The 6-foot-3, 240-pound Murphy, a senior from Great Falls, made the honor squad for the second time in his career, helping anchor a unit that led the conference in rushing defense, passing defense, total defense and scoring defense. Murphy, a first-team selection in 2004, has 33 tackles this season, including five sacks.
The other first-team defensive selections for the Big Sky champs were end Kroy Biermann, a junior from Hardin; free safety Torrey Thomas, a junior from Dillon, and strong safety Colt Anderson, a sophomore from Butte. Anderson was also named the first team all-conference special teams player.
Grizzlies honored on the first-team offense were receiver Eric Allen, a junior from Colorado Springs, Colo.; tackle Cody Balogh, a junior from Steilacoom, Wash., and guard Colin Dow, a sophomore from Billings.
Allen, a transfer from Oklahoma State, emerged as a prime receiving threat this season with 41 catches for a team-high 653 yards and four touchdowns. The 6-7, 310-pound Balogh and 6-5, 315-pound Dow helped pave the way for a Griz rushing attack that led the league despite the loss of standout running back Lex Hilliard.
Tuff Harris, a senior from Colstrip, made the All-Big Sky second team as a cornerback and as a punt returner. He's returned two punts for touchdowns this season while averaging 15.7 yards per return.
Also earning second-team honors for Montana were senior center Jeff Marshall, senior quarterback Josh Swogger, senior defensive end Dustin Dlouhy, junior cornerback Jimmy Wilson and junior placekicker Dan Carpenter.
A total of 13 Griz received honorable mention.
Receivers Ryan Bagley and Craig Chambers were chosen on offense, along with running backs Brady Green and Reggie Bradshaw, and fullback Kevin Klaboe. Defensive honors went to tackles Kerry Mullan and Craig Mettler; linebackers Tyler Joyce, Loren Utterback and Kyle Ryan; safety Matt Lebsock, and punter Dan Carpenter.
Senior quarterback Jason Murrietta of Northern Arizona was named the league's Offensive Player of the Year for the second time, while senior linebacker Adam Hayward of Portland State was tabbed Defensive Player of the Year.
Freshman running back Alex Henderson of Northern Arizona was voted Newcomer of the Year.
Murrietta and receivers Alex Watson of NAU and Michael Jefferson of Montana State were the only unanimous first-team picks.
n All-Big Sky Conference
OGDEN, Utah (AP) - The all-Big Sky Conference football team, as announced by the league Monday:
Offensive Player of the Year-Jason Murrietta, QB, N. Arizona
Defensive Player of the Year-Adam Hayward, LB, Portland St.
Newcomer of the Year-Alex Henderson, RB, N. Arizona
FIRST TEAM OFFENSE
Wide Receivers-Alex Watson, jr, N. Arizona; Mike Jefferson, sr, Montana St.; Eric Allen, jr, Montana
Tackles-David Hale, jr, Weber St.; Cody Balogh, jr, Montana
Guards-Brennan Carvalho, jr, Portland St.; Colin Dow, soph, Montana
Center-George Yarno, jr, Idaho St.
Tight End-Shaun Fitzpatrick, soph, N. Arizona
Quarterback-Jason Murrietta, sr, N. Arizona
Running Backs-Josh Barnett, jr, Idaho St.; Trevyn Smith, frosh, Weber St.
Fullback-Bobby McClintock, frosh, Portland St.
Place kicker-Brett Bergstrom, sr, E. Washington
Return Specalist-Bryant Eteuati, soph, Weber St.
FIRST TEAM DEFENSE
Tackles-C.J. Niusulu, sr, Portland St.; Rio Stotler, soph, Weber St.
Ends- Mike Murphy, sr, Montana; Kroy Biermann, jr, Montana
Outside Linebackers-Chris Hunsaker, sr, N. Arizona; Tyler DeBry, sr, Weber St.
Inside Linebackers-Adam Hayward, sr, Portland St.; Pago Togafau, sr, Idaho St.
Cornerbacks-Dominic Dixon, sr, Portland St.; Bo Smith, sr, Weber St.
Safeties-Torrey Thomas, jr, Montana; Colt Anderson, soph, Montana
Punter-Rhian Madrid, sr, N. Arizona
First Team Special Teams-Colt Anderson, soph, Montana
SECOND TEAM OFFENSE
Wide Receivers-Akilah Lacey, sr, Idaho St.; Eddie Thompson, soph, Idaho St.; Kenneth Mackins, jr, Portland St.
Tackles-Joe Hirst, sr, Montana St.; Rocky Hanni, jr, E. Washington; Darren Heerspink, jr, Portland St.
Guards-Peter St. John, jr, Portland St.; Matt Alfred, jr, E. Washington
Center-Jeff Marshall, sr, Montana
Tight end-Brandon Mennear, sr, Idaho St.
