BIG SKY CONFERENCE PRESS RELEASE & SKYLINE SPORTS
UC Davis wide receiver Keelan Doss and Weber State cornerback Taron Johnson were named the Big Sky Conference Offensive and Defensive MVPs, respectively, the league announced on Tuesday afternoon.
The All-Conference teams and individual award winners were selected by the 13 league head coaches and released by the league.
Doss was named the Offensive Most Valuable Player. Doss, a candidate for the Walter Payton Award, finished the regular season as the top wide receiver in the nation among all Division I FBS and FCS players in receiving yards (1,499), receiving yards per game (136.3) and receptions per game (10.5).
Johnson was voted as the Defensive Most Valuable Player. Johnson, the only unanimous selection to the defensive first team, helped lead the Wildcats to a share of the Big Sky title in his final season. He finished the regular season with 30 tackles, 3.0 tackles-for-loss, 2.0 sacks, 10 passes defended, and three interceptions for a total of 59 yards.
Offensive Player of the Year: Keelan Doss, UC Davis
Defensive Player of the Year: Taron Johnson, Weber State
Freshman of the Year: Troy Andersen, Montana State
Newcomer of the Year: Jake Maier, UC Davis
UC Davis junior wide receiver Keelan Doss/ by Wayne Tilcock, Davis athletics
Additional top honors went to Aggie sophomore quarterback Jake Maier for Newcomer of the Year. The sophomore finished his season ranked second in the FCS in completion percentage (.686), third in passing yards (3,669) and fifth in passing yards per game (333.5).
Freshman of the Year honors went to double threat Troy Andersen, who plays running back and linebacker for Montana State. He notched 515 rushing yards to go along with five touchdowns on the ground and a touchdown reception. On defense he had nine tackles and a sack for the Bobcats.
Southern Utah outside linebacker Michael Needham and North Dakota running back John Santiago were the only three-time first-team All-Big Sky honorees.
Northern Arizona quarterback Case Cookus and Weber State tight end Andrew Vollert were named two-time first-team honorees. Vollert was also the only offensive player voted as a unanimous First Team selection. Both players will lead their teams in the FCS Playoffs.
Co-conference champion Weber State placed eight players on the first team. Idaho State, Northern Arizona and Southern Utah all had four players receive first team honors. In all, 11 of the 13 conferences teams had at least one player selected to the first team.
Montana landed a total of 13 players on the various teams, including senior left tackle David Reese earning first-team All-Big Sky honors. The four-year starter started 46 straight games for the Griz.
Montana defensive end Tucker Schye/by Brooks Nuanez
UM saw senior defensive end Tucker Schye earn second-team all-league honors after leading the league with 15.5 tackles for loss and ranking fourth in the Big Sky with 7.5 sacks. Junior linebacker Josh Boss, a finalist for the Buck Buchanan Award after notching 94 tackles, 13.5 tackles for loss, 5.5 sacks and two interceptions, along with Montana senior linebacker James Banks, the Big Sky’s leading tackler with 111 stops, joined Schye on the second team.
Montana sophomore Dante Olson earned second-team honors as a special teams player. UM kicker Brandon Purdy hit 15 field goals, second to Weber State’s first-team all-league freshman Trey Tuttle’s league-leading 16, and earned third-team All-Big Sky recognition.
Connor Strahm piled up 88 tackles and 11 tackles for loss to earn third-team honors despite missing the first two games of his senior season because of suspension. Senior cornerback Ryan McKinley led the league in pass breakups with 13 and passes defended with 15 to earn third-team honors.
Junior wide receiver Keenan Curran, sophomore wide receiver Jerry Louie-McGee, senior right guard Robert Luke, senior center Cooper Sprunk and junior running back Jeremy Calhoun all landed on the honorable mention list on offense. Louie-McGee also earned honorable mention recognition as a punt returner. Montana redshirt freshman quarterback Gresch Jensen, who started for the duration of Big Sky play and threw for 2,531 yards and 20 touchdowns, received no recognition.
Montana State landed eight players on the list highlighted by senior Mac Bignell’s third straight selection, including his first to the first-team. The senior from Drummond led the Bobcats with 93 tackles, including 62 solo stops, 14.5 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks and an interception he returned for a touchdown in MSU’s win over Idaho State.
Montana State linebacker Mac Bignell/by Brooks Nuanez
MSU senior captain left tackle Dylan Mahoney earned second-team All-Big Sky honors. He started all 11 games in his senior season for the 5-6 Bobcats. MSU punter Jered Padmos earned second-team honors after averaging 42.5 yards per punt, just short of EWU’s Jordan Dascalo (42.6 ypp) for the league’s best average.
Montana State senior captain strong safety Bryson McCabe earned third-team honors, his second All-Big Sky recognition after notching 87 tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss, snaring an interception and breaking up six passes.
Other Bobcats who earned honorable mention all-league recognition includes senior wide receiver Mitch Herbert, junior center Alex Neale and junior defensive tackles Zach Wright and Tucker Yates. Sophomore quarterback Chris Murray, the league’s second-leading rusher after piling up an all-time record rushing mark for a quarterback with 1,124 yards to go with 10 touchdowns, received no recognition.
