Cooper Kupp has made it painful for defenders during his EWU career..
How do you recount the exploits of the 2015 No. 10 top story that is the clutch-football-play-making, record-producing phenom that is Eastern Washington University wide receiver Cooper Kupp?
Perhaps the best way is through headlines - of which Kupp made plenty during his season with the Eagles. The junior from Yakima began the year as a two-time consensus All-American, and likely to win a third, and ended it as the second wide receiver, and third Eastern player, to win the prestigious Walter Payton award for the Football Championship Subdivision's best offensive player.
"Kupp shares Big Sky offensive player award" (Sept. 10) for his performance in a 61-42 shootout loss at FBS No. 7 Oregon. Kupp set Autzen Stadium records and career highs for catches (15) and yards (246) to go with three touchdowns in collecting his first conference player of the week award.
The following week, Kupp had nine catches for 179 yards and two TDs in a 38-35 loss at Northern Iowa. He would also suffer a hip pointer that kept him out of the second half, but picked up where he left off with 12 catches for 201 yards and three more TDs in Eastern's 55-50 home-opening win over Montana State the next week.
"Eagles head for unfamiliar territory, turf" (Oct. 22) talked about Eastern's coming foray to Greeley, Colo. to face Northern Colorado, but not before Kupp set a new EWU scoring record with three TDs, on coming on a punt return, in a road win at Idaho State Oct. 17. In Greeley, Kupp didn't let up, setting a new career high for receptions (20) and yards (275) while adding three more scores in a 43-41 last-second win over the Bears, earning him his second Big Sky player of the week award along with national STATS FCS Offensive Player of the Week honor.
Kupp didn't let up, adding two more TDs in a pedestrian effort (seven catches, 74 yards) for him in Eastern's 14-13 Homecoming win over Weber State on Halloween. It was the last time the Eagles would see the win column as they finished with losses to Northern Arizona, Montana and Portland State to miss the playoffs for the first time since 2011, ending with a 6-5 record.
For Kupp, though, the headlines kept coming. He finished the year with 114 receptions for 1,642 yards, averaging 149.3 yards per game and 14.4 yards per catch for 19 TDs.
Kupp has been named to six All-America teams, is the FCS Wide Receiver of the Year and a first-team academic All-American. On Dec. 21, he won the Walter Payton award.
But of all the headlines over the past season, perhaps the won Eagles fans love the most is the one from Dec. 3 - "Kupp will play senior season at Eastern."
John McCallum can be reached at jmac@cheneyfreepress.com.
Reader Comments(0)