Quarterback-Josh Swogger, sr, Montana
Running backs-Alex Henderson, frosh, N. Arizona; Andre Wilson, sr, N. Colorado
Fullback-Alexis Alexander, Soph., E. Washington
Place kicker-Dan Carpenter, jr, Montana
Return Specalist-Tuff Harris, sr, Montana
SECOND TEAM DEFENSE
Tackles-Matthis Gehring, sr, Portland St.; Dallas Mauga, jr, Sacramento St.
Ends-Cole Smith, jr, Portland St.; Dustin Dlouhy, sr, Montana
Outside-Epikopo King, jr, Montana St.
Linebackers-Tyson Butler, sr, Sacramento St.
Inside Linebackers-Cyrus Mulitalo, soph, Sacramento St.; D.J. Robinson, sr, Portland St.
Cornerbacks-Tuff Harris, sr, Montana; Jimmy Wilson, jr, Montana; Ricky Wilson, jr, N. Arizona
Safeties-Ryan Force, sr, Montana St.; Brent Webber, jr, Sacramento St.
Punter-Dan Zeidman, jr, Idaho St.
Second Team Special Teams-Kenneth Mackins, jr, Portland St.
HONORABLE MENTION OFFENSE
Wide Receivers-Tony Davis, E. Washington; Donnell Wheaton, Montana St.; Ryan Bagley, Montana; Craig Chambers, Montana; Skyler Moore, N. Arizona; Kenny Mahone, N. Arizona; Patrick Ealy, N. Colorado; Tremayne Kirkland, Portland St.; Brendan Ferrigno, Portland St.
Tackles-Zach Wasielewski, E. Washington; Sam Downs, Idaho St.; Evan Dietrich-Smith, Idaho St.; Brent Russum, Montana; Peder Jensen, Montana St.; Shane Sandau, N. Arizona Jordan Hunter, Sacramento St.
Guards-Clifton Buckway, Idaho St.; Brandt Birkeland, Montana St.; Louis Saucedo, Montana St.; Jon Toailoa, N. Arizona; Dimitri Tsoumpas, Weber St.
Centers-Jeff Hansen, Montana St.; Kevin Meagher, N. Arizona; Jake Gable, N. Colorado; Derek Duff, Portland St.; Chad Glover, Weber St.
Tight ends-Tim Calhoun, E. Washington; Elliott Barnhart, Montana St.
Quarterbacks-Matt Gutierrez, Idaho St.; Sawyer Smith, Portland St.; Marcel Marquez, Sacramento St.
Running backs-Ryan Cole, E. Washington; Reggie Bradshaw, Montana; Brady Green, Montana; Aaron Mason, Montana St.; MuAmmar Ali, Portland St.
Fullbacks-Kevin Klaboe, Montana; Jahir Waterman, N. Colorado; Marcus Mailei, Weber St.
Place kickers-Robbie DeHaze, N. Arizona; Eric Azorr, Portland St.
Return Specialist-Kenneth Mackins, Portland St.; Andre Taylor, Sacramento St.
HONORABLE MENTION DEFENSE
Tackles-Keith Grennan, E. Washington; Villi Akoteu, Idaho St.; Craig Mettler, Montana; Kerry Mullan, Montana; David Siataga, Montana St.; Aaron Papich, Montana St.
Ends-Greg Peach, E. Washington; Joel Janke, Idaho St.; Clive Lowe, Montana St.; Drew Hoffman, N. Arizona; Mike Brannon, Sacramento St.; James Henderson, Sacramento St.; Patrick OKeefe, Weber St.; Pate Moleni, Weber St.
Outside linebackers-Brandon Keeler, E. Washington; Atelea Raass, Idaho St.; Loren Utterback, Montana; D.J. Wade, N. Arizona; Asa Matthews, N. Colorado; Cristian Sarmento, N. Colorado; Jordan Senn, Portland St.; Tony DeMonaco, Sacramento St. Brad Stewart, Weber St.
Inside linebackers-David Eneberg, E. Washington; Tyler Joyce, Montana; Kyle Ryan, Montana; Will Claggett, Montana St.; Bobby Daly, Montana St.; Max Moala, Weber St.
Cornerbacks- - D.J. Clark, Idaho St.; Kory Austin, Montana St.; Andre Fuller, Mont. St.; Odell Jackson, Portland St.; Jody Johnson, Sacramento St.
Safeties-Matt Lebsock, sr, Montana; Jeff Wheeler, N. Arizona; Charles Manigo, Portland St.; Micheal Dorsey, Portland St.; Brett Shelton, Sacramento St.; Ty Sparrow, Weber St.
Punters-Dan Carpenter, Montana; Mitch Lively, Sacramento St.
Honorable Mention Special Teams-Nick Ramos, E. Washington; Clint Knickrehm, Idaho St.; Calvin Robinson, Sacramento St.; Bryant Eteuati, Weber St.
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