SPOKANE, Wash. (July 16, 2018) – Senior wide receiver
Emmanuel Butler, senior safety
Wes Sutton and junior cornerback
Khalil Dorsey were named to the 2018 All-Big Sky Football Preseason Team, which was announced by conference officials on Monday during Big Sky Football Kickoff festivities.
The Lumberjacks were one of only four Big Sky programs to have three or more players recognized with preseason all-league status.
Butler enters the season as one of the most feared receivers nationally in the FCS. He already holds the single-season records for yards (1,208) and touchdowns (16) and has registered a total of 11 games with 100 or more receiving yards in his career. The senior enters the 2018 season just 49 receptions, 501 yards and two touchdowns from tying Northern Arizona's career records in each of those categories.
Sutton returns after helping guide the NAU secondary to a total of 12 interceptions in 2017 and leading the unit to a 19
th overall ranking nationally by limiting its opponents to an average of just 174.3 yards per game passing. The strong safety was a 2017 All-Big Sky First Team choice after ranking third on the squad with 72 tackles (43 solo, 29 assists) and finishing second on the 'Jacks defense with eight tackles for loss. He pulled down a pair of interceptions and broke up three passes last season.
Dorsey was another full-time member of NAU's dominant secondary as he started all 12 games at cornerback last season. He was a 2017 All-Big Sky Second Team honoree after ringing up 49 tackles (29 solo, 20 assist), including three tackles for loss. Dorsey also collected three interceptions and broke up six passes.
The Lumberjacks begin the 2018 campaign on the road at FBS-member UTEP on Sept. 1 before facing Eastern Washington in the 2018 home opener on Sept. 8 at the J. Lawrence Walkup Skydome.
Preseason Offensive Player of the Year
Keelan Doss, WR, UC Davis
Preseason Defensive Player of the Year
Josh Buss, LB, Montana
Preseason All-Big Sky Offense
Quarterback – Gage Gubrud, Sr., Eastern Washington
Running Back – James Madison, Sr., Idaho State
Running Back – Antoine Custer, Jr., Eastern Washington
Wide Receiver – Keelan Doss, Sr., UC Davis
Wide Receiver – Emmanuel Butler, Sr., Northern Arizona
Wide Receiver – Andre Lindsey, Sr., Sacramento State
Wider Receiver – Alex Wesley, Sr., Northern Colorado
Fullback – Joe Protheroe, Sr., Cal Poly
Tight End – Charlie Taumoepeau, Jr., Portland State
Tight End – Wes Preece, Jr., UC Davis
Offensive Tackle – Iosua Opeta, Sr., Weber State
Offensive Tackle – Marquez Tucker, Sr., Southern Utah
Offensive Guard – Noah Johnson, Jr., Idaho
Offensive Guard – PJ Nu'usa, Jr., Southern Utah
Center- Zach Larsen, Jr., Southern Utah
Placekicker – Trey Tuttle, So., Weber State
Return Specialist - Rashid Shaheed, So., Weber State
Preseason All-Big Sky Defense
Defensive End – George Obinna, Sr., Sacramento State
Defensive End – Jonah Williams Jr., Weber State
Defensive Tackle – Jay-Tee Tiuli, Sr., Eastern Washington
Defensive Tackle – Tucker Yates, Sr., Montana State
Outside Linebacker – Josh Buss, Sr., Montana
Outside Linebacker – Kaden Ellis, Sr., Idaho
Inside Linebacker – LeGrand Toia, Sr., Weber State
Inside Linebacker – Chinedu Ahanonu, Sr., Southern Utah
Cornerback – Khalil Dorsey, Jr., Northern Arizona
Cornerback – Jalen Russell, So., Southern Utah
Safety – Wes Sutton, Sr., Northern Arizona
Safety – Mister Harriel, Sr., Sacramento State
Punter – Cade Coffey, So., Idaho
Special Teams – Brady May, Sr., Weber State
