Bengals Boast A League Best Six Players on the Preseason All-Conference Team

PARK CITY, Utah- The Big Sky Conference released its preseason all-conference team on Monday and Idaho State placed a league-high six players on the team. Being named to the squad was running back Xavier Finney, center Christian Diehm, wide receiver Madison Mangum, linebacker Mario Jenkins, safety Taison Manu and defensive lineman Tyler Kuder. A select group of media members and sports information directors voted for the 30-player team and award winners.

Finney and Mangum earned first-team all-conference honors in 2014. Finney led the conference in rushing and set school records with 259 carries, 1,495 yards and 14 touchdowns. Mangum led the conference in receiving yards per game with 1,234 on 83 carries and 10 touchdowns.

Jenkins was the 2014 Big Sky Freshman of the Year and placed fourth in the Jerry Rice award voting. Kuder (second-team), Jenkins (second-team) and Diehm (second-team) and Manu (third-team) also earned all-league accolades last season.

Idaho State is coming of fan 8-4 season and a 6-2 mark in Big Sky Conference play. ISU was ranked No. 25 in the final Sports Network Poll. The Sporting News ranked the Bengals No. 13  and Athlon Sports ranked them No. 18 in the 2015 Preseason Top 25 polls. ISU returns nine offensive starters and six starters on defense.

The Bengal open practice August 11 and start the season September 5 vs. Black Hills State at 4:05 p.m. ISU has a five-game home schedule, hosting Portland State (Sept. 12) at 4 p.m., Eastern Washington (Oct. 17) at 2:30 p.m., Montana (Nov. 7) at 2:30 p.m. and Montana State (Nov. 14) at 2:30 p.m.

Season and single game tickets are on sale now at the ISU Ticket Office. Fans can call 208-282-FANS or order online at isubengals.com. Season Tickets are $84 and individual tickets are $18.  Fans are encouraged to order their tickets early as the prices will go up on game days.

For the Black Hills State and Portland State games single-game adult tickets will be $20 if purchased on game day. For the Eastern Washington, Montana and Montana State games, tickets are $25 on game days. On game day children and senior tickets are $12 for the Black Hills State and Portland State games and $17 for the Eastern Washington, Montana and Montana State contests.

2015 Big Sky Preseason All-Conference Team
Offensive MVP – Cooper Kupp, Jr., WR, Eastern Washington
Defensive MVP – James Cowser, Sr., DE, Southern Utah

OFFENSE
Pos. Player Year Hometown School
QB Dakota Prukop Jr. Austin, Texas Montana State
RB #Xavier Finney Sr. Oceanside, Calif. Idaho State
RB Kori Garcia Jr. Los Angeles, Calif. Cal Poly
FB *#Nick Butier Sr. San Luis Obispo, Calif Northern Arizona
TE R.J. Rickert Sr. Gilbert, Ariz. Northern Arizona
OG #JP Flynn Jr. Bettendorf, Iowa Montana State
OG #Aaron Neary Sr. Richland, Wash. Eastern Washington
C Christian Diehm Sr. Carson, Calif. Idaho State
OT *Clay DeBord Sr. Asotin, Wash. Eastern Washington
OT John Weidenaar Sr. Manhattan, Mont. Montana State
WR *#Cooper Kupp Jr. Yakima, Wash. Eastern Washington
WR #Madison Mangum Sr. Boise, Idaho Idaho State
WR Nnamdi Agude Sr. Corona, Calif. Sacramento State
WR Jamaal Jones Sr. Spanaway, Wash. Montana
PK #Brad Cornish Sr. Santee, Calif. Sacramento State
Returns Ellis Henderson Jr. Vancouver, Wash. Montana

DEFENSE
Pos. Player Year Hometown School
DE *#James Cowser Sr. Fruit Heights, Utah Southern Utah
DE Samson Ebukam Jr. Portland, Ore. Eastern Washington
DT Tyler Kuder Sr. Payette, Idaho Idaho State
DT Taylor Sheridan Sr. Littleton, Colo. Montana State
OLB Mario Jenkins So. Nampa, Idaho Idaho State
OLB Kendrick Van Ackeren Sr. Bellevue, Wash. Montana
ILB Darnell Sankey Sr. San Jose, Calif. Sacramento State
ILB Jeremiah Kose Sr. Oceanside, Calif. Montana
CB *#Marcus Alford Sr. Oxnard, Calif. Northern Arizona
CB LeShaun Sims Sr. Las Vegas, Nev. Southern Utah
S Taison Manu Sr. Pocatello, Idaho Idaho State
S Miles Killebrew Sr. Henderson, Nev. Southern Utah
P Ryan Hawkins Sr. Peoria, Ariz. Northern Arizona
Special Teams – Chad Newell Jr. Billings, Mont. Montana State