Cody “The Continent” O’Connell, Washington State’s starting left guard, has been named one of five semifinalists for The Outland Trophy, the Football Writers Association of America announced Wednesday.
The Outland Trophy goes to the best interior lineman in college football annually. O’Connell is the first Cougar to be named an Outland Trophy semifinalist since 2002, when Rien Long won the award. Long was ultimately a fourth round draft pick by the Tennessee Titans in the 2003 NFL Draft.
O’Connell, a 6-foot-8, 354-pound junior, has started nine games at left guard for 20th-ranked WSU this season. He’s helped protect for the nation’s second-rated passing offense (385.