Three Portland State Vikings have been named to the Preseason All-Big Sky Conference football team. Seniors Anthony Adams, VJ Malo and Beau Kelly were among 30 players selected to the team in a vote of league media. The league released preseason polls and teams at today's Big Sky Football Kickoff in Spokane.
 
For Adams, a defensive back from Newberg, OR, the preseason All-Big Sky nod is a repeat. The 6-foot, 185-pounder has been a regular on pre- and post-season All-Big Sky teams and is a two-time All-American; once at safety (2019) and once at cornerback (2021). Adams has already appeared on preseason All-America teams and been named as one of the top defensive backs in the nation for 2022.
 
Adams has been the face of the Viking defense the past few seasons, having started all 35 career games at PSU. He made 52 tackles, five tackles for loss, had three interceptions, three fumble recoveries, five pass breakups and forced a fumble as the Vikings' boundary cornerback in 2021. 
 
Adams goes into the 2022 season with 165 career tackles, 14.5 tackles for loss, 31 pass breakups and 13 career takeaways (9 INT, 4 FR). His 40 career passes defended (31 PBU, 9 INT) are the most of any returning FCS player in the nation.
 
Off the field, Adams has already earned his degree in Applied Health and Fitness and is now doing graduate work in Educational Leadership and Policy. He is a four-time Academic All-Big Sky Conference honoree and was PSU's 2020 Big Sky Conference Scholar-Athlete of the Year.
 
Malo, a defensive end from West Seattle, WA, was one of the top defenders in the league last season, earning second team All-Big Sky. A 6-1, 270-pounder, Malo had 45 tackles, 20 tackles for loss, 10.5 sacks and forced three fumbles in 2021. Malo ranked fifth in the nation in tackles for loss and 11th in sacks. His 20 TFLs were second-most for a season in school history and most-ever at the Division I level. The 10.5 sacks are also the most by a Viking at the Division I level.
 
Kelly, a wide receiver from Scottsdale, AZ, led the Big Sky Conference in receptions (69), total receiving yards (981) and touchdowns (10) at the conclusion of the 2021 regular season. He ranked in the top 20 in the nation in all three categories and was named second team All-Big Sky Conference. Kelly had 1,111 all-purpose yards and would have led the Big Sky in punt returns (14.4), but did not meet the league minimum for returns. He has 115 receptions, 1,634 yards and 13 touchdowns in 32 career games.
 

THE 2022 PRESEASON ALL-BIG SKY CONFERENCE TEAM

Offensive MVP – Ulonzo Gilliam Jr. (UC Davis)
Defensive MVP - Patrick O'Connell (Montana)
 
QB – Tommy Mellott (Montana State)
RB – Isaiah Ifanse (Montana State), Ulonzo Gilliam Jr. (UC Davis)
FB – R. J. Fitzgerald (Montana State)
TE – Marshel Martin (Sacramento State)
WR – Beau Kelly (Portland State), Efton Chism III (EWU), Pierre Williams (Sacramento State)
C – Connor Pettek (UC Davis)
OG – Jake Parks (UC Davis), Brandon Weldon (Sacramento State)
OT – Noah Atagi (Weber State), Jonas Leader (NAU)
K – Kyle Sentkowski (Sacramento State)
RS – Malik Flowers (Montana)
AP – Asher O'Hara (Sacramento State)
 
DT – Alex Gubner (Montana), Joshua Jerome (EWU)
DE – VJ Malo (Portland State), Brody Grebe (Montana State)
OLB – Patrick O'Connell (Montana), David Hoage (UNC)
ILB – Callahan O'Reilly (Montana State), Fa'Avae Fa'Avae (Idaho)
CB – Justin Ford (Montana), Anthony Adams (Portland State)
S – Robby Hauck (Montana), Morgan Vest (NAU)
P – Bryce Leighton (Montana State)
LS – Tommy Sullivan (Montana State) 
 

VIKINGS PICKED EIGHTH, NINTH IN BIG SKY PRESEASON POLLS

 
The Big Sky Conference also released its preseason polls on Monday at the Big Sky Football Kickoff. Portland State was picked eighth in the media poll and ninth in the coaches poll in the 12-team league.
 
Portland State was 5-6 in 2021, 4-4 and tied for 7th in the Big Sky Conference.
 
Montana, which tied for third in 2021 (10-2/6-2) was picked to win the Big Sky in both polls. In the coaches poll, the Griz had only three first-place votes (111 points), but won a close ballot over Sacramento State (110/4) and Montana State (109/5). Montana (356/14) won a close ballot over Montana State (352/13) in the media poll.
 
Portland State opens its season on Sept. 1 at San Jose State, then plays at Washington on Sept. 10. The Vikings will open the Big Sky schedule at pre-season favorite Montana on Sept. 17.
 
PSU also faces Sacramento State (2nd in coaches poll), Weber State (4th), Eastern Washington (6th), Northern Arizona (7th), Idaho (8th), Cal Poly (10th) and Northern Colorado (11th) in 2022. 
 

BIG SKY CONFERENCE PRESEASON COACHES POLL

1. Montana (3) - 111
2. Sacramento State (4) - 110
3. Montana State (5) - 109
4. Weber State - 84
5. UC Davis - 82
6. Eastern Washington - 76
7. Northern Arizona - 62
8. Idaho - 45
9. Portland State - 42
10. Cal Poly - 33
11. Idaho State - 19
12. Northern Colorado – 19 

BIG SKY CONFERENCE PRESEASON MEDIA POLL

1. Montana (14) - 356
2. Montana State (13 - 352
3. Sacramento State (4) - 335
4. Weber State - 261
5. UC Davis (1) - 255
6. Eastern Washington - 236
7. Northern Arizona - 191
8. Portland State - 146
9. Idaho - 142
10. Cal Poly - 85
11. Northern Colorado - 71
12. Idaho State - 66