No surprises here;
Cooper Kupp - Freshman of the year
Vernon Adams - Offensive player of the year
Congratulations guys you make us all proud!
EWU's Adams, Kupp Lead 2013 All-Conference Football Team
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11/26/2013 2:15:23 PM
2013 Football Yearly Awards
PDF of Release
OGDEN, Utah (Nov. 26, 2013) - A duo of record-breaking Eastern Washington Eagles earned major hardware, and were the only unanimous selections to the 2013 Big Sky All-Conference football team.
The All-Conference teams and individual award winners were selected by the 13 league head coaches Monday, and released by the league office Tuesday.
Eastern Washington sophomore quarterback Vernon Adams was voted as the Offensive MVP, while Eagle wide receiver Cooper Kupp became the recipient of the first Freshman of the Year honor. The two were unanimously selected to the All-Conference First Team. Kupp was an unanimous selection for Freshman of the Year.
Montana State senior defensive end Brad Daly and Cal Poly senior defensive tackle Sullivan Grosz were named Co-Defensive MVP.
UC Davis running back Gabe Manzanarez was named the Newcomer of the Year.
Previously, the league only honored a Newcomer of the Year, which went to either a freshman or a transfer. A separate Freshman of the Year honor was added this season. The conference is also recognizing three All-Conference squads for the first time.
Northern Arizona senior running back Zach Bauman and Eastern Washington senior cornerback TJ Lee III were both selected to the First Team for the third straight season.
Six other players were named First Team for the second straight season: North Dakota wide receiver Greg Hardin, Montana offensive tackle Danny Kistler, Montana defensive end Zack Wagenmann, Montana linebacker Jordan Tripp, Northern Arizona cornerback Anders Battle, and Northern Arizona safety Lucky Dozier.
League champion Eastern Washington and second-place Northern Arizona both placed five players on the First Team. Montana and Cal Poly each saw four of its players named to the First Team. In all, nine of the 13 conferences teams had at least one player selected to the First Team.
Adams, a 6-foot, 190-pound sophomore from Pasadena, Calif., is a leading candidate for the Walter Payton Award. He finished the regular season tops the nation in pass efficiency (185.7) and total offense (379.2 yards per game). He has already set single-season Big Sky records with 46 passing touchdowns and 4,550 yards of total offense. He enters the playoffs with 4,059 passing yards, which ranks fourth in conference single-season history.
"I don't want to take anything away from players like Eric Meyer, Matt Nichols, and Bo Levi Mitchell, but Vernon's season this year is the best I've seen since I've been a college football coach,'' said Eastern Washington head coach Beau Baldwin.
Kupp, a 6-2, 195-pound redshirt freshman from Yakima, Wash., has set a number of FCS freshman records through the first 12 games of his college career. He leads the nation with 18 TD catches, one shy of the FCS single-season freshman record and two shy of the Big Sky single-season record. He has caught a TD pass in all 12 games, an FCS record. He enters the playoffs with 77 catches for 1,378 yards. His 1,378 yards are second in the nation and are a FCS record for freshmen. His 77 catches are four shy of the FCS freshman record. He is a leading candidate for the Jerry Rice Award, given annually to the top freshman in the nation.
"It was unanimous with the coaches in the conference, and deservingly so,'' Baldwin said. "In a conference rich with receiver talent, he was the best as a freshman. He is the best receiver in this conference – not just the best freshman – and he was in the top three or four nationally in terms of what he's done statistically.''
Daly, a 6-1, 240-pound senior from Helena, Mont., leads the nation in sacks with 14 and tackles for loss with 20.5. Daly is the second straight Montana State player to win Defensive MVP, following linebacker Jody Owens in 2012. Daly also has 68 total tackles, seven quarterback hurries, two forced fumbles, two blocked kicks and an interception.
Grosz, a 6-4, 295-pound senior from Fresno, Calif., was a force in the middle for one of the league's top defenses. He had 71 total tackles – 13.5 for loss – eight sacks, five quarterback hurries, a forced fumble and an interception. He is the first Cal Poly player to win an individual award since the Mustangs joined the Big Sky in 2012.
Manzanares arrived at UC Davis prior to the season as a walk-on after transferring from City College of San Francisco. After a slow start, the 5-9, 195-pound junior from San Francisco, picked up steam and never slowed down. In 11 regular season games, he rushed for 1,285 yards and 12 touchdowns. In eight conference games, he averaged 140.2 rushing yards per game. He rushed for at least 100 yards in his final five games, and seven of his final eight.
Bauman and Lee, the two three-time First Team Players, have been leaders at their programs throughout their careers. Bauman, a senior from Chandler, Ariz., rushed for 1,000 yards for the fourth straight season. He ranks third all-time in league history in rushing yards with 5,031. He averaged 122.3 rushing yards per game and 148.4 all-purpose yards per game. Lee, a senior from Seattle, Wash., who played corner and safety this season, tallied 89 total tackles, four forced fumbles 10 pass breakups and an interception.
