Big Sky Conference

EWU’s West, UM’s Holmes added to Player of the Year watch lists

on

Jordan West and Tyrone Holmes each replaced program legends during the off-season. West and Holmes have made it at least a little bit easier to forget Vernon Adams and Zack Wagenmann.

EWU quarterback Jordan West

EWU quarterback Jordan West

West, Eastern Washington’s junior quarterback, let EWU to three wins in four starts last season with Adams on the shelf. But Adams still earned the Big Sky Conference’s Offensive MVP for a second straight season. In the off-season, Adams left the three-time defending Big Sky champions to transfer to Oregon. He has experienced mixed results in Eugene while West has not missed a beat in Cheney.

Holmes has been a starter since his freshman season, spending the last three seasons opposite Wagenmann. Holmes has been solid — he had a four-sack game as a true freshman in 2012 and he entered his senior year with 16.5 career sacks — but Wagenmann’s production was record-setting. The three-time All-America earned Big Sky Defensive MVP honors by notching 17.5 sacks and 22.5 tackles for loss. He finished his career as Montana’s all-time leader with 37.5 career sacks. Holmes’ tremendous start to his senior season includes an FCS-best sack total. He’s somehow given himself an outside shot to chase Wagenmann’s career sack mark.

On Wednesday, STATS Inc. added West and Holmes to the FCS Offensive and Defensive Player of the Year watch lists. The awards were formerly known as the Walter Payton Award (offense) and the Buck Buchanan Award (defense) before STATS LLC purchased the Sports Network.

West was one of four offensive players named to the list, joining EWU junior wide receiver Cooper Kupp and Montana State junior quarterback Dakota Prukop as Big Sky players earning recognition. Holmes was one of three players added to the defensive list, joining Southern Utah senior defensive end James Cowser and Sacramento State middle linebacker Darnell Sankey as the Big Sky’s representatives.

This season, West leads the nation in passer efficiency with a rating of 201.6. He is completing 72.4 percent of his passes for 1,543 yards (386 yards per game). He has thrown 15 touchdowns compared to just three interceptions. In a 55-50 win over Montana State, West set an efficiency school record with a rating 313.5 as he completed 21-of-24 passes for 410 yards and six touchdowns. In a 28-20 win over Sacramento State two weeks ago, he set a school record with 491 yards passing. His Eagles are 2-2 coming off a bye with Cal Poly coming to Cheney on Saturday.

Holmes is averaging almost two sacks per game in notching an FCS-best nine so far this season. He also leads the country with

Tyrone Holmes vs. Cal Poly

Tyrone Holmes vs. Cal Poly

10.5 tackles for loss as he has been in on 48 stops all told. Two weeks ago, Holmes tied a Montana school record with 4.5 sacks in a 23-14 win over Northern Arizona in which the Griz defense piled up eight sacks. He had 11 total tackles, including 5.5 tackles for loss in the NAU win.

He also has four QB hurries, one of which led directly to a Caleb Kidder interception last week at UC Davis.

“Stuff like that is a testament to how our whole defense is playing,” Holmes said of the recognition in a UM press release. “So it’s pretty cool for our whole defense and hopefully we can keep it going, and keep putting up numbers and at the end of the year we’ll be where we want to be.”

Montana has produced 10 first-team All-America defensive ends since 1987 and Holmes continues to climb the list of all-time greats, at least statistically. He currently had 25.5 career sacks, the sixth-most in school history behind Wagenmann, Tim Bush (32.5), Kroy Biermann (32), Andy Petek (29) and Mike Murphy (27). His 36 career tackles for loss are seventh in school history, trailing Wagenmann (53), Bush (48.5), Biermann (45), Murphy (44.5), Petek (44) and Jason Crebo (39).

Jacksonville State quarterback Eli Jenkins, Coastal Carolina running back De’Angelo Henderson and South Dakota State wide receiver Jake Wieneke also joined the watch list for offensive players. Northern Iowa cornerback Deiondre’ Hall and Eastern Kentucky defensive end Noah Spence were added to the defensive list.

 

FROM STATS PRESS RELEASE

JAKE WIENEKE, South Dakota State, WR, R-So., 6-4, 210, Maple Grove, Minnesota

Wieneke

Jake Wieneke

Wieneke ended his freshman season with a flourish and that run has continued this season for the No. 7 Jackrabbits (3-1). He’s used his terrific size to break free from double coverage and catch 29 passes for 567 yards and six touchdowns, an average of 141.8 receiving yards per game to rank second in the FCS. Last year’s Missouri Valley Football Conference Freshman of the Year, and the runner-up for national rookie honors, opened the season with big games against Kansas (eight receptions, 160 yards, two touchdowns), Southern Utah (11-205-2) and Robert Morris (7-163-2).

DE’ANGELO HENDERSON, Coastal Carolina, RB, R-Jr., 5-8, 205, Summerville, South Carolina

It seems like Henderson is setting a school record or personal high with each game. He’s used great vision and quick cutting ability to rank fourth in the FCS in rushing yards per game (126.8), totaling 634 yards and seven touchdowns on 98 carries. Add in 264 yards and two touchdowns on 24 receptions and “Hop,” as he’s known to teammates, ranks fifth in the FCS in all-purpose yards per game (179.6). He has become Coastal’s all-time leading rusher (2,767) and set a Big South record with a touchdown in 19 straight games – one shy of the FCS record. Coastal (5-0) holds down the No. 2 ranking.

