Farmington, UT – Montana State University football’s Caden Dowler, Justin Lamson, and Brent Vigan were named to Big Sky Conference post season awards, the conference announced on Wednesday.
Bobcats head coach Brent Vigan led MSU to a 10-2 overall record and the number 2 seed in the FCS playoffs. Vigan has now won the award in back-to-back years.
MSU safety, Caden Dowler, hauled in Big Sky defensive player of the year. Dowler recorded 78 total tackles and four interceptions. Dowler was named all-conference defensive first team.
The newcomer of the year award in the Big Sky was given to Bobcat quarterback Justin Lamson. The Bobcat QB threw for over 2,300 yards, put up 20 passing touchdowns and threw only two interceptions. Lamson was also named as the second team all-conference quarterback.
Dowler an Lamson were two of 11 Bobcats to receive all Big Sky conference honors.
See below for the full list of All-conference selections.
2025 Big Sky Football Individual Awards
Offensive Player of the Year: Eli Gillman, RB, Montana
Defensive Player of the Year: Caden Dowler, DB, Montana State
Newcomer of the Year: Justin Lamson, QB, Montana State
Freshman of the Year: Caden Pinnick, QB, UC Davis*
Coach of the Year: Brent Vigen, Montana State
* – Unanimous selection
First Team All-Big Sky Offense
QB: Keali’i Ah Yat, Montana
RB: Rodney Hammond, Sac State
RB: Eli Gillman, Montana
WR: Carver Cheeks, Northern Colorado
WR: Samuel Gbatu, UC Davis
WR: Kolbe Katsis, Northern Arizona
TE: Ian Simpson, UC Davis
TE: Evan Shafer, Montana
OL: Stryker Rashid, Idaho State
OL: Titan Fleischmann, Montana State
OL: Cannon Panfiloff, Montana
OL: Eli Simonson, UC Davis
OL: Gavin Ortega, Weber State
OL: Nate Azzopardi, Idaho
AP: Michael Wortham, Montana
First Team All-Big Sky Defense
DL: Jacob Psyk, UC Davis*
DL: Paul Brott, Montana State
DL: Kenneth Eiden IV, Montana State
DL: Hunter Peck, Montana
DL: DeSean Watts, Sac State
LB: Mikey D’Amato, Cal Poly*
LB: Peyton Wing, Montana
LB: Isiah King, Idaho
LB: Travis Arena, Northern Arizona
LB: Kenny Olson, Cal Poly
DB: Caden Dowler, Montana State
DB: Quentin Moten, Northern Arizona
DB: Cam Chapa, Northern Colorado
DB: Koa Akui, Sac State
DB: Jaylon Jenkins, Eastern Washington
DB: Khalani Riddick, UC Davis
DB: Montae Pate, Weber State
* – Unanimous selection
First Team All-Big Sky Specialists
KR: Kolbe Katsis, Northern Arizona
PR: Taco Dowler, Montana State
K: Trajan Sinatra, Idaho State
P: Ben D’Aquila, Northern Arizona
ST: Tanner Huff, Montana
LS: Spencer Moore, Cal Poly
Second Team All-Big Sky Offense
QB: Justin Lamson, Montana State
RB: Julius Davis, Montana State
RB: Dason Brooks, Idaho State
WR: Taco Dowler, Montana State
WR: Michael Wortham, Montana
WR: Tsion Nunnally, Idaho State
TE: Landon Cooper, Eastern Washington
TE: Noah Bennee, Weber State
OL: Aidan Meek, Sac State
OL: Liam Brown, Montana
OL: Dean Abdullah, Sac State
OL: Zaire Collier, UC Davis
OL: Racin Delgatty, Cal Poly
OL: Jeremiah Katt, Northern Arizona
OL: Ethan Kramer, Northern Arizona
AP: Rodney Hammond, Sac State
Second Team All-Big Sky Defense
DL: Matt Herron, Weber State
DL: Dylan Hampsten, Sac State
DL: Jayland McGlothen, Sac State
DL: Victory Johnson, Cal Poly
DL: Cam’ron Willis, Idaho State
LB: Solomon Tuliaupupu, Montana
LB: Nate Rutchena, UC Davis
LB: Brandon Wong, Northern Arizona
LB: Cole Taylor, Montana State
LB: Read Sunn, Eastern Washington
DB: Drew Cofield, UC Davis
DB: Rylan Leathers, Idaho State
DB: TJ Rausch, Montana
DB: Jeremiah Bernard, Cal Poly
DB: Carsten Mamaril, Portland State
DB: Tayden Gray, Montana State
Second Team All-Big Sky Specialists
KR: Rodney Hammond, Sac State
PR: Drew Deck, Montana
K: Sloan Calder, Weber State
P: Gabe Russo, Idaho State
ST: Brayden Rice, Idaho
LS: Grayson Pibal, Montana
Honorable Mention Offense (at least 3 votes)
QB: Caden Pinnick, UC Davis
QB: Ty Pennington, Northern Arizona
QB: Jordan Cooke, Idaho State
RB: Adam Jones, Montana State
RB: Jordan Fisher, UC Davis
WR: Michael Shulikov, Idaho State
WR: Michael Briscoe, Cal Poly
WR: Damien Morgan, Idaho State
WR: Brooks Davis, Montana
TE: Kristian Ingman, Portland State
OL: JT Reed, Montana State
OL: Dylan Conner, Eastern Washington
OL: Cedric Jefferson, Montana State
OL: Jack Ziebell, Northern Colorado
OL: Burke Mastel, Montana State
AP: Nate Bell, Eastern Washington
Honorable Mention Defense (at least 3 votes)
DL: Alec Eckert, Montana State
DL: Matyus McLain, Idaho
DL: Spencer Elliott, Portland State
DL: Isaiah Perez, Eastern Washington
DL: Hunter Parsons, Montana State
DL: Jake Mason, Montana
LB: Mayson Hitchens, Weber State
LB: Dylan Lane, Idaho
LB: Nathan Reynolds, Idaho State
LB: Caleb Otlewski, Montana
LB: Hudson Voggesser, Northern Colorado
DB: Isaiah Green, Portland State
DB: Jason Oliver, Sac State
DB: Angel King, Weber State
DB: Drew Carter, Eastern Washington
Honorable Mention Specialists (at least 3 votes)
KR: Cru Newman, Portland State
PR: Isaiah Eastman, Northern Arizona
K: Ty Morrison, Montana
P: Landon Ogles, Eastern Washington
LS: Maddox Broughton, Northern Colorado
LS: Adam Johnston, Sac State
