EWU's Adams Leads Associated Press All-America Team

12/17/2014 1:42:58 PM

Eastern Washington junior quarterback Vernon Adams Jr was selected as the First Team All-America quarterback by the Associated Press on Wednesday.

Adams Jr. was one of six Big Sky players to earn First Team honors, and one of nine league players selected to the team.

Eastern Washington sophomore wide receiver Cooper Kupp and Eagle senior offensive tackle Jake Rodgers was also selected to the First Team. Portland State's Kyle Loomis, Montana defensive end Zack Wagenmann, and Cal Poly linebacker Nick Dzubnar also earned First Team honors.

Adams Jr., who finished second in voting for the Walter Payton Award, was named the Big Sky MVP for the second straight season. He guided EWU to its third consecutive Big Sky title. Despite missing four games with a broken foot, Adams completed 66.1 percent of his passes for 3,483 yards with 35 touchdowns and eight interceptions. He averaged 348.3 passing yards per game. The junior from Pasadena, Calif., averaged 376.8 yards of total offense per game. 

Kupp, who was selected to the Walter Camp All-America Team on Tuesday, became the second Big Sky player to catch 100 passes in a season. Kupp finished the season with 104 catches for 1,431 yards with 16 touchdowns.

Rogers, a senior from Spokane, Wash., was tabbed to his third All-America Team this week. He was also named to the AFCA and Walter Camp All-America Teams. Rogers anchored an offensive line that helped the Eagles finish first in the nation in scoring offense and among the national leaders in passing offense and total offense. 

Loomis, a senior from Roseburg, Ore., was also previously named to the AFCA and Walter Camp squads. Loomis led the nation in punting for the second consecutive season, averaging 46 yards per punt.

Wagenmann, a senior from Missoula, Mont., was the Big Sky Defensive MVP. He finished the season as the Big Sky leader in sacks with 17.5 and forced fumbles with six. He was second in tackles for loss with 17.5. Wagenmann was also named to the Walter Camp and AFCA teams.

Dzubnar also earned his third All-America honor this week. Dzubnar led the Big Sky with 167 total tackles and finished second in the nation with an average of 13.9 tackles per game. 

Sacramento State senior wide receiver De'Andre Carter and Southern Utah defensive end James Cowser earned Second Team honors. Montana safety Matt Hermanson was tabbed to the Third Team.


Quarterback - Vernon Adams, junior, 6-foot, 200 pounds, Eastern Washington.

Running backs - Zach Zenner, senior, 6-0, 220, South Dakota State; Marshaun Coprich, junior, 5-9, 205, Illinois State.

Linemen - Collin Seibert, senior, 6-4, 277, Eastern Illinois; Jake Rummells, senior, 6-5, 301, Northern Iowa; Cole Carruthers, senior, 6-4, 292, Central Arkansas; Joe Haeg, junior, 6-6, 299, North Dakota State; Jake Rodgers, senior, 6-6, 315, Eastern Washington.

Tight end - MyCole Pruitt, senior, 6-3, 255, Southern Illinois.

Wide receivers - Cooper Kupp, sophomore, 6-2, 195, Eastern Washington; R.J. Harris, senior, 6-0, 201, New Hampshire.

All-purpose player - Johnta' Hebert, junior, 5-10, 195, Prairie View A&M.

Kicker - Michael Schmadeke, junior, 5-10, 181, Northern Iowa.

Linemen - Kyle Emanuel, senior, 6-3, 251, senior, North Dakota State; Zack Wagenmann, senior, 6-3, 250, Montana; Davis Tull, senior, 6-3, 240, Chattanooga; Javon Hargrave, junior, 6-2, 295, South Carolina State.

Linebackers - Don Cherry, junior, 6-1, 221, Villanova; Nick Dzubnar, senior, 6-2, 250, Cal Poly; Quinn Backus, senior, 5-10, 215, Coastal Carolina.

Backs - Donald Payne, sophomore, 6-0, 205, Stetson; Jacob Hagen, senior, 6-3, 205, Liberty; Caleb Schaffitzel, senior, 6-0, 217, Missouri State; Colten Heagle, junior, 5-11, 206, North Dakota State.

Punter - Kyle Loomis, senior, 6-2, 230, Portland State.
Quarterback - John Robertson, junior, Villanova.

Running backs - Tyler Varga, senior, Yale; Gus Johnson, senior, Stephen F. Austin.

Linemen - Chad Hamilton, senior, Coastal Carolina; Ronald Canty, senior, North Carolina A&T; Mike Coccia, redshirt freshman, New Hampshire; Max Holcombe, junior, Jacksonville State; Antoine Everett, senior, McNeese State.

Tight end - Seth Cranfill, senior, Gardner-Webb.

Wide receivers - De'Andre Carter, senior, Sacramento State; Jake Wieneke, freshman, South Dakota State.

All-purpose player - Ed Eagan, junior, Northwestern State.

Kicker - Justin Syrovatka, senior, South Dakota State.

Linemen - Devaunte Sigler, junior, Jacksonville State; Zack Hodges, senior, Harvard; Mike Reilly, senior, William & Mary; James Cowser, junior, Southern Utah.

Linebackers - Evan Byers, senior, Bucknell; Connor Underwood, junior, Indiana State; Lynden Trail, senior, Norfolk State.

Backs - Jaquiski Tartt, senior, Samford; Christian Ricard, senior, Stony Brook; Jarrett Dieudonne, senior, Wagner; De'Ante Saunders, junior, Tennessee State.

Punter - Cory Carter, junior, Texas Southern.
Quarterback - Vad Lee, junior James Madison.

Running backs - Chase Edmonds, freshman, Fordham; Malcolm Cyrus, senior, Alabama State.

Linemen - Austin Gund, senior, Richmond; Mason Halter, senior, Fordham; Nick Easton, senior, Harvard; Donald Jackson III, junior, Sam Houston State; Jermaine Barton, senior, Illinois State.

Tight end -Faysal Shafaat, senior, Chattanooga.

Wide receivers - Adam Drake, senior, Eastern Illinois; Mark Roberts, Lamar, senior.

All-purpose player - David Johnson, senior, Northern Iowa.

Kicker - Adam Keller, senior, North Dakota State.
Linemen - Ryan Delaire, senior, Towson; Xavier Williams, senior, Northern Iowa; Jonathan Woodard, junior, Central Arkansas; Jeff Covitz, senior, Bryant.

Linebackers - Tony Bell, senior, Tennessee-Martin; Isiah Corbett, junior, Southeastern Louisiana; Nick Thrasher, senior, Tennessee State.

Backs - Zach Adler, senior, Marist; Harlan Miller, junior, Southeastern Louisiana; Matt Hermanson, senior, Montana; Tye Smith, senior, Towson.

Punter - Eric Anderson, sophomore, Delaware.