Complete All-Big Sky teams from the conference

Portland State kicker Zach Brown, strong safety DeShawn Shead, running back Cory McCaffrey and special teams star Nevin Lewis were selected as first team All-Big Sky Conference players in post-season balloting done by league coaches. PSU also had three players make second team All-Conference and nine earn honorable mention All-Big Sky.

Brown, a junior from Keizer's McNary (OR) High School, had to be an easy choice as he led the nation in field goals made. Brown hit 24-27 on the season, an average of 2.18 made per game. Brown broke his own school record of 18 made. The 6-1, 200-pound kicker did not miss a field goal inside of 46 yards, made two from more than 50 yards and ended the season with eight consecutive field goals made. Brown was a two-time Big Sky Conference Player of the Week.

Shead, a senior from Palmdale, CA, was an anchor on defense and ranked second on the team with a career-high 64 tackles. He had five tackles for loss, a sack, two interceptions (one for touchdown), eight pass breakups, three forced fumbles and a fumble recovery during the season. Shead, a 6-2, 220-pounder, also was named Big Sky Conference Defensive Player of the Week on Nov. 14. He was a second team selection in 2010. Shead, who led the conference with a 26.1 kick return average, was also named an honorable mention kick returner.

Despite playing in only five games, McCaffrey certainly had the respect of Big Sky Conference coaches. The 5-9, 185-pound senior from Sisters (OR) HS, was the nation's leader in rushing and scoring when he went down with an achilles injury on Oct. 15. Still, McCaffrey finished with 731 rushing yards and 13 touchdowns on the season. In fact, he had the fourth most rushing yards in the Big Sky for the season in those five games. McCaffrey was also a first-team All-Big Sky running back in 2010.

Lewis, also a star from central Oregon, was named first team All-Conference at the special teams position. A 6-2, 195-pound junior from Culver (OR) HS, Lewis was an all-around star, blocking three punts, averaging 24 yards per kick return, making a tackle for loss on a fake punt and three special teams tackles for the season. At wide receiver, he also had 22 catches for 337 yards and two touchdowns. Lewis was named Big Sky Player of the Week for Special Teams on Sept. 5.

Named to the Big Sky's second team were offensive tackle Dustin Waldron, defensive tackle Myles Wade, and outside linebacker Ian Sluss.

Waldron, a 6-6, 280-pound senior from Marist (OR) High School, has been a mainstay on the Vikings' line for four years. He blocked for the nation's leading pass offense (2008) and two-time Big Sky leading rushing offense (2010 and 2011). Despite going down with injury during the season's eighth game, he is considered an NFL prospect.

Wade, a 6-1, 300-pound graduate student who attended Central Catholic (OR) HS, was a primary factor in the Vikings' improved defense in 2011. PSU allowed 110 yards less and 12 points less per game to opponents. Wade had 30 tackles, four for losses, two sacks, a pass breakup and two blocked kicks on the season. Wade also earned a Big Sky Special Teams Player of the Week honor after blocking a potential winning field goal by Northern Arizona on Sept. 17.

Sluss, a 6-foot, 225-pound junior from Vista, CA, was also a big addition in 2011. He was third on the team with 55 tackles, a team-leading 13.5 tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks and two forced fumbles.

The Vikings honorable mention All-Big Sky choices were: SR QB Connor Kavanaugh (1,060 rushing yards, 7 TDs, 1,628 passing yards, 9 TDs), JR WR Justin Monahan (52 catches, 707 yards, 6 TDs), JR OL Kyle Ritt, SO C Mitch Gaulke, SR DE Jack Forbes (38 tackles, 8.5 TFLs, three sacks, two pass breakups, fumble recovery), JR LB Joel Sisler (35 tackles, 7.5 TFLs, 1.5 sacks, three interceptions, two fumble recoveries, four pass breakups), SR LB Ryan Rau (90 tackles, 7.5 TFLs, four sacks, two pass breakups, fumble recovery, forced fumble), and JR P Thomas Duyndam (39.0 average).

Big Sky Conference Awards
Offensive Player of the Year: Bo Levi Mitchell, QB, Eastern Washington
Defensive Player of the Year: Caleb McSurdy, LB, Montana
Newcomer of the Year: Tray Robinson, RB, Montana State