Lee, Kupp and Adams were joined on the first team by teammates Ashton Miller (Center) and Senior Bo Schutzle, who was named as the special teams player.
Battle, Dozier and Bauman were three of the five Northern Arizona Lumberjacks tabbed to the First Team. Defensive Tackle Tim Wilkinson and tight end RJ Rickert also made the unit.
Montana, which finished third in the Big Sky placed Tripp, and fellow senior outside linebacker J.P. Kanongata'a on the First Team, as well as Kistler at offensive tackle, and Wagenmann at defensive end.
Southern Utah's senior Colton Cook was honored as the First Team Kicker. Sophomore inside linebacker Zak Browning of the playoff-bound Thunderbirds was also named to the First Team.
Sacramento State placed three players on the First Team: junior wide receiver DeAndre Carter, senior offensive guard Tyler Worthley, and senior inside linebacker Todd Davis, who leads the Big Sky in total tackles with 131.
Portland State was represented on the first team by senior running back DJ Adams, who rushed for 1,600 yards and a league-high 19 touchdowns, offensive tackle Mitchell Van Dyk, and punter Kyle Loomis, who leads the nation in punting.
Cal Poly guard Lefi Letuligasenoa, fullback Akaninyene Umoh, and safety Alex Hubbard joined Grosz on the First Team.
Montana State junior Shawn Johnson was named the First Team Return Specialist.
Individual Award
Winners
Offensive Player of the Year
Vernon Adams, So., QB, Eastern Washington
Co-Defensive Player of the Year
Sullivan Grosz, Sr., DT, Cal Poly
Brad Daly, Sr., DE, Montana State
Newcomer of the Year
Gabe Manzanares, Jr., RB, UC Davis
Freshman of the Year
Cooper Kupp, Fr., Eastern Washington
Three-Time
First Team Selections
Zach Bauman, RB, Northern Arizona
T.J. Lee III, CB, Eastern Washington
Two-Time
First Team Selections
Greg Hardin, WR, North Dakota
Danny Kistler, OT, Montana
Zack Wagenmann, DE, Montana,
Jordan Tripp, LB, Montana, LB
Anders Battle, CB, Northern Arizona, CB
Lucky Dozier, S, Northern Arizona S
Unanimous Selections
Vernon Adams, QB, Eastern Washington
Cooper Kupp, WR, Eastern Washington
Cooper Kupp - Freshman of the year
Vernon Adams - Offensive player of the year
Congratulations guys you make us all proud!
EWU's Adams, Kupp Lead 2013 All-Conference Football Team
Bookmark and Share
11/26/2013 2:15:23 PM
2013 Football Yearly Awards
PDF of Release
OGDEN, Utah (Nov. 26, 2013) - A duo of record-breaking Eastern Washington Eagles earned major hardware, and were the only unanimous selections to the 2013 Big Sky All-Conference football team.
The All-Conference teams and individual award winners were selected by the 13 league head coaches Monday, and released by the league office Tuesday.
Eastern Washington sophomore quarterback Vernon Adams was voted as the Offensive MVP, while Eagle wide receiver Cooper Kupp became the recipient of the first Freshman of the Year honor. The two were unanimously selected to the All-Conference First Team. Kupp was an unanimous selection for Freshman of the Year.
Montana State senior defensive end Brad Daly and Cal Poly senior defensive tackle Sullivan Grosz were named Co-Defensive MVP.
UC Davis running back Gabe Manzanarez was named the Newcomer of the Year.
Previously, the league only honored a Newcomer of the Year, which went to either a freshman or a transfer. A separate Freshman of the Year honor was added this season. The conference is also recognizing three All-Conference squads for the first time.
Northern Arizona senior running back Zach Bauman and Eastern Washington senior cornerback TJ Lee III were both selected to the First Team for the third straight season.
Six other players were named First Team for the second straight season: North Dakota wide receiver Greg Hardin, Montana offensive tackle Danny Kistler, Montana defensive end Zack Wagenmann, Montana linebacker Jordan Tripp, Northern Arizona cornerback Anders Battle, and Northern Arizona safety Lucky Dozier.
League champion Eastern Washington and second-place Northern Arizona both placed five players on the First Team. Montana and Cal Poly each saw four of its players named to the First Team. In all, nine of the 13 conferences teams had at least one player selected to the First Team.
Adams, a 6-foot, 190-pound sophomore from Pasadena, Calif., is a leading candidate for the Walter Payton Award. He finished the regular season tops the nation in pass efficiency (185.7) and total offense (379.2 yards per game). He has already set single-season Big Sky records with 46 passing touchdowns and 4,550 yards of total offense. He enters the playoffs with 4,059 passing yards, which ranks fourth in conference single-season history.
