The hype surrounding the offense for the Montana State Bobcats continued to build on Thursday with the release of The Sports Network’s preseason All-America list.
MSU junior offensive guard J.P. Flynn, a two-year starter who earned first-team All-Big Sky honors and All-America recognition last season, was chosen as a member of the preseason first-team. The 6-foot-5, 305-pound junior was one of two Bobcats chosen to the list and one of 15 players from the Big Sky Conference overall, including eight on the offensive side of the ball.
Montana State quarterback Dakota Prukop was chosen to the third-team offense. As a sophomore first-year starter, Prukop burst onto the scene, piling up 3,211 yards of total offense and compiling 30 touchdowns despite missing time with a knee injury. He was a third-team All-Big Sky selection.
Other Big Sky players on the first-team included Eastern Washington wide receiver Cooper Kupp, Idaho State tight end Josh Cook, Southern Utah defensive end James Cowser and Portland State long snapper Kameron Canaday.
Wide receiver Madison Magnum (2nd team) and running back Xavier Finny (3rd team) gave ISU a trio of offensive stars selected to the list. The Bengals led the country in passing offense and total offense last season while Finney led the Big Sky in rushing yards.
Kupp, a two-time first-team All-America entering his junior year, will have to find a new quarterback to throw him the ball after the abrupt departure of star Vernon Adams to Oregon. But whoever is zipping passes to the 6-foot-3, 200-pounder will have good protection. Guard Aaron Neary (2nd team) and tackle Clay DeBord (3rd team) were selected as preseason All-America.
Rounding out the Big Sky selections were Northern Arizona fullback Nick Butier, Montana linebacker Kendrick Van Ackeren and Southern Utah safety Miles Killebrew, each third-team selections.
