Six Big Sky Conference players were named to the Associated Press Football Championship All-America First Team on Wednesday.
Montana wide receiver Marc Marani, Montana State guard Jeff Hansen and Weber State center Kyle Mutcher were named to the first-team offense. Weber State cornerback Josh Morris, Montana State defensive end Dane Fletcher and Eastern Washington linebacker J.C. Sherritt were named to the first-team defense.
Five other Big Sky players also earned honors. Montana running back Chase Reynolds was named to the second-team offense. Eastern Washington QB Matt Nichols, Idaho State punter Jon Vanderwielen and Montana offensive tackle Levi Horn were third-team picks, as was Eastern Washington's Taiwan Jones, who was selected as an all-purpose player.
The Big Sky led all FCS conferences with first-team players. The CAA had five named to the first team. as did the Missouri Valley.
Mariani, a senior from Havre, Mont., plays on Friday night in the Division I national championship in Chattanooga, Tenn., against Villanova. Mariani has caugth 71 passes for 1,301 yards and 12 touchdowns. He was named to the Walter Camp All-America Team on Monday.
Mutcher, a senior from Park City, Utah, has now been named to all three All-America teams released. He was tabbed to the Walter Camp on Monday and the American Coaches Association squad on Tuesday.
Sherritt, a junior from Pullman, Wash., has also been named to all three teams. Sherritt leads the nation in tackles with 170.
Fletcher, the 2009 Big Sky Defensive MVP, was named to the AFCA team on Tuesday. The senior from Bozeman, Mont., ranks second in the nation with 17 tackles for loss. Fletcher's teammate Hansen, a senior from Great Falls, was a unanimous All-Big Sky selection and was named to the Walter Camp All-America Team.
Morris, a senior from Ada, Okla., was also named to the Walter Camp team.
First team
Offense
Quarterback — Armanti Edwards, senior, 6-foot, 185 pounds, Appalachian State.
Running backs — Deji Karim, senior, 5-11, 205, Southern Illinois; Pat Paschall, senior, 6-0, 198, North Dakota State.
Linemen — Derek Hardman, senior, 6-6, 300, Eastern Kentucky; Matt McCraken, senior, 6-3, 300, Richmond; Vladimir Ducasse, senior, 6-5, 330, Massachusetts; Jeff Hansen, senior, 6-4, 292, Montana State; Kyle Mutcher, senior, 6-3, 300, Weber State.
Tight end — Clay Harbor, senior, 6-4, 243, Missouri State.
Wide receivers — Terrell Hudgins, senior, 6-2, 235, Elon; Marc Mariani, senior, 6-0, 185, Montana.
All-purpose player — Matt Szczur, junior, 5-11, 195, Villanova.
Kicker — Matt Bevins, sophomore, 6-2, 185, Liberty.
Defense
Linemen — James Ruffin, senior, 6-4, 265, Northern Iowa; Arthur Moats, senior, 6-2, 250, James Madison; Austen Lane, senior, 6-6, 250, Murray State; Dane Fletcher, senior, 6-2, 242, Montana State.
Linebackers — Brandin Jordan, senior, 5-11, 230, Southern Illinois; J.C. Sherritt, junior, 5-10, 220, Eastern Washington; Mike Morales, senior, 6-0, 230, UC Davis.
Backs — Terrell Whitehead, senior, 6-2, 200, Norfolk State; Mark Legree, junior, 6-0, 200, Appalachian State; Jeromy Miles, senior, 6-2, 215, Massachusetts; Josh Morris, senior, 6-0, 180, Weber State.
Punter — Jonathan Plisco, freshman, 6-0, 200, Old Dominion.
Second team
Offense
Quarterback — Dominic Randolph, senior, Holy Cross.
Running backs — Chase Reynolds, junior, Montana; Toddrick Pendland, senior, McNeese State;
Linemen — Benjamin Ijalana, junior, Villanova; Mario Acitelli, senior, Appalachian State; Johnny Culbreath, junior, South Carolina State; James Williams, senior, Harvard; Austin Steichen, senior, Northern Iowa.
Tight end — Scott Sicko, senior, New Hampshire.
Wide receivers — Tysson Poots, junior, Southern Utah; Buddy Farnham, senior, Brown.
All-purpose player — LeRoy Vann, senior, Florida A&M.
Kicker — Craig Camay, senior, Chattanooga.
Defense
Linemen — Danny Batten, senior, South Dakota State; Tim Knicky, senior, Stephen F. Austin; Adrian Tracy, senior, William & Mary; Larry Hart, senior, Central Arkansas.
Linebackers — Matt Cohen, senior, Lehigh; Tyler Santucci, senior, Stony Brook; George Howard, senior, Morgan State.
Backs — Charles Graves, senior, Delaware; Jason House, junior, Southern; Patrick Stoudamire, senior, Western Illinois; T.J. Heath, junior, Jacksonville State.
Punter — Jon Vanderwielen, senior, Idaho State.
Third team
Offense
Quarterback — Matt Nichols, senior, Eastern Washington.
Running backs — James Mallory, senior, Central Connecticut; Kyle Minett, junior, South Dakota State.
Linemen — Dorian Brooks, senior, James Madison; Will Rackley, senior, Lehigh; Levi Horn, senior, Montana; Joe Gibbs, senior, Tennessee-Martin; Austin Howard, senior, Northern Iowa.
Tight end — John Sheffield, senior, Yale.
Wide receivers — Jason Caldwell, senior, Fordham; Juamorris Stewart, senior, Southern.
All-purpose player — Taiwan Jones, sophomore, Eastern Washington.
Kicker — Zach Kutch, senior, Illinois State.
Defense
Linemen — Christian Anthony, senior, Grambling State; Tim Kukucka, senior, Villanova; Josh Beard, senior, Chattanooga; Mychal Savage, senior, Youngstown State.
Linebackers — Wes McDermott, sophomore, Morehead State; Jake Lewko, senior, Penn; Jacque Roman, senior, Appalachian State.
Backs — Anthony Beck, senior, Prairie View A&M; Justin Rogers, junior, Richmond; Korey Lindsey, junior, Southern Illinois; Josh Norman, sophomore, Coastal Carolina.
Punter — Jahmal Blanchard, senior, Hampton.