LAS VEGAS - To kickoff 2024 Mountain West Football Media Days, the conference office announced the 2024 predicted order of finish and preseason All-Mountain West team on Wednesday morning.
Fresno State earned four preseason All-Conference picks in quarterback Mikey Keene, running back Malik Sherrod, offensive lineman Mose Vavao and defensive lineman Devo Bridges. The four preseason selections are the most since the Bulldogs had five in 2022, the year they won the Mountain West Championship.
Bridges and Sherrod are serving as Fresno State's representative at MW Media Days this week.
The Bulldogs were picked to finish third in the Mountain West with four first place votes. The Bulldogs follow Boise State and UNLV as the league's predicted top-two teams.
For the full 2024 Preseason All-Mountain West team and the predicted order of finish, visit TheMW.com.
Coverage from Mountain West Football Media Days can be found on the Fresno State Football X and Instagram,and the Mountain West X and Instagram.
Notes on Fresno State's preseason All-MW selections:
Mikey Keene, junior quarterback
Entering his second season with Fresno State and under head coach Jeff Tedford, Keene will build on the success he had in 2023. He was an All-MW honorable mention pick in 2023.
Threw for 2,976 yards and 24 touchdowns while completing 283-of-422 pass attempts.
Threw for a 67.06 completion percentage in 2023. His mark led the Mountain West and tied for sixth all-time in program history last season.
Ranked second in the MW with 24 passing touchdowns. Keene had three games with four passing touchdowns, the most by any QB in the conference. No other QB had more than one. His three games with four passing touchdowns is already enough for fourth most in a career by any Bulldog QB in program history.
Was Fresno State's starting quarterback in 10 of 11 games played last season, missing one game to injury and coming into the game late in the fourth quarter against UNM
Despite seeing significant action in only nine games this season, Keene ranked No. 4 in the MW in passing yards (2,976) and No. 3 in passing yards per game (248.00).
Had the best debut by any Bulldog quarterback in program history, throwing for a career-high 366 yards and four touchdowns, completing 31-of-44 pass attempts in Fresno State's season-opening win at Purdue
Threw at least one touchdown in each game started this season
Had three 300-yard passing performances this season, the third-most among MW quarterbacks this season. He entered the Top 10 in Fresno State program history in most 300-yard passing games in a season.
2023 Isleta New Mexico Bowl Offensive MVP with 380 yards while completing 31-of-39 passes against New Mexico State (Dec. 16). He started the game with15 consecutive completions, the second-most in a game in MW history.
Malik Sherrod, senior running back
Sherrod was a 2023 All-Mountain West honorable mention running back.
In his first season as Fresno State's premier back, Sherrod was just shy of the 1,000-yard mark with 966 yards and nine touchdowns on 172 carries in 2023.
Sherrod missed time to an early injury in 2023, but appeared in 12 games while earning nine starts.
Among the returning conference leaders from a season ago, Sherrod returns with the second-most rushing yards in the group behind only Ashton Jeanty of Boise State.
Totaled four 100-yard rushing performances.
Proved to be pivotal in all phases of the game for Fresno State, adding 44 catches for 260 yards and a touchdown. He also had eight kickoff returns for 236 yards and an additional touchdown.
Set Fresno State's single game program record with 312 all-purpose yards at San Diego State last November.
MW Special Teams Player of the Week (Nov. 6) and Hornung Award National Player of the Week (Nov. 7)
Mose Vavao, senior offensive lineman
Second team All-Mountain West selection in 2023
Was Fresno State's starting right guard in each game a season ago. He has been an anchor of the Bulldog offensive line throughout his career, having started in 42 consecutive games of 46 career games played dating back to 2020.
Returns in 2024 as Fresno State's team leader in career games started (42) and is second on the team in games played (46).
Helped Fresno State's offense to pass for 282.23 yards per game, the second most in the Mountain West. The Bulldogs had the fifth-most total offensive yards a season ago with 5,041 total offensive yards.
A versatile player on the Bulldogs' offensive line.
Was voted a team captain by his peers in 2023.
Earns his second career preseason All-MW honor, being a pick in 2023 as well.
Devo Bridges, senior defensive lineman
Second team All-Mountain West selection in 2023
Bridges was the only Bulldog on the defensive line to start each game a season ago
Has proved to be versatile in his Bulldog career, playing both tackle and end throughout.
Is fifth on the team with 41 career games played, and third on the team with 28 career starts.
He led Fresno State's defensive line with a single-season career-high 51 tackles (30 solo), while adding 8.0 TFLs, 3.5 sacks, one interception, eight quarterback hurries and one pass breakup.
Had at least two tackles in every game with a career-high nine against Eastern Washington.
Became just the second Bulldog defensive lineman to grab an interception since 2018.
Was a team captain in eight games this season.
Was a 2023 preseason All-Mountain West defensive lineman