Estimated read time: 2-3 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
LAS VEGAS — Mountain West Conference media days are in full swing with the preseason media awards being announced. Utah State's Chuckie Keeton, Nick Vigil and Kyler Fackrell were named to the preseason All Mountain West team. Fackrell was also selected as the preseason Defensive Player of the Year.
Keeton, a fifth-year senior, is coming off his second consecutive season cut short by injury but still has gained national attention, landing on a couple of preseasonwatch lists as well as being the Aggies' lone offensive representative on the All-MWC team. This is his second year named as the preseason quarterback for the All-MWC team.
Keeton still carries a lot of respect from the numbers he put up during his only full season in 2012. Keeton led the Aggies to an 11-2 record, with losses at Wisconsin by two and at BYU by three, while putting up some staggering numbers. Through the air he completed 67.6 percent of his passes for 3,373 yards, 27 touchdowns and only nine interceptions. He added 619 yards and eight touchdowns on the ground.
Vigil is the only Aggie player on this list who isn't coming off a serious injury. During his sophomore campaign in 2014, Vigil was second on the team in tackles (123) and tackles for loss (16.5). Additionally, he ended the year with nine sacks, five forced fumbles and an interception. Vigil is one of seven juniors named to the All-MWC team.
Fackrell, a senior, is coming off a serious knee injury that ended his 2014 season after less than half of the opener against Tennessee. Despite missing almost the entire 2014 season, Fackrell has already been named to multipleaward watch lists and now has been named preseason DPOY.
In 2013, his last full season for the Aggies, Fackrell was third for Utah State in tackles with 82, while his 13 tackles for loss led the team. He also recorded five sacks, forced two fumbles and snagged one interception, which he returned 99 yards for a touchdown. Fackrell earned second team All-MWC after the 2013 season.
Utah State had the third highest number of players named to the All-MWC teams with only San Diego State (four) and Boise State (five) ahead of it. Colorado State wide receiver Rashard Higgins was named preseason Offensive Player of the Year.
Parker Robertson is an alum of Utah State University, a freelance contributor, and an avid sports fan. Follow him on Twitter @ParkerRob78 Email: ParkerRobertson18@gmail.com
