Five Mustangs Earn Big Sky All-Conference Honors
11/27/2024 9:30:00 AM | Football
SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. — Led by redshirt senior defensive end Elijah Ponder being named First Team All-Big Sky Defense, a total of five Cal Poly football players earned Big Sky All-Conference honors, the program’s most since 2019.
In addition to Ponder, redshirt sophomore safety Mason Rivera was named Second Team All-Big Sky Defense, redshirt senior wide receiver Giancarlo Woods earned All-Big Sky Honorable Mention Offense, redshirt senior defensive lineman Ethan Rodriguez earned All-Big Sky Honorable Mention Defense, and redshirt senior safety Jeremy Justice earned All-Big Sky Honorable Mention Specialists.
Elijah Ponder
First Team All-Big Sky Defense
Ponder wrapped up a legendary Cal Poly career this season and will go down as one of the best defensive players in Cal Poly football history. He is the second player in program to earn at least two First Team All-Big Sky selections.
This season, Ponder led the Mustangs in sacks, tackles for loss, and quarterback hurries for the second straight season. His seven sacks ranked fourth in the Big Sky while his 12.5 tackles for loss were fifth most in the Big Sky.
Ponder ends his Cal Poly career ranked third in Cal Poly history with 27 sacks, first in quarterback hurries with 44, and fifth in tackles for loss with 43.5. He was also a four-time All-Big Sky honoree, earning Honorable Mention honors twice and First Team honors twice. One of the top FCS NFL prospects in the country, Ponder will seek to become Cal Poly’s first player taken in the NFL draft since 2012 this upcoming April.
Elijah Ponder could be nice day 3 fcs sleeper for us at edge. only have this game from him but he was balling ?? pic.twitter.com/VXN6fO23es
— Carolina Pa(i)nthers (@CAR_Painthers) October 29, 2024
Elijah Ponder tied a @calpolyfootball record with 17 QB hurries on top of 10 sks and 13 TFL during his All American season. He’s got a great first step and can manipulate his push/pull moves to keep tackles off balanced before deploying slashing burst to pursue into the pocket pic.twitter.com/sknMv6zehO
— Shane Coughlin (@Shane__Coughlin) July 23, 2024
Mason Rivera
All-Big Sky Second Team Defense
Rivera had a breakout season in 2024 to earn his first All-Conference honor. Rivera, who came to Cal Poly as a walk on originally, led the team in total tackles with 82, ranking 13th in the Big Sky. He also tied for the team lead in forced fumbles with three, which was also tied for the most in the Big Sky, as well as tying for the team lead in pass breakups with five.
Rivera was also third on the team in tackles for loss with six. He also had one sack, one interception, and one fumble recovery on the season.
Nice shots from Mason Rivera's pick??#RideHigh pic.twitter.com/kNBKQHHNP3
— Cal Poly Football (@calpolyfootball) November 2, 2024
Giancarlo Woods
All-Big Sky Honorable Mention Offense
Woods was Cal Poly’s leading receiver for the second straight season, earning him his first All-Conference honor of his career. His 51 receptions ranked 10th most in the Big Sky while his 60 receiving yards per game ranked 12th in the Big Sky, and his 661 receiving yards for the season ranked 12th in the Big Sky. Woods also finished the season with four receiving touchdowns.
Woods ends his career with 138 career receptions, which is the fourth most in program history. His 1,643 career receiving yards puts him ninth in program history. He caught 11 career touchdown passes which ranks tied for ninth in program history. He also ranks ninth for career receptions per game at 3.5.
Bo Kelly connects with Giancarlo Woods on a two-yard fade route for the first Mustang touchdown of 2024!#RideHigh pic.twitter.com/o6UMOJTWLy
— Cal Poly Football (@calpolyfootball) September 1, 2024
Ethan Rodriguez, All-Big Sky Honorable Mention Defense
Jeremy Justice, All-Big Sky Honorable Mention Special Teams
Playing his first full season in his four years on campus, Rodriguez had a strong year on the defensive line to earn Honorable Mention All-Big Sky honors. He was second on the team in tackles for loss with 9.5, tied for second on the team in sacks with three, and second in quarterback hurries with five. He also had 26 total tackles, one forced fumble, a blocked kick, and a pass breakup.
Justice earned Honorable Mention All-Big Sky Specialists honors for his strong performance on both kickoff and punt coverage. Justice had 17 total tackles on the season, the majority of those coming on special teams.
The Big Sky All-Conference team and individual award winners were selected by all 12 head football coaches. Coaches were not allowed to vote for their own players. Big Sky champion Montana State took home four of the five major awards.
