Senior defensive end Brock Hekking was named to the Preseason All-Mountain West Team, and Nevada was predicted to finish third in the West Division as the conference opened up its preseason media days event in Las Vegas on Tuesday.

Hekking, a 6-foot-4, 255-pound senior from Vacaville, Calif., is a two-time All-Mountain West honoree. He is seventh among returning players in career sacks with 17.0. Entering his senior season, he ranks eighth (tackles for loss, 24.5) and sixth (sacks, 17.0) on Nevada's career charts.

He was Nevada's lone selection on the 2014 Preseason All-Mountain West Team, which was selected by the media. Utah State quarterback Chuckie Keeton was named the Preseason MW Offensive Player of the Year while Fresno State safety Derron Smith won the accolade on the defensive side. New Mexico kick returner Carlos Wiggins is the Preseason MW Special Teams Player of the Year.

The preseason poll, which was also voted on by media, saw Boise State as the predicted champion on the Mountain side and Fresno State was the narrow selection over San Diego State on the West side.  Nevada was given three first-place votes and was picked third in the West, followed by UNLV, San Jose State and Hawai'i.

Fresno State and San Diego State, which each received 15 first-place votes, will visit Mackay Stadium this year along with Boise State and Colorado State. The Rams are picked third in the Mountain division so four of the predicted top five teams in the conference are on Nevada's home schedule