BIG SKY PRESEASON FOOTBALL: Two Bobcats Chosen Preseason All-Big Sky
7/24/2020 10:02:00 AM | Football
Offensive line standouts Lewis Kidd, Taylor Tuiasosopo named Preseason All-Big Sky
BOZEMAN, Montana – Montana State rushed for the most yards and allowed the fewest sacks in the Big Sky Conference in 2019, so it's fitting that a pair of Bobcat offensive linemen earned Preseason All-Big Sky honors on Friday.
Lewis Kidd and Taylor Tuiasosopo, both seniors who have started most of the last three seasons at guard, were selected to the league's preseason honors team. Both Kidd and Tuiasosopo may slide one position over this fall, Kidd to tackle and Tuiasosopo to center. Kidd was Second Team All-Big Sky last fall while Tuiasosopo earned third team honors.
Montana State's offensive line has emerged as the league's dominant unit at that position on the last three seasons, leading the league in rushing yards and fewest sacks twice each in that span. Kidd and Tuiasosopo were the only Bobcats honored on the Big Sky preseason team, chosen by the league's head coaches. The Cats return 14 starters from last year's FCS Semifinal team, including eight on offense and six on defense.
Defending Big Sky Champion Weber State leads the league with eight preseason all-league choices. Sacramento State and the Grizzlies each garnered six picks, while the Cats join Idaho, NAU, Portland State and UC Davis as teams with two selections. Eastern Washington had one choice, while Idaho State, Northern Colorado, Southern Utah, and Cal Poly were not represented.
2020 Big Sky Football Preseason All-Conference Team
Offensive MVP: Eric Barriere, Eastern Washington, QB
Defensive MVP: Jace Lewis, Montana, LB
OFFENSE
QB: Eric Barriere, Eastern Washington
WR: Samuel Akem, Montana
WR: Samori Toure, Montana
WR: Pierre Williams, Sacramento State
OL: Lewis Kidd, Montana State*
OL: Taylor Tuiasosopo, Montana State
OL: Conlan Beaver, Montana
OL: Ben Bos, Weber State
OL: Tristen Taylor, Eastern Washington
OL: Ty Whitworth, Weber State*
TE: Marshel Martin, Sacramento State
RB: Josh Davis, Weber State
RB: Elijah Dotson, Sacramento State
FB: Clay Moss, Weber State
AP: BJ Perkinson, Sacramento State
DEFENSE
DT: Bryce Rodgers, UC Davis
DT: Jared Scheiss, Weber State
DE: Josiah Erickson, Sacramento State
DE: George Tarlas, Weber State
OLB: Nick Eaton, UC Davis
OLB: Christian Ellis, Idaho
ILB: Jace Lewis, Montana
ILB: Tre Walker, Idaho
DB: Anthony Adams, Portland State*
DB: Daron Bland, Sacramento State
DB: Robby Hauck, Montana
DB: Eddie Heckard, Weber State
DB: Devon King, UC Davis
SPECIAL TEAMS
K: Luis Aguilar, Northern Arizona
PR: Rashid Shaheed, Weber State
KR: Malik Flowers, Montana
P: DJ Arnson, Northern Arizona
ST: Emmanuel Daigbe, Portland State
* Denotes unanimous selection
