Idaho State quarterback Tanner Gueller has been named to the preseason watch list for the College Football Performance Awards (CFPA) FCS National Performer of the Year Trophy. The Big Sky Conference announced the news Wednesday in a press release.

The CFPA defines its purpose on its website as: “to provide the most scientifically rigorous conferments in college football. Recipients are selected exclusively based upon objective scientific rankings of the extent to which individual players increase the overall effectiveness of their teams.” Previous players from the Big Sky Conference to win a CFPA award, which honor all positions, include Northern Arizona quarterback Case Cookus, former Eastern Washington wide receiver Cooper Kupp, former Montana defensive end Tyrone Holmes and former Southern Utah linebacker Mike Needham, among others.

Gueller had the best season of his ISU career in 2017, passing for 2,754 yards, 22 touchdowns and nine interceptions. The 6-foot-3, 235-pound redshirt senior also rushed for 107 yards and one score and caught one pass for 8 yards.

Gueller’s 289 career yards rushing are the most by a Bengals quarterback this decade.

Joining Gueller as Big Sky players named to the preseason watch list are Cookus, Eastern Washington quarterback Gage Gubrud, Sacramento State quarterback Kevin Thomson, UC Davis quarterback Jake Maier and UC Davis wide receiver Keelan Doss. The winner is announced Jan. 9, 2019.