Even with some bumps in the road, Portland State's Charlie Taumoepeau lived up to his billing, earning first team All-Big Sky Conference today in a ballot of league coaches. The junior tight end leads PSU's All-Big Sky choices as released by the conference.

Taumoepeau was named Preseason All-Big Sky and Preseason All-American in July. And, when the season started, the 6-3, 240-pounder from Federal Way, WA did not disappoint. He put up 100-yard receiving games against both Nevada and Oregon, scoring two touchdowns in each game, and by game three had five TDs and led the nation in yards per catch. 

However, an ankle injury in game five against Idaho slowed his production as Taumoepeau missed the next two contests. Even upon returning, he was still trying to get back to full speed. By the end of the season though, Taumoepeau had team highs of 28 receptions, 580 yards and five touchdowns. He ranked first in the Big Sky among tight ends in receptions per game and yards, and second in touchdowns.

Four Vikings were named third team All-Big Sky Conference: left tackle Josh Brown, right guard Korbin Sorensen, kicker Cody Williams and defensive tackle Kenton Bartlett. 

Brown, a 6-5, 300-pound senior from Portland's Sunset High School, locked down the left tackle position, having started the last 16 games in a row. Sorensen, a 6-6, 305-pound sophomore from Kamiakin High School in Kennewick, WA, has been a full-time starter at right guard, and leads the team with 21 consecutive starts.

Williams is a true freshman from Murrieta Valley High School in Murrieta, CA. He introduced himself to the Big Sky Conference with perhaps the biggest field goal of the season. Williams kicked a 52-yarder at Montana with four seconds remaining to give the Vikings a 22-20 victory over the 14th-ranked Grizzlies. For the season, he made 11-14 field goals and all 37 extra point attempts. Williams had the third-best field goal percentage in the league (.786) and was one of just four kickers to make all of his extra points.

Bartlett, a junior from Boise's Centennial High School, started every game in 2018 and has 22 starts over his career. This season, he had 21 tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss, a sack and a blocked field goal for a vastly improved Viking defense.

Earning honorable mention All-Big Sky were defensive tackle Semise Kofe and defensive end Larry Ross. Ross, at 6-3, 240 pounds, led the Vikings with 7.5 tackles for loss and 5.5 sacks this season. The senior from De La Salle High School in southern California had 32 total tackles. Kofe, from Portland's Roosevelt High School, is a 6-1, 310-pound sophomore. He made 24 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks and a tackle for safety.

BIG SKY CONFERENCE POST-SEASON AWARDS

Offensive Player of the Year: Jake Maier, UC Davis
Defensive Player of the Year: Jay-Tee Tiuli, Eastern Washington
Freshman of the Year: Josh Davis, Weber State
Newcomer of the Year: Dalton Sneed, Montana 

* - Unanimous All-First Team Selection
$ - Two-Time All-Big Sky First Team Selection
% - Three-Time All-Big Sky First Team Selection

Honorable Mention
Wide Receiver – Jerry Louie-McGee, Montana; Darryl Denby, Weber State
Tackle – Zach Shallcross, Cal Poly; Jamison Pruitt, Northern Arizona; Taylor Tappin, Sacramento State
Guard – Malik Noshi, Northern Arizona; Zach Wilkinson, Northern Colorado
Center – Dallen Collins, Idaho State; Ben Bos, Weber State
Tight End – Austin Campbell, Idaho State; McCoy Hill, Southern Utah
Quarterback – Dalton Sneed, Montana
Running Back – Antoine Custer, Eastern Washington; Ty Flanagan, Idaho State; Isaiah Ifanse, Montana State; Cory Young, Northern Arizona; Tehran Thomas, UC Davis
Fullback – Justice Litrell, Northern Colorado
Placekicker – Tim Semenza, Montana
Return Specialist – David Ungerer, Idaho; Namane Modise, UC Davis
Special Teams Player – Marcel Myers, Northern Arizona
Tackle – Dylan Ledbetter, Eastern Washington; Treven Aloi, Idaho State; Kainoa Fuiava; Idaho State; David Shaw, Montana; Semise Kofe, Portland State
End – Reggie Tilleman, Montana, Aaron Andrews, Northern Arizona; Larry Ross, Portland State
Outside Linebacker – Taylor Nelson, Southern Utah
Inside Linebacker – Matt Shotwell, Cal Poly; Grant Collins, Montana State; Henry Stelzner, Northern Colorado
Cornerback – Dominic Frasch, Cal Poly; D'londo Tucker, Eastern Washington; Greg Filer, Montana State
Safety – Nzuzi Webster, Eastern Washington; Adkin Aguirre, Idaho State; Robby Hauck, Montana; Jahque Alleyne, Montana State; Brayden Konkol, Montana State; Sherand Boyd Northern Colorado
Punter – Daniel Whelan, UC Davis