University of Northern Colorado Athletics
@UNCBEARSFB Place Three on Preseason All-Big Sky Team
7/17/2016 11:21:00 PM | Football
PARK CITY, Utah – Northern Colorado football is starting to make a name for itself in the Big Sky Conference. The Bears placed three on the league's Preseason All-Conference Team on Monday.
Hakeem Deggs, Ellis Onic II and Chuntony Johnson were all chosen among the Big Sky's best in their respected position by a select group of media members and sports information directors voting for the 30-player team and award winners.
This is the most players UNC has put on the Big Sky Preseason All-Conference Team under head coach Earnest Collins Jr (since 2011).
After being named the league's Special Teams Player of the Year in 2015, it was no surprise Deggs would remain in ranks on the preseason poll.
The redshirt junior finished the regular season tied for second in the FCS in kick return touchdowns with two and accumulated 354 yards on just 10 returns (35.4 yards per return). Deggs notched eight tackles on kick off and punt coverage, and broke three Division I program season records for returns.
Deggs was also added to the CFPA watch list for Kick Returner of the Year.
Onic II, also a redshirt junior, received national recognition as a return specialist last season. Not only was he named a College Sports Madness First Team All-American, but he also cracked the STATS LLC FCS Second Team All-American list, not to mention a First Team All-Big Sky nod.
His laundry list of accolades grew even bigger after he was named the College Football Performance Awards (CFPA) Punt Returner of the Year for his efforts.
Onic II had an outstanding year on punt return. He led the Big Sky and the entire FCS in punt return TDs with two on the season, and totaled 245 yards on just 10 returns (24.5 yards per return), which also ranked him first in the conference for the regular season.
His 245 yards are the second most all-time in program's D1 history for a season and helped UNC to a no.1 ranking in punt return in the nation for several weeks throughout the season, the first time the program has ever been ranked nationally since joining the Division I ranks for punt return.
Johnson rounded out the preseason list for the Bears. A senior defensive tackle, Johnson had some of the best numbers in the league among DTs in 2015. He racked up 50 tackles, including 5.5 TFLs and 1.5 sacks with two PBUs to boot.
The senior finished in the Top 10 in tackles on the team and was on the All-Big Sky Honorable Mention list.
Eastern Washington's, Cooper Kupp was voted as the conference's Preseason Offensive Player of the Year, while Montana's Caleb Kidder was tabbed as the Defensive Player of the Year.
The preseason media and coaches polls will be released on Tuesday, July 19 by conference officials.
Hakeem Deggs, Ellis Onic II and Chuntony Johnson were all chosen among the Big Sky's best in their respected position by a select group of media members and sports information directors voting for the 30-player team and award winners.
This is the most players UNC has put on the Big Sky Preseason All-Conference Team under head coach Earnest Collins Jr (since 2011).
After being named the league's Special Teams Player of the Year in 2015, it was no surprise Deggs would remain in ranks on the preseason poll.
The redshirt junior finished the regular season tied for second in the FCS in kick return touchdowns with two and accumulated 354 yards on just 10 returns (35.4 yards per return). Deggs notched eight tackles on kick off and punt coverage, and broke three Division I program season records for returns.
Deggs was also added to the CFPA watch list for Kick Returner of the Year.
Onic II, also a redshirt junior, received national recognition as a return specialist last season. Not only was he named a College Sports Madness First Team All-American, but he also cracked the STATS LLC FCS Second Team All-American list, not to mention a First Team All-Big Sky nod.
His laundry list of accolades grew even bigger after he was named the College Football Performance Awards (CFPA) Punt Returner of the Year for his efforts.
Onic II had an outstanding year on punt return. He led the Big Sky and the entire FCS in punt return TDs with two on the season, and totaled 245 yards on just 10 returns (24.5 yards per return), which also ranked him first in the conference for the regular season.
His 245 yards are the second most all-time in program's D1 history for a season and helped UNC to a no.1 ranking in punt return in the nation for several weeks throughout the season, the first time the program has ever been ranked nationally since joining the Division I ranks for punt return.
Johnson rounded out the preseason list for the Bears. A senior defensive tackle, Johnson had some of the best numbers in the league among DTs in 2015. He racked up 50 tackles, including 5.5 TFLs and 1.5 sacks with two PBUs to boot.
The senior finished in the Top 10 in tackles on the team and was on the All-Big Sky Honorable Mention list.
Eastern Washington's, Cooper Kupp was voted as the conference's Preseason Offensive Player of the Year, while Montana's Caleb Kidder was tabbed as the Defensive Player of the Year.
The preseason media and coaches polls will be released on Tuesday, July 19 by conference officials.
| 2016 Big Sky Preseason All-Conference Football Team | |
| Special Awards | |
| Preseason Offensive Player of the Year | Cooper Kupp, Eastern Washington |
| Preseason Defensive Player of the Year | Caleb Kidder, Montana |
| Position | Player |
| Quarterback | Case Cookus, Northern Arizona |
| Running Back | John Santiago, North Dakota (Unanimous) |
| Running Back | Chad Newell, Montana State |
| Fullback | Joe Protheroe, Cal Poly (Unanimous) |
| Tight End | Steven Wroblewski, Southern Utah |
| Offensive Guard | Cameron Young, Weber State |
| Offensive Guard | J.P. Flynn, Montana State |
| Center | Blake Porter, Northern Arizona |
| Offensive Tackle | Jacob Julian, Northern Arizona |
| Offensive Tackle | Calvin Steyn, Weber State |
| Wide Receiver | Cooper Kupp, Eastern Washington (Unanimous) |
| Wide Receiver | Mike Sharp, Southern Utah |
| Wide Receiver | Emmanuel Butler, Northern Arizona |
| Placekicker | Jonathan Gonzales, Portland State |
| Return Specialist | Ellis Onic II, Northern Colorado |
| Defensive End | Caleb Kidder, Montana |
| Defensive End | Davond Dade, Portland State |
| Defensive Tackle | Chance Bearnson, Southern Utah |
| Defensive Tackle | Chuntony Johnson, Northern Colorado |
| Outside Linebacker | Mike Needham, Southern Utah |
| Outside Linebacker | Mac Bignell, Montana State |
| Inside Linebacker | Emmett Tela, Weber State |
| Inside Linebacker | Manoah Pearson, Sacramento State |
| Cornerback | Xavier Coleman, Portland State |
| Cornerback | Taron Johnson, Weber State |
| Safety | Cole Reyes, North Dakota |
| Safety | Yamen Sanders, Montana |
| Punter | Tate Lewis, Southern Utah |
| Special Teams Player | Hakeem Deggs, Northern Colorado |
Players Mentioned
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Tuesday, December 23
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