COLORADOÂ at WASHINGTON STATEÂ
4 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 19, 2019  •  ESPNU
Martin Stadium (32,952)  •  Pullman, Wash.
COUGARS HOST COLORADO ON HOMECOMING WEEKEND
Washington State (3-3, 0-3 Pac-12) hosts Colorado (3-3, 1-2 Pac-12) Saturday at 4 p.m. on ESPNU for homecoming weekend.
SERIES HISTORY
The Cougars have won three of the last four meetings with Colorado including the last two, evening the all-time series at 6-6 after posting a 31-7 victory in Boulder last season. WSU owns a 2-1 mark against CU in Pullman after recording a 28-0 win in 2017.
Mike Leach is 4-5 all-time against the Buffs dating back to his years at Texas Tech.
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 streak reached 233 last Saturday after appearing in Baton Rouge for the Florida-LSU game. The first appearance came in Austin, Texas (10/4/03) 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." Appearance No. 217 was its first in Pullman (10/20/18), a 34-20 win over Oregon.Â
ABOUT WASHINGTON STATE
Washington State enters the week with a 3-3 record after dropping a 38-34 contest in the final seconds at No. 18 Arizona State last Saturday. The Air Raid leads the nation in the passing (452.7), is fifth in total offense (538.7) and seventh in scoring (43.0). The Cougar defense enters the week tied for fifth in the Pac-12 in takeaways (10) including a Pac-12-best seven fumble recoveries. Head coach
Mike Leach is in his eighth season at Washington State.
COUGAR QUICK GAME
TEAM
•  WSU leads the country in passing (452.7), is 5th in total offense (538.7) and 7th in scoring (43.0)
•  WSU is tied for 5th in the Pac-12 with 10 takeaways including a Pac-12 best 7 fumble recoveries
•  WSU has seen 21 players make their WSU debuts this season and 14 make their 1st career start
•  WSU's roster features players from 19 states and from British Columbia, American Samoa and Australia
•  Since 2015, WSU owns 40 wins, 3rd-most among Pac-12 schools (UW - 44 & Stan - 43)
•  Since 2015, WSU owns 26 Pac-12 wins, 3rd-most among Pac-12 schools (Stan - 29, UW - 28)
•  WSU is the only Pac-12 team with four shutouts since 2013 (6+ seasons) (Stan, UW, Utah - 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
INDIVIDUAL
• Â
Mike Leach owns 52 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 leads the country in passing yards (2,612), passing yards/g (435.3), 2nd in passing TD (25)
•  Gordon has thrown for 400+ yards five times in 2019, no other QB in the country has more than 2 such games
•  Gordon set WSU and Pac-12 single-game records with 9 TD passes against UCLA
•  RB
Max Borghi is tied for 4th in the Pac-12 with 7 total TD and 7th with 112.3 all-purpose yards/g
•  WR
Easop Winston Jr. is 3rd in the country with 9 TD receptions, is 2nd in the Pac-12 with 42 catches
•  Winston Jr.'s 14 receptions at Arizona State are tied for most catches by any player in the country in 2019
COUGARS IN THE RANKINGS
Washington State reached No. 19 in the week four Associated Press Top-25 Poll. The Cougars started the season ranked No. 23 in the Associated Press Preseason Poll, marking the second time in the last three seasons appearing in the preseason AP poll and just the fourth time since 1952. The Cougars finished 2018 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 happened in conference history.Â
COUGARS TO BE FEATURED OCT. 23 ON HBO'S 24/7 COLLEGE FOOTBALL
HBO Sports' landmark franchise 24/7 breaks new ground this October when it launches an all-access college football series chronicling four programs in-season – Florida, Penn State, Arizona State and Washington State – as they meet the demands and challenges leading up to and through gameday. Narrated by Liev Schreiber, the voice of HBO Sports' Emmy award winning documentaries and the 24/7 and HARD KNOCKS franchises, this four-part, limited college football series will document the lives of head coaches Dan Mullen (Florida), James Franklin (Penn State), Herm Edwards (Arizona State) and
Mike Leach (Washington State), players, assistant coaches and more over one week during the regular season. WSU will be featured WEDNESDAY, OCT. 23 (10 p.m. ET/PT) with an hour-long special highlighting the home game against Colorado.
WSU-COLORADO CONNECTIONS
There are a couple connections between the Washington State and the state of Colorado.
