Cougars Face Road Test Friday at Houston on ESPN

No. 20 COUGARS FACE ROAD TEST at HOUSTON FRIDAY ON ESPN
No. 20 Washington State (2-0, 0-0 Pac-12) hits the road for the first time in 2019, heading to Houston (1-1, 0-0 American) for the AdvoCare Texas Kickoff to face the University of Houston. Kickoff is set for 6:15 p.m. (PT), Friday on ESPN from the Houston Texans' NRG Stadium.

SERIES HISTORY
WSU and Houston will meet for the fourth time in program history and first time since the 1988 Aloha Bowl, a 24-22 win for Washington State. The first two meetings were both played in Houston, a 32-18 WSU win in 1959 and a 21-7 victory for UH in 1966. Houston is scheduled to make the trip to Martin Stadium early next season.

COLLEGE GAMEDAY RECORD
Dating back to the middle of the 2003 season, ESPN's College GameDay has had the WSU flag appear throughout the show. The first appearance came Oct. 4, 2003 in Austin, Texas and the streak began two weeks later in Madison, Wisc. (10/18/03). Two flags – Ol' Crimson and Gray – have been flown in the background of the GameDay set by dozens of friends and alumni. The Gray flag was added in 2014 after Whitey was retired in honor of Steve Gleason's "No White Flags." In addition to the flags that fly, there is a traveling flag signed by the holders after each episode. The traveling flag is retired after each season, the first is hanging in WSU's Alumni Center. The streak's 217th appearance was its first in Pullman (10/20/18), a 34-20 win over Oregon. The streak reached 228 last Saturday after appearing in Austin for the LSU-Texas game.

ABOUT WASHINGTON STATE
WSU entered the week ranked No. 20 in the Associated Press Poll after season-opening home wins over New Mexico State and Northern Colorado. The Cougars came into 2019 with 40 returning lettermen including seven starters on offense, five on defense and two on special teams. WSU produced a record-setting 2018 campaign, setting the WSU record with 11 wins capped by a victory over Iowa State in the Valero Alamo Bowl. The Cougars produced the nation's best passing attack (373.8 ypg) and the No. 42-ranked defense in the country (358.4 ypg) that led the Pac-12 Conference in sacks (36). Head coach Mike Leach is in his eighth season at Washington State.

COUGAR QUICK GAME
TEAM
•  WSU has started 2-0 for the third straight season, is seeking its third straight 3-0 start
•  WSU set a program record with 11 wins in 2018, WSU's fifth 10-win season in program history
•  WSU owns 26 Pac-12 wins since 2015, 2nd-most among all Pac-12 schools during that span (Stan & UW - 27)
•  WSU is the only Pac-12 team with four shutouts in the last six seasons (Stanford and Washington with 2)
•  WSU has beaten Oregon four straight years for the first time since 1981-84
•  WSU has beaten Stanford three straight years for the first time since 2001-03
•  WSU has produced an All-America offensive lineman in each of the last 4 seasons
•  WSU has seen 19 players make their debuts and 11 make their 1st career start in the first 2 weeks
•  WSU's roster features 6 players from Texas, 2 from nearby Louisiana and 6 coaches from Texas

INDIVIDUAL
•  Mike Leach owns 51 wins at WSU, 3rd-most in program history
•  Leach was named the 2018 AFCA National Coach of the Year and 2018 Pac-12 Coach of the Year
•  Under Leach, WSU has recorded 13 4th-quarter comebacks in his 7 seasons (Utah, at Stanford in 2018)
•  QB Anthony Gordon enters Friday leading the country in passing TD (9), second in passing yards/g (442.0)
•  RB Max Borghi enters Friday tied for 10th in the country with 4 total TD, most in the Pac-12

COUGARS IN THE RANKINGS
Washington State enter week three ranked No. 20, moving up two spots from last week and three spots up after starting the 2019 season ranked No. 23 in the Associated Press Preseason Poll. It was the second time in the last three seasons that WSU had appeared in the preseason AP poll and just the fourth time since 1952. The Cougars finished the 2018 season ranked No. 10 in both the Associated Press Poll and Coaches Poll, WSU's highest ranking to finish a season since finishing the 2003 season ninth in the AP poll. The Cougars' No. 10 ranking was the highest by any Pac-12 Conference team, the first time that has happened in conference history. 

