MSU's McGhee named Big Sky MVP

After a nearly flawless 2010 campaign, his first no less, Montana State freshman quarterback Denarius McGhee was named Co-Offensive Player of the Year in the Big Sky Conference.

On Tuesday, the league released its all-conference teams and awards for the season and McGhee shared the offensive MVP with Eastern Washington's Taiwain Jones. McGhee also earned Newcomer of the Year.

The Bobcats, who are ranked sixth in the FCS and seeded fourth in the upcoming playoffs, also had offensive tackle Mike Person and kicker Jason Cunningham make the first-team offense, while defensive tackle Dan Ogden was named first-team defense.

Montana, which finished tied for third in the Big Sky for the first time in 17 years, had no first-team offensive players, while cornerback Trumaine Johnson and safety Erik Stoll made the first-team defense. Johnson is a two-time first-team all-conference standout.

Overall, the Bobcats placed 18 on the all-conference list.

On offense, Alex Tierran (OL), Kyle Beggar (TE) and Orenzo Davis (RB) were named to the second team, while receivers Julius Lloyd, Everett Gilbert, Elvis Akpla and Great Falls' Tanner Bleskin were all honorable mention.

On defense, Zach Minter (DE), Aleksei Grosulek (LB), Jody Owens (LB), Arnold Briggs (CB), Jordan Craney (S), Michael Rider (S), Rory Perez (P) and Blayde Beckstad (ST) were all honorable mention.

The Grizzlies had 20 players earn all-conference accolades.

Russ Piette (OL), Alex Verlanic (OL), Peter Nyguen (RS) and Brody McKnight (K) were all second-team choices, while Jabin Sambrano (WR), Antwon Moutra (WR), Chase Reynolds (RB), Andrew Selle (QB), Greg Hardy (TE) and Charles Burton (OL) were all honorable mention.

On the second-team defense, Montana got Bryan Waldhauser (DT), Severin Campbell (DE) and Caleb McSurdy (LB). Tyler Hobbs (DT), Ryan Fetherston (DE), Jordan Tripp (LB), Brandon Dodson (CB), Jimmy Wilson (S) and Jeff Larson (ST) were all named honorable mention.

Eastern Washington linebacker J.C. Sheritt was named defensive player of the year.

2010 All-Big Sky Conference

Co-offense players of the year: Taiwan Jones, Jr., RB, Eastern Washington, Denarius McGhee, Fr., QB, Montana State.

Defensive player of the year - J.C. Sherritt, LB, Eastern Washington

Newcomer of the year - Denarius McGhee, Fr., QB, Montana State

OFFENSE

First team

* denotes unanimous selection

# denotes two-time selection

Wide receivers - Brandon Kaufman, So., Eastern Washington; Jace Davis, So., Northern Colorado; *Joe Collins, Sr., Weber State

Tackles - *#Mike Person, Sr., Montana State; Caleb Turner, Jr., Weber State.

Guards - Kris Poindexter, Sr., Northern Arizona; J.C. Oram, Jr., Weber State.

Center - Chris Powers, Jr., Eastern Washington.

Tight end - Julius Thomas, Sr., Portland State.

Quarterback - Denarius McGhee, Fr., Montana State

Running backs - *#Taiwan Jones, Jr., Eastern Washington; Cory McCaffrey, Jr., Portland State.

Fullback - *Vai Tafuna, Sr., Weber State

Placekicker - Jason Cunningham, Jr., Montana State.

Return Specialist - *Tavoy Moore, Jr., Idaho State

Second team

Wide Receivers - Austin Shanks, Jr., Northern Arizona; Daiveun Curry-Chapman, Sr., Northern Arizona; Chase Deadder, Jr., Sacramento State.

Tackles - Gabe Jackson, Jr., Eastern Washington; John Taylor, Jr., Sacramento State.

Guards - Russ Piette, Sr., Montana; Alex Terrien, Jr., Montana State.

Center - Alex Verlanic, Sr., Montana.

Tight end - Kyle Begger, Sr., Montana State.

Quarterback - Jeff Fleming, Jr., Sacramento State.

Running backs - Orenzo Davis, Jr., Montana State; Zach Bauman, Fr., Northern Arizona.

Fullback - Calvin Paciulli, Jr., Northern Arizona.

Placekicker - Brody McKnight, Jr., Montana.

Return specialists - Peter Nguyen, So., Montana; Dominic Gunn, So., Northern Colorado.

Honorable mention

Wide Receivers - Ashton Gant, Sr., Eastern Washington; Antwon Moutra, Jr., Montana; Jabin Sambrano, Jr., Montana; Julius Lloyd, Sr., Montana State; Everett Gilbert, So., Montana State; Elvis Akpla, Jr., Montana State; Tanner Bleskin, Fr., Montana State; Patrick Walker, Jr., Northern Colorado; Morris Norrise, Fr., Sacramento State; Mike Phillips, Sr., Weber State.

