The seniors were the special guests, but it was the underclassmen who garnered most of the awards at Saturday's (Jan. 28) annual Eastern Washington University Awards Banquet at the Pence Union Building on the EWU campus in Cheney, Wash.
 
Zach Wimberly was the Special Teams Player of the Year, linebacker Miquiyah Zamora earned the honor on defense and wide receiver Cooper Kupp continued his accolade-filled season with POY honors on offense. All were juniors in the 2015 season and will return to lead the Eagles in 2016.
 
A tight end and 2012 graduate of Tumwater (Wash.) High School, Wimberly had six tackles on special teams to go along with seven catches for 81 yards and two touchdowns. Zamora finished as EWU's leading tackler and eclipsed the 100-tackle mark for the second-straight year, finishing with 101. The 2012 graduate of Chiawana High School in Pasco, Wash., also had 2 1/2 sacks, three passes broken up and a forced fumble.
 
Kupp parlayed his success into three Player of the Year awards in the NCAA Football Championship Subdivision, including the coveted Walter Payton Award. He is a 2012 graduate of Davis High School in Yakima, Wash., and has been a consensus All-American in all three of his seasons at EWU.
 
In addition, safety Mitch Fettig was picked as the team's Freshman of the Year, and receiving Scout Team Players of the Year were Trevor Davis Jr. and tight end Jayce Gilder.
 
Fettig, a 2014 graduate of Olympia (Wash.) High School, started all nine games he played in 2015 and finished eighth on the team with 43 tackles with one interception and four passes broken up. Davis is a 2015 graduate of Tumwater (Wash.) High School and Gilder graduated the same year from Corvallis, Mont., HS.
 
In addition, senior tight end Jake Withnell was given the Pat Roberts Memorial Award for achieving academic and athletic excellence. Withnell, who has a 3.89 grade point average and set the school record by playing in 54 career games, is a 2011 graduate of South Salem (Ore.) High School.
 
Receiving team captains awards from the 2015 season were two seniors (All-America offensive guard Aaron Neary and safety Todd Raynes) and two juniors (Zamora and Kupp). Neary is a 2011 graduate of Hanford High School in Richland, Wash., and Raynes is from Kenmore, Wash., and is a 2011 graduate of Inglemoor HS.
 
In addition, former Eagle Tony Brooks was recognized as the 2015 recipient of the Tom Oswald award. Brooks was an All-Big Sky Conference receiver from 1990-93 and now resides in Tacoma.
 
Other honors won during the 2014 season were presented at the banquet, which concluded with the introduction and recognition of Eastern's 14 seniors.
 
Those seniors were a part of three Big Sky Conference championships and a trio of playoff berths. Eastern won 27 of 32 Big Sky Conference games and 40 games overall in the last four years. Besides Withnell's school record for games played, All-America offensive tackle Clay DeBord set the school record for career games started with 51.
 
A complete list of honors won are listed below:
 
Team Players of the Year 

• Offense – Cooper Kupp (Yakima, Wash.)
• Defense – Miquiyah Zamora (Pasco, Wash.)
• Special Teams – Zach Wimberly (Tumwater, Wash.)

 
Scout Team Players of the Year

• Defense – Trevor Davis Jr. (Tumwater, Wash.)
• Offense – Jayce Gilder (Corvallis, Mont.)

 
Team Freshman of the Year

• Freshman of the Year – Mitch Fettig (Olympia, Wash.)

 
Pat Roberts Memorial Award

• This award is given by the coaching staff in memory of Pat Roberts, one of Eagle Football's most loyal supporters. The criteria for selection is based on an individual who possess the attributes that sets him apart from all the rest. This person is not necessarily the best athlete on the team, nor the best student. But he is the one that makes all others around him better through hard work, perseverance, superior work ethic, team leadership and a tenacious attitude. Pat Roberts believes in Eagle Football and in the value of a young man who lives those same beliefs of Eagle Excellence every day.

