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Minshew named

Lombardi Award finalist

HOUSTON — Washington State quarterback Gardner Minshew was named one of seven finalists for the 2018 Lombardi Award, the Lombardi Honors announced recently.

The Lombardi Award is presented annually to a NCAA Division I football player, regardless of position, based on performance and leadership honed by character and resiliency. The award will be presented Jan. 25 in Houston.

Minshew joined the Cougars as a graduate transfer from East Carolina and led WSU to its first 11-win season in program history, capped by a win over Iowa State in the Alamo Bowl. Minshew II adds another accolade to already impressive senior season, winning the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award (top senior or fourth-year junior QB) and was named the Pac-12 Conference Offensive Player of the Year along with a spot on the All-Pac-12 First Team.

Minshew led the country in passing yards per game (367.6), 300-yard games (11), 400-yard games (six), was second in passing yards (4,779) and total offense (376.8), and was fourth in touchdown passes (38). Minshew II set Pac-12 single-season records for passing yards and completions and set the WSU single-season record in total offense and tied the record for touchdown passes. The graduate senior from Brandon, Miss., also rushed for four touchdowns and led three fourth quarter game-winning drives (Utah, at Stanford, California).

Minshew II was also a finalist for the Walter Camp Player of the Year, the Davey O’Brien Award (nation’s top quarterback) and the Manning Award (nation’s top quarterback after the bowl season).

Oregon State transfer Wilson

to join Vandal men

MOSCOW — Idaho men’s basketball coach, Don Verlin announced the signing of Jack Wilson as a mid-season transfer from Oregon State.

Wilson will sit out the next two semesters due to NCAA transfer rules, and have three seasons of eligibility remaining.

“We are very excited to add Jack to our program,” Verlin said. “Through his high school career he demonstrated the ability to have success both on the court, and in the classroom. Jack is the type of high character young man that we are enthused about adding to our Idaho program.”

Wilson was a four-star recruit by ESPN out of high school. He averaged 16.2 points, 10.4 rebounds and 1.5 blocks per game as a junior at Junipero Sierra High School in San Mateo, Calif., and played in the NorCal Clash All-Star Game. He was also twice named to the WCAL All-League Team, as a sophomore and a junior.

A 7-foot, 255-pound center, he began the year at Oregon State before withdrawing from school at the winter break. Wilson appeared in seven contests, averaging 2.9 minutes per game.