COUGAR CONNECTIONS TO HOUSTON AND TEXAS
There are many connections between the Washington State and Houston programs, not just the mascots.
- WSU head coach Mike Leach worked with Houston head coach Dana Holgerson go way back as Holgerson played wide receiver for coach Leach at Iowa Wesleyan in 1991, coached with Leach at Valdosta State (1993-95) and later at Texas Tech (2000-07)
- Coach Leach is 0-1 all-time against Houston, dropping a 29-28 decision at Houston with Texas Tech in 2009
- Coach Leach has coached in the NRG Stadium before, beating Navy 38-14 in the 2003 Houston Bowl
- WSU has won its last two games played in Texas, beating Iowa State 28-26 in last year's Alamo Bowl and posted a 20-14 win over Miami in 2015 Sun Bowl
- WSU last played a regular season game in Texas in 2010, a 35-21 defeat to SMU
- WSU's roster features six players from Texas; WR Donovan Ollie, WR Kassidy Woods, K Blake Mazza, OL Jimmy Price, DL Rudder Romo, P Oscar Draguicevich III
- WSU's roster features two players from Louisiana; WR Tay Martin Jr. (Houma), S Bryce Beekman (Baton Rouge)
- WSU's coaching staff features 6 natives of Texas, CB coach Darcel McBath (Gainesville), Inside WR coach Dave Nichol (Dallas), Offensive Quality Control Carson Cramer (Grapevine), Offensive Quality Control Drew Hollingshead (Rockwall), Defensive Quality Control Kip Edwards (Arlington), Offensive GA Shane Ros (Katy)
- Hollingshead (QB) and Ros (WR) both played at Houston, McBath and Nichol both played at Texas Tech
- WSU Director of Equipment Operations is a native of Houston, 29th
- WSU Head Football Strength & Conditioning Coach Tyson Brown worked as an intern for Houston Texans (2009)
- Cougar legendary QB and current radio analyst Alex Brink was 7th-round draft pick by the Texans in 2008

AIR RAID
The Air Raid opened 2019 with six passing touchdowns (to 5 different receivers), 618 yards of total offense and saw Max Borghi rush for 128 yards, WSU's first 100-yard rusher since 2016. In the week two win, four players caught touchdown passes, two rushed for touchdowns and WSU recorded nearly 600 yards in total offense. The Cougar offense owns seven returning starters including four on the offensive line that protected the nation's top passing attack and blocked for 24 rushing touchdowns while seven receivers with 20+ catches also return.

WELCOME BACK (Notes Entering 2019)
OFFENSE
Tay Martin (WR, Jr.), 69 rec, 8 TD, 685 yards, 100 career catches, 14 career TD
Fred Mauigoa (C, Sr.), 2x Rimington Award Watch List, 26 straight starts, 2018 All-Pac-12 HM 
Abraham Lucas (RT, RS-So.), 2018 Freshman All-American, All-Pac-12 2nd Team, started all 13 games
Max Borghi (RB, So.), 2019 Doak Walker Award Watch List, 12 Total TD, 53 rec, 740 all-purpose yards
Dezmon Patmon (WR, Sr.), 2019 Biletnikoff Award Watch List, 61 rec, 816 yards, 5 TD 

DEFENSE
Will Rodgers III (DL, Jr.)    13 GP, 8 starts, 7.5 tackles-for-loss, 4 sacks
Jahad Woods (LB, RS-Jr.)    23 straight starts, 2018 All-Pac-12 HM, 82 tackles, 4 forced fumbles
Marcus Strong (CB, Sr.)    31 GP, 13 career starts, 3 INT, 41 tackles, 2 sacks, 6 PBU