- WSU's roster features 3 players from the state of Colorado; So. RB
Max Borghi - Arvada, Colo. (Pomona HS), Fr. LB
Brandy Okeke - Aurora, Colo. (Grandview HS), Fr. WR
Billy Pospisil III - Arvada, Colo. (Pomona HS)
- Jr. DL
Will Rodgers III played his high school football at Valor Christian HS in Colorado
AIR RAID
The Air Raid opened has put up big numbers in 2019
- vs. New Mexico State, 6 passing TD to 5 different WR, 618 yards of total offense,
Max Borghi 128 rushing yardsÂ
- vs. Northern Colorado, 4 players caught TD passes, 2 had rushing TDs, 594 yards in total offense
- at Houston, 440 passing yards, 7.3 yards-per-play
- vs. UCLA, 63 points, 720 yards of total offense, 570 passing yards, 9 passing TDs, 150 rushing yards
- vs. UCLA, the 2 teams combined to set a Pac-12 single-game record with 130 points, WSU's 720 yards of total offense is 2nd-most in WSU single-game history,
Anthony Gordon's 9 TD passes was a WSU/Pac-12 record
- at Arizona State, threw for 466 yards and 3 TD
- WSU leads the country in passing (452.7), 5th in total offense (538.7), 7th in scoring (43.0), 12th in 1st downs (25.5)
- WSU has seen
Max Borghi post a pair of 100-yard rushing games (NMSU, UCLA)
- WSU has led the Pac-12 in passing in 6 of
Mike Leach's 7 seasons, finishing 2nd to Cal (Jared Goff) in 2013Â
- WSU has led the nation in passing three times under
Mike Leach (2014, 2015, 2018)
- WSU has produced an All-America offensive lineman in each of the last 4 seasons
(LT Joe Dahl, 2015; LG
Cody O'Connell, 2016; LG
Cody O'Connell, 2017; LT
Andre Dillard & RT
Abraham Lucas, 2018)
MIKE LEACH AMONG NATION'S BEST
Now in his 18th season as a head coach,
Mike Leach owns a 136-86 career record including a 52-43 mark at WSU, now in his eighth season in Pullman.Â
- Leach's 52 wins at WSU are 3rd-most in school history, O.E. Hollingberry (93, 1926-42), Mike Price (83, 1989-2002)Â
- 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)Â
- Leach was the 2015 Pac-12 Co-Coach of the Year and 2018 Pac-12 Coach of the Year
FRIENDLY CONFINES OF MARTIN STADIUM
WSU went 7-0 at home in 2017, 6-1 last season and own a 2-1 mark in 2019 to push their Martin Stadium record to 15-2 over the past three seasons. The Cougars saw their 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.Â
YOUNG COUGS TAKE THE FIELDÂ
- 21 players made their WSU debuts; CB
Derrick Langford, DB
Daniel Isom, RB
Deon McIntosh, FS
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, DL
Cosmas Kwete, LB
Peni Naulu, DB
Trey Davis
- 14 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, CB
George Hicks III, NT
Dallas Hobbs, NICKEL
Pat Nunn
- 11 freshmen have made their collegiate debuts including 5 true freshmen; LB
Travion Brown, DL
Cosmas Kwete, LS
Simon Samarzich, DL
Nicholas Sheetz, LB
Peni Naulu
GORDON SHINES IN STARTING ROLE (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.Â
- Gordon leads the country in passing yards (2,612), passing yards/g (435.3) and 2nd in passing TD (25)
- Gordon is 10th in the country in completion pct (71.3)
- Gordon owns 4 of the top 10 single game passing performances in the country
- Of Gordon's 25 passing TD, 11 have gone for 20+ yards
- Gordon was the 1st QB in program history to start a season with four straight 400-yard games
- Gordon's 15 straight completions to start week 1 was 2nd-longest in WSU history (
Luke Falk, 21, Arizona, 2016)
- Gordon's 9 passing TD against UCLA was a WSU and Pac-12 Conference single-game record
- Gordon's 570 yards against UCLA was 3rd-most in WSU and Pac-12 single-game history
- Against UCLA, Gordon completed 6 of 9 pass attempts of 20+ yards for 175 yards, 3 TDs, and a 149.3 ProFootballFocus passer rating, tied for the best rating among FBS QBs with more than 5 deep attempts
- Following week 1 win over New Mexico State (420 yards, 5 pass TD), 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
- Following week 3 win at Houston (440 yards, 3 pass TD), 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
