NORTHWEST NOTES Nov. 24, 2016

Eastern’s Kupp, Gubrud share

Big Sky Offensive

Player of the Year

For the first time in Big Sky Conference history, two players from the same team have been selected by the coaches as Offensive Players of the Year, as Eastern Washington sophomore quarterback Gage Gubrud and senior wide receiver Cooper Kupp were honored by the league office.

Both were unanimous selections as first team selections in the league, with Kupp also becoming just the fourth player in league history to earn first team all four seasons. Eastern had a league-high seven players selected to the first team — including four players on EWU’s resurgent defense — and a total of 13 players overall were honored.

The reigning Payton Award winner and Offensive Player of the Year in the NCAA Football Championship Subdivision, Kupp repeated as MVP after catching 91 passes for 1,297 yards and 12 touchdowns. Gubrud took over as EWU’s starting quarterback this season and passed for 4,071 yards and 40 touchdowns, and was the team’s leading rusher with 463 yards and four more scores.

Kupp is the first wide receiver and just the fourth player overall in the 54-year history of the Big Sky Conference to earn first team All-Big Sky honors four seasons. The others are Weber State’s Trevyn Smith (RB 2006-09), Weber State’s Scott Shields (kicker 1995-97, punter 1996, strong safety 1998) and Charvez Foger (RB 1985-88).

Montana redshirt freshman wide receiver and former Lake City High standout Jerry Louie-McGee was an honorable mention.

For a full list, visit www.bigskyconf.com.

WSU guard O’Connell named

Outland Trophy finalist

DALLAS — Washington State left guard Cody O’Connell was named a finalist for the Outland Trophy, the Football Writers Association of America announced.

The Outland Trophy is presented to the best interior lineman in college football on offense or defense since 1946. He is joined by Ohio State center Pat Elflein and Alabama offensive tackle Cam Robinson. O’Connell, a redshirt junior from Wenatchee, Wash., is the first Cougars Outland Trophy finalist since defensive lineman Rien Long won the award in 2002. O’Connell has started 10 games at left guard for the Cougars, and helped protect for the nation’s second-rated passing offensive (380 yards) and blocked for a rushing attack that owns seven 100-yard efforts, including three 200-yard performances. Washington State’s rushing offense has improved from 80.1 yards per game to 132.5 in 2016.

O’Connell, nicknamed “The Continent” by coach Mike Leach, was named to the Midseason All-American First Team by FOX Sports and CBSSports.com and to the Midseason All-America Second Team by SportsIllustrated. Most recently, he was ranked second nationally among guards and best in the country as a pass-blocker by Pro Football Focus.

The winner of the 2016 Outland Trophy will be announced Thurs., Dec. 8 on The Home Depot College Football Awards on ESPN, the main show beginning at 4 p.m. PST, from the National Football Foundation’s College Football Hall of Fame in Atlanta.