Cats, Griz touted by Big Sky coaches

On the same day the University of Montana sold out of tickets in record time for college football’s first official game of the 2015 season, Big Sky Conference coaches and players were busy at the Big Sky Kickoff in Park City, Utah.

And on the opening day of the three-day media event for the Big Sky Conference, the league announced its 2015 Preseason honors.

Five Montana State Bobcats and four Montana Grizzlies were honored with spots on the preseason All-Big Sky Conference football teams, unveiled Monday by the league.

Montana State quarterback Dakota Prukop, offensive linemen J.P. Flynn and John Weidenaar, defensive tackle Taylor Sheridan and special teamer Chad Newell cracked the list.

“This is a great honor for these individuals, and a great tribute to our program,” MSU head coach Rob Ash said. “Each of these players have a track record of success and production. I think it speaks volumes that three of our four team captains (Prukop, Sheridan and Newell, each elected following spring drills) made this list. It’s not an accident when a team’s best players are its leaders, but it’s certainly a positive.”

For the Griz, receiver Jamaal Jones, return man Ellis Henderson and linebackers Jeremiah Kose and Kendrick Van Ackeren were honored.

“I think it’s a deserving honor for all four,” first-year Griz head coach Bob Stitt said. “Jamaal is a guy that will be a go-to guy for us. He was in the spring, and he’s a great leader on offense. Ellis is a big-time player. He can make big plays and in the return game he can take it to the house at any point.

“(Van Ackeren) and (Kose) are leaders on our defense. They’re the heart and soul of our defense at the linebacker position. I expect great things out of them,” he added.

Cooper Kupp, a junior receiver from Eastern Washington, was selected as the preseason offensive MVP. Southern Utah senior defensive end James Cowser is the Big Sky’s preseason defensive MVP.

Idaho State placed a league-high six players on the teams. In addition to Kupp and Cowser, three other players were unanimously selected to the team. Northern Arizona boasts two of those in fullback Nick Butier and cornerback Marcus Alford. EWU offensive tackle Clay DeBord rounds out the unanimous selections.

Defending conference champion EWU saw two players named in addition to Kupp and DeBord. Offensive guard Aaron Neary and defensive end Samson Ebukam both earned honors. Northern Arizona also had four players named to the team. Punter Ryan Hawkins and tight end R.J. Rickert accompany Butier and Alford with the honor. Southern Utah landed three players, including Cowser. Defensive backs LaShaun Sims and Miles Killebrew join the defensive MVP.

Sacramento State also saw three players named in receiver Nnamdi Agude, kicker Brad Cornish and linebacker Darnell Sankey. Cal Poly running back Kori Garcia rounded out the team.

For the Grizzlies, Henderson’s mention may come as a surprise. The star receiver and return man left school due to illness last fall after playing in only four games. The Vancouver, Wash., native was a second-team all-conference receiver in 2013, though, prior to his illness. Jones, Kose and Van Ackeren all three were all-conference selections in 2014.

As for the Bobcats, no shocking news there. Flynn was an All-Big Sky first-teamer and second-team All-American in 2014, and Prukop earned third-team All-America honors. Newell, a running back, was first-team all-league as a special-teamer a season ago, and both Sheridan and Weidenaar were All-Big Sky selections as well. Newell, a Billings Senior product, and Weidenaar, of Manhattan, are the only two Montana natives on the team.

Today is another big day in Park City as the league will announce its coaches and media preseason polls.