CALDWELL, Idaho – The College of Idaho football program was well represented on the 2025 Victory Sports Network NAIA Football All-American teams, with seven Yotes earning national recognition following an 11-2 season and an undefeated 6-0 mark in Frontier Conference West play.
Offensive lineman Ashton Patterson headlined the list with VSN First Team All-American honors. Patterson anchored a College of Idaho offensive line that powered one of the NAIA's most efficient and balanced offenses. The Yotes averaged 410.8 yards of total offense per game, including 217.3 rushing yards per contest, while controlling possession for more than 34 minutes per game. College of Idaho rushed for 2,825 net yards and 28 touchdowns, averaged 5.3 yards per carry, and converted nearly 43 percent of its third-down attempts.
Rylie Byington earned VSN Second Team All-American recognition at running back after finishing the season top-10 nationally in rushing yards. Byington totaled 1,203 yards on 224 carries, averaged 5.4 yards per rush, and scored 16 rushing touchdowns. He added 19 receptions for 208 yards and two touchdowns, giving him 18 total scores on the season. Byington recorded four 100-yard rushing performances, highlighted by a 198-yard outing at Carroll and a 145-yard, four-touchdown performance at Montana Tech during the NAIA Football Championship Series.
Defensive back Tanner Steele was selected to the VSN Third Team All-American squad after a strong season in the secondary. Steele finished with 82 total tackles, including 52 solo stops, added 2.0 tackles for loss, recorded one interception, and broke up 15 passes. He was named the defensive player of the game in the NAIA Quarterfinal round and helped the Yotes advance to the national semifinals.
College of Idaho also placed four players on the VSN Honorable Mention All-American list. Nathan McClelland earned recognition on the offensive line, Travis Marieiro was honored at wide receiver, while Dee'Shon Swafford and Tucker French received honorable mention honors on the defensive side of the ball.
The VSN NAIA Football All-American teams are compiled by Victory Sports Network editor Jason Dannelly, with nominations drawn from first-team all-conference selections and input from coaches, sports information directors and media members across the NAIA.
The seven All-America honors reflect the Yotes' success on both sides of the ball during the 2025 season, which concluded with a run to the NAIA national semifinals.
