Bobcats Land Five on All-Big Sky First Team, 11 Others Feted by League Coaches

Titan Fleischmann

Photo by: Brian Morse

Bobcats Land Five on All-Big Sky First Team, 11 Others Feted by League Coaches

11/26/2025 2:58:00 PM | Football

Caden Dowler, Taco Dowler each earn First Team honors

By: Bill Lamberty

BOZEMAN, Mont. (Nov. 26, 2025) – Five Bobcats earned First Team All-Big Sky honors and 11 more landed on the all-conference second or honorable mention teams, the league announced on Wednesday.

Led by 2025 Big Sky Defensive Player of the Year Caden Dowler, a junior safety from Bozeman, three Bobcats earned first team defensive honors. Defensive linemen Paul Brott and Kenneth Eiden IV landed first team honors, and guard Titan Fleischmann was MSU's only offensive choice. Taco Dowler rounded out MSU's first team selections as a return specialist.

Four of MSU's first team selections are repeat honorees. Taco Dowler is now a two-time first team choice, Brott and Fleischmann earned Second Team All-Big Sky honors a year ago, and Eiden was honorable mention all-league in 2024. Caden Dowler is a first time honoree.

Montana State's entire defensive line earned all-league honors. In addition to Brott and Eiden, tackle Alec Eckert and end Hunter Parsons picked up their first awards. Nickel Tayden Gray and linebacker Cole Taylor each earned second team kudos, their first all-conference awards.

While only Fleischmann represents the Cats on the All-Big Sky First Team, seven others reeled in honors. Quarterback Justin Lamson, named Big Sky Newcomer of the Year earlier in the day, running back Julius Davis, and receiver Taco Dowler earned Second Team honors. Running back Adam Jones and offensive linemen JT Reed, Cedric Jefferson and Burke Mastel were honored with honorable mention selections.

Earlier on Wednesday, safety Caden Dowler was named Big Sky Defensive Player of the Year and quarterback Justin Lamson earned Newcomer of the Year honors. Brent Vigen was named Big Sky Coach of the Year.

First Team All-Big Sky Offense
QB: Keali'i Ah Yat, Montana
RB: Rodney Hammond, Sac State; Eli Gillman, Montana
WR: Carver Cheeks, Northern Colorado; Samuel Gbatu, UC Davis; Kolbe Katsis, Northern Arizona
TE: Ian Simpson, UC Davis; Evan Shafer, Montana
OL: Titan Fleischmann, Montana State; Stryker Rashid, Idaho State; Cannon Panfiloff, Montana; Eli Simonson, UC Davis; Gavin Ortega, Weber State; Nate Azzopardi, Idaho
AP: Michael Wortham, Montana

First Team All-Big Sky Defense
DL: Paul Brott, Montana State; Kenneth Eiden IV, Montana State; Jacob Psyk, UC Davis*; Hunter Peck, Montana; DeSean Watts, Sacramento State
LB: Mikey D'Amato, Cal Poly*; Peyton Wing, Montana; Isiah King, Idaho; Travis Arena, Northern Arizona; Kenny Olson, Cal Poly
DB: Caden Dowler, Montana State; Quentin Moten, Northern Arizona; Cam Chapa, Northern Colorado; Koa Akui, Sac State; Jaylon Jenkins, Eastern Washington; Khalani Riddick, UC Davis; Montae Pate, Weber State
* - Unanimous selection

First Team All-Big Sky Specialists
PR: Taco Dowler, Montana State
KR: Kolbe Katsis, Northern Arizona
K: Trajan Sinatra, Idaho State
P: Ben D'Aquila, Northern Arizona
ST: Tanner Huff, Montana
LS: Spencer Moore, Cal Poly

Second Team All-Big Sky Offense
QB: Justin Lamson, Montana State
RB: Julius Davis, Montana State; Dason Brooks, Idaho State
WR: Taco Dowler, Montana State; Michael Wortham, Montana; Tsion Nunnally, Idaho State
TE: Landon Cooper, Eastern Washington; Noah Bennee, Weber State
OL: Aidan Meek, Sac State; Liam Brown, Montana; Dean Abdullah, Sac State; Zaire Collier, UC Davis; Racin Delgatty, Cal Poly; Jeremiah Katt, Northern Arizona; Ethan Kramer, Northern Arizona ; Rodney Hammond, Sac State

Second Team All-Big Sky Defense
DL: Matt Herron, Weber State; Dylan Hampsten, Sac State; Jayland McGlothen, Sac State; Victory Johnson, Cal Poly; Cam'ron Willis, Idaho State; Solomon Tuliaupupu, Montana; Nate Rutchena, UC Davis
LB: Cole Taylor, Montana State; Brandon Wong, Northern Arizona; Read Sunn, Eastern Washington
DB: Tayden Gray, Montana State; Drew Cofield, UC Davis; Rylan Leathers, Idaho State; TJ Rausch, Montana ; Jeremiah Bernard, Cal Poly; Carsten Mamaril, Portland State

Second Team All-Big Sky Specialists
KR: Rodney Hammond, Sac State
PR: Drew Deck, Montana
K: Sloan Calder, Weber State
P: Gabe Russo, Idaho State
ST: Brayden Rice, Idaho
LS: Grayson Pibal, Montana

Honorable Mention Offense (at least 3 votes)
QB: Caden Pinnick, UC Davis; Ty Pennington, Northern Arizona ; Jordan Cooke, Idaho State
RB: Adam Jones, Montana State; Jordan Fisher, UC Davis
WR: Michael Shulikov, Idaho State; Michael Briscoe, Cal Poly; Damien Morgan, Idaho State; Brooks Davis, Montana
TE: Kristian Ingman, Portland State
OL: JT Reed, Montana State; Cedric Jefferson, Montana State; Burke Mastel, Montana State; Dylan Conner, Eastern Washington; Jack Ziebell, Northern Colorado
AP: Nate Bell, Eastern Washington

Honorable Mention Defense (at least 3 votes)
DL: Alec Eckert, Montana State; Hunter Parsons, Montana State; Matyus McLain, Idaho; Spencer Elliott, Portland State; Isaiah Perez, Eastern Washington; Jake Mason, Montana
LB: Mayson Hitchens, Weber State; Dylan Lane, Idaho; Nathan Reynolds, Idaho State; Caleb Otlewski, Montana; Hudson Voggesser, Northern Colorado; Isaiah Green, Portland State
DB: Jason Oliver, Sac State; Angel King, Weber State; Drew Carter, Eastern Washington

Honorable Mention Specialists (at least 3 votes)
KR: Cru Newman, Portland State
PR: Isaiah Eastman, Northern Arizona
K: Ty Morrison, Montana
P: Landon Ogles, Eastern Washington
LS: Maddox Broughton, Northern Colorado; Adam Johnston, Sac State

2025 Big Sky Football Individual Awards
Defensive Player of the Year: Caden Dowler, DB, Montana State
Offensive Player of the Year: Eli Gillman, RB, Montana
Newcomer of the Year: Justin Lamson, QB, Montana State
Freshman of the Year: Caden Pinnick, QB, UC Davis*
Coach of the Year: Brent Vigen, Montana State
* - Unanimous selection

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