Nine Vandals are on Athlon Sports’ preseason all-Sun Belt football team with kicker/punter Austin Rehkow the first-team choice at both positions.
Receiver Callen Hightower is a second-team selection as an all-purpose player as is tight end Buck Cowan with offensive lineman Jordan Rose also a second-team choice. On the third team are center Steve Matlock, linebacker Kaden Elliss and defensive back Jayshawn Jordan. Quarterback Matt Linehan is a fourth-team honoree along with Deon Watson at tight end.
Rehkow, a senior from Spokane Valley, Wash., has been among the national kicking and punting leader throughout his career. He is Idaho’s all-time punting average leader and in 2015 led the Sun Belt in field goals per game, punting average and scoring, and was second in field goal percent.