Cooper Kupp wins another national player of the year award

Eastern Washington wide receiver Cooper Kupp has earned his second national player of the year award.

Kupp was named the Offensive Player of the Year by the FCS Athletic Directors’ Association, the organization announced Wednesday. Previously, the organization selected him as its FCS Wide Receiver of the Year.

Kupp and FCS Defensive Player of the Year James Cowser from Southern Utah will receive their awards from FCS ADA President and Idaho State athletic director Jeff Tingey between the first and second quarters at Saturday’s NCAA Division I Championship Game in Frisco, Texas.

This makes Kupp 2-for-2 in national awards, with the biggest one coming up Friday night.

Kupp and nine of his family members will be in attendance at the STATS Football Championship Subdivision Awards Banquet & Presentation in Frisco.

STATS will present the STATS FCS Offensive Player of the Year Award to either Kupp, running back Marshaun Coprich from Illinois State or running back Kade Harrington from Lamar.

The award should be announced at about 7:30 p.m. Pacific time.

Previously, Kupp was selected as the Walter Payton Award winner for 2015 as selected by Mickey Charles LLC.

Kupp becomes only the second wide receiver to win the Payton Award, with Brian Finneran from Villanova winning in 1997. He is the third Eagle to win the honor, with quarterback Erik Meyer honored in 2005 and quarterback Bo Levi Mitchell receiving the award in 2011.

In 2015, Kupp led FCS in five categories – receptions, receptions per game (10.4), reception yards (1,642), reception yards per game (149.3) and touchdown receptions (19). The players closest to him in FCS were eight catches, 170 yards and four TDs behind him.