FARMINGTON, Utah – The Big Sky Conference announced its football all-conference teams on Wednesday, recognizing outstanding play on the field. Nate Azzopardi and Isiah King were named to the First Team All-Big Sky, Brayden Rice was selected to the second team as a specialist, with Matyus McLain and Dylan Layne receiving honorable mentions. 

NATE AZZOPARDI

Azzopardi was unanimously voted a team captain this season – his third season being elected by his teammates to that position. He played and started every single game this season for one of the best offensive lines in the conference. Throughout the year, Azzopardi recorded five games with a pass block grade of 80 or higher per Pro Football Focus. He was named an honorable mention on the 2024 all-conference team. 

ISIAH KING

One of the most disruptive defensive players in the conference this season, Isiah King ranked in the top 15 in the Big Sky in tackles and tackles for loss. He was one of the best run-stopping linebackers in the league, recording an 89.1 run defense grade in PFF. For the 2025 season, King led Idaho in QB hits, and ranked second on the team in tackles, tackles for loss, and sacks. He was an honorable mention on the 2024 all-conference team. He had two games with 10 or more tackles this year, and recorded TFL in seven games including 2.5 at Washington State to start the year. 

BRAYDEN RICE

Rice was named to the Second Team All-Conference as a specialist, being one of the most consistent Vandals on special teams throughout the year. Throughout the season, Rice was constantly one of the best players in that phase of the game and was twice named Idaho's special teams player of the week. He recorded a career-high five tackle at Northern Arizona. 

DYLAN LAYNE

Layne led the Vandals in tackles all season and was one of the team leaders on the defensive side of the ball. He was voted as a team captain this season, and his teammates and coaches constantly remarked on his leadership this year. Layne ranked in the top ten in the conference with 88 tackles and was second on the team with six passes broken up. The junior linebacker recorded three games with 10 or more tackles, including a career-high 12 against St. Thomas, and tied that in Idaho's big win at Northern Arizona. 

MATYUS McLAIN

There were times this season when it felt like the Priest River, Idaho product took up full-time residence in the opposing team's backfield. McLain was third in the conference in total TFL with 13.5, and ranked in the top 15 for most sacks, as well. He recorded a career-high 3.5 TFL with a sack in Idaho's game at Eastern Washington. 

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