OGDEN, UTAH (July 26, 2010) – Six Big Sky Conference players have been selected to the first team of The Sports Network’s Football Championship Subdivision Preseason All-America Team, which was released Monday.
The six first-teamers led all FCS conference. A total of 12 Big Sky players were selected to the squad, second only to the Southern Conference’s 15.
Northern Arizona senior QB Michael Herrick was tabbed as the quarterback, while Montana’s Chase Reynolds and Eastern Washington’s Taiwan Jones were the running backs. All three are preseason candidates for the Walter Payton award.
Eastern Washington linebacker J.C. Sherritt, who finished second in voting for the Buck Buchanan award, was one of three Sky players named to the first-team defense. Sacramento State’s Christian Clark was selected on the defensive line. Montana’s Trumaine Johnson was tabbed as a cornerback. All three are preseason candidates of the Buchanan.
Herrick completed 66.3 percent of his passes for 3,356 yards with 22 touchdowns and eight interceptions in 2009. Reynolds, from Drummond, Mont., amassed 1,502 rushing yards and scored a league-high 24 touchdowns in 2009. Jones averaged 7.5 yards per carry and finished second in the nation in all-purpose yards in his first season as a running back.
Sherritt, from Pullman, Wash., led the nation in tackles in 2009. Clark tallied a league-high 10 sacks, while Johnson intercepted five passes and broke up 12 passes.
Weber State junior guard J.C. Oram was selected to the second team offense, along with Montana center Alex Verlanic. Portland State kicker Zach Brown and Eastern Washington defensive tackle Renard Williams were also named to the second team.
Montana State offensive tackle Mike Person and Bobcat defensive tackle Dan Ogden both earned third-team honors.

FIRST-TEAM OFFENSE
Player School Pos. Cl. Ht. Wt.
Michael Herrick Northern Arizona QB Sr. 6-1 195
Taiwan Jones Eastern Washington RB Jr. 6-1 200
Chase Reynolds Montana RB Sr. 6-0 195
Tersoo Uhaa Furman FB Jr. 5-8 206
Jason Caldwell Fordham WR Sr. 5-11 180
Tysson Poots Southern Utah WR Sr. 6-3 205
Matt Szczur Villanova WR Sr. 5-11 190
Stephen Skelton Fordham TE Sr. 6-5 244
Johnny Culbreath South Carolina St. T Sr. 6-6 298
Ben Ijalana Villanova T Sr. 6-4 320
David Arkin Missouri State G Sr. 6-5 302
D.J. Hall Texas State G Jr. 6-3 300
Ryan McKnight South Dakota State C Sr. 6-1 295
Matt Bevins Liberty PK So. 6-2 185
Mareo Howard Arkansas-Pine Bluff KR Jr. 5-8 180

FIRST-TEAM DEFENSE
Player School Pos. Cl. Ht. Wt.
Christian Anthony Grambling State DE Sr. 6-4 265
Christian Clark Sacramento State DE Sr. 6-3 265
Kenrick Ellis Hampton DT Sr. 6-5 340
Martin Parker Richmond DT Sr. 6-3 283
J.C. Sherritt Eastern Washington LB Sr. 5-10 220
D.J. Smith Appalachian State LB Sr. 6-1 235
Terence Thomas Villanova LB Sr. 6-0 230
Jabara Williams Stephen F. Austin LB Sr. 6-3 225
Trumaine Johnson Montana CB Jr. 6-3 197
Korey Lindsey Southern Illinois CB Sr. 6-0 190
Mark LeGree Appalachian State S Sr. 6-0 200
James Vercammen Dayton S Sr. 5-10 192
Jonathan Plisco Old Dominion P So. 6-0 220
Kiare Thompson Grambling State PR Sr. 6-1 185