MIKE LEACH AMONG NATION'S BEST
Now in his 18th season as a head coach, Mike Leach owns a 135-83 career record including a 51-40 mark at WSU, now in his eighth season in Pullman. 
- Leach's 51 wins at WSU are 3rd-most in school history, O.E. Hollingberry (93, 1926-42), Mike Price (83, 1989-2002) 
- Leach is the 1st Cougar head coach in school history to lead WSU to four straight bowl games
- Leach is tied with Mike Price for the most bowl appearances with 5
- Leach was the 2nd Cougar Head Coach to be named National Coach of the Year (2018 AFCA), Mike Price in 1997
- Leach has been named a George Munger Coach of the Year semifinalist (2016, 2017, 2018) 
- Leach was the 2015 Pac-12 Co-Coach of the Year and 2018 Pac-12 Coach of the Year
- WSU has led the Pac-12 in passing in 6 of Leach's 7 seasons, only finishing 2nd behind Cal (Jared Goff) in 2013 
- WSU has led the nation in passing three times under Leach (2014, 2015, 2018)

FRIENDLY CONFINES OF MARTIN STADIUM
Washington State saw its 13-game home winning streak snapped in the 2018 Apple Cup, ending the third-longest home winning streak in program history and at the time, was tied for the 5th-longest active home streak in the country. WSU went 7-0 at home in 2017, 6-1 last season and has opened 2019 with victories over New Mexico State and Northern Colorado to push their Martin Stadium record to 15-1 over the past three seasons.

YOUNG COUGS TAKE THE FIELD 
- 19 players made their WSU debuts in the first two weeks of 2019; CB Derrick Langford, DB Daniel Isom, RB Deon McIntosh, DB Bryce Beekman, OL Hunter Mayginnes, LS Tyler Williams, DL Brennan Jackson, LB Travion Brown, DL Nicholas Sheetz, QB Gage Gubrud, DL Lamonte McDougle, WR Brandon Gray, DB Chad Davis Jr., DB Shahman Moore, OL Cade Beresford, LS Simon Samarzich, WR Mitchell Quinn, OL Seth Yost, WR Lucas Bacon
- 11 have made their first career start; CB Armani Marsh, END Karson Block, NT Misiona Aiolupotea-Pei, FS Bryce Beekman, SS Daniel Isom, QB Anthony Gordon, X Rodrick Fisher, Liam Ryan made his first career start at left tackle, Tyler Williams as the field goal longsnapper, Simon Samarzich as the longsnapper on punts, CB Derrick Langford

GORDON, RYAN EARNED WEEK 1 PAC-12 WEEKLY ACCOLADES
Washington State earned a pair of Pac-12 Conference weekly accolades following the week one win over New  Mexico State as quarterback Anthony Gordon was named the Pac-12 Offensive Player of the Week and left tackle Liam Ryan was named the Pac-12 Offensive Lineman of the Week. This is the first career weekly award for each student-athlete. In his first career start, Gordon went 29-of-35 for 420 yards with five touchdown passes, completed his first 15 passes and led the Cougars to points on all nine of the drives he started including touchdowns on the first six drives. The Pacifica, Calif. native was named the Rose Bowl Game Pac-12 Player of the Week and was on one of the eight quarterbacks named a Manning Award Star of the Week. In his first career start at left tackle, Ryan picked up the Pac-12's first Offensive Lineman of the Week Award after anchoring a line that blocked for six touchdown passes, allowed just one sack on 49 pass attempts and produced WSU's first 100-yard rusher since 2016. 

