Jeanty, Danielson pick up Mountain West awards as Boise State dominates all-conference

One year after being named Boise State football’s head coach, Spencer Danielson has been honored as the top coach in the Mountain West.

Danielson was named coach of the year in annual league awards announced Tuesday, one of several Broncos to be rewarded at the end of a 11-1 regular season. Junior running back Ashton Jeanty was named offensive player of the year for the second straight season and was a first-team All-Mountain West selection, one of seven Boise State players to be so recognized.

Tight end Matt Lauter, offensive linemen Kage Casey and Ben Dooley, defensive linemen Ahmed Hassanein and Jayden Virgin-Morgan, and linebacker Marco Notarraini also made All-Mountain West first team. Defensive lineman Braxton Fely and defensive back Seyi Oladipo earned second-team honors.

Danielson, 36, took over at Boise State late last season as interim coach after Andy Avalos was fired. Danielson led the team to three straight wins, including a victory over UNLV in the Mountain West title game. He was hired permanently as head coach on Dec. 3, 2023, and closed out the season with a 35-22 loss to UCLA in the LA Bowl.

In his first full season, Danielson led Boise State to an impressive regular season that included a 7-0 conference record. The Broncos face UNLV again in the conference championship game on Friday, with the winner making the College Football Playoff. Their Associated Press Top 25 ranking of No. 10 is the best the school has had since 2011.

“There’s nothing I’d rather do and no place I’d rather be than right here in Boise, Idaho, with this group,” Danielson said Monday. “I’m so passionate for it, and I’m so impacted by them every day.”

Danielson is the second Boise State coach in three years to win the award. Avalos won it in 2022 after guiding the Broncos to an 8-0 conference record before falling in the title game to Fresno State..

Other award winners

Jeanty was unsurprisingly named the Mountain West offensive player of the year. The junior running back will undoubtedly be invited to New York City as a Heisman Trophy finalist later this month.

Jeanty leads the nation in rushing yards (2,288) and rushing touchdowns (28). Against Mountain West opponents, he’s averaging 173.9 yards per game.

UNLV picked up the three other individual awards: linebacker Jackson Woodard won defensive player of the year, wide receiver and returner Ricky White won special teams player of the year, and placekicker Caden Chittenden won freshman of the year.

First-team All-Mountain West Offense

QB: Devon Dampier - New Mexico

WR: Mac Dalena - Fresno State

WR: Nick Nash - San Jose State

WR: Ricky White III - UNLV

RB: Ashton Jeanty - Boise State

RB: Marquez Cooper - San Diego State

TE: Matt Lauter - Boise State

OL: Kage Casey - Boise State

OL: Ben Cooley - Boise State

OL: Jacob Gardner - Colorado State

OL: Baraka Beckett - New Mexico

OL: Tiger Shanks - UNLV

PK: Caden Chittenden - UNLV

KR: Tyler King

First-team All-Mountain West Defense

DL: Ahmed Hassanein - Boise State

DL: Jayden Virgin-Morgan - Boise State

DL: Trey White - UNLV

DL: Soane Toia - San Jose State

LB: Marco Notarainni - Boise State

LB: Tuasivi Nomura - Fresno State

LB: Jordan Pollard - San Jose State

LB: Jackson Woodard - UNLV

DB: Cam Lockridge - Fresno State

DB: Cam Stone - Hawaii

DB: Michael Coats Jr. - Nevada

DB: Jalen Catalon - UNLV

P: Tyler Pastula - San Diego State

PR: Jacob De Jesus - UNLV

Second-team All-Mountain West Offense

QB: Hajj-Malik Williams - UNLV

WR: Luke Wyong - New Mexico

WR: Justin Lockhart - San Jose State

WR: Jalen Royals - Utah State

RB: Jai’den Thomas - UNLV

RB: Rahsul Faison - Utah State

TE: John Michael Gyllenborg - Wyoming

OL: Alex Moore - Air Force

OL: Drew Moss - Colorado State

OL: McKenzie Agnello - New Mexico

OL: Jalen St. John - UNLV

OL: Jack Walsh - Wyoming

PK: Gabe Plascencia - San Diego State

KR: Jacob De Jesus - UNLV

Second-team All-Mountain West Defense

DL: Braxton Fely - Boise State

DL: Devo Bridges - Fresno State

DL: Antonio Doyle - UNLV

DL: Cian Slone - Utah State

LB: Buom Jock - Colorado State

LB: Chase Wilso - Colorado State

LB: Malachi Langley - Fresno State

LB: Shae Suiaunoa - Wyoming

DB: Seyi Oladipo - Boise State

DB: DJ Harvey - San Jose State

DB: Robert Rahimi - San Jose State

DB: Jonathan Baldwin - UNLV

P: Luke Freer - Air Force

PR: Jalen Moss - Fresno State