Weber State led all schools with 16 honorees on the three teams, followed by Southern Utah (12), Eastern Washington (10), Sacramento State (10), and Northern Arizona (9).
Counting honorable mention, Southern Utah landed 22 players on the list, followed by 18 for Weber, 15 for NAU, 13 for Sac State, Montana and Eastern Washington and 10 for Idaho State.
The Big Sky All-Conference team is selected by the Big Sky’s head football coaches. Coaches were not allowed to vote for their own players. The conference’s Coach of the Year award will be announced on Wednesday.
* – Unanimous All-First Team Selection
$ – Two-Time All-Big Sky First Team Selection
% – Three-Time All-Big Sky First Team Selection
| FIRST TEAM OFFENSE | |||
| Position | Player | Year | School |
| Wide Receiver | Elijah Marks | Senior | Northern Arizona |
| Wide Receiver | Keelan Doss | Junior | UC Davis |
| Wide Receiver | Mitch Gueller | Sophomore | Idaho State |
| Tackle | Iosua Opeta | Junior | Weber State |
| Tackle | David Reese | Senior | Montana |
| Guard | Skyler Phillips | Senior | Idaho State |
| Guard | Tyler Shank | Senior | Northern Arizona |
| Center | Zach Larsen | Sophomore | Southern Utah |
| Tight End | *$Andrew Vollert | Senior | Weber State |
| Quarterback | $Case Cookus | Sophomore | Northern Arizona |
| Running Back | %John Santiago | Junior | North Dakota |
| Running Back | James Madison | Junior | Idaho State |
| Fullback | Jared Mohamed | Senior | Cal Poly |
| Kicker | Trey Tuttle | Freshman | Weber State |
| Returner | Rashid Shaheed | Freshman | Weber State |
| FIRST TEAM DEFENSE | |||
| Position | Player | Year | School |
| Tackle | McKay Murphy | Senior | Weber State |
| Tackle | Anu Pole’o | Senior | Southern Utah |
| End | Ben Sorenson | Senior | Sacramento State |
| End | George Obinna | Junior | Sacramento State |
| Outside Linebacker | %Michael Needham | Senior | Southern Utah |
| Outside Linebacker | Mac Bignell | Senior | Montana State |
| Inside Linebacker | Mario Jenkins | Senior | Idaho State |
| Inside Linebacker | LeGrand Toia | Junior | Weber State |
| Cornerback | *Taron Johnson | Senior | Weber State |
| Cornerback | Jarmaine Doubs | Senior | Southern Utah |
| Safety | Wes Sutton | Junior | Northern Arizona |
| Safety | Mister Harriel | Junior | Sacramento State |
| Punter | Jordan Dascalo | Senior | Eastern Washington |
| Special Teams | Brady May | Junior | Weber State |
| SECOND TEAM OFFENSE | |||
| Position | Player | Year | School |
| Wide Receiver | Nic Sblendorio | Senior | Eastern Washington |
| Wide Receiver | Alex Wesley | Junior | Northern Colorado |
| Wide Receiver | Andre Lindsey | Junior | Sacramento State |
| Tackle | Dylan Mahoney | Senior | Montana State |
| Tackle | Marquez Tucker | Junior | Southern Utah |
| Guard | Pailake Aiono | Senior | Sacramento State |
| Guard | Tyshon Mosley | Senior | Portland State |
| Center | Spencer Blackburn | Junior | Eastern Washington |
| Tight End | Charlie Taumoepeau | Sophomore | Portland State |
| Quarterback | Gage Gubrud | Junior | Eastern Washington |
| Running Back | Antoine Custer | Sophomore | Eastern Washington |
| Running Back | James Felila | Sophomore | Southern Utah |
| Fullback | Brady May | Junior | Weber State |
| Kicker | Devon Medeiros | Junior | Sacramento State |
| Returner | Dre’Sonte Dorton | Sophomore | Eastern Washington |
| SECOND TEAM DEFENSE | |||
| Position | Player | Year | School |
| Tackle | Augustino Elisaia | Senior | Cal Poly |
| Tackle | Robert Torgenson | Senior | Southern Utah |
| End | Albert Havili | Senior | Eastern Washington |
| End | Tucker Schye | Senior | Montana |
| End | Jonah Williams | Sophomore | Weber State |
| Outside Linebacker | Josh Buss | Junior | Montana |
| Outside Linebacker | Landon Stice | Junior | Weber State |
| Inside Linebacker | James Banks | Senior | Montana |
| Inside Linebacker | Chinedu Ahanonu | Junior | Southern Utah |
| Cornerback | Xequille Harry | Senior | Weber State |
| Cornerback | Khalil Dorsey | Sophomore | Northern Arizona |
| Safety | Kam’ron Johnson | Junior | Northern Arizona |
