LOBO FOOTBALL
New Mexico LB Jaxton Eck named Mountain West Preseason Defensive Player of the Year
Five Lobos land on preseason All-MW team
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New Mexico linebacker Jaxton Eck has been named the Mountain West Preseason Defensive Player of the Year, the league announced Wednesday morning.
The fourth-year senior鈥檚 selection comes after a season that saw him make 129 total tackles, the second-best mark in the league. He went on to split Mountain West Co-Defensive Player of the Year honors last season with San Diego State cornerback Chris Johnson, who was later selected in the first round of this year鈥檚 NFL Draft.
Eck was also named to the Mountain West鈥檚 preseason All-Conference team, joining tight end Cade Keith, wide receiver Troy Omeire, offensive lineman Malik Aliane and defensive lineman Brian Booker.
UNM has not had five players on the preseason All-Mountain West team since 2005.
Beyond Eck, Hawaii quarterback Micah Alejado was named the Mountain West Preseason Offensive Player of the Year while North Dakota State wide receiver and returner Jackson Williams was named the league鈥檚 preseason Special Teams Player of the Year.
Preseason All-MW
Offense
QB Micah Alejado (Hawaii)
WR Pofele Ashlock (Hawaii)
WR Troy Omeire (New Mexico)
WR Taeshaun Lyons (UNLV)
RB Owen Allen (Air Force)
RB Jai鈥橠en Thomas (UNLV)
OL Jack Foster (Nevada)
OL Malik Aliane (New Mexico)
OL Griffin Empey (North Dakota State)
OL Austin Boyd (UNLV)
OL Rex Johnsen (Wyoming)
TE Cade Keith (New Mexico)
Defense
DL Dylan LaBarbera (Nevada)
DL Brian Booker (New Mexico)
DL Keenan Wilson (North Dakota State)
DL Lucas Conti (UNLV)
LB Blake Fletcher (Air Force)
LB Jamih Otis (Hawaii)
LB Jaxton Eck (New Mexico)
LB Ethan Stuhlsatz (Wyoming)
DB Elijah Palmer (Hawaii)
DB Aiden Walker (Nevada)
DB Darius Givance (North Dakota State)
DB Jake Pope (UNLV)
This story will be updated.
Sean Reider covers college football and other sports for the Journal. You can reach him at sreider@abqjournal.com or via X at .
