SPOKANE, Wash. – Ulonzo Gilliam, Jr. was tabbed the Offensive MVP and was joined by center Connor Pettek and guard Jake Parks on the Preseason All-Big Sky Conference Team, the league office announced during its 2022 Football Kickoff media event Monday. 

Gilliam, Jr. enters the 2022 season with his name etched atop the Aggie record book. The Merced, Calif., native has amassed 3,435 career rushing yards which is just 155 shy of breaking the record held by G.P. Muhammad (1995-98).

The 2019 All-American is also just 150 all-purpose yards behind Muhammad for the school record. On top of his 3,435 rushing yards, Gilliam, Jr. has hauled in 164 passes for 1,045 receiving yards. His 164 receptions currently rank ninth in the UC Davis annals. The two-time Ken O'Brien Award winner (UC Davis Most Outstanding Offensive Player) also ranks ninth in scoring with 231 points on 38 touchdowns – fourth all-time among non-kickers.

Gilliam, Jr. was named to the All-Big Sky first-team last season after rushing for 901 yards while also amassing 278 receiving yards with seven total touchdowns.

The preseason All-Big Sky nod is the second of his career (2020). The last Aggie to win the Big Sky Offensive Player of the Year was Jake Maier in 2018, when he led the Aggies to their first FCS playoff berth in program history en route to being named a finalist for the Walter Payton Award.

For Pettek, it marks the second-straight preseason that he earns the recognition. The staple in the center of the UC Davis offensive line has started 35 games and helped the Aggies boast the second-most prolific rushing offense in the conference and the fourth overall.

The Thousand Oaks, Calif., native earned Freshman All-America honors from HERO Sports and Phil Steele in 2018, then garnered one of the team's Championship Culture Awards a year later. Pettek also became the first Aggie center to serve as a co-captain since Ray Wilburn held a similar title in 2012 and was voted in that role once again in 2021. He garnered All-Big Sky second-team honors last season – his second consecutive all-conference accolade.

Parks earned All-Big Sky first-team honors in 2021 after starting every game at right guard for the Aggies, moving his career total to 42-straight. The Huntington Beach, Calif., native helped open the running lanes for UC Davis to rank second in the league with 178.5 yards rushing per game and fourth overall with 407 total yards per contest.

Parks was a 2018 Hero Sports Freshman All-American and garnered Phil Steele freshman honors in his rookie campaign.

Preseason All-Big Sky

Offensive MVP – Ulonzo Gilliam Jr. (UC Davis)
Defensive MVP - Patrick O'Connell (Montana),

OFFENSE 
QB – Tommy Mellott (Montana State)
RB – Isaiah Ifanse (Montana State), Ulonzo Gilliam Jr. (UC Davis)
FB – R. J. Fitzgerald (Montana State)
TE – Marshel Martin (Sacramento State)
WR – Beau Kelly (Portland State), Efton Chism III (EWU), Pierre Williams (Sacramento State)
C – Connor Pettek (UC Davis)
OG – Jake Parks (UC Davis), Brandon Weldon (Sacramento State)
OT – Noah Atagi (Weber State), Jonas Leader (NAU)

SPECIAL TEAMS
K – Kyle Sentkowski (Sacramento State)
RS – Malik Flowers (Montana)
AP – Asher O'Hara (Sacramento State)

DEFENSE
DT – Alex Gubner (Montana), Joshua Jerome (EWU)
DE – VJ Malo (Portland State), Brody Grebe (Montana State)
OLB – Patrick O'Connell (Montana), David Hoage (UNC)
ILB – Callahan O'Reilly (Montana State), Fa'Avae Fa'Avae (Idaho)
CB – Justin Ford (Montana), Anthony Adams (Portland State)
S – Robby Hauck (Montana), Morgan Vest (NAU)
P – Bryce Leighton (Montana State)
LS – Tommy Sullivan (Montana State)

Coaches Poll

1. Montana (3) - 111
2. Sacramento State (4) - 110
3. Montana State (5) - 109
4. Weber State - 84
5. UC Davis - 82
6. Eastern Washington - 76
7. Northern Arizona - 62
8. Idaho - 45
9. Portland State - 42
10. Cal Poly - 33
11. Idaho State - 19
    Northern Colorado – 19

  
Media Poll

1. Montana (14) - 356
2. Montana State (13 - 352
3. Sacramento State (4) - 335
4. Weber State - 261
5. UC Davis (1) - 255
6. Eastern Washington - 236
7. Northern Arizona - 191
8. Portland State - 146
9. Idaho - 142
10. Cal Poly - 85
11. Northern Colorado - 71
12. Idaho State - 66