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Two things let you know that college football isn’t actually that far away: Media days and award watch lists.
You’re going to have to wait until Wednesday for Pac-12 Media Day, but award watch list season kicked off for the Washington State Cougars yesterday (with Max Borghi’s inclusion on the Doak Walker Award’s preseason list) and continues today with Dezmon Patmon being named to the Biletnikoff Award watch list.
Although the Cougars have a plethora of talent at wideout, only Patmon was included among the 50 or so players on the early list. That’s because the initial list is based on the previous season’s production, and Patmon led the Cougars with 816 yards, was second in receptions among WRs with 61, and tied for second on the team with five TDs. He also posted a team-best 13.4 yards-per-catch and tied for the team lead with 11 receptions of 20-plus yards.
Even though the organizers of the award explicitly say the list isn’t based on potential, it’s hard to argue that Patmon isn’t still — even after a big 2018 — oozing with potential. At 6-foot-4 and 225 rock solid pounds, Patmon is easily the Cougs’ most physically imposing receiver. After teasing us for his first couple of years with flashes, Patmon finally began to really tap into that advantage last year.
And he might get even more chances to do it this year: Gage Gubrud is unafraid to throw a deep ball and let his talented guy go win it — that was a big part of his success with Cooper Kupp two years ago.
If we’re being honest, it’s probably unlikely that any WSU receiver wins the Biletnikoff Award, given how the Cougs’ offense features great two-deep talent at all the positions, never mind the fact that the offense itself dictates spreading the ball around. But you never know: The right combination can produce some eye-popping numbers (Connor Halliday/Luke Falk —> Vince Mayle, 1483 yards; Graham Harrell —> Michael Crabtree, 1962 yards).
This is the first time WSU has landed someone on the list since Gabe Marks in 2016.
The Tallahassee Quarterback Club Foundation, Inc., will announce the ten Biletnikoff Award semifinalists on November 18, 2019. The three finalists will be declared, following another vote, on November 25, 2019. The 2019 Biletnikoff Award winner will be presented live on December 12, 2019, at the College Football Hall of Fame on The Home Depot College Football Awards to be broadcast at 4 p.m. PT on ESPN.
Mike Leach on E:60
You could travel far and wide, but you couldn’t possibly find anyone remotely like @Coach_Leach pic.twitter.com/VZRb2sg1KB
— E:60 (@E60) July 18, 2019
It’s our understanding that ESPN worked on this one for quite a while, but you’re going to have to get up pretty early to see it — 6 a.m. PT. Might want to set that DVR!
Links
Washington State Senior Associate Director of Athletics John Johnson joins staff at Nebraska | The Spokesman-Review
Johnson took over as WSU’s interim athletic director in 2017 after former AD Bill Moos left the school for the same job at Nebraska.
Former Eastern Washington standouts weigh in on Gage Gubrud’s move to Washington State | The Spokesman-Review
The last time linebacker Samson Ebukam, quarterback Gage Gubrud and the Washington State Cougars were on the same field, the former Eastern Washington stalwarts helped spearhead a 45-42 upset in Pullman.
Jeff Pollard Named to NABC Honors Court - Washington State University Athletics
The rising-senior will complete his business degree in three years, this summer.
Athletic Director Pat Chun Looks Back on 2018-19 - Washington State University Athletics
The 2018-19 season brought the Cougs to new heights.
Pac-12 stock report: USC goes the FCS route; UCLA should follow – Orange County Register
The Cougars faced a significant challenge on defense in 2019 prior to Thompson’s departure. Now, the task looks daunting.
Oregon State Opponent Preview: Washington State Cougars - BeaverBlitz.com
Between now and July 19th at BeaverBlitz, we’ll be previewing each of Oregon State’s opponents, featuring some insight from the publishers of our fellow 247Sports team sites.
Ranking the Pac-12's Toughest College Football Schedules in 2019 - Athlon Sports
12. Washington State
College Football Bettors Should Bet Against These Teams This Season - Stadium
Why I’m selling WSU: Just like Kentucky and Northwestern, I’m going to pick on another team that overachieved last year.
Sustaining success in WSU football: 7 old Cougs weigh in - Cougfan.com
Collectively, the seven of them spanned seven decades of Cougar football, from late 1950s All-Coast receiver Don Ellingsen at one end to Travis Long, the standout defensive lineman for Paul Wulff and Mike Leach, at the other. They gathered Wednesday for the first-ever Cougfan.com Spokane Roundtable.
Oregon opponent early scouting report: Washington State - oregonlive.com
Can the Ducks snap a 4-game losing streak to the Cougars?
Predicting Every Power 5 College Football Team's MVP for 2019 Season | Bleacher Report | Latest News, Videos and Highlights
Washington State Cougars: Max Borghi, RB
How it started: First jobs in football for all 32 NFL head coaches | abc7chicago.com
Mike Zimmer talks about his time at WSU.