FARMINGTON, Utah — Sacramento State's Rodney Hammond, Jr., DeSean Watts and Koa Akui were all named to the all-Big Sky Conference first team and were part of nine Hornets who were recognized, it was announced today.
 
Hammond earned first team recognition at running back and was a second team choice as an all-purpose player and kick returner. He finished the season with 1,213 rushing yards and rushed for over 100 yards in seven of the final eight games of the season. In conference play, Hammond led the Big Sky with 132.3 yards per game which included a career-best 208 yards at Eastern Washington. The senior finished the year with 13 rushing touchdowns, threw a touchdown pass and returned a kickoff for a score. His 1,815 all-purpose yards (151.3 per game) were the most on the team as were his 14 total touchdowns. Hammond's average of 28.4 yards per kickoff return is the second-best mark in school single season history and the best in Sacramento State's NCAA Div. I era.
 
Watts tallied 36 total tackles while appearing in all 12 games as a defensive tackle. His total included four tackles-for-loss and a pair of sacks. He also had four quarterback hurries and a pass breakup. According to Pro Football Focus, Watts ranks fourth overall among all FCS interior defensive lineman and is tied for first against the rush.
 
Akui tied for the Big Sky lead with five interceptions and added two fumble recoveries and a forced fumble. He ranked second on the team with 65 total tackles and had six pass breakups. The junior had at least two tackles in all 12 games and finished the year with five or more in nine contests.
 
Sacramento State added a pair of offensive and defensive linemen on the all-Big Sky second team. Aidan Meek and Dean Abdullah were both recognized on the offensive line. Both players started each game and helped guide a Hornet rushing attack which led the Big Sky and ranked third in the FCS at 262.6 yards per game. Meek started 11 of the team games at right tackle and made one start at right guard. He did not surrender a sack in 11 games and gave up only four quarterback pressures in the eighth conference contests.
 
Abdullah earned the starting nod in every game at center during his first season with the team. He did not allow sack and gave up just one quarterback hit in his time on the field.
 
Dylan Hampsten and Jayland McGlothen were each named second team all-Big Sky as defensive linemen. Hampsten made an immediate impact in his first year with the team as he ranked second in the Big Sky with eight sacks and third with 13.0 TFLs. He was credited with 39 total tackles had had three or more tackles in seven games with a high of nine at Portland State. Along with his sacks, he added four quarterback hurries.
 
McGlothen finished the season with 31 total tackles, including 9.5 for loss and seven sacks. The sophomore had a tackle in each game and set his high with five stops at South Dakota State and against Central Arkansas. McGlothen spread out his TFLs with at least one coming seven different games. His season was highlighted by a pair of sacks and three TFLs in the win over Central Arkansas.
 
Sacramento State had two other players who earned honorable mention (earned at least three votes). Cornerback Jason Oliver saw action in all 12 games and tallied 36 total tackles. He intercepted a pair of passes and led the team with nine pass breakups. Opponents completed just 41.9 percent of passes thrown at him.
 
Adam Johnston earned honorable mention recognition after serving as the long snapper for every punt, extra point and field goal during the season. He did not have a bad snap on his 105 attempts and played a large role for a unit which ranked fourth in the FCS in net punting.
 
2025 Big Sky Football Individual Awards
Offensive Player of the Year: Eli Gillman, RB, Montana
Defensive Player of the Year: Caden Dowler, DB, Montana State
Newcomer of the Year: Justin Lamson, QB, Montana State
Freshman of the Year: Caden Pinnick, QB, UC Davis*
Coach of the Year: Brent Vigen, Montana State
*  - Unanimous selection 
 
First Team All-Big Sky Offense
QB: Keali'i Ah Yat, Montana
RB: Rodney Hammond, Jr., Sacramento State
RB: Eli Gillman, Montana
WR: Carver Cheeks, Northern Colorado
WR: Samuel Gbatu, UC Davis
WR: Kolbe Katsis, Northern Arizona
TE: Ian Simpson, UC Davis
TE: Evan Shafer, Montana
OL: Stryker Rashid, Idaho State
OL: Titan Fleischmann, Montana State
OL: Cannon Panfiloff, Montana
OL: Eli Simonson, UC Davis
OL: Gavin Ortega, Weber State
OL: Nate Azzopardi, Idaho
AP: Michael Wortham, Montana
 