GORDON SHINES IN STARTING DEBUT (Ratings Based On PFF College)
Not much was known about redshirt-senior quarterback Anthony Gordon outside of the program prior to his first career start in the opener against New Mexico State but the Pacifica, Calif. native put on a show in the win. Gordon started the game by completing his first 15 passes and led WSU to points on all nine of the drives he started including the first six that resulted in touchdowns. Gordon finished the night 29-of-35 for 420 yards and five touchdowns, tying Luke Falk (2014 at OSU) for the most touchdown passes in a Cougar starting debut. He followed with 464 yards and four touchdowns in the week two win over Northern Colorado.
- Following week 1, Gordon was named Pac-12 Offensive Player of the Week, Rose Bowl Pac-12 Player of the Week, 1 of 8 Manning Award Quarterback Stars of the Week
- 9 passing TD are tied for the national lead with Purdue's Elijah Sindelar and LSU's Joe Burrow
- 884 passing yards are 2nd in the country behind Sindelar
- 81.1 completion PCT is 2nd in the Pac-12 and 4th in the country
- 15 straight completions to start week 1 was the 2nd-longest in WSU history (Luke Falk, 21, Arizona, 2016
- 2nd-best NFL QB Rating in the country (150.4) behind Jalen Hurts (OU) 

ANOTHER NEW FACE BEHIND CENTER
The Cougars saw Anthony Gordon as the new face to lead the Air Raid in 2019 after Gardner Minshew II transferred in last summer and led WSU to 11 wins, earning 2018 Pac-12 Offensive Player of the Year. Below is a list of the current quarterbacks and their notes entering the season (listed by year).

Gage Gubrud (Gr.), EWU grad transfer, 9,984 pass yds, 87 TD, 2x Walter Payton Award winner (top FCS offensive player)
Anthony Gordon (RS-Sr.), 4th season at WSU, 3 games played in 2018, 3-for-5 (17 yards)
Trey Tinsley (RS-Sr.), 4th season at WSU, FG holder in 2017-18, 4 games played at QB (7-of-9 (63 yards, 1 TD)
John Bledsoe (RS-So.), Redshirted 2017, did not appear in a game in 2018
Cammon Cooper (RS-Fr.), 2018 4-star signee, Utah Gatorade Player of the Year, Redshirted 2018
Gunner Cruz (Fr.), 2019 HS All-American QB, 3-star, enrolled in January, No. 14 passing QB prospect
Aaron Angelos (Fr.), Walked on in January, threw 27 TD as a HS senior

IT'S A CITY SITUATION
Since 2015, the Cougars have seen six players from San Francisco City College take the field and the 2019 roster holds four players from the school; QB Anthony Gordon, WR Easop Winston Jr., OL Robert Valencia, CB Derrick Langford and all four started in week two. 
- In their only season played together at SFCC in 2015, Winston Jr. tallied 62 receptions for 986 yards and 12 touchdowns while Gordon threw for 3,864 yards and 37 touchdowns, leading SFCC to a 2015 California JUCO title
- In 2019, Gordon has connected with Winston Jr. for 11 receptions for 164 yards and 3 TD, tied for Pac-12 lead
- In the week 2 win over Northern Colorado, Gordon connected on all 6 of his targets at Winston Jr. for 6-113-2 TD

