FARMINGTON, Utah (July 24, 2020) – After earning All-Big Sky First Team honors to end the 2019 season, both
Luis Aguilar and
DJ Arnson were named to the 2020 Big Sky Football Preseason All-Conference Team on Friday.
Both specialists already earned preseason All-American honors from Hero Sports in May, with Aguilar a first-team selection and Arnson a member of the second team.
Arnson earned three All-American honors in addition to his All-Big Sky selection in 2019, with a career-high 45.8 yards per punt finishing third in the FCS. Of his 57 punts last year, Arnson booted 16 for 50 or more yards and 19 pinned opponents inside their own 20-yard line. Among the 19 punts inside the 20, 11 were at or inside the 10-yard line including one that led to a safety for the NAU defense against Western New Mexico.
The senior's longest punt of the season came on the road at Illinois State as Arnson flipped the field with a 65-yard punt to put the Redbirds at their own 21-yard line from the Lumberjacks' 14. Arnson also drilled a 64-yard punt against Portland State that set the Vikings up at their own 10-yard line.
Meanwhile, Aguilar's 2019 season earned him All-Big Sky honors, seven All-American awards and the Fred Mitchell Award honoring him as the top kicker in the FCS, Division II, Division III, NAIA and NJCAA.
The senior kicker broke the program record for kicking points in a season with 118, as he connected on 22-of-25 field goals and all 52 extra points. Aguilar enters the 2020 season on a streak of 56 consecutive extra points made dating back to Nov. 17, 2018, when he hit 4-of-4 extra points in a victory against North Dakota.
Aguilar's 57-yard field goal just before halftime against Northern Colorado ranks second on NAU's all-time list, with it being the longest field goal since the record of 60 yards was set in 1993. The senior also led the nation with 61 touchbacks, as 76% of Aguilar's kickoffs came without returns.
Preseason honors were determined by select media members from each league institution, in addition to at-large representatives.
2020 Big Sky Football Preseason All-Conference Team
Offense
QB: Eric Barriere, Eastern Washington
WR: Samuel Akem, Montana
WR: Samori Toure, Montana
WR: Pierre Williams, Sacramento State
OL: Conlan Beaver, Montana
OL: Ben Bos, Weber State
OL: Lewis Kidd, Montana State*
OL: Tristen Taylor, Eastern Washington
OL: Taylor Tuiasosopo, Montana State
OL: Ty Whitworth, Weber State*
TE: Marshel Martin, Sacramento State
RB: Josh Davis, Weber State
RB: Elijah Dotson, Sacramento State
FB: Clay Moss, Weber State
AP: BJ Perkinson, Sacramento State
K: Luis Aguilar, Northern Arizona
PR: Rashid Shaheed, Weber State
KR: Malik Flowers, Montana
Defense
DT: Bryce Rodgers, UC Davis
DT: Jared Scheiss, Weber State
DE: Josiah Erickson, Sacramento State
DE: George Tarlas, Weber State
OLB: Nick Eaton, UC Davis
OLB: Christian Ellis, Idaho
ILB: Jace Lewis, Montana
ILB: Tre Walker, Idaho
DB: Anthony Adams, Portland State*
DB: Daron Bland, Sacramento State
DB: Robby Hauck, Montana
DB: Eddie Heckard, Weber State
DB: Devon King, UC Davis
P: DJ Arnson, Northern Arizona
ST: Emmanuel Daigbe, Portland State
*
Denotes unanimous selection
