Weber State football placed 10 players on the Big Sky All-Conference team, which was released Tuesday by the conference. One Wildcat earned first team honors, five were named to the second team and five Wildcats earned honorable mention honors.
Joe Hawkins earned first team All-Big Sky honors while Devonte Johnson, Tre’von Johnson, Emmet Tela, Eric Wilkes and Cameron Young were named to the second team. Taron Johnson, Tui Satuala, Calvin Steyn, Cory Thomson and Wilkes received honorable mention honors.
Senior center Hawkins became the first Wildcat to earn Big Sky All-Conference first team honors in four years. The team captain out of Vero Beach, Florida, started all 11 games at center for Weber State and was an anchor on the Wildcat offensive line. Hawkins finished his four-year career at Weber State playing in 46 career games and started the final 45 games of his career. Hawkins earned honorable mention all-conference honors last season.
Five Wildcats were named to the second team. Senior cornerback Devonte Johnson earned All-Big Sky honors for the first time in his career. Johnson started all 11 games for the ‘Cats this season and recorded 40 tackles with 11 pass breakups, ranking sixth in the Big Sky. Johnson played in 21 career games in his four seasons at Weber State.
Junior linebacker Tre’von Johnson also earned all-conference honors for the first time in his career. He started in 10 games at linebacker for the Wildcats and had 66 tackles with 9.5 tackles for loss and 4.5 sacks, ranking eighth in the conference in sacks. He also had two forced fumbles and two pass breakups. Johnson has played in 34 career games in three years with the Wildcats.
Sophomore Tela earned All-Big Sky honors for the second time in his career after earning honorable mention honors as a freshman last year. Tela started 10 games at linebacker and led the Wildcats in tackles with 72 for an average of 7.2 tackles per game. He also had 7.5 tackles for loss with two sacks to go along with two forced fumbles and one interception. Tela has 151 career tackles in the 18 games he has played in his two years at Weber State.
Sophomore Wilkes earned second team All-Big Sky honors as a return specialist. He also earned honorable mention all-conference honors at running back. Wilkes played in all 11 games for the ‘Cats and led the Big Sky in kickoff returns with an average of 28.9 yards per return. He had 16 returns for 463 yards with one touchdown, a 100-yard kickoff return Sept. 12 at North Dakota State. Wilkes also had 153 rushing attempts for 662 yards rushing with five touchdowns. He had three games of more than 100 yards rushing this season.
Junior Young started all 11 games on the offensive line for Weber State and earned All-Big Sky honors for the first time in his career. Young has started all 35 games in his three years with the Wildcats.
Five Wildcats earned honorable mention All-Big Sky honors. Sophomore cornerback Taron Johnson started all 11 games for the Wildcats and recorded 44 tackles. He also finished third in the Big Sky in pass breakups with 12, which is the most breakups in a season in Weber State history.
Sophomore tight end Satuala also earned honorable mention honors in his first season at Weber State. Satuala played in 10 games at tight end and 24 receptions for 228 yards with two touchdowns. He caught at least two passes in nine of his 10 games played this season.
Junior transfer Steyn earned honorable mention honors in his first year at Weber State as a member of the Wildcat offensive line. Steyn started all 11 games at right tackle for the Wildcats after transferring from Saddleback Junior College.
Junior Thomson earned All-Big Sky honors as a fullback, the first of his career. Thomson played in all 11 games this season and had 25 carries for 118 yards and one touchdown. He also had 11 receptions for 147 yards.
The all-conference teams were selected in a vote by the league’s head coaches. Eastern Washington wide receiver Cooper Kupp was named the Offensive Player of the Year, and Southern Utah defensive end James Cowser was honored as the Defensive Player of the Year. Alex Kuresa of Portland State was named the Newcomer of the Year, and Northern Arizona’s Case Cookus and North Dakota’s John Santiago were named Co-Freshman of the Year.
Paul Grua is the Director of Athletic Communications at Weber State University.