SPOKANE, Wash. – Hayden Hatten was named the Big Sky Offensive Preseason MVP and six vandals, including four offensive skill players, earned Preseason Big Sky All-Conference honors, the league announced Monday at the annual Big Sky Kickoff in Spokane.
 
The preseason poll was also announced with Idaho picked to finish second by the media and fifth by the Big Sky coaches.
 
Hatten, a consensus All-American wide receiver, has been honored on every preseason All-American team so far. He is coming off a record-setting season that saw him set the Idaho single-season touchdown record (16) and single-game touchdown record (4). He now has 24 career touchdowns, just three short of Jerry Hendren's Vandal record of 27.

He finished with 1,209 yards last season, fourth all-time on the school record list. He earned Preseason All-Big Sky honors to go with his Offensive MVP recognition.
 
Gevani McCoy, the returning Jerry Rice Award winner for FCS Freshman of the Year, threw for 2,724 yards and 27 TDs while throwing just 11 interceptions a year ago. He was one of two QBs named to the team.
 
Jermaine Jackson caught 54 passes for 1,049 yards and four touchdowns last season, including four games with over 100 yards receiving. Jackson and Hatten are the only returning 1,000-yard receiving duo in the FCS.
 
Anthony Woods ran for 872 yards and three touchdowns, earning Hero Sports Freshman All-American honors last year. He picked up the preseason All-Big Sky honors as well.
 
On defense, Marcus Harris picked up the nod on the All-Big Sky preseason team. He was a Hero Sports Sophomore All-American last year. He had two defensive touchdowns, two interceptions and 14 total passes defended last season.
 
The final honoree is kicker Ricardo Chavez. He was 15/20 (75%) from the field in 2022 and was 48/48 in PATs. He earned Second-Team All-Big Sky honors last season.
 
The Vandals begin fall camp on July 31 and open the season on the road at Lamar in Beaumont, Texas, on Aug. 31 at 5 p.m. pacific time.