| Safety | Jordan Preator | Junior | Weber State |
| Punter | Jered Padmos | Sophomore | Montana State |
| Special Teams | Dante Olson | Sophomore | Montana |
| THIRD TEAM OFFENSE | |||
| Position | Player | Year | School |
| Wide Receiver | Nsimba Webster | Junior | Eastern Washington |
| Wide Receiver | Michael Dean | Sophomore | Idaho State |
| Wide Receiver | Darnell Adams | Senior | Portland State |
| Tackle | Jon Blade | Senior | Sacramento State |
| Tackle | Chase Collins | Senior | Idaho State |
| Guard | Baron Bruce | Junior | Weber State |
| Guard | PJ Nu’usa | Sophomore | Southern Utah |
| Center | Blake Porter | Senior | Northern Arizona |
| Tight End | Wes Preece | Sophomore | UC Davis |
| Quarterback | Jake Maier | Sophomore | UC Davis |
| Running Back | Cory Young | Junior | Northern Arizona |
| Running Back | Treshawn Garrett | Junior | Weber State |
| Fullback | Sefesi Vaa’ivaka | Senior | Southern Utah |
| Kicker | Brandon Purdy | Sophomore | Montana |
| Returner | Xequille Harry | Senior | Weber State |
| THIRD TEAM DEFENSE | |||
| Position | Player | Year | School |
| Tackle | Tank Harris | Junior | North Dakota |
| Tackle | James Walton | Senior | Northern Arizona |
| End | Kiefer Morris | Junior | Northern Colorado |
| End | Taylor Pili | Senior | Southern Utah |
| Outside Linebacker | Tanner Palmborg | Junior | North Dakota |
| Outside Linebacker | Marcus Bruce | Junior | Sacramento State |
| Inside Linebacker | Taylor Nelson | Senior | Southern Utah |
| Inside Linebacker | Manoah Pearson | Junior | Sacramento State |
| Inside Linebacker | Connor Strahm | Senior | Montana |
| Cornerback | Dre Terrell | Junior | Sacramento State |
| Cornerback | Ryan McKinley | Senior | Montana |
| Safety | Mitch Fettig | Junior | Eastern Washington |
| Safety | Bryson McCabe | Senior | Montana State |
| Punter | Jake DeMaio | Senior | Weber State |
| Special Teams | Anfernee Gurley | Freshman | Eastern Washington |
HONORABLE MENTION
Montana wide receiver Keenan Curran with one of his seven touchdown catches this season/by Jason Bacaj
Wide Receiver – Keenan Curran, Montana; Jerry Louie-McGee, Montana; Mitch Herbert, Montana State; Isaiah Hennie, Sacramento State; Landen Measom, Southern Utah; Drew Batchelor, Weber State.
Tackle – Brian Fineanganofo, Idaho State; Cole Habib, Northern Arizona; Randin Crecelius, Portland State; Kyle Sulka, UC Davis; Tyler Downs, Weber State.
Guard – Tristen Taylor, Eastern Washington; Robert Luke, Montana; Wyatt Ming, Sacramento State; Julian Bertero, UC Davis.
Center – Joey Kuperman, Cal Poly; Cooper Sprunk, Montana; Alex Neale, Montana State.
Tight End – Logan Parker, Southern Utah.
Quarterback – Patrick Tyler, Southern Utah.
Running Back – Sam McPherson, Eastern Washington; Ty Flanagan, Idaho State; Jeremy Calhoun, Montana; Brady Oliveira, North Dakota; Joe Logan, Northern Arizona; Jay Green, Southern Utah.
Placekicker – Reid Taubenheim, North Dakota.
Return Specialist – Jerry Louie-McGee, Montana; John Santiago, North Dakota.
Montana State junior defensive tackle Tucker Yates/ by Brooks Nuanez
Tackle – JonRyheem Peoples, Idaho State; Zach Wright, Montana State; Tucker Yates, Montana State; Khairi Bailey, Northern Colorado; Dariyn Choates, Sacramento State.
End – Clarence Smith, Northern Arizona; Chance Bearnson, Southern Utah; Brandon Weaver, UC Davis.
Outside Linebacker – Darren Adjei, Cal Poly; Beau Duronslet, Portland State; Immanuel Anderson, Sacramento State; Kyle Tauili’ili, Southern Utah.
Inside Linebacker – Byron Evans, Northern Arizona; Taylor Powell, Northern Arizona; Henry Stelzner, Northern Colorado; Ryan Bua, UC Davis.
Cornerback – Josh Lewis, Eastern Washington; Maurice Davison, Northern Arizona; Marshaun Cameron, Northern Colorado; Donovan Olumba, Portland State; Vince White, UC Davis.
Safety – B.J. Nard, Cal Poly; Stone Kane, Northern Colorado; Tyler Collett, Southern Utah; Mitch Dalley, Southern Utah.
Punter – Casey Sublette, Cal Poly; Rashaan Miller, Southern Utah.
Special Teams Player – Andy Whittier, Idaho State; Mitchell Thompson, Portland State; Alan Holsten, Southern Utah.
