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If preseason all-league honors prove to be accurate, Montana State University fans could be in for an exhilarating autumn.

Five Bobcats landed on the Big Sky's Preseason All-Conference Team, meaning MSU is tied with University of Montana for the most in the conference, the league office announced on Monday. Defensive tackle Dan Ogden and coverage man Tanner Ripley joined three Bobcat offensive players - tight end Kyle Begger, tackle Mike Person and receiver Everett Gilbert - on the preseason team.

All five players have been productive throughout their MSU careers. Ripley has been a special teams contributor for the past two seasons, Dan Ogden and Mike Person are returning All-Big Sky first team selections, Everett Gilbert set MSU's all-purpose yardage record for freshmen last season, and Kyle Begger has contributed at tight end and on special teams for the past three seasons.

In terms of the big picture, being among the top handful of teams in terms of number of players placed on the preseason All-Big Sky team can't hurt. Last season, the top four schools in terms of preseason selections finished as the top four of the Big Sky's final 2009 standings, although the order varies. Weber State dominated the preseason list (11), while Montana (5), MSU (4) and Eastern Washington (3), along with Portland State's (3) followed. The Grizzlies won the league, while Weber State and Eastern Washington tied for second, and MSU finished fourth.

PRESEASON ALL-BIG SKY OFFENSE

Pos. Player Year School

QB *Michael Herrick, Sr., Northern Arizona

RB *Chase Reynolds, Sr., Montana

RB *Taiwan Jones, Jr., Eastern Washington

FB Zac Eldridge, Sr., Weber State

TE Kyle Begger, Sr., Montana State

OT *Mike Person, Sr., Montana State

OT Jon Opperud, Jr., Montana

C Alex Verlanic, Sr., Montana

OG J.C. Oram, Jr., Weber State

OG Kris Poindexter, Sr., Northern Arizona

WR Brandyn Reed, Sr., Sacramento State

WR Everett Gilbert, So., Montana State

WR Mike Phillips, Sr., Weber State

K *Zach Brown, So., Portland State

RS Jabin Sambrano, Jr., Montana

PRESEASON ALL-BIG SKY DEFENSE

DE *Isaac Bond, Jr., Northern Arizona

DE Nick Hernon, Jr., Northern Colorado

DT *Dan Ogden, Sr., Montana State

DT *Renard Williams, Jr., Eastern Washington

DT Christian Clark, Sr., Sacramento State

LB *J.C. Sherritt, Sr., Eastern Washington

LB *A.J. Storms, Jr., Idaho State

LB *Taylor Sedillo, Sr., Weber State

LB John Eddy, Sr., Northern Colorado

CB *Trumaine Johnson, Jr., Montana

CB Korey Askew, Jr., Northern Colorado

S Zach Schrader, Sr., Sacramento State

S *Matt Estrada, Sr., Northern Arizona

P Augie Heath, Jr., Sacramento State

ST Tanner Ripley, Sr., Montana State

Preseason Offensive Player of the Year - Chase Reynolds, RB, Montana

Preseason Defensive Player of the Year - J.C. Sherritt, LB, Eastern Washington

*First-Team All-Conference in 2009