Rehkow leads Vandals on Sun Belt team

NEW ORLEANS — Idaho senior Austin Rehkow was named to the first team as a punter and placekicker as the Sun Belt Conference announced its 2016 preseason all-conference team and individual awards, chosen by the 11 head coaches and selected media representatives.

Idaho junior quarterback Matt Linehan and senior wide receiver Callen Hightower were named to the second team offense.

New Mexico State running back Larry Rose III was chosen as the Preseason Offensive Player of the Year and Appalachian State linebacker John Law was selected as the Preseason Defensive Player of the Year.

Rose started all 12 games last season for the Aggies and ended the 2015 campaign as the Sun Belt’s Offensive Player of the Year. He was selected to the Associated Press All-America Third Team after leading the league with 1,651 years on 240 attempts. He also scored 14 touchdowns in 2015 which was second amongst running backs in the Sun Belt. His 1,000-plus yard effort in 2015 marked the first time since 1998 that the Aggies have had a runner rush for over 1,000-yards in back-to-back seasons.

Law was second on the Mountaineer defense with 72 stops and four sacks in 2015. Law currently ranks third among active Mountaineers with six career interceptions. He is the Mountaineers team leader and was a team captain in 2015.

Law was a preseason selection in 2015 and was named to the All-Sun Belt First Team in 2015.

Arkansas State led all teams with 12 total selections on the preseason first and second teams. The Mountaineers and Georgia Southern each placed four on the first team. UL Lafayette had a total of seven between the two teams, one on the first team and six on the second team. The Mountaineers finished with six total selections between the two teams.