First, let me say I take the All-Mountain West Conference football voting seriously.

Each year, I hope the league offices consider me when they form the committee to select post-season awards. But voting can get a little bit tricky.

However you feel about postseason honors, we all have our prejudices. I've seen numerous practices and all 12 games played by BYU. I've seen all the other MWC teams live just once, and seen bits and pieces of a dozen other league games on TV.

Here's my philosophy about postseason awards: To the victors go the spoils. Which means Utah will get the bulk of my votes. Having said that, the past two seasons I've felt BYU has been short-changed a little by voters. You go undefeated in conference play (and two years in a row), you should have the majority of the awards. Last year, I thought Max Hall should have been the Offensive Player of the Year. In 2006, I thought Cameron Jensen should have been the Defensive Player of the Year. Neither player won the award.

If it comes down to an excellent player on the undefeated team and a player from a lesser team with a little bit better stats, I'll go with the former every time.

But that's just me. Seems like some voters consider statistics only, and others have an agenda to plug players from their area. For instance, a lot of times voters base defensive votes on tackles, the most overrated statistic in football. The reason some guys have a lot of tackles is because their teams are terrible, meaning they're on defense more, meaning more opportunities to get tackles.

Anyway, that's my rant.

Here's how I voted for the awards, which will be announced on Wednesday.

Quarterback

• FIRST TEAM: Utah's Brian Johnson

• SECOND TEAM: BYU's Max Hall

Explanation: Hall was my top candidate most of the season and his stats lead the league. But he didn't play well in either of BYU's losses (TCU and Utah). Johnson, meanwhile, led Utah to an undefeated MWC season and won a number of games (Oregon State, TCU) on last-minute drives. He's a winner, and he gets my first-team vote.

Wide Receiver

• FIRST TEAM: Austin Collie, BYU, and Ryan Wolfe, UNLV

• SECOND TEAM: Jimmy Young, TCU, and Freddie Brown, Utah

Explanation: Collie was a no-brainer and a serious candidate for Offensive Player of the Year. Ten straight 100-yard receiving gamesfi That's just crazy. Wolfe has been outstanding ever since his freshman season. Young was a great deep threat for TCU and Brown led a very good group of Utah receivers.

Running Back

• FIRST TEAM: Devin Moore, Wyoming, and Rodney Ferguson, New Mexico

• SECOND TEAM: Harvey Unga, BYU, and Gartrell Johnson, Colorado State

Explanation: These four running backs were clearly above the others in the league. Moore was terrific on a truly terrible team, as was Ferguson. Unga was close but I just couldn't move him to first team past either Moore or Ferguson. Johnson was very good for Colorado State this season.

Tight End

• FIRST TEAM: Dennis Pitta, BYU

• SECOND TEAM: Kory Sperry, Colorado State

Explanation: Pitta had a 1,000-yard season and has a great future ahead of him. At times, he was simply uncoverable and his backup, Andrew George, would probably be second team All-MWC if he played for another team. Sperry is very talented as well.

Offensive Line

• FIRST TEAM: Ray Feinga and Dallas Reynolds, BYU; Erik Cook, New Mexico; Blake Schlueter, TCU and Robert Conley, Utah.

• SECOND TEAM: Nick Charles, Air Force; Tim Walter, Colorado State; Marshall Newhouse, TCU; Zane Beadles, Utah; and Tim Bond, Wyoming

Explanation: Offensive line selections are difficult, so here's my decision. One each from a good rushing team, then another BYU player thrown in because for most of the season, the pass protection was very good. I think Reynolds and Feinga have a good shot at playing in the NFL.

Kicker

• FIRST TEAM: Louie Sakoda, Utah

• SECOND TEAM: Ryan Harrison, Air Force

Explanation: Duh. Sakoda won several games for Utah just with his leg and will play in the NFL next year. Right after Harrison, I think Mitch Payne did a nice job this year when called upon and made 10-of-12 field goals.

Kick/Punt Return

• FIRST TEAM: Ian Clark, New Mexico

• SECOND TEAM: Jeremy Kerley, TCU

Explanation: I almost did a write-in vote for Collie. At least three times this year he was one guy away from returning a kickoff for a touchdown. But I went with Clark because of his punt returning, which is one of the most difficult thing to do in football. He averaged better than 17 yards per return.

Defensive Line

• FIRST TEAM: Jake Paulson, Air Force; Jerry Hughes, TCU; Cody Moore, TCU; Paul Kruger, Utah.

• SECOND TEAM: Jan Jorgensen, BYU; B.J. Williams, San Diego State; Koa Misi, Utah; John Fletcher, Wyoming.

