FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP SUBDIVISION

• Sherritt, Reynolds among preseason Big Sky honorees

  Ogden, UT (Sports Network) - Eastern Washington's J.C. Sherritt, the 2009 Buck Buchanan Award runner-up, has been named the 2010 Big Sky Conference preseason defensive player of the year.

  Montana's Chase Reynolds has been named the preseason offensive player of the year.

  Both players were also named to the preseason All-Conference team.

  Reynolds, a 2010 Walter Payton Award watch list member, is one of five Grizzlies to make the 30-player team.

  Montana State also had five players selected, while Northern Arizona, Weber State, and Sacramento State each had four.

  Joining Reynolds in the all-conference backfield is Eastern Washington sophomore and fellow Walter Payton Award watch list member, Taiwan Jones. Jones finished second in the nation last season in all purpose yards, averaging 195.4 ypg.

  Northern Arizona quarterback Michael Herrick, another Payton candidate, also made the cut. Protecting Herrick up front are Montana State's Mike Person (tackle), Montana's Jon Opperud (tackle) and Alex Verlanic (center), Weber State's J.C. Oram (guard) and Northern Arizona's Kris Poindexter (guard).

  The selection of two Big Sky wide receivers in April's NFL draft opened the door for Montana State's Everett Gilbert, Weber State's Mike Phillips, and Sacramento State's Brandyn Reed to earn spots on the team. Joining the receivers is tight end Kyle Begger of Montana State.

  Fullback Zac Eldridge of Weber State rounds out the offensive team.

  Defensively, the team features six players who earned first-team All-Big Sky honors in 2009. These include linebackers Sherritt, A.J. Storms of Idaho State, and Taylor Sedillo of Weber State, linemen Dan Ogden of Montana State and Renard Williams of Eastern Washington, and cornerback Trumaine Johnson of Montana.

  Johnson, and all-conference team newcomer Christian Clark of Sacramento State join Sherritt on the 2010 Buck Buchanan Award watch list.

  Preseason All-Conference Team Offense - QB: Michael Herrick, Northern Arizona, Sr.; RB: Chase Reynolds, Montana, Sr.; RB: Taiwan Jones, Eastern Washington, So.; FB: Zac Eldridge, Weber State, Sr.; TE: Kyle Begger, Montana State, Sr.; T: Mike Person, Montana State, Sr.; T: Jon Opperud, Montana, Jr.; C: Alex Verlanic, Montana, Sr.; G: J.C. Oram, Weber State, Jr.; G: Kris Poindexter, Northern Arizona, Sr.; WR: Brandyn Reed, Sacramento State, Sr.; WR: Everett Gilbert, Montana State, So.; WR: Mike Phillips, Weber State, Sr; K: Zach Brown, Portland State, So.; RS: Jabin Sambrano, Montana, Jr.

  Defense - DE: Isaac Bond, Northern Arizona, Jr.; DE: Nick Hernon, Northern Colorado, Jr.; DT: Dan Ogden, Montana State, Sr.; DT: Renard Williams, Eastern Washington, Jr.; DT: Christian Clark, Sacramento State, Sr.; LB: A.J. Storms, Idaho State, Jr.; LB: Taylor Sedillo, Weber State, Sr.; LB: John Eddy, Northern Colorado, Sr.; LB: J.C. Sherritt, Eastern Washington, Sr.; CB: Korey Askew, Northern Colorado, Jr.; CB: Trumaine Johnson, Montana, Jr.; S: Matt Estrada, Northern Arizona, Sr.; S: Zach Estrada, Sacramento State, Sr.; P: Augie Heath, Sacramento State, Jr.; ST: Tanner Ripley, Montana State, Sr.

  07/19 15:33:01 ET