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Ogden • Southern Utah quarterback Ammon Olsen has been named the Big Sky Conference's Newcomer of the Year, the league announced Tuesday.
Olsen, who attended Alta High School and was the state's 5A MVP in 2008, started the season as a backup. But he ended up throwing for 3,034 yards and 21 touchdowns for the Thunderbirds.
A junior, Olsen began his college career at Southern Utah and transferred to BYU before returning to the Thunderbirds last winter.
The Big Sky also announced its all-conference teams.
Southern Utah defensive end James Cowser was named to the first team. A junior from Davis High School, he set a league record with 29 tackles-for-loss. He also had 11.5 sacks.
Two players from Southern Utah and one from Weber State were named to the all-Big Sky second team. The group includes SUU sophomore linebacker Chinedu Ahanonu, Thunderbird junior safety Miles Killebrew and WSU senior receiver Shaydon Kehano.
The conference's other top individual honors went to Eastern Washington quarterback Vernon Adams (Offensive Player of the Year), Montana State end Zack Wagenmann (Defensive Player of the Year) and Idaho State linebacker Mario Jenkins (Freshman of the Year).