COUGAR WIDE RECEIVER NOTES (Ratings Based On PFF College)
- WSU opened 2019 with 10 different receivers catching a pass against New Mexico State, 5 caught TDs
- WSU had 9 players catch a pass in week 2 against Northern Colorado, 4 caught TD passes
- Dezmon Patmon notched 103 rec yards against NMSU in week 1, his 4th career 100-yard game
- Easop Winston Jr. had 113 rec yards and 2 TD week 2 against Northern Colorado, his 3rd career 100-yard game 
- Brandon Arconado set career-highs with 8 rec, 127 yards, 1 TD, his 1st career 100-yard game
- Through 2 weeks, 5 WSU receivers are rated among the Top-9 blocking WR in the Pac-12 
   (2-Bell, 4-Arconado, 6-Winston Jr., 6-Harris, 6-Patmon)
- Travell Harris owns the 3rd-most YAC among Pac-12 receivers (114 YAC of 135 rec yards)
- Washington State had at least nine players catch a pass in 12 of 13 games last season
- WSU had 7 players record 30+ receptions last season, most by any team in the country
- 10 different receivers recorded 10-plus receptions and 9 receivers recorded 20-plus receptions in 2018
- WSU led the country in passing in 2014 (477.7), 2015 (389.5) and 2018 (373.8)
- 4 different receivers recorded 100-yard games in 2018, Tay Martin (EWU, at Oregon State, Arizona), Dezmon Patmon (Utah, at Stanford, at Colorado), Easop Winston Jr. (at USC, Utah) and Jamire Calvin (at Stanford)
- Winston Jr.'s 89-yard TD catch against Utah tied for 8th-longest TD catch in the country in 2018
- In 2018, Martin led WSU with 11 3rd-down catches that resulted in a 1st down

ALL-PURPOSE, ALL THE TIME
The Cougar running backs serve all-purpose roles for the Air Raid. In the 2016 and 2017 seasons, the Cougar backs combined to record 1,000 yards rushing and 1,000 yards receiving and last season, the group just missed on making it three straight seasons, combining for 974 rushing yards, 1,044 receiving yards and 28 total TD.

COUGAR RUNNING BACK NOTES (Ratings based on PFF College)
- Max Borghi opened his sophomore year with his 1st career 100-yard game (128 yards vs. NMSU), the 1st 100-yard game by a Cougar running back since Gerard Wicks rushed for 128 against Cal in 2016
- Borghi followed with 3 total TD (2 rush, 1 rec) in week 2 win over Northern Colorado, 1st career 3-TD game
- Borghi owns the longest run (54) by a Pac-12 RB in 2019, tied for Pac-12 lead with 3 rushing TD
- Borghi is 10th in the country with 4 total TD, tied for 2nd among Pac-12 RB with 3 runs of 15+ yards
- Deon McIntosh had a 32-yard rushing TD last week, 1st career WSU TD, rushed for 8 TD at Notre Dame in 2017
- In 2018, Borghi was named Pac-12 Freshman of the Year honorable mention, 12 total TD, 740 all-purpose yards 
- In 2018, WSU rushed for 24 TD in 2018 after rushing for 8 TD in 2017
- In 2018, WSU RB combined to lead all Pac-12 running backs groups with 145 receptions, 2nd with 28 total TD
- In 2018, Max Borghi tied for 5th in the Pac-12 with 12 total TD, was 2nd in the country in catches by a RB (53)
- Borghi had an impressive collegiate debut at Wyoming, scoring 2 TD, one receiving and one rushing

NEW-LOOK OFFENSIVE LINE
The 2018 Cougar offensive line featured three new faces and emerged as one of the best in groups in the country. The 2019 group returns four starters but will have to replace 2019 NFL 1st-round pick and All-American left tackle Andre Dillard. Senior center Fred Mauigoa has started 28 straight games and was named to the Rimington Trophy Watch List the past two seasons. Redshirt-junior Josh Watson returns after starting the first 12 games of last season at right guard, only missing the Alamo Bowl, while redshirt-sophomore Abraham Lucas returns at right tackle after earning Freshman All-America honors last season. Redshirt-junior Liam Ryan started all 13 games at left guard last season and has moved to left tackle while sixth-year senior Robert Valencia returns and has started the first two games at left guard after starting the Alamo Bowl at right guard where he earned the WSU "Bone Award" given to the team's offensive lineman of the game.

