Four More Honored by CFPA
Four Big Sky Conference football players have been honored recently by the College Football Performance Awards.
Portland State linebacker Ian Sluss was named the Linebacker of the Year. Northern Arizona’s Austin Shanks was named the Punt Returner of the Year. North Dakota’s Greg Hardin won the Elite FCS Wide Receiver Award. Eastern Washington Wide receiver Brandon Kaufman won the FCS Wide Receiver honor.
The goal of the
College Football Performance Awards (CFPA) is to provide the
most scientifically rigorous conferments in college football. CFPA recognizes weekly,
annual, and multi-season (career) award recipients – selected based upon objective
scientific rankings of the extent to which individual players increase the overall
effectiveness of their teams.
Sluss, a 6-foot, 225-pound senior form Vista, Calif., recorded 104 total tackles with four interceptions and four fumble recoveries. He scored three defensive touchdowns.
Shanks, a 5-8, 175-pound senior from Pacoima, Calif., led the nation in punt returns with an average of 19.8 yards per return. He returned two for touchdowns, a 74-yarder against Fort Lewis and a 75-yarder against UNLV.
Hardin, a 5-11, 167-pound junior from Bellevue, Neb., caught 65 passes for 1,145 yards with 14 touchdowns. He set a Big Sky single-game record with 333 receiving yards and three touchdowns in a win over Montana on Oct. 20.
Kaufman, a 6-5, 215-pound junior from Denver, Colo., set an FCS single-season record with 1,850 receiving yards. He caught 93 passes, which is tied for fifth in Big Sky single-season history. He also caught 16 TD passes.
Southern Utah QB was previously named the Elite Quarterback by the CFPA.