NORTHWEST NOTES: Friday, July 15, 2016
Empire RB Kennedy named IFL
Offensive Rookie of the Year
Spokane Empire running back Trevor Kennedy was named the 2016 Indoor Football League Offensive Rookie of the Year, the league announced.
Kennedy (6-foot, 205 pounds from Mercyhurst), emerged as one of the most explosive playmakers in the IFL, leading the IFL in rushing yards (720), rushing touchdowns (27) and total points scored (237) while missing the final three games due to injury. He finished third in the IFL in all-purpose yards with 1,613.
Kennedy was the only running back to rush for four touchdowns in four different games this season and his 27 rushing touchdowns were the most by any player in the league since 2012. He was also named a first team All-IFL running back at the conclusion of the regular season.
Nebraska defensive back Jabari Gorman was named the Defensive Rookie of the Year. Gorman (6-0, 195, Florida) finished with 125 tackles, seven for loss, seven interceptions and seven pass breakups.
Nebraska plays at Spokane in the Intense Conference Championship game on Sunday at 4 p.m.
WSU quarterback Falk named to
Davey O’Brien Award Watch List
FORT WORTH, Texas — Washington State quarterback Luke Falk was named to the Davey O’Brien Award Watch List, the foundation announced.
Falk is one of 30 quarterbacks named to the watch list for the award, presented annually to the nation’s best college quarterback.
Falk, a redshirt junior, earlier was named to the Maxwell Award Watch List for America’s Player of the Year.
Sixteen semifinalists for the award will be named on Nov. 10. From that list, the Foundation and the Selection Committee will announce the three finalists on Nov. 22.
The winner will be announced on Dec. 8 on The Home Depot College Football Awards.
Marks named to Biletnikoff Award
Preseason Watch List
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Washington State wide receiver Gabe Marks was named to the 2016 Biletnikoff Award Watch List by the Tallahassee Quarterback Club Foundation. The Biletnikoff Award recognizes the nation’s most outstanding receiver each year.
Marks was one of 10 semifinalists last season, earning All-Pac-12 First Team honors and tallied 104 receptions for 1,196 yards and a school-record 15 touchdowns. Marks led the Pac-12 in receptions, touchdown catches and was second in receiving yards while also tallying four 100-yard games.
The 2016 Biletnikoff Award winner will be presented his trophy before 550 patrons at the Biletnikoff Award Banquet at the University Center Club at Doak Campbell Stadium in Tallahassee on Feb. 18, 2017.
EWU men’s hoop team to host
Bryant in Legends Classic
The Eastern Washington men’s basketball team will host Bryant on Nov. 21 and either Seattle or Louisiana-Monroe on Nov. 22 in a four-team subregional round at Reese Court in Cheney as part of its first appearance in the Legends Classic.
The complete pairings for the eight-team field were announced by the Gazelle Group.
The semifinal games of the Cheney subregional will be played on Nov. 21 when Eastern faces Bryant and Seattle takes on ULM. Bryant, located in Smithfield, R.I., finished with an overall record of 8-23 last year and was 5-13 in the Northeast Conference. Louisiana Monroe of the Sun Belt Conference was 20-14 and Seattle of the Western Athletic Conference was 15-17. The championship and consolation games will be held on Nov. 22.
Game times will be announced at a later date.
The Eagles will also play two other preliminary games in the event, which also includes Notre Dame, Texas, Colorado and Northwestern. Eastern’s other games in the Legends Classic are road contests at Northwestern on Nov. 14 and Texas on Nov. 17.