- Following week 4 against UCLA (570 yards, 9 pass TD), Gordon was named 1 of 8 Manning Award Quarterback Stars of the Week
GORDON PICKED UP SECOND PAC-12 PLAYER OF THE WEEK AWARD
Quarterback
Anthony Gordon was named the Pac-12 Conference Offensive Player of the Week after the road win at Houston. In his first career road start, Gordon went 36-of-48 for 440 yards and three touchdown passes in the 31-24 victory at Houston. Gordon erased a seven-point halftime deficit by throwing for 277 yards and two touchdowns to help WSU start 3-0 for the third straight season.Â
GORDON, RYAN EARNED WEEK ONE 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. It was the first career weekly award for each. 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. 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.Â
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. Past Cougars who played at SFCC, DB Shalom Luani (2015-16) and S/KR Rob Taylor (2016-17)
- 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 42 receptions for 496 yards and 9 TD
- Against Northern Colorado, Gordon connected on all 6 of his targets at Winston Jr. for 6-113-2 TD
- Against UCLA, Gordon threw 4 TD to Winston Jr., tying the WSU record for receiving TD
- At Arizona State, Gordon and Winston Jr. connected on 14 catches for 118 yards, 1 TD and 7 first downs
- Gordon has connected with Winston Jr. for a TD pass in 5 of the 6 games in 2019
COUGAR WIDE RECEIVER NOTES (Ratings Based On PFF College)
-
Easop Winston Jr. is 3rd in the country in rec TD (9), 2nd in Pac-12 in receptions (42), 5th in rec yards (496)
- Winston Jr. is rated 5th-best overall WR grade in Pac-12, shares Pac-12 lead with 3 100-yard games in 2019
- When targeted, Winston Jr. is rated the 6th-best WR in the country, 42 receptions on 51 targets
- Winston Jr. caught 14 passes for 118 yards and TD at Arizona State, his 5th career 100-yard game
- Winston Jr.'s 14 receptions at Arizona State, tied for 2nd-most in WSU single-game history
- Winston Jr. caught 10 passes for 114 yards and 4 TD against UCLA, 4th career 100-yard game
- Winston Jr.'s 4 TD catches against UCLA tied WSU single-game record (Gabe Marks, 2015, at Arizona)
- Winston Jr. shares the team lead with 7 catches of 20+ catches including 3 that went for TD
-
Brandon Arconado is 4th on the team with 25 receptions and 3rd with 348 receiving yards
- Arconado was targeted by
Anthony Gordon 10 times at Houston, finished with 9 catches for 117 yards
- Arconado made a career-high 9 catches and tallied 117 yards at Houston, his 2nd 100-yard game
- Arconado set then-career-highs with 8 rec, 127 yards, 1 TD vs. Northern Colorado, his 1st career 100-yard game
-
Dezmon Patmon is 2nd on the team with 28 catches, 8th in the Pac-12 with 449 yards, owns 4 TD
- Patmon owns 23 catches that have resulted in a TD or 1st down, including all 11 of his catches the last 2 games
- Patmon notched 103 rec yards against NMSU in week 1, his 4th career 100-yard game
- In his 1st career start week 1 against New Mexico State, RS-Fr. WR
Rodrick Fisher caught a 41-yard TD pass
- Fisher is rated the 2nd-best wide receiver blocker in the Pac-12, has started the past 2 games
- Consecutive games with a catch: Patmon (26), Winston Jr. (19),
Max Borghi (19)
- WSU owns 3 of the top 9 rated slot receivers in the Pac-12, Arconado (2nd),
Travell Harris (6th),
Renard Bell (9th)
- WSU owns 3 of the top 10 Pac-12 receivers with the most yards-after-the-catch
Travell Harris - 3rd, 214; Winston Jr. - 4th, 210; Patmon - 10, 174
- WSU opened 2019 with 10 different receivers catching a pass against New Mexico State, 5 caught TDs
- 9 players caught a pass against Northern Colorado, at Houston, UCLA
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. The group just missed making it three straight seasons last year, combining for 974 rushing yards, 1,044 receiving yards and 28 total TD.
