EWU's Adams Earns Top Honor from CFPA
Five Big Sky Conference football players received honors from the
College Football Performance Awards on Thursday.
Eastern Washington sophomore quarterback Vernon Adams was awarded the top honor given by the CFPA to an FCS Player, earning the Performer of the Year. Flordia State freshman QB Jameis Winston, the Heisman Trophy Award Winner, won the honor at the FBS level.
Eastern Washington freshman wide receiver Cooper Kupp was selected as the FCS CFPA Wide Receiver of the Year.
Cal Poly senior Sullivan Grosz was named Defensive Tackle of the Year. Portland State junior Kyle Loomis earned Punter of the Year. Montana senior Jordan Tripp was tabbed as an Elite Linebacker.
Adams, from Pasadena, Calif., set Big Sky single-season records for passing yards (4,994), touchdown passes (55), pass efficiency (183.1), and total offensive yards (5,599). He helped the Eagles to the Big Sky Conference title, and a trip to the national semifinals.
Kupp, from Yakima, Wash., set FCS national freshman single-season records for catches (93), yards (1,691), and touchdown catches (21). Kupp’s 21 touchdown catches set a Big Sky single-season record. He finished as the national leader in receiving yards and touchdown catches. The Jerry Rice Award winner caught a TD pass in 14 straight games – an all-time FCS record.
Grosz, the Co-Big Sky Defensive Player of the Year, finished the season with 70 tackles – 14 for loss – with a team-high 8.5 sacks. He also had 11 quarterback hurries, an interception and a blocked field goal. The 6-foot-4, 295-pounder from Fresno, Calif., graduated in December with a bachelor’s degree in business administration with a concentration in management as well as industrial technology.
The 6-4, 295-pound San Joaquin Memorial High School (Fresno, Calif.) graduate was named to the Football Championship Subdivision All-American First Team by Associated Press, the 2013 Football Championship Subdivision All-American First Team by The Sports Network, the College Sports Madness All-American first team and the Beyond Sports Network second team.
In helping Cal Poly to a 6-6 overall record and fourth-place Big Sky finish, Grosz earned 70 tackles (14 for lost yardage) and a team-leading 8.5 sacks. He also notched 11 quarterback hurries, blocked a Yale field goal attempt and earned his first career interception in his final game as a Mustang at Northern Colorado.
Grosz, who did not miss a game in his four seasons at Cal Poly and started 35 straight contests, notched a season-high 10 tackles at Montana last fall. On Dec. 8 at the football team awards banquet, Grosz was named Cal Poly's most valuable player for the 2013 season.
Grosz graduated in December with a bachelor's degree in business administration with a concentration in management as well as in industrial technology.
Loomis, a junior from Roseburg, Ore., led the nation in punting with an average of 46.5 yards per punt. Loomis was named to several All-America teams. Portland State led the nation in net punting.
Tripp, a senior from Missoula, Mont., was a two-time First Team All-Big Sky selection. He registered 100 total tackles as a senior.
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.