Big Sky Football Kickoff notes: Montana picked to win Big Sky by coaches, media
Montana picked to win Big Sky by coaches, media
SPOKANE — Montana, which reached the FCS Championship last season was picked by coaches and media to win the Big Sky Conference this season.
Idaho was picked to finish third in both polls, behind Montana State. Both teams reached the quarterfinals of the FCS playoffs. Eastern Washington was picked to finish eighth by the coaches, sixth by the media.
The Grizzlies won the Big Sky title last season after a 7-1 mark in conference play.
COACHES POLL
1, Montana (10 first-place votes), 120 points. 2, Montana State (1), 110. 3, Idaho, 95. 4, UC Davis (1), 88. 5, Sacramento State, 82. 6, Weber State, 74. 7, Northern Arizona, 55. 8, Eastern Washington, 47. 9, Portland State, 45. 10, Idaho State, 31. 11, Northern Colorado, 23. 12, Cal Poly, 22.
MEDIA POLL
1, Montana (26 first-place votes), 442 points. 2, Montana State (9), 414. 3, Idaho (2), 342. 4, UC Davis (1), 332. 5, Sacramento State, 324. 6, Eastern Washington, 240. 7, Weber State, 234. 8, Idaho State, 174. 9, Northern Arizona, 172. 10, Portland State, 169. 11, Cal Poly, 74. 12, Northern Colorado, 47.
Five Vandals named to preseason All-Big Sky team
SPOKANE — Tight end Jake Cox, defensive lineman Dallas Afalava and Keyshawn James-Newby, defensive back Tommy McCormick and kick returner Abraham Williams of Idaho were named to the preseason All-Big Sky Conference football team.
Running back Lan Larison of UC Davis and defensive lineman Brody Grebe of Montana State were named preseason offensive and defensive players of the year, respectively.
Larison, from Vallivue High in Caldwell, finished last season with 10 touchdowns in the final three games, and rushed for 1,101 yards on the year and 13 touchdowns, despite missing three games due to injury midseason.
Grebe, who was a member of the All-Big Sky first team last season, recorded 55 tackles, 13.5 tackles for loss and a team-high 10 sacks in 2023. The Bobcat finished ninth in the FCS and fourth in the Big Sky with his 0.83 sacks per game, which led to being named a finalist for the Buck Buchanan Award.
Wide receiver Efton Chism III was the lone selection from Eastern Washington.
One of Montana’s selections was offensive lineman Brandon Casey, from Sandpoint High.
2024 Big Sky Football Preseason All-Conference Team
OFFENSE
Quarterback — Tommy Mellott, Montana State. Running back — Lan Larison, UC Davis*; Eli Gillman. Fullback — Rohan Jones, Montana State. Wide receiver — Efton Chism III, Eastern Washington*; Junior Bergen, Montana; Jared Gipson, Sacramento State. Tight end — Coleman Kuntz, Sacramento State*; Jake Cox, Idaho. Offensive lineman — Brandon Casey, Montana*; Marcus Wehr, Montana State; Jackson Slater, Sacramento State; Justus Perkins, Montana State; Jonny Bottorff, Northern Arizona; Nathan Mejia, Sacramento State.
DEFENSE
Lineman — Brody Grebe, Montana State*; Elijah Ponder, Cal Poly; Brayden Wilson, Weber State; Zach Kennedy, UC Davis; Dallas Afalava, Idaho; Keyshawn James-Newby, Idaho. Linebacker — Riley Wilson, Montana*; Will Leota, Sacramento State; Michael Montgomery, Portland State; Danny Uluilakepa, Montana State; Tommy Ellis, Northern Arizona. Defensive backs — Rex Connors, UC Davis*; Trevin Gradney, Montana; Alex McLaughlin, Northern Arizona; Calvin Pitcher, Idaho State; Tommy McCormick, Idaho; Rylan Ortt, Montana State.
SPECIALISTS
Kicker — Hunter Ridley, UC Davis. Punter — Brendan Hall, Montana State. Kick returner — Abraham Williams, Idaho. Punt returner — Junior Bergen, Montana. Long snapper — Tommy Sullivan, Montana State. Special teams — Isiah Childs, Montana. All-purpose — Junior Bergen, Montana.
OFFENSIVE MOST VALUABLE PLAYER — Lan Larison, UC Davis
DEFENSIVE MOST VALUABLE PLAYER — Brody Grebe, Montana State
* - received most votes in position group