Four Lumberjacks Named to Phil Steele Big Sky 2024 Preseason All-Conference Team

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CLEVLAND, Ohio (Aug. 2, 2024) – Four Northern Arizona University football players have been named to the Phil Steele Big Sky 2024 Preseason All-Conference team. Jonny Bottorff, Alex McLaughlin, and Tommy Ellis are honored after being named to the Big Sky Conference's Preseason All-Conference team, while Sean Farfan receives his first preseason nod of the season.
 
Bottorff, an offensive lineman who hails from Quincy, Ill., is in his second year with the Lumberjacks after transferring in from Missouri Western. After being voted team captain before stepping onto the field, Bottorff went on to start all 11 games at center last season before earning second team All-Big Sky Offense honors and was voted as one of NAU's team captains again this season.
 
Ellis is a senior linebacker who played in all 11 games and ranked second on the team in total tackles. He had at least four tackles in nine games last season, including tying a career-high 10 at Montana State. In a ranked road victory over Weber State, Ellis, also a team captain, came up with his first career interception that he returned for seven yards.
 
McLaughlin had a breakout freshman season that saw him be named to the Jerry Rice Award Watchlist along with being named a Freshman All-American by FCS Stats Perform and the FCS Bluebloods. The sophomore was named to the second team All-Big Sky Defense team after starting all 10 games he played in, leading the team with 71 total tackles and four interceptions. His four interceptions were the second-most in the conference in 2023. The Chandler, Ariz., native had two double-digit tackle games including 10 in his debut at Arizona and a career-high 11 against Portland State.
 
Farfan, a West Covina, Calif., native, played in all 11 games last year as NAU's primary long snapper.
 
The quartet and the rest of the Lumberjacks are in their first week of Fall Camp in preparations for the season opener on Aug. 31 against Lincoln (CA) at Findlay Toyota Field in Flagstaff. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. Mountain Standard time on ESPN+ with tickets available HERE.