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2019 Mountain West Football Top 52 Players: #42, Fresno State DT Kevin Atkins

The Fresno State defensive tackle is the first member of the Bulldogs on our annual list of Mountain West football’s best players.

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A quiet star in the making.

Fresno State defensive tackle Kevin Atkins is next on our list of Mountain West football’s 52 best players this season, coming in at #42 on the heels of playing a quiet role in one of the nation’s best defenses last season.

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Fresno State Bulldogs defensive tackle Kevin Atkins smiles as Fresno State defeated UCLA Bruins 38-14 during a NCAA football game at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, Ca., on Saturday, Sept. 15, 2018. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG) #fresnostate #fresnostatefootball @nikonusa #nikonlove #nikon #photography

A post shared by Keith Birmingham (@photowkb) on Sep 21, 2018 at 9:53am PDT

Atkins finished 2018 with 28 tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss and a sack, allowing just 1.45 yards per play while being credited with six run stuffs metric. More importantly, he proved effective at occupying blockers for the players around and behind him, doing his part for a unit that finished 4th last year by Rushing Defense S&P+.

He also played his best when it mattered most, finishing as the highest-graded Bulldog in last year’s Mountain West championship according to Pro Football Focus.

Still only a junior, Atkins will headline a talented group in the trenches that will look to remain productive as changes are made elsewhere on defense. If the Bulldogs are still tough against the run, Atkins will be a big reason why.