SJSU picked third in West Division

Three Spartans are named preseason all-conference

Tight end Billy Freeman, linebacker Christian Tago and punter Michael Carrizosa were named to the Mountain West Football preseason all-conference team as selected by a panel of media members at the conference’s media day Tuesday.

Freeman and Carrizosa were first-team All-Mountain West selections last season; Tago, a second team choice.

The Spartans’ leading pass receiver in 2015, Freeman caught 48 passes for 586 yards and six touchdowns. Carrizosa, a junior-to-be from Salinas, was a finalist for the Ray Guy Award given to the nation’s top punter, a second-team All-America and third nationally in individual punting with a 47.5 yard average. Tago, a senior-to-be from Lancaster, led San Jose State with 125 tackles.

San Jose State was picked to finish third in the conference’s West Division this season. San Diego State, the 2015 West Division champion, was a unanimous selection to repeat. Boise State was picked as the preseason favorite in the Mountain Division.

A University of Oklahoma n student is suing former Freedom High-Oakley running back Joe Mixon over a 2014 incident in which the player was charged with punching her in the face. Amelia Molitor filed a complaint Friday in U.S. District Court against Mixon, seeking unspecified damages. Mixon accepted one year of probation in October 2014 after being charged. In his Alford plea, he acknowledged there was likely enough evidence to convict him of misdemeanor assault while still asserting his innocence. He performed community service and underwent counseling. After being suspended during the 2014 season, Mixon returned to the team last year.

San Jose Giants

Dylan Davis hit a solo home run in the fourth inning, and Jonah Arenado was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded in the seventh as the Giants beat the Bakersfield Blaze 2-1 at Municipal Stadium.