The Mountain West Conference announced its 2010 preseason team rankings as well as its preseason all-conference team, today from the league's Media Days being held at the Red Rock Resort in Las Vegas. Both the All-MWC team and the team rankings were selected by members of the media.

As a team the Wyoming Cowboys were selected to finish fifth and junior linebacker Brian Hendricks, along with senior safety Chris Prosinski were voted onto the preseason all-league squad.

Both Hendricks and Prosinski were 2009 All-MWC Second Team selections.

As a sophomore, Hendricks ranked 12th in the nation in tackles, averaging 10.5 tackles per game. He also recorded 23 tackles in a road game at Air Force, which was the best single-game performance in the nation in `09.

Prosinski led the 'Pokes in tackles as a junior with 140, which ranked No. 10 in the nation. He was voted a team captain by his teammates in the spring of 2010. He will enter his senior season having started the last 25 consecutive games at free safety for the Cowboys. Prosinski has 265 career tackles to his credit, and he needs only 10 more to break into the Top 10 list in career tackles at Wyoming.

Fresh off their victory in the 2009 New Mexico Bowl, the Wyoming Cowboys will enter their second year under head coach Dave Christensen looking to build on the success they enjoyed a year ago. The Cowboys posted a 7-6 overall record in Christensen's first season as a college head coach, and placed fifth in the Mountain West Conference with a 4-4 record. They accomplished that after being picked to finish last in the MWC in the media preseason poll by conference media members. With 16 of 24 starters returning, including seven on offense, seven on defense and both their starting punter and place-kicker, the 'Pokes are poised to take another step forward in 2010.

Defending MWC football champion TCU was predicted to capture its second consecutive title in 2010. Utah was chosen second with 242 points. BYU was picked third with 207 points. Air Force was chosen fourth with 195 points, followed by Wyoming (5th - 147 points), San Diego State (6th - 128 points), Colorado State (7th - 96 points), UNLV (8th - 56 points) and New Mexico (9th - 45 points).

Wyoming Coach/Player Quotes

On Chris and Brian being named Preseason All-Conference...
"Both Chris (Prosinski) and Brian (Hendricks) had outstanding seasons last year, and they obviously earned a lot of respect because of that. Their challenge, as well as the challenge for a lot of our other players, is to perform at a high level again this year and continue to earn that respect."

On Wyoming being selected to finish fifth in the MWC preseason poll...
"Being picked fifth was about where I thought we would be picked because it was where we finished last season. Preseason polls don't mean a lot -- they are based a lot on the previous season's results. Our coaches are very good about preparing us and not letting us look to far in the future. We know our success will depend on how we prepare for each game and how we execute on the field."

TCU swept the MWC individual awards with senior quarterback Andy Dalton being named Preseason MWC Offensive Player of the Year, junior linebacker Tank Carder selected as Defensive Player of the Year and senior punt/kick returner Jeremy Kerley tabbed Special Teams Player of the Year.

The 2010 preseason All-MWC team features 23 players that were all-Conference selections in 2009, including eight first-team honorees. Fifteen seniors and 11 juniors comprise the 26-member squad.