DAVIS, Calif. -- Sophomore linebacker Nick Eaton, junior cornerback Devon King and senior defensive tackle Bryce Rodgers represented UC Davis on the 2020 Big Sky Preseason All-Conference football team, announced as part of the league's Virtual Kickoff media event Friday.
Eastern Washington quarterback Eric Barriere was touted as the preseason Offensive MVP, while Montana linebacker Jace Lewis earned the conference's preseason Defensive MVP nod.
Eaton captured Big Sky Freshman of the Year and All-Big Sky second-team honors in 2019. He posted 56 tackles with team highs in tackles for losses (12.0) and sacks (6.5), ranking eighth and 12th in the league in those respective categories. King was the lone Aggie to earn first-team all-conference accolades a year ago, thanks to 77 tackles, three interceptions, five pass breakups and three forced fumbles. Rodgers, one of the team's co-captains for 2020, ranked fifth among Aggies and tops among the defensive line with 49 tackles in 2019. He captured All-Big Sky honorable mention for his efforts.
The Big Sky Virtual Kickoff also saw the release of the preseason polls from both the media and coaches on Thursday. Weber State edged Montana and Montana State as the preseason favorite in both rankings.
UPDATE: Additionally, Eaton, King and Rodgers joined seven Aggies on Phil Steele's College Football Preview's version of the preseason All-Big Sky teams. Each made the second team, as did running back Ulonzo Gilliam, Jr., offensive lineman Jordan Ford, and punter Daniel Whelan. Wide receiver Khris Vaughn, offensive lineman Jake Parks, linebacker Connor Airey and kick returner Jaylin White each apeared on Phil Steele's preseason third team.
The Aggies went 5-7 in 2019, having faced seven opponents either ranked or receiving votes toward the FCS top 25 polls. The 2020 season begins on August 29 at Nevada.
2020 BIG SKY FOOTBALL PRESEASON ALL-CONFERENCEÂ
Offensive MVP: Eric Barriere, Eastern Washington, QB
Defensive MVP: Jace Lewis, Montana, LB
OFFENSE
QB: Eric Barriere, Eastern Washington
WR: Samuel Akem, Montana
WR: Samori Toure, Montana
WR: Pierre Williams, Sacramento State
OL: Conlan Beaver, Montana
OL: Ben Bos, Weber State
OL: Lewis Kidd, Montana State*
OL: Tristen Taylor, Eastern Washington
OL: Taylor Tuiasosopo, Montana State
OL: Ty Whitworth, Weber State*
TE: Marshel Martin, Sacramento State
RB: Josh Davis, Weber State
RB: Elijah Dotson, Sacramento State
FB: Clay Moss, Weber State
AP: BJ Perkinson, Sacramento State
K: Luis Aguilar, Northern Arizona
PR: Rashid Shaheed, Weber State
KR: Malik Flowers, Montana
DEFENSE
DT: Bryce Rodgers, UC Davis
DT: Jared Scheiss, Weber State
DE: Josiah Erickson, Sacramento State
DE: George Tarlas, Weber State
OLB: Nick Eaton, UC Davis
OLB: Christian Ellis, Idaho
ILB: Jace Lewis, Montana
ILB: Tre Walker, Idaho
DB: Anthony Adams, Portland State*
DB: Daron Bland, Sacramento State
DB: Robby Hauck, Montana
DB: Eddie Heckard, Weber State
DB: Devon King, UC Davis
P: DJ Arnson, Northern Arizona
ST: Emmanuel Daigbe, Portland State
PHIL STEELE'S 2020 PRESEASON ALL-BIG SKY CONFERENCEÂ
UC Davis honorees only.
OFFENSE
Ulonzo Gilliam, Jr., RB (Second Team)
Jordan Ford, OL (Second Team)
Khris Vaughn, WR (Third Team)
Jake Parks, OL (Third Team)
DEFENSE
Bryce Rodgers, DL (Second Team)
Nick Eaton, LB (Second Team)
Devon King, DB (Second Team)
Connor Airey, LB (Third Team)
SPECIAL TEAMS
Daniel Whelan, P (Second Team)
Jaylin White, KR (Third Team)
ABOUT UC DAVIS:
With the addition of equestrian and women's beach volleyball in 2018, more than 700 student-athletes represent the fifth-ranked public school in the nation on one of 25 intercollegiate athletics teams.
UC Davis, a national leader in Title IX gender equity and leadership, is centrally located between San Francisco, Lake Tahoe, and the Napa Valley; and offers an unrivaled student-athlete experience that features the ideal combination of elite academics, Division I athletics and personal growth.
Ranked annually in the top 10 in diversity and students' social mobility, UC Davis is uncommonly committed to preparing student-athletes for life after graduation with Aggie EVO — an innovative student-athlete outcomes program that helps young women and men develop passions, gain real-world experience, and enjoy a successful launch to full-time employment or graduate school. Through Aggie EVO, Intercollegiate Athletics provides unmatched resources and a vast network of working professionals to ensure post-graduation success for its student-athletes.
