman, Sr., DB; DeVonte Christopher, So., WR; Matt Martinez, Jr., LB; Sealver Siliga, Jr., DL.
Wyoming: Alvester Alexander, So., RB; Nick Carlson, So., OL; Tashaun Gipson, Jr., DB; Brian Hendricks, Jr., LB; Gabe Knapton, Jr., DL; Austin McCoy, Jr., P.
e-mail: jeffc@desnews.com