COUGAR RUNNING BACK NOTES (Ratings based on PFF College)
-
Max Borghi is tied for 4th in the Pac-12 with 7 total TD, tied for 4th with 5 rushing TD
- Borghi is 7th in the Pac-12 averaging 112.3 all-purpose yards/g, 8th-most overall with 674 all-purpose yards
- Borghi had career-high 203 all-purpose yards against UCLA, 121 at Utah, 138 against New Mexico State
- Borghi owns 6 runs of 15+ yards, tied for 5rd in the Pac-12, also tied for 2nd in Pac-12 with two 100-yard games
- Borghi's 3 plays of 50+ yards are tied for 2nd in Pac-12, leads all Pac-12 RB with 11 missed tackles after catches
- Borghi's 27 receptions are 2nd-most catches by a RB in the country, leads all Pac-12 RB
- Borghi recorded 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's 54-yard carry against UNC week 2 is the 2nd-longest run by a Pac-12 RB in 2019
- Borghi recorded his 2nd career 100-yard game with 123 rushing yards against UCLA, also had 65-yard TD catch
- Borghi's 65-yard TD catch and run against UCLA is WSU's longest play from scrimmage in 2019
- Borghi's 53 catches last season were the 2nd-most in the country by a RB, trailing
James Williams' 83
-
Deon McIntosh's 32-yard TD run against Northern Colorado was his 1st WSU TD after he rushed for 5 TD at Notre Dame in 2017
- McIntosh started along side Borghi against UCLA, recording his 1st career WSU start
- McIntosh caught a 9-yard TD pass at Utah, his 1st career TD reception
ANOTHER NEW-LOOK OFFENSIVE LINE
Last year's Cougar offensive line featured three new faces and emerged as one of the best in groups in the country. The 2019 group returned four starters but had to replace 2019 NFL 1st-round pick and All-American left tackle
Andre Dillard. Senior center Fred Mauigoa has now started 32 straight games and was named to the Rimington Trophy Watch List the past two seasons. Redshirt-junior
Josh Watson returned after starting the first 12 games of last season at right guard, only missing the Alamo Bowl, while redshirt-sophomore
Abraham Lucas returned 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 moved to left tackle while sixth-year senior
Robert Valencia returned and  has started the first three 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)
- LT
Liam Ryan is rated the best screen-blocking OT in the country
- LG
Robert Valencia is tied for the 4th-best screen-blocking OG in the country, tops among Pac-12 OG
- Fred Mauigoa (C), 32 straight starts, 2018 All-Pac-12 HM, rated top Pac-12 pass-blocking center last week
- RG
Josh Watson is rated the 4th-best OG grade in the Pac-12
- RT
Abraham Lucas is rated the 3rd-best pass-blocking OT in the Pac-12, 4th-best overall OT in the country
- WSU has allowed 6 sacks on 321 dropbacks, tied for 2nd-fewest in the Pac-12 and 10th in the country
- WSU returned 65 starts to its 2019 offensive line, the most OL 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
SPEED D
The "Speed D" defense opened 2019 with familiar numbers and entered the week play tied for third in the Pac-12 with 10 takeways and tied for the eighth in the country with seven fumble recoveries. Last season, WSU led the Pac-12 in sacks (38), was second in the league in takeaways (23), third in rush defense (141.5) and 5th in the Pac-12 in scoring defense (23.3), the 9th-best mark in WSU single-season history.
NEW MEXICO STATE - 3 takeaways, 7 pts, 317 yards of total offense, 3 sacks
NORTHERN COLORADO - 4 takeaways, 139 passing yards allowed, 9 tackles-for-loss
at Houston - 2 takeaways, 128 passing yards allowed, 2 sacks
UCLA - 1 takeaway, 4.1 yards-per-rush attempt allowed, 5 tackles-for-loss
at Utah - 5 tackles-for-loss, 2 sacks
at Arizona State - 5 tackles-for-loss, 4 sacks, 1 forced fumble
COUGAR DEFENSIVE PLAYER NOTES (Ratings based on PFF College)
-
Nnamdi Oguayo (DE) is rated the 2nd-best Pac-12 DE and owns 3rd-best pass-rushing grade
- Oguayo leads all Pac-12 DE in pass rush productivity, tallied 15 QB hurries, 4 QB hits, 1 sack in 111 pass snaps
-
Ron Stone Jr. (RUSH) leads all Pac-12 OLB in pass rush productivity, 9 QB hurries, 4 hits, 1 sack, 65 pass snaps
- LB
Jahad Woods is 3rd in the Pac-12 with 58 tackles, 4 games with 10+ tackles in 2019, made 12 against UCLA
