OGDEN, Utah — Montana State defensive end Dane Fletcher was chosen Tuesday as the Big Sky Conference’s defensive player of the year.

Fletcher, a 6-foot-2, 245-pound senior from Bozeman, led the league with 17 tackles for loss in the regular season. His average of 1.89 tackles for loss per game currently ranks second in the nation.

Fletcher had 6.5 quarterback sacks and tallied 66 total tackles. He anchored a defense that ranked first in the league and seventh nationally against the run.

Eastern Washington quarterback Matt Nichols was picked as the league’s offensive player of the year. Nichols rolled up a league-high 3,454 yards of total offense during the regular season. He completed 67 percent of his passes for 3,369 yards with 30 touchdowns and just five interceptions.

Montana put nine players on the first team, including running back Chase Reynolds, receiver Mark Mariani and linebacker Shawn Lebsock.

MSU guard Jeff Hansen, along with Fletcher, was one of six unanimous choices.

Weber State senior running back Trevyn Smith became the third player in the 47-year history of the league to earn first-team honors in four straight seasons.