Tuesday morning the Mountain West Conference released their football season individual honors for the 2025 year. These awards were voted on by all conference head coaches and select media individuals from around the league.
First off is CB Chris Johnson earning Co-Defensive Player of the Year. Johnson’s honor becomes the sixth time a San Diego State player has earned MW Defensive Player of the Year and first since Cameron Thomas in 2021.
Chris ranks ninth in the FBS with 1.18 passes defended per game and with a total of 13 in 11 games played. His four interceptions are 16th in the FBS and his 0.36 interceptions per game are 23rd nationally.
Coming into this 2025 season Johnson was expected to have a big year and boy did he live up to that and even exceeded the expectations. On a team that was fifth in the FBS in scoring defense (12.6) and seventh in total defense (266.7), Johnson’s absence was felt strongest vs Hawai’i when SDSU dropped a crucial road contest.
Johnson, a legit shut down corner, would go on to be the highest graded defensive player in the Mountain West, and tied for the fifth-highest in the FBS, per Pro Football Focus (92.0, min. 600 snaps). He is also tied for the top-rated cornerback in the country (min. 10 snaps).
So we beg to ask the question, what is this CO-DEFENSIVE PLAYER BUSINESS?
No disrespect to Jaxton Eck who had himself a really good junior season at New Mexico—but Johnson is clear and away a different player on a national level. His defense was one of the tops in the nation, on a team whose defense was one of the tops in the nation—due to his outstanding play. This is not a co-award situation.
The rest of the big five individual awards are listed as follows:
OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
ANTHONY COLANDREA, JUNIOR, QUARTERBACK, UNLV
CO-DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
CHRIS JOHNSON, SENIOR, DEFENSIVE BACK, SAN DIEGO STATE
CO-DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
JAXTON ECK, JUNIOR, LINEBACKER, NEW MEXICO
SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE YEAR
KANSEI MATSUZAWA, SENIOR, PLACEKICKER, HAWAI‘I
FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR
MICAH ALEJADO, QUARTERBACK, HAWAI‘I
COACH OF THE YEAR
JASON ECK, NEW MEXICO
All Mountain West 1st Team Honors
RB Lucky Sutton
Lucky Sutton had himself a breakout season for the Aztecs. He led the Mountain West rushing for 1,237 yards, 10 touchdowns on a 5.2 yards per rush average. That is nasty business.
The 6’1″ 225 lb work horse was a beast all season long and showed no sign of slowing in the years final stages. Signature running over opponent highlights were a consistent thing for Lucky and though he earned every 239 league leading carry he got this season, it still felt as though he didn’t get the ball enough.
Sutton was the focal point of the Aztecs offense this season with everyone on every team focused on stopping his abilities. Despite all that attention—it didn’t matter. Lucky got his job done in 2025 and we hope to God he will be looking for more work in the red & black come 2026.
OL Ross Ulugalu-Maseuli
Big Ross in his senior season was as important of a leader as ever. Team captain and anchor of the offensive line, the Aztecs behind Ross at the center spot marked outstanding improvement from pass protection to the already mentioned top of the conference rushing attack.
His get to work attitude helped shape so much of the ethic needed to reestablish the unit as one of the best and toughest. But also his pure joy and love for the game really shined bright for an offensive unit that really needed the unity when challenges surmounted.
LB Owen Chambliss
Junior Owen Chambliss had himself a season. The 6’3″ 230lb linebacker showed off one of the best linebacker performances we’ve seen in the red & black—and that’s saying something. Coming in 4th in total tackles in conference with 106, Chambliss actually played bigger than that as he came in 2nd in solo tackles with 61.
His focus and readiness really was on display game in and game out. With sideline to sideline coverage and run stuffing toughness, Chambliss truly had a full season to show off just what he could do. No comeback award has been announced just yet for the conference, but after a frustrating 2024 season last year, we know Owen Chambliss would earn our vote for making the entire league remember his name.
DE Trey White
Trey had the biggest spotlight of all defenders coming into the Mountain West season this year—and rightfully so. Being the sack leader with national attention last year will do that. White finished this year top-5 in the conference again with 7 sacks, despite facing double-teams and more focused game-planning than ever.
But perhaps Trey succeeded in his biggest goal coming into the year, as he helped to elevate his teammates. Two other lineman; Ryan Henderson 7 sacks and Niles King 6.5 sacks ranked top-10 conference wise and led SDSU towards having the most dangerous pass rush in the conference.
His season of relentless pursuit of the QB showed up in so many ways the stat lines just don’t give credit. His ability to stuff the run improved greatly. He successfully shaped opposing team’s game plans and then wrecked them just as much.
WR Jordan Napier
Napier was an ultimate playmaker for the Aztecs this season, making big things happen catching the ball, running the rock, and as a returner in the special teams. At Wide Receiver his 48 receptions for over 600 yards and 3 TDs were so good he earned 2nd team all Mountain West.
His 1 rushing and 1 punt return touchdown really proves his athletic ability. But it was his dedication to handling the punt return duties that really put him over the top to earn 1st team all Mountain West there. He blows everyone away with his 22 returns overall.
You just expected Napier would do something special any time he touched the ball and he sure did. His season ending injury put a damper on his final stats and surely his wanting to be out there with his brothers, but look out for Napier to have a very big 2026 once the road to recovery is in the bag.
All Mountain West 2nd Team Honors
OL Christian Jones
Elevating his play this season as a senior was Christian Jones. SDSU improved their protection overall in 2025 giving up just 17 sacks through the season. Take note, as that total was cut down from 31 in 2024. No doubt Jones played a major role in getting those numbers to drop down.
K Gabriel Plascencia
What can we say about Gabriel Plascencia. He set the Mountain West record for consecutive field goal made at 26 dating back over last season. He nailed 19-22 FGs this year alone and hit a long of 53 yards. His 30 for 30 in extra points made and with a more potent scoring offense—that number would’ve been much higher. This is another case where we argue for Plascencia earning 1st team honors. Other than a marketing push around his persona and a game winning opportunity to capitalize off of, Plascencia is our pick everytime.
P Hunter Green
Hunter Green rounds out the all Mountain West team honors. Can someone make sense of this one to me? Green the big 6’4″ junior punter was a bright spot for the team and a key contributor to the spectacular defense. He averaged 46.81 yards per punt which was good for a super close 2nd behind 1st team winner Bryan Hansen of Colorado State.
But that’s pretty much where the comparison’s end. Green doubled the amount of touchbacks 10-5, more than tripled as many fair catches 21-6, and then doubled up again as many punts inside the 20 yard line 26-13. Are the coaches and voters only looking at Hansin’s 23-20 punts of 50+ yards or more edge? If so, well that’s just dumb. Once again, we argue for another Aztec who should’ve been all 1st team.
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