Jan. 5, 2008

Philadelphia, PA --- The Sports Network released the FCS All-America team on Saturday, and while the Bengals did not get anyone on the main three teams, three Idaho State players, punter Dan Zeidman, kick returner JD Ponciano, receiver Eddie Thompson, and center George Yarno all were named Honorable Mention All-America.

The Big Sky Conference was extremely well represented on the list, with four First Team selections, four Second Team selections, and two on the Third Team. Twenty-two Big Sky Conference players earned Honorable Mention honors.

Ironically, only two Bengals earned First Team All-Big Sky honors (Thompson and running back Josh Barnett), and two earned Second Team All-Big Sky honors (Zeidman and Ponciano). Appalachian State, who won their unprecedented third consecutive FCS title, had 16 players, nearly every starter, earn at least an honorable mention nod.

The addition of the honorable mention team means that the four All-American honors for ISU equals the most postseason selections in school history, equaling the four that ISU got in 2002 after their 8-3 conference title-tying season when Jared Allen, Corey Brown, Steve Burch, and Ernie James were all honored by various media outlets.

Zeidman averaged 42.7 yards per kick with 18 punts inside the 20, including a long of 71 yards. Dan ranked ninth in the FCS in punting, and he helped Idaho State to a net of 37.2 yards per punt, ranking sixth nationally.

Thompson caught 83 passes for 907 yards, easily leading the Bengals and ranking eighth nationally in catgches per game and 22nd in yards per game. Thompson also 11.0 yards per punt return with a touchdown.

Ponciano returned back-to-back kickoffs 95 yards for a touchdown against Weber State and then 100 against Montana the next week. He averaged 27.9 yards per return to rank 10th nationally and his two touchdowns tied for second-most this season.

Yarno anchored Idaho State's offensive line, clearing the way for leading rusher Josh Barnett, who became Idaho State's all-time leading rusher during the last game of the season.