Washington State’s Cody O’Connell earns preseason All-America nod from Associated Press

Associated Press voters expect another All-American season out of Washington State left guard Cody O’Connell.

O’Connell, a 6-9, 368-pound senior, was named to the AP’s preseason All-America first team Tuesday morning. The senior is the only offensive player on the first team who was an All-American last season.

The Wenatchee native was an Outland Trophy finalist last season and became the second unanimous All-American in program history, joining kicker Jason Hanson, who did it in 1989.

O’Connell was named First-Team All-American by the American Football Coaches Association, The Walter Camp Football Foundation (the nation’s oldest All-America Team), The Sporting News, The Associated Press and The Football Writers Association of America. He was a Phil Steele All-America and All-Pac-12 First Team selection and the Associated Press also tabbed him an All-Pac-12 First Team player.

Including O’Connell, six players from the Pac-12 Conference made preseason All-America teams. USC quarterback Sam Darnold was named to the first team offense, Washington linebacker Azeem Victor was named to the first team defense and Utah punter Mitch Wishnowsky also got the nod as a first team specialist. Washington defensive tackle Vita Vea and USC cornerback Iman Marshall earned second team honors.