2015 – Jake Withnell
2014 – Ashton Boothroyd
2013 – Jakob Pugsley
2012 – Grant Williams
2011 – David Miles
2010 - Matt Martin
2009 - Tony Davis, Chris Thomas
2008 - Mark Lathim
2007 - Chris Carlsen
2006 - Brandon Nicholson
2005 – Jake Young
2004 – Paul Terrell
2003 – Keith Garner
2002 – Luke Vincent
2001 – Alvin Tolliver
2000 – Josh Martin
 
Tom Oswald Memorial Award 

• The Tom Oswald Memorial Award was created following the 2006 season in the memory of former Cheney High School coach Tom Oswald, who succumbed to cancer on Aug. 4, 2006. Recipients are selected by the Eastern coaching staff for following Oswald's creed of "Doing the Right Thing" for youth. Tom passed away on Aug. 4, 2006, after a battle with cancer. He won 165 games in 25 years in Cheney.

2015 – Tony Brooks
2012 – Jay Day (1992-95)
2010 - Luke Fritz (1997-2000)
2009 - Rick Giampietri (1968-68)
2008 - Kyler Randall (2000-03)
2007 - Josh Martin (1997-2000)
2006 - Ryan Chicoine (1998)
 
Team Captain Awards

• Junior wide receiver Cooper Kupp
• Junior linebacker Miquiyah Zamora
• Senior guard Aaron Neary
• Senior safety Todd Raynes

 
2015 Seniors
Center - #73 - T.J. Boatright - 4L - Vancouver, Wash. (Union HS '11)
Off. Tackle - #78 - Clay DeBord - 4L - Asotin, Wash. (Asotin HS '11)
Off. Tackle - #79 - Cassidy Curtis - 4L - Denver, Colo. (Cherry Creek HS '11)
Off. Guard - #58 - David Delgado - 2L - American Canyon, Calif. (St. Patrick-St. Vincent HS '11)
Off. Guard - #61 - Jay Deines - 3L - Issaquah, Wash. (Issaquah HS '11)
Off. Guard - #66 - Thomas Gomez - 3L - Graham, Wash. (Graham Kapowsin HS '11)
Tight End - #89 - Terry Jackson II - 3L - Sacramento, Calif. (Bella Vista HS '11)
Kicker - #76 - Tyler McNannay - 2L/TR - Colfax, Wash. (Colfax HS '11 / Wash. St. & Weber St.)
Off. Guard - #72 - Aaron Neary - 4L - Richland, Wash. (Hanford HS '11)
Defensive Back - #4 - Todd Raynes - 4L - Kenmore, Wash. (Inglemoor HS '11)
Running Back/Linebacker - Jordan Talley - 3L• - Portland, Ore. (Jesuit HS '11)
RB/CB - #21 - Rashad Wadood - 2L/TR - Long Beach, Calif. (Lakewood HS '11 & Ariz. St.)
Safety - #8 - Miles Weatheroy - 4L - Portland, Ore. (Jesuit HS '11)
Tight End - #82 - Jake Withnell - 4L - Salem, Ore. (South Salem HS '11)
 
 
 
 
 

2015 INDIVIDUAL AWARD WINNERS

 
All-Big Sky Honors
 
Honorable Mention All-Big Sky Conference
Outside Linebacker - Jake Gall - 6-1 - 215 - So. - 2L - Cle Elum, Wash. (Cle Elum/Roslyn HS '13)
Off. Guard - Thomas Gomez - 6-3 - 295 - Sr. - 3L - Graham, Wash. (Graham Kapowsin HS '11)
 
Third Team All-Big Sky
Def. Tackle - Matthew Sommer - 6-5 - 310 - Jr. - 3L - Salem, Ore. (West Salem HS '13) - Honorable mention All-Big Sky in 2014
Safety - Todd Raynes - 6-2 - 210 - Sr. - 4L - Kenmore, Wash. (Inglemoor HS '11)
 
Second Team All-Big Sky
Wide Receiver - Kendrick Bourne - 6-3 - 190 - Jr. - 3L - Portland, Ore. (Milwaukie Arts Academy '13) – Hon. Mention in 2014
Def. End - Samson Ebukam - 6-3 - 240 - Jr. - 3L - Portland, Ore. (David Douglas HS '13) - Second Team All-Big Sky in 2014
 
