NCAA punting leader Austin Rehkow and receiver Josh McCain were Idaho’s representatives on the All-Sun Belt Conference first team announced Wednesday.

Senior center Mike Marboe earned second-team honors, while freshman guard Jordan Rose, a Freeman graduate, was named to the all-newcomer team.

Rehkow is in Orlando, Florida, for tonight’s Home Depot College Football Awards Show as a finalist for the Ray Guy Award, honoring the nation’s best collegiate punter. The sophomore from Central Valley High School in Spokane led the nation for the second straight year with a 47.8-yard average. Nineteen of his 44 punts traveled 50 yards or more.

Earning honorable mention for the Vandals were three juniors – defensive end Quinton Bradley, linebacker Marc Millan and running back Elijhaa Penny – and freshman quarterback Matt Linehan.

Louisiana-Lafayette running back Elijah McGuire was named the league’s player of the year, and Willie Fritz of Sun Belt champion Georgia Southern was coach of the year.

Chalich has options

Chad Chalich, who led Idaho to its only two victories of the last two seasons, has been granted permission by the school to contact Montana, Idaho State and Sacramento State about a possible transfer, as reported by the Argonaut, UI’s student newspaper.

Athletic director Rob Spear said the sophomore from Coeur d’Alene has not been released from his scholarship but would receive a release to those schools.

Chalich would be immediately eligible and have two seasons of eligibility remaining should he transfer to a Football Championship Subdivision school.