The Mountain West Conference has unveiled its preseason honors, spotlighting a standout return specialist from North Dakota State.
Preseason Accolades Recognize All‑Around Threats
Jackson Williams, a junior who handles both kickoff and punt returns, earned the conference’s Preseason Special Teams Player of the Year award after posting 449 kickoff return yards and 348 punt return yards last season, placing him among the program’s all‑time leaders.
Joining him on the Preseason All‑Mountain West first team are Griffin Empey, Keenan Wilson and Darius Givance, while quarterback Nathan Hayes and head coach Tim Polasek will accompany the group to media days in Las Vegas and Omaha.
Williams’s dual‑role threat reflects a broader shift in how coaches value field‑position dynamics, and his yardage totals rank ninth and fourth in Bison history for kickoff and punt returns respectively.
The upcoming season promises a fresh slate of challenges, with the Bison aiming to translate preseason accolades into on‑field dominance under Polasek’s guidance.
Special Teams Redefined
Coaches across the league have noted that versatile players like Williams, who can shift momentum with a single return, are becoming central to modern game plans.
As the Bison prepare for their first matchup in the conference schedule, the blend of experience and youthful talent suggests a potentially explosive start to the campaign.