AIRWAY HEIGHTS — Hayden Hatten was named the Big Sky Offensive Preseason MVP and six Vandals, including four offensive skill players earned Preseason Big Sky All-Conference honors, the league announced Monday at the annual Big Sky Kickoff at Northern Quest Resort & Casino.

The preseason poll was also announced with Idaho picked to finish second by the media and fifth by the Big Sky coaches.

Eastern Washington was picked to finish seventh in both polls.

Montana State, which played for the FCS championship last year, was picked to win the conference by the media and coaches.

Hatten, a consensus All-American wide receiver, has been honored on every preseason All-American team so far. He is coming off a record-setting season that saw him set the Idaho single-season touchdown record (16) and single-game touchdown record (4). He now has 24 career touchdowns, just three short of Jerry Hendren's Vandal record of 27.

He finished with 1,209 yards last season, fourth all-time on the school record list. He earned Preseason All-Big Sky honors to go with his Offensive MVP recognition.

Other Vandals honored include quarterback Gevani McCoy, the reigning Jerry Rice Award winner as the top freshman in FCS; receiver Jermaine Jackson, running back Anthony Woods, cornerback Marcus Harris and kicker Ricardo Chavez.

The Vandals begin fall camp next Monday and open the season at Lamar in Beaumont, Texas, on Aug. 31.

Media Preseason All-Conference Team

Offensive MVP: Hayden Hatten, WR, Idaho

Defensive MVP: Winston Reid, LB, Weber State

Offensive Team

QB: Gevani McCoy, Idaho

RB: Anthony Woods, Idaho

RB: Marcus Fulcher, Sacramento State

FB: Derryk Snell, Montana State

WR: Hayden Hatten, Idaho

WR: Efton Chism III, Eastern Washington

WR: Jermaine Jackson, Idaho

TE: Marshel Martin, Sacramento State

TE: Blake Gobel, Eastern Washington

OL: Noah Atagi, Weber State

OL: Hunter Mayginnes, Montana

OL: Rush Reimer, Montana State

OL: Jackson Slater, Sacramento State

OL: JT Reed, Montana State

OL: Jake Parks, UC Davis

AP: Sean Chambers, Montana State

Defensive Team

DL: Alex Gubner, Montana

DL: Sebastian Valdez, Montana State

DL: Brody Grebe, Montana State

DL: Zach Kennedy, UC Davis

DL: Eloi Kwete, Northern Arizona

LB: Winston Reid, Weber State

LB: Armon Bailey, Sacramento State

LB: David Hoage, Northern Colorado

LB: Levi Janacaro, Montana

LB: David Meyer, Cal Poly

DB: Rex Connors, UC Davis

DB: Maxwell Anderson, Weber State

DB: Marcus Harris, Idaho

DB: Caleb Nelson, Sacramento State

DB: Marlon Jones Jr., Eastern Washington

DB: Jordan Knapke, Northern Colorado

Special Teams

K: Ricardo Chavez, Idaho

P: Nick Kokich, Eastern Washington

KR: Abraham Williams, Weber State

PR: Junior Bergen, Montana

ST: Trevin Gradney, Montana

LS: Tommy Sullivan, Montana State

Coaches’ Preseason Poll

(First-place votes in parentheses)

1. Montana State (10) – 120 points
2. UC Davis (1) – 96
3. Sacramento State (1) – 94
4. Weber State – 91
5. Idaho – 89
6. Montana – 84
7. Eastern Washington – 52
8. Portland State – 45
9. Northern Arizona – 44
10. Northern Colorado – 37
11. Cal Poly – 25
12. Idaho State – 15

Media Preseason Poll

1. Montana State (26) – 447 points
2. Idaho (8) – 410
3. Montana (2) – 359
4. Sacramento State (3) – 334
5. UC Davis – 330
6. Weber State – 320
7. Eastern Washington – 216
8. Northern Arizona – 178
9. Portland State – 167
10. Northern Colorado – 109
11. Cal Poly – 103
12. Idaho State – 69