The Big Sky Conference is loaded this year, not only with talent but with FCS playoff-caliber teams. A younger league last season, most of the top playmakers are back.
As the season nears, we’ll rank the top five returners at each position group. Today, we give you the tight ends.
NOTE: Idaho, who is moving back to the FCS and Big Sky, is eligible for these lists. North Dakota, who plays a Big Sky schedule but is an independent while transitioning to the MVFC, is not.
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5. Theron Verna, Northern Colorado
Verna had a terrific sophomore campaign in 2016, catching four touchdown passes and totaling 194 yards. He upped his game even more last season, catching 20 passes for 366 yards and another four touchdowns.
For being 6-foot-2, 250 pounds, he's shown some explosion. Against Idaho State, Verna had 165 yards on just four receptions with a touchdown. He also added an 80-yard touchdown catch against North Dakota. Verna is another weapon in the passing game alongside Alex Wesley for quarterback Jacob Knipp
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4. Jonathan Baldwin, Northern Arizona
When Emmanuel Butler went down with an injury last year, it was Elijah Marks who stepped up and had more than 1,000 yards receiving. Butler is back, but so is a very important senior tight end.
Baldwin returns as the starter and finished with 24 catches for 332 yards and four scores. The 6-foot-4, 245-pounder averaged 13.8 yards per catches. There’s a very good chance those numbers go up this year as NAU’s offense could be one of the best in the FCS.
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3. Logan Parker, Southern Utah
Expect a huge senior season for Parker this year. He was already a big-time target at 6-foot-4 and 250 pounds in 2017.
As the Thunderbirds won a share of the Big Sky title, Parker caught 43 passes for 560 yards and five scores. He led the team in receiving touchdowns and finished second in catches and yards.
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2. Charlie Taumoepeau, Portland State
As just a sophomore last year, Taumoepeau became a dominant player in the Big Sky. His 45 receptions for 673 yards and three scores earned him a spot on the All-Conference Second Team. Taumoepeau was named on the 2018 preseason team.
His number of catches was the most by a Portland State tight end since 1988. And talk about making plays when it matters, check out this stat: 37 of his 45 catches were for first downs
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1. Wesley Preece, UC Davis
Keelan Doss racked up the catches and the yards last season for UC Davis, but the sophomore tight end Preece finished the drives. He led the team with nine touchdown catches and finished fifth among all Big Sky players in scoring. Not bad for a 6-foot-5 tight end.
Preece earned All-Big Sky Third Team honors and is on the 2018 preseason all-conference team. He ended the season catching 36 passes for 568 yards.
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NEXT: The Best Traditions in the FCS
