Barden, Tolver earn preseason Great West football honors

Barden is named the offensive player of the year and Tolver is the special teams player of the year in the coaches’ balloting

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After flirting with the NFL Draft last spring, Cal Poly receiver Ramses Barden came back to school for a handful of reasons.

Projected as a fifth-rounder, the All-American receiver who owns nearly every major receiving record in Mustangs history wanted to improve his draft stock.

He knew the team had a strong offense returning with nine other starters. And he could improve his speed while running track at Cal Poly.

Not on the list were preseason accolades — though they are surely coming along with great expectations.

Barden was the unanimous coaches’ choice Wednesday for the Great West Conference preseason Offensive Player of the Year.

The Mustangs were also picked to win the 2008 Great West title, and fellow Mustangs receiver Tre’dale Tolver was tabbed as

preseason Special Teams Player of the Year after he returned a punt 89 yards for a touchdown against Texas State last season.

UC Davis defensive lineman John Faletoese was selected as the preseason Defensive Player of the Year.

Receiver Ramses Barden holds school records for receiving yards, points, 100-yard games, and receiving touchdowns in a game, season and career. He opens the season as the active NCAA Division I-FCS career leader in touchdowns, receiving yards and yards per catch.

Barden holds school records for receiving yards, points, 100-yard games, and receiving touchdowns in a game, season and career.

He opens the season as the active NCAA Division I-FCS career leader in touchdowns, receiving yards and yards per catch.

Tolver, Cal Poly’s second-leading receiver from a year ago with 31 catches, 537 yards and five touchdowns, averaged 13.6 yards per punt return and 19.2 yards on kick returns.

His punt return for a touchdown was the Mustangs’ first in three years.