Gardner Minshew headed to the Senior Bowl, named Walter Camp finalist

Gardner Minshew II’s superlative season for the Washington State Cougars has gotten a lot of attention, and now it’s starting to translate into postseason recognition for the quarterback.

First, Minshew was named a finalist for the Walter Camp player of the year award, joining Will Grier (West Virginia Mountaineers), Kyler Murray (Oklahoma Sooners), Tua Tagovailoa (Alabama Crimson Tide) and linebacker Josh Allen (Kentucky Wildcats).

The winner will be announced on the 3 p.m. PT edition of SportsCenter on ESPN, and will then receive his trophy at the Foundation’s 52nd annual national awards banquet on January 12 at Yale University’s Lanman Center.

Then, it was officially announced that Minshew would be attending the Senior Bowl.

This is pretty huge for Minshew’s professional prospects. The Senior Bowl is more than an all-star game; it’s a chance for NFL scouts to get a good, up-close look at draftable prospects. Last year, quarterback Luke Falk and offensive lineman Cole Madison attended the Senior Bowl from WSU; both were drafted.

Like Falk, Minshew will have his most reliable protector there with him.

Coaches love to say that with team success comes individual honors, and that’s obviously being proven true. Sometime next week, Minshew probably will be named the Pac-12 Offensive Player of the Year, and hopefully an invitation to New York for the Heisman Trophy ceremony will arrive shortly thereafter.

In addition to all those stats, Minshew once did this.

Looks like a Heisman finalist to me. Minshew is also a finalist for the Davey O’Brien National Quarterback Award, given to the best college quarterback.

Links

Dick Harmon: With Mike Leach attaining legendary status, his family in Payson has got his Pac-12 back | Deseret News
Washington State coach Mike Leach grew up in Cody, Wyoming, but his parents and siblings live in Payson, Utah. His brother Tim describes his older brother's obsession with detail and his dry sense of humor, which has reached star status.

John Blanchette: Let’s boost Washington State’s status by packing it in with Pac-12 | The Spokesman-Review
It sounds as if Mike Leach and athletic director Pat Chun are going to the mattresses to try to rub out the Barzinis, Tattaglias and Cuneos -- otherwise known as Florida, LSU and Penn State – muscling in on what they believe to be Washington State’s New Year’s bowl turf.

Would you take Mike Leach’s football strategy class at Washington State?
Mike Leach is open to teaching a class next semester.

Grip on Sports: Washington State needs all the help it can get to ascend high enough in the College Football Playoff rankings and make a top-tier bowl | The Spokesman-Review
A GRIP ON SPORTS • There are many subjects we can delve into this morning, so let’s get right to it. After all, you’re busy. If you aren’t, lucky you. Read on.

Cougars See 11 Named to the Pac-12 All-Academic Teams - Washington State University Athletics
Little, Teigen, and King-Shaw lead WSU as top selections.

Nine Cougars Earn Pac-12 All-Academic Honorable Mention - Washington State University Athletics
The conference recognized student-athletes for their work both on and off the field.

Cougar Baseball Announces 2019 Schedule, 14 Games to be Televised - Washington State University Athletics
14 games will be televised on the Pac-12 Networks.

Volleyball Earns Six Pac-12 All-Academic Selections - Washington State University Athletics
McKenna Woodford earns First Team honors for third straight year.

WSU Hits the Road to take on New Mexico State - Washington State University Athletics
The Cougars and Aggies meet Saturday, Dec. 1 at 6 p.m. PT.