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Source: goaztecs.com
Photo courtesy goaztecs.com
July 19, 2023 (San Diego) - San Diego State’s defending Mountain West Special Teams Player of the Year Jack Browning, a West Hills High School alum, has been named the 2023 preseason Mountain West Player of the Year, the league announced Wednesday. Browning is one of four preseason all-conference selections for the Aztecs, who were also picked to finish fourth in the first one-division preseason poll since 2012.
Browning, who also made the preseason all-conference team at punter, was joined on the team by tight end Mark Redman, offensive guard Cade Bennett and linebacker Cody Moon. SDSU’s four preseason all-league selections only trailed Wyoming for the most in the MW.
The all-conference team and preseason poll are voted on by media representatives who cover the conference.
Browning is coming off a spectacular year after taking over for 2021 Ray Guy Award winner Matt Araiza, following him by handling all three kicking duties (punting, field goals/PATs, kickoffs). Browning punted 68 times for 3,135 yards (46.1 avg.) with a long of 63 yards and a net punt average of 42.3. Out of his 68 punts, 28 landed inside the 20-yard line, including 14 inside the 10 and six inside the 5. Browning, who was named a second-team Pro Football Focus All-American and an honorable-mention College Football Network All-American at punter, also made 20 of 25 field goal attempts (80.0 pct.) with a long of 52 yards and all 30 PATs. Additionally, he kicked off 59 times for 3,784 yards (64.1 avg.) with 37 touchbacks.
Browning ranked third in San Diego State single-season history in punt average (46.10), tied for third in field goals (20) and tied for seventh in field goal percentage (80.0). Among the national leaders, Browning tied for the FBS lead in PAT percentage (100.00), and was sixth in punt average (46.1, 1st in MW), tied for sixth in punts inside the 20-yard line (28, 1st in MW), eighth in kickoff average (64.14, 1st in MW) and total punt yards (3,145, 3rd in MW), 12th in net punt average (42.3, 1st in MW), tied for 12th in field goal attempts per game (1.92, T-1st in MW), tied for 14th in field goal attempts (25, T-2nd in MW), 16th in punt yards per game (241.92, 3rd in MW), tied for 16th in total punts (68, 3rd in MW) and field goals made (20, 3rd in MW), and tied for 17th in field goals per game (1.54, T-3rd in MW) and punts per game (5.25, 4th in MW). Additionally, Browning was second in the league in kickoff touchbacks (37, T-48th in FBS), third in kickoff touchback percentage (62.71, 37th in FBS), fourth in field goal percentage (80.00, T-47th in FBS), fifth in total points (90), sixth in points per game (6.92), seventh in made PATs (30) and attempted PATs (30), and tied for eighth in points responsible for (90).
It’s another preseason accolade for Browning, who has been named a preseason first-team all-MW selection by Phil Steele Magazine, Athlon Sports and Sports Info Solutions at punter, a third-team honoree at kicker by Phil Steele Magazine and Athlon Sports, and the sixth-ranked draft-eligible player at both punter and kicker.
Specialists
P Jack Browning, Sr., San Diego State
PK John Hoyland, Jr., Wyoming
PR Tory Horton, Sr., Colorado State
KR Christian Washington, So., New Mexico
Preseason All-Conference Notes: Jack Browning is the second straight Aztec to be named the Mountain West Preseason Special Teams of the Year (Jordan Byrd) and the fourth overall (also Rashaad Penny in 2016 and 2017) … A SDSU player has earned MW Special Teams Player-of-the-Year honors five times in the last eight years (Penny in 2015, 2016 and 2017, Matt Araiza in 2021 and Browning in 2022), the most in the 24-year history of the league … SDSU’s four preseason all-league honorees only trailed Wyoming’s five … San Diego State’s two preseason offseason players matched Air Force, Boise State and San José State for the most in the league … The Aztecs have at least three all-MW preseason picks in nine straight years after doing so just four times over the previous 10 years (2005-14) … Mark Redman is the first SDSU tight end to earn preseason all-MW honors since David Wells in 2017 and just the second since 2012 … Cody Moon made the preseason all-MW team despite never playing a snap at San Diego State (he lettered at New Mexico from 2021-22) … Browning is just the second Aztec punter to garner preseason all-MW accolades, joining Brian Stahovich (2010 and 2011).
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