LOGAN, Utah-Nine Utah State football players were named to various Athlon Sports all-Mountain West Conference preseason teams as confirmed Wednesday morning.

Athlon First Team

Defense-sophomore safety Ike Larsen (4 interceptions [one pick six], 2 sacks, 2 passes defensed last season)

Athlon Second Team

Special Teams-senior punt returner Cooper Jones (6.6 yards per punt return last season)

Defense-senior defensive tackle Hale Motu’apuaka (5 sacks, 8 tackles for a loss last season)

Defense-senior linebacker MJ Tafisi  (sack, 9 tackles for a loss last season)

Offense/Special Teams-senior receiver/kick returner Terrell Vaughn (56 rec, 624 yards, 5 TD’s; 26.5 yards per kick return, return TD last season)

Athlon Third Team

Defense-senior cornerback Michael Anyanwu (interception, 11 passes defensed, 2 tackles for a loss last season)

Special Teams-senor punter Stephen Kotsanlee (43.2 yards per punt last season)

Offense-sophomore tailback Robert Briggs (81 touches, 384 scrimmage yards, 2 net TD’s last season)

Athlon Fourth Team

Offense-graduate senior offensive lineman Wade Meacham, graded out at 89 percent at playing in 702 snaps at left guard for the Aggies last season.

Utah State begins the season September 2 at Iowa.