First Team All-Big Sky Defense
DL: Jacob Psyk, UC Davis*
DL: Paul Brott, Montana State
DL: Kenneth Eiden IV, Montana State
DL: Hunter Peck, Montana
DL: DeSean Watts, Sacramento State
LB: Mikey D'Amato, Cal Poly*
LB: Peyton Wing, Montana
LB: Isiah King, Idaho
LB: Travis Arena, Northern Arizona
LB: Kenny Olson, Cal Poly
DB: Caden Dowler, Montana State
DB: Quentin Moten, Northern Arizona
DB: Cam Chapa, Northern Colorado
DB: Koa Akui, Sacramento State
DB: Jaylon Jenkins, Eastern Washington
DB: Khalani Riddick, UC Davis
DB: Montae Pate, Weber State
*  - Unanimous selection 
 
First Team All-Big Sky Specialists
KR: Kolbe Katsis, Northern Arizona
PR: Taco Dowler, Montana State
K: Trajan Sinatra, Idaho State
P: Ben D'Aquila, Northern Arizona
ST: Tanner Huff, Montana
LS: Spencer Moore, Cal Poly
 
Second Team All-Big Sky Offense
QB: Justin Lamson, Montana State
RB: Julius Davis, Montana State
RB: Dason Brooks, Idaho State
WR: Taco Dowler, Montana State
WR: Michael Wortham, Montana
WR: Tsion Nunnally, Idaho State
TE: Landon Cooper, Eastern Washington 
TE: Noah Bennee, Weber State
OL: Aidan Meek, Sacramento State
OL: Liam Brown, Montana
OL: Dean Abdullah, Sacramento State
OL: Zaire Collier, UC Davis
OL: Racin Delgatty, Cal Poly
OL: Jeremiah Katt, Northern Arizona
OL: Ethan Kramer, Northern Arizona 
AP: Rodney Hammond, Jr., Sacramento State
 
Second Team All-Big Sky Defense 
DL: Matt Herron, Weber State
DL: Dylan Hampsten, Sacramento State
DL: Jayland McGlothen, Sacramento State
DL: Victory Johnson, Cal Poly
DL: Cam'ron Willis, Idaho State
LB: Solomon Tuliaupupu, Montana
LB: Nate Rutchena, UC Davis
LB: Brandon Wong, Northern Arizona
LB: Cole Taylor, Montana State
LB: Read Sunn, Eastern Washington 
DB: Drew Cofield, UC Davis
DB: Rylan Leathers, Idaho State
DB: TJ Rausch, Montana 
DB: Jeremiah Bernard, Cal Poly
DB: Carsten Mamaril, Portland State
DB: Tayden Gray, Montana State
 
Second Team All-Big Sky Specialists
KR: Rodney Hammond, Jr., Sacramento State
PR: Drew Deck, Montana
K: Sloan Calder, Weber State
P: Gabe Russo, Idaho State
ST: Brayden Rice, Idaho
LS: Grayson Pibal, Montana
 
Honorable Mention Offense (at least 3 votes)
QB: Caden Pinnick, UC Davis
QB: Ty Pennington, Northern Arizona 
QB: Jordan Cooke, Idaho State
RB: Adam Jones, Montana State
RB: Jordan Fisher, UC Davis
WR: Michael Shulikov, Idaho State
WR: Michael Briscoe, Cal Poly
WR: Damien Morgan, Idaho State
WR: Brooks Davis, Montana
TE: Kristian Ingman, Portland State
OL: JT Reed, Montana State
OL: Dylan Conner, Eastern Washington
OL: Cedric Jefferson, Montana State
OL: Jack Ziebell, Northern Colorado
OL: Burke Mastel, Montana State
AP: Nate Bell, Eastern Washington 
 
Honorable Mention Defense (at least 3 votes)
DL: Alec Eckert, Montana State
DL: Matyus McLain, Idaho
DL: Spencer Elliott, Portland State
DL: Isaiah Perez, Eastern Washington
DL: Hunter Parsons, Montana State
DL: Jake Mason, Montana
LB: Mayson Hitchens, Weber State
LB: Dylan Lane, Idaho
LB: Nathan Reynolds, Idaho State
LB: Caleb Otlewski, Montana
LB: Hudson Voggesser, Northern Colorado
DB: Isaiah Green, Portland State
DB: Jason Oliver, Sacramento State
DB: Angel King, Weber State
DB: Drew Carter, Eastern Washington 
 
Honorable Mention Specialists (at least 3 votes)
KR: Cru Newman, Portland State
PR: Isaiah Eastman, Northern Arizona
K: Ty Morrison, Montana
P: Landon Ogles, Eastern Washington
LS: Maddox Broughton, Northern Colorado
LS: Adam Johnston, Sacramento State