First Team All-Big Sky
Wide Receiver - Cooper Kupp - 6-2 - 205 - Jr. - 3L - Yakima, Wash. (Davis HS '12) – First Team All-Big Sky in 2013 and 2014
Off. Tackle - Clay DeBord - 6-6 - 305 - Sr. - 4L - Asotin, Wash. (Asotin HS '11) - Second Team in 2013 and Hon. Mention in 2014
Off. Guard - Aaron Neary - 6-4 - 300 - Sr. - 4L - Richland, Wash. (Hanford HS '11) - First Team All-Big Sky in 2014
 
EWU Winners of Big Sky Offensive MVP

• Cooper Kupp became only the second wide receiver in 42 years to win the Offensive MVP Award, and continued a long legacy of Eagles to win the award at the same time. Eastern players have now won the honor 11 times in the last 15 seasons, and 12 times overall

2015 – Cooper Kupp, Wide Receiver
2014 - Vernon Adams Jr., Quarterback
2013 - Vernon Adams Jr., Quarterback
2011 - Bo Levi Mitchell, Quarterback
2010 - Taiwan Jones, Running Back
2009 - Matt Nichols, Quarterback
2007 - Matt Nichols, Quarterback
2005 - Erik Meyer, Quarterback
2004 - Erik Meyer, Quarterback
2002 - Josh Blankenship, Quarterback
2001 - Jesse Chatman, Running Back
1997 - Harry Leons, Quarterback
 

All-America Honors
 

• DeBord started a school-record 51 games as an Eagle. Neary started 24 of the 46 games he played, while Kupp has started all 39 he's played in three seasons.

 

• The Eagles have now had 24 offensive linemen earn All-America accolades in the last 23 years (1993-2015) while winning 26 first team All-Big Sky Conference honors (1993-2015). In 2014, Neary joined tackle Jake Rodgers as All-America and first team All-Big Sky selections. Rodgers is now on the practice squad with the New York Giants of the National Football League after getting drafted in the seventh round (225th pick overall) by the Atlanta Falcons.

 
#72 - Aaron Neary - OG - Sr. - Richland, Wash. (Hanford HS '11)
Second Team FCS All-America Team (Associated Press)
Second Team FCS All-America Team (College Sports Madness)
Honorable Mention FCS All-America Team (College Sporting News "Fabulous Fifty")
 
#78 - Clay DeBord - OT - Sr. - Asotin, Wash. (Asotin HS '11)
Second Team FCS All-America Team (College Sports Madness)
First Team FCS All-America Team (STATS)
First Team FCS All-America Team (Associated Press)
First Team FCS All-America Team (College Sporting News "Fabulous Fifty")
 
#10 - Cooper Kupp - WR/PR - Jr. - Yakima, Wash. (Davis HS '12)
First Team FCS All-America Team (American FB Coaches Association)
First Team FCS All-America Team (STATS)
First Team FCS All-America Team (Associated Press)
First Team FCS All-America Team (FCS Athletic Director's Association)
First Team FCS All-America Team (Walter Camp Football Foundation)
First Team FCS All-America Team (College Sporting News "Fabulous Fifty")
First Team FCS All-America Team (College Sports Madness)
 
FCS Wide Receiver of the Year (FCS Athletic Director's Association)
FCS Wide Receiver Award (College Football Performance Awards)
 
FCS Athletic Director's Association FCS Offensive Player of the Year
STATS FCS Offensive Player of the Year
Walter Payton Award Winner (as selected by Mickey Charles LLC)
 

