10 Aztecs Land Preseason All-Mountain West College Football Nods

We’re just settling in for summer, but are you thinking fall football yet?

The experts are. Preseason honors have begun rolling in and 10 San Diego State football players have been named preseason all-Mountain West by Athlon Sports.

Tupu Alualu, Louis Brown IV, Kenan Christon, Marquez Cooper, Marlem Louis, Kyle Moretti, Myles Murao, Mekhi Shaw, Ross Ulugalu-Maseuli and Bennett Walker were all named to all-conference teams.

Athlon’s all-conference teams are based on how players are expected to perform in 2024. Career statistics and awards matter in evaluation, but choosing players is largely based on predictions and projections for the upcoming year. Team strength does not play a role in selections.

The Aztecs named by Athlon include:

Marquez Cooper, Second-Team Offense – The running back transfers into San Diego State to reunite with new head coach Sean Lewis after one year at Ball State and three years at Kent State under Lewis, the former head coach of the Golden Flashes. The FBS active rushing leader has registered three consecutive 1,000-yard rushing seasons. Last year with Ball State, he ran for 1,043 yards and four touchdowns on 227 carries, averaging 86.9 yards per game.

Kenan Christon, Second-Team Specialists – He is the Aztecs’ top returning running back and kick returner for 2024. Last year, he returned 15 kicks for 331 yards, for an honorable mention in the all-MW postseason awards. The senior led San Diego State last season with 910 all-purpose yards, including four games of 100-plus.

Louis Brown IV, Third-Team Offense – The wide receiver is coming off a breakout season for Colorado State, recording 47 catches for 481 yards and five touchdowns. The transfer recorded the first 100-yard game of his career with 131 yards on 10 catches and a touchdown against Colorado last year.

Myles Murao, Third-Team Offense – Murao started the first five games in 2023 before missing time due to injury. Playing every snap of every game he started, he lined up at multiple spots on the offensive line. According to Pro Football Focus, he ranks as San Diego State’s top returning offensive lineman, and had a 77.8 offensive rating and 88.3 pass block rating in the season finale victory over Fresno State.

Ross Ulugalu-Maseuli, Third-Team Offense – A 2023 Polynesian College Football Player of the Year Award watch list selection, Ulugalu-Maseuli started the first nine games of the season before missing two of the final three to injury. He was one of just two Aztecs to play all 589 offensive snaps on the offensive line, at three different positions.

Marlem Louis, Third-Team Defense – The transfer joins SDSU after five seasons at Richmond where he helped the Spiders to a share of the 2023 CAA title and back-to-back FCS playoff appearances. A two-time all-conference selection, he totaled 110 tackles in his career including 30 tackles for loss and 16 sacks.

Kyle Moretti, Third-Team Defense –

Moretti comes to SDSU after three years at Central Michigan, where he was a two-time all-MAC linebacker. In 34 games with the Chippewas, he totaled 207 tackles (116 solo), 16.5 tackles for loss, 6.0 sacks and seven pass breakups.

Also cited for the preseason fourth team were, on defense, defensive lineman Tupu Alualu and cornerback Bennett Walker and for specialists, wide receiver and punt returner Mekhi Shaw.

The Aztecs open the season Aug. 31 at home, welcoming Texas A&M – Commerce.