Matyus McLain, University of Idaho Football

A 2023 graduate of Priest River High, Matyus was recently one of five Vandals to receive Big Sky Conference accolades, which were announced Wednesday by the organization. McLain, a 6-foot-4-inch, 255-pound defensive end, was named an Honorable Mention, meaning he garnered at least three votes from the league's head coaches, who could not vote for their own players. In his third year as a Vandal, the former Spartan standout tallied 42 total tackles, 19 of which were solo and 23 of which were assisted. Among those tackles, a team-high 13.5 of which went for losses, the second-most in the entire conference according to official statistics, and equaled 65 yards in opponent losses. He also added a team-high 4.5 sacks, forced a fumble, and recorded four quarterback hurries. Highlight games from McLain's 2025 campaign include, but are not limited to, a fourth-quarter strip sack against Washington State on Aug. 30; a season-high seven total tackles, which included three tackles for losses that resulted in a combined 19 yards in lost ground against St. Thomas on Sept. 6; a season-high 3.5 tackles for losses that went for a combined 17 yards against Eastern Washington on Oct. 18; and his sack in overtime that helped the Vandals to a win over Northern Arizona on Oct. 31. On his career, McLain, pursuing a degree in Exercise, Sport, and Health Sciences, now has 49 total tackles, 15 of which have been for losses that include five sacks, across 24 games played.

2025 Big Sky Football Individual Awards 

Offensive Player of the Year: Eli Gillman, RB, Montana 

Defensive Player of the Year: Caden Dowler, DB, Montana State 

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  

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 — Stryker Rashid, Idaho State; Titan Fleischmann, Montana 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 — Jacob Psyk, UC Davis*; Paul Brott, Montana State; Kenneth Eiden IV, Montana State; Hunter Peck, Montana; DeSean Watts, Sac 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.

First Team All-Big Sky Specialists 

KR — Kolbe Katsis, Northern Arizona. PR — Taco Dowler, Montana State. 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. AP — 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. LB — Solomon Tuliaupupu, Montana; Nate Rutchena, UC Davis; Brandon Wong, Northern Arizona; Cole Taylor, Montana State; Read Sunn, Eastern Washington. DB — Drew Cofield, UC Davis; Rylan Leathers, Idaho State; TJ Rausch, Montana; Jeremiah Bernard, Cal Poly; Carsten Mamaril, Portland State; Tayden Gray, Montana 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 three 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; Dylan Conner, Eastern Washington; Cedric Jefferson, Montana State; Jack Ziebell, Northern Colorado; Burke Mastel, Montana State. AP — Nate Bell, Eastern Washington.

Honorable Mention Defense (at least three votes) 

DL — Alec Eckert, Montana State; Matyus McLain, Idaho; Spencer Elliott, Portland State; Isaiah Perez, Eastern Washington; Hunter Parsons, Montana State; Jake Mason, Montana. LB — Mayson Hitchens, Weber State; Dylan Lane, Idaho; Nathan Reynolds, Idaho State; Caleb Otlewski, Montana; Hudson Voggesser, Northern Colorado. DB — Isaiah Green, Portland State; Jason Oliver, Sac State; Angel King, Weber State; Drew Carter, Eastern Washington.

Honorable Mention Specialists (at least three 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.