ELI JENKINS, Jacksonville State, QB, R-Jr., 6-2, 205, Birmingham, Alabama

In his third season as a starter, Jenkins is directing the offense of the No. 1-ranked team in the FCS. A dual-threat, he is averaging 233 total yards per game and has accounted for 11 touchdowns for the defending Ohio Valley Conference champion Gamecocks (4-1). He has completed 79 of 125 passes (63.2 percent) for 933 yards and eight touchdowns with three interceptions while rushing for 232 yards and three touchdowns. In an overtime loss at Auburn, Jenkins set career highs in completions (26) and attempts (43) while passing for 277 yards and collecting 314 yards of total offense. He’s won all 20 of his regular-season starts against FCS opponents.

Other players on the STATS FCS Offensive Player of the Year Watch List: quarterbacks John Gibbs Jr. of Alcorn State, Jacob Huesman of Chattanooga, Vad Lee of James Madison, Troy Mitchell of Western Carolina, Dakota Prukop of Montana State, Tre Roberson of Illinois State, John Robertson of Villanova, Alex Ross of Coastal Carolina, Carson Wentz of North Dakota State and Dalyn Williams of Dartmouth; running backs Tarik Cohen of North Carolina A&T, Marshaun Coprich of Illinois State, Khairi Dickson of Saint Francis, Chase Edmonds of Fordham, Johnta’ Hebert of Prairie View A&M, Connor Kacsor of Dayton, Dy’Shawn Mobley of Eastern Kentucky and Darius Victor of Towson; and wide receivers Ed Eagan of Northwestern State, Cooper Kupp of Eastern Washington and Darrin Peterson of Liberty.

DEFENSIVE WATCH LIST ADDITIONS

Noah Spence, Eastern Kentucky.

Noah Spence, Eastern Kentucky.

NOAH SPENCE, E Kentucky, DE, Jr. 6-3, 261, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania

Having run into different off-the-field problems at Ohio State, Spence has gained another chance at Eastern Kentucky, which he has helped to a No. 17 ranking. His talent is undeniable as he earned All-Big Ten first-team honors from the media in 2013. With his Ohio Valley Conference squad (2-2), Spence has used his quickness off the edge to register at least one sack in each game, totaling 4.5 overall with 18 tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss, four quarterback hurries, two forced fumbles and one fumble recovery. The former five-star high school prospect is considered a prospect for the 2016 NFL Draft.

DEIONDRE’ HALL, Northern Iowa, CB, Sr., 6-2, 190, Blue Springs, Missouri

Versatility has been Hall’s calling card as he’s spent time at UNI at free safety, rover and outside linebacker as well as at wide receiver and as a returner. But he’s been best suited for cornerback because of his ball-hawking and playmaking skills. In his fourth season as a starter, Hall has an impressive 28 tackles with two interceptions – one that he returned for a pivotal touchdown against Eastern Washington – and two forced fumbles. He has helped his 2-2 Missouri Valley Football Conference team to a No. 10 national ranking against one of the toughest schedules in the FCS.

Other players on the STATS FCS Defensive Player of the Year Watch List: defensive ends James Cowser of Southern Utah, P.J. Hall of Sam Houston State, Victor Ochi of Stony Brook, Derek Rivers of Youngstown State, Chima Uzowihe of Liberty and Jonathan Woodard of Central Arkansas; defensive tackles Javon Hargrave of South Carolina State, O.J. Mau of Gardner-Webb and Devaunte Sigler of Jacksonville State; linebackers Kourtney Berry of Alabama State, Don Cherry of Villanova, Deon King of Norfolk State, Cory Magwood of Furman, Pat Meehan of Illinois State, James Rentz of Sacred Heart, Luke Rhodes of William & Mary, Darnell Sankey of Sacramento State and Connor Underwood of Indiana State; cornerbacks Casey DeAndrade of New Hampshire, Jermaine Hough of Jacksonville State and Harlan Miller of Southeastern Louisiana; and safety Donald Payne of Stetson.

The Watch Lists can undergo revision during the 2015 season. A national panel of over 150 sports information and media relations directors, broadcasters, writers and other dignitaries will vote on the awards after the regular season.

Big Sky Confernce photos by Brooks Nuanez. Others courtesy of individual athletics departements. All Rights Reserved.

 

 

About Colter Nuanez

Colter Nuanez is the co-founder and senior writer for Skyline Sports. After spending six years in the newspaper industry with stops at the Missoulian, the Ellensburg Daily Record and the Bozeman Daily Chronicle, the former Washington Newspaper Association Sportswriter of the Year and University of Montana Journalism School graduate ('09) has cultivated a deep passion for sports journalism during his 13-year career covering the Big Sky Conference. In August of 2014, Colter and brother Brooks merged their passions of writing and art to found Skyline Sports.

Recommended for you