EWU, 2018 national finalist, picked to win Big Sky
For the second straight year, the Eastern Washington University football team has been picked to win the 2019 league title by both the coaches and media as the picks were released Monday at the Big Sky Conference Football Kickoff in Spokane. The Eagles are the defending NCAA Football Championship Subdivision runner-up after sharing the Big Sky Conference title with UC Davis and Weber State.
Idaho was picked to finish eighth in the 13-team league by the coaches and the media.
It’s the third time since 2014 the Eagles have been picked No. 1 in both polls.
Two Idaho players — senior offensive guard Noah Johnson and junior punter Cade Coffey (Lakeland High) — were named to the preseason All-Big Sky team, as selected by the media.
Senior offensive tackle Chris Schliting was the lone EWU player picked.
2019 Preseason Football Polls
Coaches’ Poll
1. Eastern Washington - 140 (10 first-place votes)
2. UC Davis - 127
3. Weber State - 124 (2)
4. Montana - 104 (1)
5. Montana State - 100
6. Northern Arizona - 88
7. Idaho State - 72
8. Idaho - 65
9. Cal Poly - 56
10. Portland State - 42
11. Sacramento State - 40
12. Southern Utah - 38
13. Northern Colorado - 19
Media Poll
1. Eastern Washington - 536 (25 first-place votes)
2. UC Davis - 510 (13)
3. Weber State - 472 (4)
4. Montana State - 417
5. Montana - 396 (1)
6. Northern Arizona - 302
7. Idaho State - 285
8. Idaho - 248
9. Cal Poly - 196
10. Portland State - 178
11. Southern Utah - 160
12. Sacramento State - 125
13. Northern Colorado - 90
2019 Big Sky Preseason Football Team
Preseason Offensive MVP: Jake Maier, QB, UC Davis
Preseason Defensive MVP: Dante Olson, LB, Montana
Offense
QB: Jake Maier, Sr., UC Davis
WR: Mitch Gueller, Sr., Idaho State
WR: Samuel Akem, Jr., Montana
WR: Jared Harrell, Jr., UC Davis
OT: Mitch Brott, Sr., Montana State
OT: Chris Schliting, Sr., Eastern Washington
OG: Noah Johnson, Sr., Idaho
OG: Ty Whitworth, Jr., Weber State
C: Zach Larsen, Sr., Southern Utah
TE: Charlie Taumopeau, Sr., Portland State
RB: Josh Davis, So., Weber State
RB: Elijah Dotson, Jr., Sacramento State
FB: Troy Andersen, Sr., Montana State
PK: Trey Tuttle, Jr., Weber State
RS: Rashid Shaheed, Jr., Weber State
Defense
DT: Jalen Goss, Sr., Northern Arizona
DT: Kenton Bartlett, Sr., Portland State
DE: Adam Rodriguez, Sr., Weber State
DE: Jonah Williams, Jr., Weber State
OLB: Auston Tesch, Sr., Weber State
OLB: Bryce Sterk, Sr., Montana State
ILB: Dante Olson, Sr., Montana
ILB: Kody Graves, Sr., Idaho State
CB: Khalil Dorsey, Sr., Northern Arizona
CB: Greg Filer, Jr., Montana State
S: Adkin Aguirre, Sr., Idaho State
S: Brayden Konkol, Sr., Montana State
P: Cade Coffey, Jr., Idaho
ST: Jace Lewis, Jr., Montana