OFFENSIVE LINE NOTES (Ratings based on PFF College)
- In his 1st career start at LT, Liam Ryan shared the best OT pass-blocking efficiency in the country
- Through 2 games, LG Robert Valencia is tied for the best screen-blocking grade by a guard in the country
- Fred Mauigoa (C) has started 28 straight games, 2018 All-Pac-12 HM, 2x Rimington Trophy Watch List
- Through 2 games, Mauigoa shares the best pass-blocking grade among all Pac-12 centers
- WSU returned 65 starts to its 2019 offensive line, the most starts returning since starting 2016 with 69 starts
- WSU produced the nation's best passing attack in 2018, rated the 2nd-best pass-blocking line in the country
- WSU allowed just 13 sacks in 2018 on 677 pass attempts, fewest sacks allowed in the Pac-12 and tied for 8th-fewest allowed in the country, allowed one sack for every 52 pass attempts
- In 2018, WSU blocked for 24 rushing TD and saw Cougar running backs average 4.6 yards-per-carry
- Abraham Lucas (RT) was named a Freshman All-American by USA Today, The Athletic, All-Pac-12 2nd Team
- Lucas was rated the 14th-best OT in the country, 2nd-best pass-blocking OT in the country, did not allow a sack
- In 2018, Ryan (LG) was rated the 6th-best pass-blocking OG in the country, 2nd-best screen-blocking OG

SPEED D
The "Speed D" defense opened 2019 with familiar numbers, forcing three turnovers and recorded three sacks while holding New Mexico State to seven points and 317 yards of total offense. Last week, WSU tallied four takeways and held Northern Colorado to 139 passing yards. Entering 2019, the Cougars will replace longtime starting MIKE linebacker Peyton Pelluer, All-Pac-12 second-team defensive end Logan Tago and two-time All-Pac-12 safety Jalen Thompson but returns two of their top three tacklers and eight players who recorded multiple sacks last season. A pair of starters in the secondary graduated and Jalen Thompson left early to the NFL but senior cornerback Marcus Strong returned after leading the team with three interceptions.

2019 COUGAR DEFENSIVE PLAYER NOTES (Ratings based on PFF College)
- Nnamdi Oguayo (DL) leads all Pac-12 DL in pass rush productivity, tallied 4 QB hurries, 2 QB hits in 27 snaps
- In week 2, Oguayo earned the highest PFF grade among Pac-12 DL (89.1)
- Fa'avae Fa'avae (RUSH) is 2nd among Pac-12 OLB in pass rush productivity, 1 QBH, 1 hit in 8 pass rush snaps
- In just 43 snaps played, true freshman LB Travion Brown owns 12 tackles, tied for most among Pac-12 freshmen
- MIKE Justus Rogers owns the 5th-best PFF grade among Pac-12 inside linebackers, 11 tackles
- NT Lamonte McDougle owns the top overall grade and top run grade among Pac-12 DT/NT
- NT Misiona Aiolupotea-Pei owns the Pac-12's top pass rush grade among all Pac-12 DT/NT
- Jahad Woods (LB) earned All-Pac-12 honorable mention, 2nd on the team in tackles (82), 2nd in Pac-12 with 4 FF
- Last season, Willie Taylor III (RUSH) was rated 3rd-best OLB pass rusher in the Pac-12, 4 sacks, 17 QB hurries
- Last season, Skyler Thomas (FS), 1st season as a starter, was 3rd on team in tackles (76), had 2 INT (CAL, UW)

SPEED D STRIKES AGAIN (2018 RANKINGS)
WSU Speed D finished the 2018 season:
- 5th in the Pac-12 in scoring defense (23.3), 9th-best in WSU single-season history
- 1st in the Pac-12 in sacks (38), 25th in the country and tied for 9th-most in WSU single-season history
- 1st in the Pac-12 with 15 players who recorded a sack
- 2nd in the Pac-12 in tackles-for-loss (88), tied for 31st in the country and 10th-most in WSU single-season history
- tied for 2nd in the Pac-12 in takeaways (23), 28th in the country
- tied for 3rd in the Pac-12 in 3rd-down defense (36.0%), 36th in the country
- 3rd in the Pac-12 in rush defense (141.5), 38th in the country
- 4th in the Pac-12 in total defense (359.2), 42th in the country

