MOSCOW, Idaho - At the Big Sky Football Kickoff in Spokane, the 2026 Preseason All-Conference Team was announced with the first games of the season just over a month away, highlighting the best players in one of the deepest conferences in the FCS.
Representing Idaho as one of the best in the league was senior safety Brayden Rice, who was voted to the list as a special teams player, a category that represents athletes who make an impact on punt coverage, kickoff coverage, and as non-ballcarriers in the return game.
Rice had a career year in the third phase of the game and as a member of the Vandals' safety rotation in 2025. The Lewiston native appeared in 11 games for the black and gold, notching all 23 of his career tackles, including his first college TFL. He was twice named Idaho's special teams player of the week by the coaching staff and was named to the All-Big Sky Second Team at the end of the season. He is UI's sole returning all-conference player from 2025 and has now received back-to-back honors for his special teams work.
"It's awesome to see Brayden be recognized after the season he had in 2025", said head coach Thomas Ford Jr. "He's a guy that has truly bought into playing at a high level on special teams and can't wait to see him flying around this fall."
The full preseason all-conference team is listed below.
2026 Big Sky Football Preseason MVPs
Offensive: Eli Gillman, RB, Montana
Defensive: Caden Dowler, DB, Montana State
2026 Big Sky Football Preseason All-Conference Team
QB: Justin Lamson, Montana State%
RB: Eli Gillman, Montana*%
RB: Adam Jones, Montana State*%
WR: Sam Gbatu, Jr., UC Davis*%
WR: Taco Dowler, Montana State*%
WR: Chedon James, Idaho State
TE: Winston Williams, UC Davis*
TE: Jeter Purdy, Northern Arizona
OL: Titan Fleischmann, Montana State*%
OL: Stryker Rashid, Idaho State*%
OL: Zaire Collier, UC Davis%
OL: Jack Ziebell, Northern Colorado%
OL: Braden Zimmer, Montana State
OL: Burke Mastel, Montana State%
DL: Zac Crews, Montana State
DL: Isaiah Perez, Eastern Washington%
DL: Bronson Childs, Idaho State
DL: Jake Mason, Montana%
DL: Ezra Ekuban, Northern Colorado
DL: Rayne Mayo Jr., UC Davis
LB: Mikey D'Amato, Cal Poly%
LB: Peyton Wing, Montana*%
LB: Kenny Olson, Cal Poly%
LB: Cole Taylor, Montana State%
LB: Porter Connors, UC Davis*
DB: Rex Connors, UC Davis*
DB: Caden Dowler, Montana State%
DB: Jaylon Jenkins, Eastern Washington%
DB: Tayden Gray, Montana State%
DB: Drew Cofield, UC Davis%
DB: Shoes Brinkley, Northern Arizona
PK: Myles Sansted, Montana State
P: Ryan Marks, Utah Tech
KR: Jabez Woods, Montana State
PR: Taco Dowler, Montana State*%
LS: Maddox Broughton, Northern Colorado%
ST: Brayden Rice, Idaho%
AP: Taco Dowler, Montana State
* - 2025 Big Sky Football Preseason Honoree
% - 2025 Big Sky Football Postseason All-Conference Honoree
Following the conclusion of the kickoff weekend, Idaho will report for fall camp on Tuesday, July 28, for introductory meetings and check-ins before taking the field the following day for the first practice of the session at 9:30 AM.
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