Sun Belt football coaches pick Idaho to finish 10th

The University of Idaho football team didn’t get much love from Sun Belt Conference coaches, but senior center Mike Marboe and sophomore punter Austin Rehkow (Central Valley) earned first-team preseason all-Sun Belt recognition in a vote by league coaches.

Senior defensive end Maxx Forde is on the second team.

The Vandals have been picked by the coaches to finish 9th in the 11-team league. Louisiana-Lafayette was the leading vote-getter with all 11 first-place votes and 121 points in the poll. The Ragin’ Cajuns were 9-4 overall and 5-2 in the league last year.

Arkansas State was selected second followed by South Alabama, Troy, UL-Monroe, Texas State, Appalachian State and Georgia Southern. Georgia State was picked 10th and New Mexico State last.

Marboe is a three-year member of the Rimington Award Watch List and has 36 successive starts at center. His successive starts at center are fourth among the nation’s active offensive linemen.

Rekhow led the nation in punting in 2013 at 47.8 yards per kick. He was a Walter Camp All-American after a season during which he set the NCAA freshman record for punting.

The Vandals open fall camp on Aug. 4, with their first practice at 6 p.m. They kick off the season on Aug. 30 at The Swamp against Florida.