Oklahoma State University Athletics
Photo by: Bruce Waterfield
Rudolph, Washington Are Major Awards Finalists
November 20, 2017 | Cowboy Football
STILLWATER – Oklahoma State quarterback Mason Rudolph and receiver James Washington are both finalists for major national awards, it was announced today. Rudolph is one of three finalists for the Davey O'Brien Award presented to the nation's top quarterback and Washington is one of three finalists for the Biletnikoff Award presented to the nation's outstanding receiver at any position.
The nation's leading passer both in terms of passing yards (4,115) and passing yards per game (374.1), Rudolph also leads the FBS in points responsible for (246) and points responsible for per game (22.4). He ranks among the top five in the nation in passing touchdowns, total offense, pass efficiency, passing yards per attempt and passing yards per completion this season.
From a team perspective, Rudolph is the trigger man for the nation's top-ranked passing offense and for the highest-scoring team in the FBS.
The winningest quarterback in Oklahoma State history with 30 career victories to his credit, Rudolph owns no fewer than 32 school records, including most every major passing mark. More records are still in his reach for him in the season's final games.
Rudolph is Oklahoma State's first-ever finalist for the Davey O'Brien Award. This year's other finalists are Oklahoma's Baker Mayfield and Ohio State's J.T. Barrett.
Among the criteria that Davey O'Brien Award voters follow is consideration for a player's sportsmanship and character. For the duration of his time in Stillwater, Rudolph has been Oklahoma State's most active community service participant and perhaps its most positive ambassador, both on and off the field.
"Mason represents our football program the right way," said OSU head coach Mike Gundy. "He's won a ton of games for us. He's played with broken ribs, he's played with a broken foot and he's been tremendous for this school and tremendous for society. I had a conversation with his mom and dad and told them for everything that he's done (on the field), as a parent, you should be more proud of what he's done (in the community). He's awesome."
Fans can vote for Rudolph once daily per registered email address at VoteOBrien.org. Fan voting counts as five percent of the balloting when combined with the results from the Davey O'Brien national selection committee.
While Oklahoma State has never previously had a finalist for the Davey O'Brien Award, Washington is looking to bring the Biletnikoff Award back to Stillwater for the third time this decade, as Justin Blackmon was the winner in both 2010 and 2011. Additionally, Dez Bryant was a finalist in 2008.
A unanimous preseason and midseason All-America selection in 2017, Washington's competition in the final leg of the 2017 Biletnikoff Award race comes from West Virginia's David Sills and Colorado State's Michael Gallup.
When examining Washington and Sills against the same Big 12 Conference opponents, Washington compares favorably with an average of 118.8 receiving yards per game to 79.6 for Sills, despite the fact that no receiver in the country faces more exaggerated coverages designed specifically to stop him than does Washington. The Cowboy also has five 100-yard games against Big 12 competition compared to three for Sills. It should be noted that two of Washington's 100-yard efforts came against Oklahoma and TCU, both of whom are ranked in the Top 10 nationally.
"James Washington opens up so many things for the Oklahoma State offense because he commands so much attention from opposing defenses, yet he still leads the nation in receiving yards per game. Everyone knows he's the guy and they're all geared up to stop him, yet he still excels. That speaks to his level of greatness," said ESPN analyst and Heisman trophy-winning receiver Desmond Howard.
Washington's 2017 season continues a multi-year run as one of college football's best wideouts. He has surpassed 1,000 receiving yards each of the last three seasons, becoming one of only three players in Big 12 Conference history to achieve that feat three times. The Stamford, Texas, native is the FBS active career leader in receiving touchdowns (37) and receiving yards (4,240). He is one of just 21 players in NCAA history to surpass 4,000 career receiving yards.
With a strong finish to the season, Washington could finish as the Big 12 career receiving yards leader. He enters this week's game against Kansas 346 yards shy of the Big 12's all-time record with two games yet to play.
Both Cowboys will travel to Atlanta to find out if they win their respective awards when The Home Depot College Football Awards Show airs on Thursday, December 7.
The nation's leading passer both in terms of passing yards (4,115) and passing yards per game (374.1), Rudolph also leads the FBS in points responsible for (246) and points responsible for per game (22.4). He ranks among the top five in the nation in passing touchdowns, total offense, pass efficiency, passing yards per attempt and passing yards per completion this season.
From a team perspective, Rudolph is the trigger man for the nation's top-ranked passing offense and for the highest-scoring team in the FBS.
The winningest quarterback in Oklahoma State history with 30 career victories to his credit, Rudolph owns no fewer than 32 school records, including most every major passing mark. More records are still in his reach for him in the season's final games.
Rudolph is Oklahoma State's first-ever finalist for the Davey O'Brien Award. This year's other finalists are Oklahoma's Baker Mayfield and Ohio State's J.T. Barrett.
Among the criteria that Davey O'Brien Award voters follow is consideration for a player's sportsmanship and character. For the duration of his time in Stillwater, Rudolph has been Oklahoma State's most active community service participant and perhaps its most positive ambassador, both on and off the field.
"Mason represents our football program the right way," said OSU head coach Mike Gundy. "He's won a ton of games for us. He's played with broken ribs, he's played with a broken foot and he's been tremendous for this school and tremendous for society. I had a conversation with his mom and dad and told them for everything that he's done (on the field), as a parent, you should be more proud of what he's done (in the community). He's awesome."
Fans can vote for Rudolph once daily per registered email address at VoteOBrien.org. Fan voting counts as five percent of the balloting when combined with the results from the Davey O'Brien national selection committee.
While Oklahoma State has never previously had a finalist for the Davey O'Brien Award, Washington is looking to bring the Biletnikoff Award back to Stillwater for the third time this decade, as Justin Blackmon was the winner in both 2010 and 2011. Additionally, Dez Bryant was a finalist in 2008.
A unanimous preseason and midseason All-America selection in 2017, Washington's competition in the final leg of the 2017 Biletnikoff Award race comes from West Virginia's David Sills and Colorado State's Michael Gallup.
When examining Washington and Sills against the same Big 12 Conference opponents, Washington compares favorably with an average of 118.8 receiving yards per game to 79.6 for Sills, despite the fact that no receiver in the country faces more exaggerated coverages designed specifically to stop him than does Washington. The Cowboy also has five 100-yard games against Big 12 competition compared to three for Sills. It should be noted that two of Washington's 100-yard efforts came against Oklahoma and TCU, both of whom are ranked in the Top 10 nationally.
"James Washington opens up so many things for the Oklahoma State offense because he commands so much attention from opposing defenses, yet he still leads the nation in receiving yards per game. Everyone knows he's the guy and they're all geared up to stop him, yet he still excels. That speaks to his level of greatness," said ESPN analyst and Heisman trophy-winning receiver Desmond Howard.
Washington's 2017 season continues a multi-year run as one of college football's best wideouts. He has surpassed 1,000 receiving yards each of the last three seasons, becoming one of only three players in Big 12 Conference history to achieve that feat three times. The Stamford, Texas, native is the FBS active career leader in receiving touchdowns (37) and receiving yards (4,240). He is one of just 21 players in NCAA history to surpass 4,000 career receiving yards.
With a strong finish to the season, Washington could finish as the Big 12 career receiving yards leader. He enters this week's game against Kansas 346 yards shy of the Big 12's all-time record with two games yet to play.
Both Cowboys will travel to Atlanta to find out if they win their respective awards when The Home Depot College Football Awards Show airs on Thursday, December 7.
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