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Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Washington State quarterback Luke Falk, offensive tackle Cole Madison accept Senior Bowl invitations

Washington State quarterback Luke Falk, left, looks to pass as offensive lineman Cole Madison (61) blocks defensive lineman Vita Vea, right, in the second half of an NCAA college football game, Friday, Nov. 25, 2016, in Pullman, Wash. Washington beat Washington State 45-17. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren) (Ted S. Warren / AP)

PULLMAN – Cougars quarterback Luke Falk and right tackle Cole Madison have accepted invitations to the Reese’s Senior Bowl, Washington State announced Monday afternoon.

The Senior Bowl will take place on Jan. 27 at Ladd-Pebbles Stadium in Mobile, Alabama.

Falk ranks first in the country in completions per game (29.75) and has thrown for 3,593 yards and 30 touchdowns this season. The former walk-on returned to WSU for his senior season and next month’s all-star game in Alabama will give him an opportunity to showcase his arm – which has produced more passing yards than any other QB in Pac-12 history – to scouts from the National Football League.

At the moment, Falk is one of four quarterbacks who’ve accept invitations. He’ll compete alongside Western Kentucky’s Mike White, Virginia’s Kurt Benkurt and Richmond’s Kyle Lauletta. The good news came in bunches on Monday for Falk, who learned earlier in the day he’d won the Burlsworth Trophy – the award given to college football’s top former walk-on.

Madison has been a linchpin on the WSU offensive line over the last four years and has 46 starts under his belt. The Burien, Washington, native earned All-Pac-12 honorable mention last season and Pro Football Focus listed him to their All-Pac-12 First Team. At 6-5, 314 pounds, Madison possesses the second smallest frame of the offensive tackles who’ve accepted Senior Bowl invitations, but the game gives him a chance to flash the agility, athleticism and raw strength that have made him one of the league’s top lineman over the last few years.

The Senior Bowl itself is an NFL trial of sorts, but players also have six hours of practice time split between three days to impress scouts before the game is played at 1:30 Central time on Saturday the 27th.

WSU’s last Senior Bowl representative was offensive lineman Joe Dahl, a graduate of Spokane’s University High who earned second team All-American honors from USA Today while at WSU before being picked up in the fifth round of the 2016 NFL Draft by the Detroit Lions.

Along with Madison and Falk, six other Pac-12 players had accepted invites as of Monday: Oregon’s Tanner Carew (long snapper), Tyrell Crosby (offensive tackle) and Royce Freeman (running back), Arizona State’s Kalen Ballage (running back), Utah’s Kylie Fitts (defensive end) and USC’s Uchenna Nwosu (linebacker).