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 offensive backs.
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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MORE TOP 5: QB | WR | TE | RB | OL | LB | DB | DL
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5. Jeremy Calhoun, Montana
Calhoun is going to benefit from a new offensive system in 2018 that’s going to emphasize running the ball more than throwing the ball. But for a pass-first Grizzlies team last year, he still put up solid numbers.
Calhoun was an All-Big Sky Honorable Mention performer after starting all 11 games as a junior. He led Montana with 684 yards rushing and seven touchdowns while ranking third in total offense. The California native added 13 catches for 84 yards. Calhoun did miss spring ball rehabbing an injury but is expected to lead the rushing attack again.
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4. Cory Young, Northern Arizona
Young provided a nice balance for an elite NAU passing offense in his first season with the program. After transferring from Boise State, he led the Lumberjacks with 784 rushing yards and eight touchdowns, finishing seventh in the Big Sky with 65.3 yards per game to earn All-Conference Third Team honors.
Young averaged 5.6 yards per carry on 141 attempts as a junior and went over 100 yards twice. He also contributed as another weapon in the passing game for quarterback Case Cookus with 22 catches for 222 yards.
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3. Antoine Custer Jr., Eastern Washington
Custer has started 16 games entering his junior season. He was named on our Sophomore All-American team as an honorable mention and also earned Second Team All-Big Sky honors. Custer finished fifth in the conference with 70.5 rushing yards per game, totaling 776 and 10 touchdowns, which tied for the second most in the Big Sky.
The 5-foot-9, 190-pound back added 21 receptions for 276 yards and two more scores to average 107 all-purpose yards per game. Custer is a big part of the EWU offense looking to run the ball better and was named to the preseason All-Conference team.
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2. James Madison, Idaho State
Madison is the top returning running back in yards per game with 93.3. He’s coming off a First Team All-Conference junior season and was named a preseason All-Big Sky back entering this year. Madison rushed for 933 yards and five touchdowns while also catching 21 passes for 213 yards and one score.
With good size at 5-foot-11 and 227 pounds, he showed he can carry the load with 43 attempts for 253 yards and two touchdowns at Northern Colorado. Idaho State has one of the more high-powered offenses entering 2018 and Madison is key in that.
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1. Joe Protheroe, Cal Poly
Coming off a 2016 season where he earned First Team All-American and All-Conference honors, Protheroe entered his senior season last year with a ton of hype. But after starting the first two games, he was sidelined with a season-ending knee injury.
The fullback is key in Cal Poly’s triple-option offense and Protheroe surpassed 1,000 yards two seasons ago. He's an absolute nightmare to tackle at 5-foot-11 and 230 pounds and looks to bounce back in a strong way in 2018 after using a redshirt. Protheroe was named a preseason all-conference fullback and also made our preseason All-American Third Team.
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NEXT: The Best Traditions in the FCS