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SECOND-TEAM OFFENSE
Player School Pos. Cl. Ht. Wt.
Jeremy Moses Stephen F. Austin QB Sr. 6-1 200
Jonathan Grimes William & Mary RB Jr. 5-10 201
Devon Moore Appalachian State RB Sr. 5-9 200
John Goode Southern Illinois FB Jr. 6-2 225
Mark Layton Lafayette WR Sr. 5-9 175
Brian Quick Appalachian State WR Jr. 6-5 220
Simmie Yarborough Southeastern Louisiana WR Jr. 6-1 205
Ben Jorden Appalachian State TE Jr. 6-2 250
David Pickard Southern Illinois T Jr. 6-5 290
Will Rackley Lehigh T Sr. 6-4 310
Corey O’Daniel Gardner-Webb G Sr. 6-7 317
J.C. Oram Weber State G Jr. 6-4 310
Alex Verlanic Montana C Sr. 6-2 282
Zach Brown Portland State PK So. 6-1 180
Terrence Holt Austin Peay KR Sr. 5-7 180

SECOND-TEAM DEFENSE
Player School Pos. Cl. Ht. Wt.
Markell Carter Central Arkansas DE Sr. 6-4 250
Jabari Fletcher Appalachian State DE Sr. 6-3 265
Malcolm Taylor Alcorn State DT Sr. 6-3 245
Renard Williams Eastern Washington DT Jr. 6-2 300
Kadarron Anderson Furman LB Jr. 6-1 235
Tyler Holmes Massachusetts LB Jr. 6-0 215
Eric McBride Richmond LB Sr. 6-2 231
Bryce Smith Samford LB Sr. 6-1 245
Jeremy Caldwell Eastern Kentucky CB Jr. 5-10 172
Justin Rogers Richmond CB Sr. 5-10 181
Anthony DiMichele Holy Cross S Sr. 5-9 185
Jason House Southern S Sr. 6-0 190
Pedro Ventura Prairie View A&M P Sr. 5-9 170
Todd Speight Western Illinois PR Sr. 5-8 165

THIRD-TEAM OFFENSE
Player School Pos. Cl. Ht. Wt.
Scott Riddle Elon QB Sr. 6-0 210
Chris Evans Samford RB Sr. 6-0 215
Kyle Minett South Dakota State RB Sr. 5-10 225
Michael Scott Wofford FB Jr. 5-9 210
Da’Marcus Griggs Texas State WR Sr. 6-1 185
Josh Philpart Jacksonville WR Jr. 6-0 170
Zach Watkins Butler WR Jr. 6-2 205
Schuylar Oordt Northern Iowa TE Sr. 6-7 246
Mike Person Montana State T Sr. 6-5 292
Mark Tos UC Davis T Sr. 6-6 290
Pat Illig Wofford G Sr. 6-5 330
Juavahr Nathan South Carolina State G Jr. 6-2 260
Joe D’Orazio Penn C Sr. 6-1 270
Kyle Dougherty Southern Illinois PK Sr. 5-10 185
Marcus Harris Murray State KR Sr. 6-1 185

THIRD-TEAM DEFENSE
Player School Pos. Cl. Ht. Wt.
Dain Taylor Drake DE Sr. 6-3 242
Lanston Tanyi Appalachian State DE Jr. 6-2 250
Dan Ogden Montana State DT Sr. 6-0 261
Brent Russell Georgia Southern DT So. 6-2 294
Rob Damon Rhode Island LB Sr. 6-1 205
Marty Patterson Gardner-Webb LB Sr. 6-3 220
Jake Trantin William & Mary LB Jr. 6-1 235
Antoine Wilkinson Missouri State LB Sr. 6-2 230
T.J. Heath Jacksonville State CB Sr. 6-1 170
Josh Norman Coastal Carolina CB Jr. 6-2 190
Eugene Clifford Tennessee State S Sr. 6-2 197
Mike McElroy Southern Illinois S Sr. 6-1 205
Patrick Dolan Nicholls State P Sr. 6-1 180
Fesi Sitake Southern Utah PR Sr. 5-10 180