SPOKANE, Wash. — The Sacramento State football team was picked to finish second by the coaches and third by the media and five Hornets earned preseason all-Big Sky honors, it was announced today at Big Sky Kickoff.

The coaches poll saw the top three teams separated by just two points and each of those teams earning at least three first-place votes. Despite having the fewest first-place votes of the trio, Montana was picked first with 111 points. Sacramento State received four first-place selections and ended with a total of 110 points. Montana State was third with five first-place nods and 109 points.

The coaches picked Weber State fourth (82 points) with UC Davis (82), Eastern Washington (76) and Northern Arizona (62) completing the top seven.

In the media poll, Montana edged Montana State as preseason favorites. The Griz received 14 first-place votes and 356 total points. MSU had 13 first-place votes and 352 points. Sacramento State ranked third with 335 points and four first-place selections. The next four teams matched with the coaches poll.

Tight end Marshel Martin repeated as a preseason all-Big Sky selection. The junior earned first team all-conference and All-America honors last season after catching a team-high 53 passes for 649 yard and six touchdowns.

Wide receiver Pierre Williams, who has twice been named to the all-Big Sky first team (2019, 2021) earned his second preseason all-conference honor. Last fall, Williams led the Hornets with 764 receiving yards on 50 receptions. The senior enters 2022 ranked fourth all-time at Sacramento State with 2,248 career receiving yards, is fifth with 135 receptions and tied for sixth with 15 touchdown catches.

Brandon Weldon was named to the preseason all-conference team for the first time in his career. Weldon has started every game the last two seasons while playing right tackle and right guard. In 2021, the Hornet line paved the way for an offense which averaged 4.6 yards per rush and allowed just 18 sacks.

Kyle Sentkowski was named to the preseason all-Big Sky team at kicker. In 2021, Sentkowski was a third-team All-American and first team all-Big Sky choice after a record-breaking season. During the year, he set the school single-season record with 21 field goals and also for points by a kicker (102). Sentkowksi was 12-of-14 on field goal attempts longer than 40 yards and was a perfect 39-of-39 on PATs.

Quarterback Asher O'Hara was honored as the preseason all-Big Sky all-purpose player. O'Hara was a unanimous first team all-Big Sky selection as an all-purpose player following his first season at Sacramento State. He led the team with 667 rushing yards and nine rushing touchdowns and also passed for 899 yards and seven touchdowns.

UC Davis running back Ulonzo Gilliam Jr., and Montana linebacker Patrick O'Connell were selected as the BIg Sky Offensive and Defensive Preseason Players of the Year.

Sacramento State will start its 2022 season on Saturday, Sept. 3, when it welcomes Utah Tech to Hornet Stadium.

2021 Big Sky Conference Preseason Team

Offensive MVP - Ulonzo Gilliam Jr., Sr., RB, UC Davis
Defensive MVP - Patrick O'Connell, Sr. LB, Montana