The Mountain West Conference unveiled its 2026 preseason All‑Mountain West football team this week at The Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas, bringing together five student‑athletes who earned first or second‑team All‑MW honors in 2025.
The selections highlight a blend of offensive firepower, defensive tenacity and special‑teams flair, underscoring the conference’s depth as it heads into the new campaign.
Offensive Player of the Year: Micah Alejado
Micah Alejado of Hawai‘i was named the Preseason Mountain West Offensive Player of the Year after leading the Rainbow Warriors to a 9‑4 record in 2025 and capping the season with a Sheraton Hawai‘i Bowl victory over Cal. He topped the MW with 24 passing touchdowns and set single‑season records with 282.4 passing yards per game and 25.9 completions per contest.
Defensive Player of the Year: Jaxton Eck
Jaxton Eck from New Mexico earned the Preseason MW Defensive Player of the Year after finishing 10th nationally with 129 tackles. He becomes the first New Mexico player to receive the conference’s preseason defensive honor.
Special Teams Player of the Year: Jackson Williams
Jackson Williams of North Dakota State was selected as the Preseason MW Special Teams Player of the Year. A 2025 FCS All‑America punt returner, Williams logged a 100‑yard kickoff return touchdown during the season.
The honorees hail from across the conference’s footprint, representing institutions in Nevada, Hawaii, New Mexico and North Dakota, illustrating the geographic diversity that defines the Mountain West.
Conference Outlook
With the preseason team announced, coaches and analysts alike are already gauging how these standout players will shape their squads’ fortunes in the upcoming schedule. The Mountain West looks to build on last year’s competitive balance as new storylines emerge.