- Woods is rated the 2nd-best Pac-12 LB on pass rush productivity, creating pressure on 22% of passing snaps
- Woods is rated 4th-best inside Pac-12 LB on run stop % and 2nd-best Pac-12 LB when in coverageÂ
-
Will Rodgers III (DT) owns a team best 3 sacks, tied for the most among Pac-12 interior defensive linemen
-
Dallas Hobbs (NT) is rated 8th-best DT/NT in the Pac-12, made 1st career start at Arizona State, had 1 sack
- Hobbs recorded 4 tackles at Utah including career-high 2 TFL with 1st career sack
-
Misiona Aiolupotea-Pei (NT) owns the Pac-12's 2nd-best pass rush grade among all Pac-12 DT/NT
- In his 1st career start last week at Arizona state,
Pat Nunn (Nickel) made 2 tackles, 1 TFL and forced a fumble
- In just 61 snaps played, freshman LB
Travion Brown owns 14 tackles, owns 6th-best LB grade by All Pac-12 LB
- In win over Northern Colorado, Brown made 8 tackles, shares team lead with 2 special teams tackles
- In his collegiate debut at Houston, true freshman DL
Cosmas Kwete made 3 tackles and recovered a fumble
- Kwete tallied 4 tackles last week at Arizona State
COUGAR SPECIAL TEAMSÂ
- PK
Blake Mazza has connected on all 9 FG attempts, including a pair from 50+ yards with a long of 51 at Utah
- Mazza is tied for 4th in the country with a Pac-12 best 33 PAT made, Â 2nd in the Pac-12 with 60 points scored
- KR
Travell Harris did not have a chance to return a kick until the Houston game and made the most of it, averaging 28.7 yards on 3 returns including a 37-yarder, Harris entered the week 5th in the Pac-12 with a 21.8 avg
- PR
Easop Winston Jr. had a career-long 45-yard punt return against UCLA
- Last season, KR
Travell Harris led the Pac-12 in return average and had six kickoff returns of 30+ yards
-
Tyrese Ross and
Travion Brown share the team-lead with 2 special teams tackles
- WSU has a pair of new longsnappers this season, RS-Fr.
Tyler Williams (FG), Fr.
Simon Samarzich (P)
FOUR FORMER WALK-ONS EARN SCHOLARSHIPS
This past summer, the Cougars awarded scholarships to four former walk-ons. (stats prior to 2019)Â
Karson Block (RS-Sr., DL)Â Â Â Pac-12 All-Academic 2nd Team, 12 GP, 11 tackles, 4 TFL, 1 sack
Oscar Draguicevich III (RS-Jr., P)Â Â Â All-Pac-12 HM, 2nd in Pac-12 with WSU record 45.7 avg
Clay Markoff (RS-Jr., RB)Â Â Â Pac-12 All-Academic 2nd Team, 16 GP, special teams
Armani Marsh (RS-So., CB)Â Â Â 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 a number of players who have family members who played professional sports.Â
- 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
- LB
Travion Brown's great, great uncle is Jackie Robinson (dad's side)
- 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, Victor 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
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  Â
UNC - RT
Abraham Lucas, graded out the best, did not allow a pressure in 41 pass blocking snaps  Â
at HOU - RG
Josh Watson, graded out the best, 440 passing yards, 3 passing TD, 1 rushing TD
UCLA - None
at Utah - None
at Arizona State - None
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK - selected by coaches as top defensive performer
NMSU - CB
Marcus Strong, team-high 8 tackles and 1 INTÂ Â Â
UNC - LB
Travion Brown, 8 tackles in just 26 snaps  Â
at HOU - FS
Bryce Beekman, 10 tackles, 1 forced fumble
UCLA - None
at Utah - None
at Arizona State - None
MECHANIC AWARD - selected 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  Â
UNC - WR
Brandon Arconado, set career-highs with 8 catches, 127 yards, 5-yard TD catch   Â
at HOU - FS
Bryce Beekman, team-high 10 tackles, 1 forced fumble
UCLA - None
at Utah - None
at Arizona State - None
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  Â
at HOU - KO coverage,
Tyrese Ross, 1 tackle, huge hit
UCLA - None
at Utah - None
at Arizona State - None
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  Â
UNC - WR
Travell Harris, 3 rec for 44 yards, 16-yard PR, 1 tackle on kickoff,  played every snap of special teams  Â
at HOU - DL
Cosmas Kwete, in collegiate debut, made 3 tackles, 1 fumble recovery
UCLA - None
at Utah - None
at Arizona State - None
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