"I don't want to take anything away from players like Eric Meyer, Matt Nichols, and Bo Levi Mitchell, but Vernon's season this year is the best I've seen since I've been a college football coach,'' said Eastern Washington head coach Beau Baldwin.
Kupp, a 6-2, 195-pound redshirt freshman from Yakima, Wash., has set a number of FCS freshman records through the first 12 games of his college career. He leads the nation with 18 TD catches, one shy of the FCS single-season freshman record and two shy of the Big Sky single-season record. He has caught a TD pass in all 12 games, an FCS record. He enters the playoffs with 77 catches for 1,378 yards. His 1,378 yards are second in the nation and are a FCS record for freshmen. His 77 catches are four shy of the FCS freshman record. He is a leading candidate for the Jerry Rice Award, given annually to the top freshman in the nation.
"It was unanimous with the coaches in the conference, and deservingly so,'' Baldwin said. "In a conference rich with receiver talent, he was the best as a freshman. He is the best receiver in this conference – not just the best freshman – and he was in the top three or four nationally in terms of what he's done statistically.''
Daly, a 6-1, 240-pound senior from Helena, Mont., leads the nation in sacks with 14 and tackles for loss with 20.5. Daly is the second straight Montana State player to win Defensive MVP, following linebacker Jody Owens in 2012. Daly also has 68 total tackles, seven quarterback hurries, two forced fumbles, two blocked kicks and an interception.
Grosz, a 6-4, 295-pound senior from Fresno, Calif., was a force in the middle for one of the league's top defenses. He had 71 total tackles – 13.5 for loss – eight sacks, five quarterback hurries, a forced fumble and an interception. He is the first Cal Poly player to win an individual award since the Mustangs joined the Big Sky in 2012.
Manzanares arrived at UC Davis prior to the season as a walk-on after transferring from City College of San Francisco. After a slow start, the 5-9, 195-pound junior from San Francisco, picked up steam and never slowed down. In 11 regular season games, he rushed for 1,285 yards and 12 touchdowns. In eight conference games, he averaged 140.2 rushing yards per game. He rushed for at least 100 yards in his final five games, and seven of his final eight.
Bauman and Lee, the two three-time First Team Players, have been leaders at their programs throughout their careers. Bauman, a senior from Chandler, Ariz., rushed for 1,000 yards for the fourth straight season. He ranks third all-time in league history in rushing yards with 5,031. He averaged 122.3 rushing yards per game and 148.4 all-purpose yards per game. Lee, a senior from Seattle, Wash., who played corner and safety this season, tallied 89 total tackles, four forced fumbles 10 pass breakups and an interception.
Lee, Kupp and Adams were joined on the first team by teammates Ashton Miller (Center) and Senior Bo Schutzle, who was named as the special teams player.
Battle, Dozier and Bauman were three of the five Northern Arizona Lumberjacks tabbed to the First Team. Defensive Tackle Tim Wilkinson and tight end RJ Rickert also made the unit.
Montana, which finished third in the Big Sky placed Tripp, and fellow senior outside linebacker J.P. Kanongata'a on the First Team, as well as Kistler at offensive tackle, and Wagenmann at defensive end.
Southern Utah's senior Colton Cook was honored as the First Team Kicker. Sophomore inside linebacker Zak Browning of the playoff-bound Thunderbirds was also named to the First Team.
Sacramento State placed three players on the First Team: junior wide receiver DeAndre Carter, senior offensive guard Tyler Worthley, and senior inside linebacker Todd Davis, who leads the Big Sky in total tackles with 131.
Portland State was represented on the first team by senior running back DJ Adams, who rushed for 1,600 yards and a league-high 19 touchdowns, offensive tackle Mitchell Van Dyk, and punter Kyle Loomis, who leads the nation in punting.
Cal Poly guard Lefi Letuligasenoa, fullback Akaninyene Umoh, and safety Alex Hubbard joined Grosz on the First Team.
Montana State junior Shawn Johnson was named the First Team Return Specialist.
Individual Award
Winners
Offensive Player of the Year
Vernon Adams, So., QB, Eastern Washington
Co-Defensive Player of the Year
Sullivan Grosz, Sr., DT, Cal Poly
Brad Daly, Sr., DE, Montana State
Newcomer of the Year
Gabe Manzanares, Jr., RB, UC Davis
Freshman of the Year
Cooper Kupp, Fr., Eastern Washington
Three-Time
First Team Selections
Zach Bauman, RB, Northern Arizona
T.J. Lee III, CB, Eastern Washington
Two-Time
First Team Selections
Greg Hardin, WR, North Dakota
Danny Kistler, OT, Montana
Zack Wagenmann, DE, Montana,
Jordan Tripp, LB, Montana, LB
Anders Battle, CB, Northern Arizona, CB
Lucky Dozier, S, Northern Arizona S
Unanimous Selections
Vernon Adams, QB, Eastern Washington
Cooper Kupp, WR, Eastern Washington