Explanation: I went with two TCU guys on the first team because they were so dominant against the run. Hughes was unblockable, I saw Kruger play at Timpanogos High School and I never thought he would be this good. I couldn't go with Jorgensen as a first teamer for two reasons: He didn't have as many impact plays as he had last year and I couldn't justify two BYU players on the first defensive team (see linebackers).

Linebacker

• FIRST TEAM: Jason Phillips, TCU; David Nixon, BYU; Zach Arnett, New Mexico.

• SECOND TEAM: Ken Lamendola, Air Force; Russell Allen, San Diego State; Robert Hensen, TCU.

Explanation: I'm not sure Nixon will get enough votes to make first team, but I think he deserves it. When he was healthy, the BYU defense was measurably better.

Defensive Back

• FIRST TEAM: Chris Thomas, Air Force; DeAndre Wright, New Mexico; Stephen Hodge, TCU; Sean Smith, Utah.

• SECOND TEAM: Glover Quin, New Mexico; Steven Coleman, TCU; Nick Sanders, TCU; Brice McCain, Utah.

Explanation: I love Thomas and his aggressive play. Hodge spearheaded a very good TCU defense and Smith led the Utes in interceptions. I might have voted for BYU's Scott Johnson if he hadn't gotten injured.

Annual Awards

• OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Brian Johnson, QB, Utah

Explanation: Hall's individual stats are better, but my first rule of voting for All-MWC comes into play: Utah won every game and Johnson was at his best in big games. But another part of me remembers what happened last season, when BYU went undefeated, Hall had great stats but lost out on Offensive POY to Air Force running back Chad Hall. It will be interesting to see how the voting goes in this case.

• DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Jerry Hughes, DE, TCU

Explanation: TCU's defense was overpowering and Hughes, a first year starter, was a beast with 17.5 tackles for loss and 14 sacks.

• SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Louie Sakoda, K/P, Utah

Explanation: Sakoda is the bomb. He was nails as a kicker and opponents TOTALED just 28 punt return yards in 12 games.

• FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR: Tim Jefferson, QB, Air Force

Explanation: With Jefferson in the lineup, Air Force's option attack became lethal again. BYU can't be looking forward to playing against Jefferson for three more years.

• COACH OF THE YEAR: Kyle Whittingham, Utah

Explanation: Utah won all their games in conference play, and you can't do any better than that.

ALL-MWC 2008 (DARNELL'S VOTING)

OFFENSE

QB Brian Johnson, Utah (Max Hall, BYU)

WR Austin Collie, BYU (Jimmy Young, TCU)

WR Ryan Wolfe, UNLV (Freddie Brown, Utah)

RB Rodney Ferguson, New Mexico (Harvey Unga, BYU)

RB Devin Moore, Wyoming (Gartrell Johnson, Colorado State)

TE Dennis Pitta, BYU (Kory Sperry, Colorado State)

OL Ray Feinga, BYU (Nick Charles, Air Force)

OL Dallas Reynolds, BYU (Tim Walter, Colorado State)

OL Erik Cook, New Mexico (Marshall Newhouse, TCU)

OL Blake Schlueter, TCU (Zane Beadles, Utah)

OL Robert Conley, Utah (Tim Bond, Wyoming)

K Louie Sakoda, Utah (Ryan Harrison, Air Force)

KR Ian Clark, New Mexico (Jeremy Kerley, TCU)

DEFENSE

DL Jake Paulson, Air Force (Jan Jorgensen, BYU)

DL Jerry Hughes, TCU (B.J. Williams, San Diego State)

DL Cody Moore, TCU (Koa Misi, Utah)

DL Paul Kruger, Utah (John Fletcher, Wyoming)

LB David Nixon, BYU (Ken Lamendola, Air Force)

LB Zach Arnett, New Mexico (Russell Allen, San Diego State)

LB Jason Phillips, TCU (Robert Hensen, TCU)

DB Chris Thomas, Air Force (Glover Quin, New Mexico)

DB DeAndre Wright, New Mexico (Steven Coleman, TCU)

DB Stephen Hodge, TCU (Nick Sanders, TCU)

DB Sean Smith, Utah (Brice McCain, Utah)

P Louie Sakoda, Utah (C.J. Santiago, BYU)

ANNUAL AWARDS

• Offensive Player of the Year: Brian Johnson, QB, Utah

• Defensive Player of the Year: Jerry Hughes, DE, TCU

• Special Teams Player of the Year: Louie Sakoda, Utah

• Freshman of the Year: Tim Jefferson, QB, Air Force

• Coach of the Year: Kyle Whittingham, Utah