Washington State Football: Connor Halliday Named to Davey O’Brien Award Watch List

Another day closer to the start of the 2014 Washington State Cougars football season, another award watch-list for quarterback Connor Halliday.

Among eight other quarterbacks in the Pac-12 (39 nationally), Halliday would generally be thought of as “up against it.” However, it is being widely speculated among the local and even national pundits that Mike Leach’s Air Raid at Washington State has finally arrived and that Halliday will flat-out destroy any and all Pac-12 quarterback records this upcoming season.

Here’s what WSU’s school site had on the records Halliday already set last season:

"Halliday started all 13 games for the Cougars last season, setting a school-record with 4,597 passing yards, second-most in Pac-12 Conference history. The Spokane, Wash. native also set school records for pass completions (449), pass attempts (714) and tied the school record with 34 touchdown passes. Halliday tallied nine 300-yard performances including four 400-yard games and capped his season leading Washington State to the New Mexico Bowl where he tied an NCAA Bowl Game record with six touchdown passes. Jeff Tuel was the last Cougar named to the Davey O’Brien Award Watch List, prior to the 2012 season."

Pretty impressive, eh? With a fully-loaded and returning unit at receiver, 25 lbs more beef on average on the offensive line and a stable full of capable running backs to throw to, it’s no wonder Halliday is being looked at for a shot to be the nation’s top performing quarterback.

The Cougs haven’t had anyone on this list since Jason Gesser back in 2002. This is what Mike Leach is doing for the program. It’s making me extra excited to get this season underway.

Go Cougs!