COUGAR SPECIAL TEAMS
WSU special teams were among the best in the country in 2018 and started off 2019 on a good note as kicker Blake Mazza connected on all three field goal attempts against New Mexico State including a long of 50 and added another 20-yarder against Northern Colorado. Last season, WSU finished fifth in the country in kickoff return led by All-Pac-12 honorable mention kick returner Travell Harris who led the Pac-12 in return average and had six kickoff returns of 30+ yards last season including a 100-yard kickoff return for touchdown against Eastern Washington. WSU also returns All-Pac-12 honorable mention punter Oscar Draguicevich III who finished 2018 tied for seventh in the country in net punting.

NEW FACES MADE MARK FOR SPECIAL TEAMS IN 2018
Cougar special teams saw new faces at punter, kicker and kick returner, and all produced big numbers in 2018.
- Punter Oscar Draguicevich III earned All-Pac-12 honorable mention, produced 13 punts of 50+ yards and put 15 punts inside the 20 while averaging 45.7 yards per punt, tied for 7th in the country (The minimum to qualify for NCAA stats is 3.6 punts/g, Draguicevich III averaged 3.5 punts/g)
- Travell Harris was named All-Pac-12 honorable mention as a kick returner last season, good for 6th in the country in kickoff return avg (27.6), had a 100-yard kickoff return for TD against Eastern Washington, PFF College credited Harris with a 102-yard kickoff return, the longest in the country in 2018
- Mazza led Pac-12 kickers in extra points (60), most in WSU season history, and was 3rd in points (90)
- Mazza's 42-yard game-winning field goal at Stanford was WSU's first game-winning field in the final minute since Andrew Furney hit from 27 yards in overtime to beat Washington in 2012
- WSU's blocked punt at Oregon State punt that was returned five yards for a touchdown by Tristan Brock, was the first blocked punt for WSU since 2015 at UCLA and the first  blocked punt returned for a touchdown since 2003

WSU special teams finished 2018:
- 1st in the Pac-12 in net punting (40.9), 11th in the country
- 2nd in the Pac-12 in kickoff return (27.1), 5th in the country
- 2nd in the Pac-12 in kickoff coverage (20.3

COUGAR WEEKLY TEAM AWARDS
Following a win, the Cougars name award winners for select groups:

BONE AWARD - given to the offensive lineman of the week
NMSU - LT Liam Ryan, graded out the best, 1 sack in 59 attempts, 6 passing TD, 100-yard rusher    
UNC - RT Abraham Lucas, graded out the best, did not allow a pressure in 41 pass blocking snaps    

DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK - selected by coaches as top defensive performer
NMSU - CB Marcus Strong, team-high 8 tackles and 1 INT    
UNC - LB Travion Brown, made 8 tackles in just 26 snaps    

MECHANIC AWARD - selcted by coaches as player who was the best at doing their job
NMSU - WR Dezmon Patmon, 7 catches, 103 yards, 48-yard TD catch, played physical    
UNC - WR Brandon Arconado, set career-highs with 8 catches, 127 yards, 5-yard TD catch     

SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE WEEK - selected by coach Matt Brock as the top special teams contributor
NMSU - K Blake Mazza, connected on all 7 PAT, hit all 3 FG attempts (45, 50, 34), matched career long of 50 yards
UNC - KO Jack Crane, produced 3 touchbacks, 3 fair catches, held UNC to 14-yards per kickoff return    

TOUGH GUY AWARD - selected by the coaching staff as player who gave great effort
NMSU - LB Travion Brown, freshman LB played fast all game, made 4 tackles in collegiate debut    
UNC - WR Travell Harris, 3 rec for 44 yards, 16-yard PR, 1 tackle on kickoff,  played every snap of special teams    