Tackles - Mitch Rudder, Sr., Idaho State; Chuck Burton, Jr., Montana; Trey Gilleo, So., Northern Arizona; Lee Barbiasz, Jr., Northern Colorado; Dustin Waldron, Jr., Portland State; Kyle Ritt, So., Portland State; Nate Doverspike, Jr., Sacramento State

Guards - Nikolai Myers, Sr., Eastern Washington; Steven Forgette, Fr., Eastern Washington; Alex Mott, Jr., Northern Arizona.

Center - Tim McGraw, Sr., Northern Colorado; Adam Kleffner, Jr., Portland State; Tyson Tiatia, Fr., Weber State

Tight ends - Matt Martin, Sr., Eastern Washington; Greg Hardy, So., Montana; Nick Larson, Sr., Northern Arizona; Brian Jankowski, So., Weber State.

Quarterbacks - Bo Levi Mitchell, Jr., Eastern Washington; Andrew Selle, Sr., Montana; Michael Herrick, Sr., Northern Arizona; Connor Kavanaugh, Jr., Portland State; Cameron Higgins, Sr., Weber State.

Running backs - Chase Reynolds, Sr., Montana; Bryan Hilliard, Jr., Sacramento State; Bo Bolen, So., Weber State.

Fullback - Andrew Downing, Jr., Northern Colorado.

Placekicker - Zach Brown, So., Portland State; Matt Myers, Jr., Northern Arizona; Chris Diniz, Sr., Sacramento State.

Return Specialist - Jesse Hoffman, Sr., Eastern Washington.

DEFENSE

First team

Tackles - #Dan Ogden, Sr., Montana State; #Renard Williams, Jr., Eastern Washington.

Ends - Isaac Bond, Jr., Northern Arizona; *Zack Nash, Jr., Sacramento State

Outside linebackers - *#J.C. Sherritt, Sr., Eastern Washington; Nick Webb, Jr., Weber State; #A.J. Storms, Jr., Idaho State

Inside Linebackers - Reid Worthington, Sr., Northern Arizona; John Eddy, Sr., Northern Colorado.

Cornerbacks - #Trumaine Johnson, Jr., Montana; Korey Askew, Sr., Northern Colorado.

Safeties - Erik Stoll, Sr., Montana; Matt Johnson, Jr., Eastern Washington.

Punter - David Harrington, Jr., Idaho State.

Special teams - Darriell Beaumonte, Jr., Eastern Washington.

Second team

Tackles - Bryan Waldhauser, Jr., Montana; Christian Clark, Sr., Sacramento State.

Ends - Sean Rutten, Sr., Idaho State; Severin Campbell, Sr., Montana.

Outside Linebackers - Zach Johnson, Jr., Eastern Washington; Scott McKeever, Jr., Northern Arizona.

Inside Linebackers - Caleb McSurdy, Jr., Montana; Peter Buck, Sr., Sacramento State.

Cornerbacks - Dante Calcote, Sr., Eastern Washington; DeShawn Shead, Jr., Portland State.

Safeties - Matt Estrada, Sr., Northern Arizona; Jordan Brown, Sr., Weber State; Zach Schrader, Sr., Sacramento State.

Punter - Drew Zamora, Jr., Northern Arizona.

Special teams - Bo Bolen, So., Weber State.

Honorable mention

Tackles - Tyler Jolley, Sr., Eastern Washington; Jordan Monga, Jr., Idaho State; Tyler Hobbs, Sr., Montana; Zach Minter, So., Montana State; Kainoa Pe'a, Sr., Northern Arizona; Julious Moore, Fr., Portland State; Adam Sagapolutele-White, So., Weber State.

Defensive ends - Ryan Fetherston, Jr., Montana; Michael Battisti, Sr., Northern Arizona; Kyle Rath, Sr., Northern Arizona; V.J. Holmes, Jr., Northern Colorado; Nick Hernon, Jr., Northern Colorado; David Coleman, Jr., Sacramento State; Carl Sommer, Jr., Portland State; Sam Fenn, Sr., Weber State.

Outside linebackers - Jordan Tripp, So., Montana; Matt King, Sr., Northern Colorado

Inside linebackers - Basim Hudeen, Jr., Idaho State; Aleksei Grosulak, Fr., Montana State; Jody Owens, So., Montana State; Cody Dowd, Sr., Northern Arizona; Taylor Sedillo, Sr., Weber State.

Cornerbacks - Brandon Dodson, Sr., Montana; Arnold Briggs, Sr., Montana State; Brian Hunter, Sr., Northern Arizona; Taelor Worrell, Sr., Northern Arizona; Faron Creighton, Sr., Weber State.

Safeties - Jeff Minnerly, So., Eastern Washington; Chris Holmesley, Sr., Idaho State; Jimmy Wilson, Sr., Montana; Jordan Craney, Sr., Montana State; Michael Rider, Sr., Montana State; Max Hewitt, Sr., Northern Colorado.

Punters - Cameron Zuber, Sr., Eastern Washington; Rory Perez, Fr., Montana State; Thomas Duyndam, So., Portland State; Josh Kealamakia, Fr., Weber State.

Special teams - Jeff Larson, Sr., Montana; BlaydeBecksted, Sr., Montana State; Reid Worthington, Sr., Northern Arizona.