Academic Season Honors
 
First Year Award – Big Sky Conference All-Academic Team
Henderson Belk - Mukilteo, Wash. / Kamiak HS '14 - Fr. - Undeclared
Curtis Billen - Everett, Wash. / Mariner HS '14 - Fr. - Undeclared
Zach Bruce - Spokane, Wash. / University '12 - Jr. - History
Kurt Calhoun - Zillah, Wash. / Zillah HS '14 - Fr. - Undeclared
Jay Deines - Issaquah, Wash. / Issaquah HS '11 - Sr. - Business Administration
Zach Eagle - Camas, Wash. / Camas HS '14 - Fr. - Undeclared
Mitch Fettig - Olympia, Wash. / Olympia HS '14 - Fr. - Undeclared
Reilly Hennessey - Camas, Wash. / Camas HS '14 - Fr. - Undeclared
Alek Kacmarcik - Woodinville, Wash. / Woodinville HS '14 - Fr. - Undeclared
Cole Karstetter - Spokane, Wash. / Ferris HS '14 - Fr. - Undeclared
Ketner Kupp - Yakima, Wash. / Davis HS '15 - Fr. - Undeclared
Josh Lewis - Lakewood, Wash. / Steilacoom HS '14 - Fr. - Undeclared
Sam McPherson - Bothell, Wash. / Bothell HS '15 - Fr. - Undeclared
Aaron Neary - Richland, Wash. / Hanford HS '11 - Sr. - Social Studies Education
Stu Stiles - Spokane, Wash. / Mt. Spokane HS '14 - So. - Undeclared
Jim Townsend - Okanogan, Wash. / Okanogan HS '15 - Fr. - Undeclared
Nzuzi Webster - Antioch, Calif. / Deer Valley HS '14 - Fr. - Undeclared
Keenan Williams - Cheney, Wash. / Cheney HS '15 - Fr. - Undeclared
 
Second Year Award – Big Sky Conference All-Academic Team
Conner Baumann - Bellevue, Wash. / Newport HS '14 - So. - Undeclared
Jake Gall - Cle Elum, Wash. / Cle Elum/Roslyn HS '13 - So. - Criminal Justice
Terence Grady - Kent, Wash. / Kentwood HS '14 - So. - Undeclared
Cooper Kupp - Yakima, Wash. / Davis HS '12 - Jr. - Economics
Andre Lino - Seattle, Wash. / Bishop Blanchet HS '13 - So. - Mechanical Engineering
Nic Sblendorio - Sammamish, Wash. / Skyline HS '13 - So. - Finance
Jordan West - Maple Valley, Wash. / Liberty HS '12 - Jr. - Management
 
Third Year Award – Big Sky Conference All-Academic Team
Samson Ebukam - Portland, Ore. / David Douglas '13 - Jr. - Communication Studies
Terry Jackson II - Sacramento, Calif. / Bella Vista HS '11 - Sr. - Management
 
Fourth Year Award – Big Sky Conference All-Academic Team
Todd Raynes - Kenmore, Wash. / Inglemoor HS '11 - Sr. - Mechanical Engineering Tech
Miles Weatheroy - Portland, Ore. / Jesuit HS '11 - Sr. - Management
Jake Withnell - Salem, Ore. / South Salem HS '11 - Sr. - Professional Accounting
 
 
EWU Scholar-Athletes of the Month
Cooper Kupp (September)
Jordan West (October)
Aaron Neary (November)


#55 - Andre Lino - DL - So. - Seattle, Wash. (Blanchet HS '13)
CoSIDA Academic All-District 8 First Team Selection (Undeclared - 3.72 GPA)
 
#43 - Jake Gall - LB - So. - Cle Elum, Wash. (Cle Elum/Roslyn HS '13)
College Sports Information Directors of America Academic All-District 8 First Team Selection (Criminal Justice - 3.52 GPA)
 
#4 - Todd Raynes - DB - Sr. - Kenmore, Wash. (Inglemoor HS '11)
College Sports Information Directors of America Academic All-District 8 First Team Selection (Mech. Engineering - 3.42 GPA)
 
#82 - Jake Withnell - TE - Sr. - Salem, Ore. (South Salem HS '11)
College Sports Information Directors of America Academic All-District 8 First Team Selection (Accounting - 3.89 GPA)
FCS Athletic Director's Association Academic All-Star Team (Accounting - 3.89 GPA)
Finalist for FCS ADA Post-Graduate Scholarship (Accounting - 3.89 GPA)
 
#10 - Cooper Kupp - WR/PR - Jr. - Yakima, Wash. (Davis HS '12)
College Sports Information Directors of America Academic All-District 8 First Team Selection (Economics - 3.56 GPA)
FCS Athletic Director's Association Academic All-Star Team (Economics - 3.56 GPA)
College Sports Information Directors of America Academic All-America First Team Selection (Economics - 3.56 GPA)