FARMINGTON, Utah — The Big Sky Conference has released its preseason All-Conference team and two Eagles landed on the list.
Jaylon Jenkins and
Isaiah Perez earned the preseason recognition from the conference, announced today.
The two Eagles earned Big Sky All-Conference awards last season, with Jenkins earning first-team honors and Perez picking up an honorable mention.
Jenkins had a breakout season in 2025, picking off five passes and recording 13 total passes defended. He was tied for fifth in the FCS and second in the Big Sky in total interceptions, while ranking 16th in the nation and second in the conference in passes defended.
Out of the safety spot, Jenkins notched 52 total tackles, including two for a loss and 39 solo last season. He ranked fourth on the Eagles in tackles.
Jenkins is stacking up the recognition, earning preseason All-American from Stats Perform and FCS Central. The Federal Way, Wash. native also was named to the Buck Buchanan preseason watch list.
In his career, Jenkins has played in 24 games and made 68 total tackles.
Perez had a record-breaking season in 2025, setting the EWU single-season record with four blocked kicks - three field goals and one extra point.
The Othello, Wash. native was the Eastern sack leader, finishing with 4.0 during the season and ranking 15th in the Big Sky. Perez accounted for 41 tackles, making 19 solo and good for fifth on the team. He had 5.0 tackles for a loss, along with three quarterback hurries and two pass breakups.
The redshirt-senior has played in 35 games as an Eagle, making 89 total tackles and 6.0 career sacks.
2026 Big Sky Football Preseason MVPs
Offensive: Eli Gillman, RB, Montana
Defensive: Caden Dowler, DB, Montana State
2026 Big Sky Football Preseason All-Conference Team
QB: Justin Lamson, Montana State%
RB: Eli Gillman, Montana*%
RB: Adam Jones, Montana State*%
WR: Sam Gbatu, Jr., UC Davis*%
WR: Taco Dowler, Montana State*%
WR: Chedon James, Idaho State
TE: Winston Williams, UC Davis*
TE: Jeter Purdy, Northern Arizona
OL: Titan Fleischmann, Montana State*%
OL: Stryker Rashid, Idaho State*%
OL: Zaire Collier, UC Davis%
OL: Jack Ziebell, Northern Colorado%
OL: Braden Zimmer, Montana State
OL: Burke Mastel, Montana State%
DL: Zac Crews, Montana State
DL: Isaiah Perez, Eastern Washington%
DL: Bronson Childs, Idaho State
DL: Jake Mason, Montana%
DL: Ezra Ekuban, Northern Colorado
DL: Rayne Mayo Jr., UC Davis
LB: Mikey D'Amato, Cal Poly%
LB: Peyton Wing, Montana*%
LB: Kenny Olson, Cal Poly%
LB: Cole Taylor, Montana State%
LB: Porter Connors, UC Davis*
DB: Rex Connors, UC Davis*
DB: Caden Dowler, Montana State%
DB: Jaylon Jenkins, Eastern Washington%
DB: Tayden Gray, Montana State%
DB: Drew Cofield, UC Davis%
DB: Shoes Brinkley, Northern Arizona
PK: Myles Sansted, Montana State
P: Ryan Marks, Utah Tech
KR: Jabez Woods, Montana State
PR: Taco Dowler, Montana State*%
LS: Maddox Broughton, Northern Colorado%
ST: Brayden Rice, Idaho%
AP: Taco Dowler, Montana State
* - 2025 Big Sky Football Preseason Honoree
% - 2025 Big Sky Football Postseason All-Conference Honoree
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ABOUT EASTERN WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS
Eastern Washington University Athletics sponsors 14 intercollegiate sports, six for men and eight for women, both as learning opportunities for its most athletically talented students and as an enhancement to student and community life. Eastern is affiliated with Division I of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and is a member of the Big Sky Conference, an association of 10 regional schools with comparable enrollments and academic goals.
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