SJSU’s Cordeiro named MW’s preseason offensive player of the year

Chevan Cordeiro stepped into the San Jose State backfield last year as a promising transfer from conference rival Hawaii. After his performance in the 2022 season, expectations have increased for his senior year.

Cordeiro was named the Mountain West preseason offensive player of the year on Wednesday, one week before the Spartans begin training camp.

The honor comes following a second-team all-conference performance from him in 2022, when he led the Mountain West in passing yards (3,251) and touchdown passes (23) while rushing for nine more scores, a modern-era SJSU record for a quarterback. His top performance of the season was a 340-yard, two-touchdown performance in a comeback win over Nevada on Oct. 29, the Spartans’ first game back after the death of running back Camdan McWright.

Cordeiro threw just six interceptions, two of which came in the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl loss to Eastern Michigan.

The Spartans went 7-5 on the year, including a 5-3 mark in conference play as Cordeiro was named the Mountain West’s offensive player of the week four times.

Joining Cordeiro on the all-Mountain West preseason team is junior wide receiver Justin Lockhart, who made 36 catches for 578 yards last season, his first with San Jose State after transferring from Nevada.

The Spartans were picked by a media panel to finish fifth in the Mountain West this football season, the first under a new format that eliminates divisions. Boise State received 28 of 37 first-place votes, with Air Force, Fresno State and San Diego State also picked ahead of San Jose State.