Hoge Ranked 34th Greatest Big Sky Athlete

POCATELLO, Idaho- Former Idaho State star running back Merril Hoge has been named the 34th Greatest Male Athlete in Big Sky Conference history.
 
Hoge played for the Bengals from 1983 through 1986, where he set the ISU single-game record for all-purpose yards per game with 192.1 in 1985. He still ranks second in ISU history with 31 rushing touchdowns and his 5,453 career all-purpose yards ranks eighth in conference history.
 
The Pocatello native was drafted in 1987 by the Pittsburgh Steelers and played eight seasons in the NFL. Hoge rushed for 3,139 yards and 21 touchdowns from the fullback position before his retirement in 1994.
 
The Bengal great credited ISU and the Big Sky Conference for this success in the NFL.
 
"The Big Sky Conference was superbly advanced in college football with a pro-style offense," he said in the conference release. "When I got to the NFL and what I noticed right away was that the kids from Michigan, Florida, Georgia or LSU had no concept on how to run a route or to pass block."
 
Since 1996, Hoge has been an ESPN NFL Analyst.
 
The ESPN Analyst got his start in the media by hosting a 30-minute radio segment on Mondays during his second season with the Steelers.
 
The Big Sky Conference has been ranking the top 50 Greatest Male Athletes and top 25 Greatest Female Athletes in conference history. The official announcement from the Big Sky Conference can be found here.
 
Former men's basketball standout Steve Hayes has already been ranked at 49. Women's basketball standout Mandi Carver was ranked 25.