FOUR FORMER WALK-ONS EARN SCHOLARSHIPS
This past summer, the Cougars awarded scholarships to four former walk-ons. (stats prior to 2019) 
Karson Block (RS-Sr., DL)    Pac-12 All-Academic 2nd Team, 12 GP, 11 tackles, 4 TFL, 1 sack
Oscar Draguicevich III (RS-Jr., P)    All-Pac-12 HM, 2nd in Pac-12 with WSU record 45.7 avg
Clay Markoff (RS-Jr., RB)    Pac-12 All-Academic 2nd Team, 16 GP, special teams
Armani Marsh (RS-So., CB)    5 career games played, competing for starting CB spot

FOUR COUGS EARN BACHELOR'S DEGREES
Four current Cougars entered the 2019 season already owning their bachelor's degree.
WR Brandon Arcodando (management information systems)
QB Gage Gubrud (business)
OL Robert Valencia (social sciences)
WR Easop Winston Jr. (sociology)

LIKE FATHER, LIKE SON
The Cougar roster features 12 players who have dads and/or family members who played professional sports. 
- QB John Bledsoe's dad, Drew Bledsoe played at WSU from 1990-92, was the No. 1 overall pick by the New England Patriots in the 1993 NFL Draft and played 14 seasons
- P Oscar Draguicevich III's dad, Oscar played professional soccer for 10 seasons including three for the San Jose Clash of the MLS
- WR Calvin Jackson Jr.'s dad Calvin Sr. played DB at Auburn, played 6 NFL seasons with Miami
- CB Derrick Langford's dad Derrick Sr. was a 52nd-round MLB draft pick by the Atlanta Braves in 1994
- NT Lamonte McDougle's dad, Stocker played OL at Oklahoma for offensive line coach Mike Leach and 7 NFL seasons, uncle Jerome McDougle played DL at Miami and 4 NFL seasons
- RB Deon McIntosh' brother RJ played DL at Miami and is with the Giants
- WR Dezmon Patmon uncle, DeWayne Patmon played LB at Michigan and 2 seasons for Giants
- DL Will Rodgers III's uncle is former NBA start Jason Richardson, played 13 NBA seasons
- S Tyrese Ross' dad, Dominique Ross played FB for Dallas Cowboys in late 1990's
- RUSH Ron Stone Jr.'s dad, Ron Sr. played OL in the NFL for 13 seasons, 3x Pro Bowler, 2x Super Bowl Winner
- CB Marcus Strong's brother, Victory played DE at Oregon State and in the NFL for 6 seasons
- QB Trey Tinsley's dad, Scott played QB at USC and for Philadelphia Eagles in late 1980's

COACHING STAFF CHANGES
Washington State University Head Football Coach Mike Leach announced last January that Roc Bellantoni and Dennis Slutak have been added to the Cougar football staff, with Bellantoni coaching linebackers and Slutak serving as the director of football operations. 

ROC BELLANTONI
Over his 26-year coaching career, Bellantoni has coached the defensive line and linebackers, served as defensive coordinator at three different stops, and reached the FCS playoffs six different times, to go with a bowl appearance in 2018 while with the University at Buffalo. He has mentored 16 players who played professionally, including three NFL Draft picks. Bellantoni recently completed his second season at Buffalo, where he served as defensive ends coach and special teams coordinator in 2018. 

DENNIS SLUTAK
Slutak arrived in Pullman having spent the previous four seasons as the Director of Football Operations at UNLV. He also served as the Director of Football Operations at Bowling Green in 2013, where the Falcons went 10-4 and reached the Little Ceasars Bowl in his lone season. Prior to Bowling Green, Slutak spent three seasons at the University of Washington (2009-2011) as the Assistant AD for Football Operations and another four years at the University of Southern California (2005-2008) as the Director of Football Operations. Prior to taking over the football operations at USC, Slutak coached Special Teams for the Trojans in 2003 and 2004, winning two consecutive National Championships.  He's also previously coached at Ole Miss, North Carolina State and Lehigh University, where he won a Patriot League Championship in 1995. A native of West Palm Beach, Fla., he was a punter at Florida State University.