More national honors for

Vandals Coffey, Johnson

Idaho football’s duo of junior Cade Coffey and senior Noah Johnson were each named to their second preseason All-America team Tuesday, as Coffey and Johnson were both selected to the Athlon Sports 2019 Preseason All-America First Team.

The pair was also honored by HERO Sports last week, with Johnson landing on the first team and Coffey on the second team.

Johnson was one of five Big Sky student-athletes named to Athlon’s Preseason All-America team on the offensive side of the ball, including one of three Big Sky offensive linemen. Coffey was the lone punter named to the team, joining Weber State kick returner Rashid Shaheed as Big Sky specialists to earn the recognition.

Johnson was also named the “best player in the FCS to wear No. 74” Tuesday, by HERO Sports as part of its 100-day countdown to kickoff.

Sixth-year Eastern Washington center Spencer Blackburn, who last week received second team preseason All-America honors from Hero Sports, was listed as an offensive lineman on the Athlon team. Zach Larsen from Southern Utah was listed as the center, and he was also a first-team selection by Hero Sports.

Montana linebacker Dante Olson — a 2018 Buch Buchanan Award finalist — was the only defensive preseason Athlon All-America honoree from the Big Sky. Olson is one of six players returning from the 2018 Athlon postseason All-America team.

UC Davis quarterback Jake Maier — the 2018 Big Sky Offensive Player of the Year — and Portland State tight end Charlie Taumoepeau also were honored from the Big Sky.