In 40 short yards, Easop Winston Jr. came to a troubling realization the day he showed up to the STARS sports training facility in Anaheim this January.

The redshirt senior and former walk-on once again became Anthony Gordon’s primary target early on Friday night and Arconado, on his third reception in the game, reached 1,000 receiving yards on the season to become the first Washington State player to hit the milestone since Gabe Marks did it in 2015.

The Pac-12 defensive backs who’ve been left dazed trying to mark him and the Washington State fans who’ve found his emergence to be a delightful surprise would mutually agree there’s much more than meets the eye when it comes to Brandon Arconado.

Washington State’s Brandon Arconado was named Monday to the Academic All-America First Team by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) Monday, a distinction given to only 25 football players across all three NCAA divisions. Twenty-five more players are named to the Second Team.

For the second straight game, Washington State’s Brandon Arconado took an early trip to the injury tent and missed the remainder of the first half after an apparent injury to the same left wrist that forced him to leave the Cougars’ 54-53 win over Oregon State.

Senior Brandon Arconado, Washington State’s leader in receiving yards heading into Saturday’s game left in the first quarter with a wrist injury and didn’t return until the fourth quarter.

Every Saturday night/Sunday morning, Washington State’s sports information directors are tasked with nominating players for weekly Pac-12 Conference Honors, which are then voted on by league media members and then announced to the public sometime around noon on Monday.

Difference makers from California’s 33-20 win over Washington State at California Memorial Stadium in Berkeley, California.

The redshirt senior was one of four players added to the watch list for the award given to the country’s top receiver on Wednesday. WSU’s Dezmon Patmon was named to the list before the season started, and fellow outside receiver Easop Winston Jr. made the cut on Sept. 25.

Washington State moved the ball efficiently in the first half Saturday night against Oregon, but two misplays by receivers potentially cost the Cougars two touchdowns.

While the innate connection Anthony Gordon and Brandon Arconado have may be on display to Washington State fans for the first time this football season, it’s actually something that’s been years in the making.

Anthony Gordon and Washington State’s Air Raid offense will have a vital safety valve back in the mix for Saturday’s Homecoming game against Colorado.

Arconado, who’s still second on the team in receptions (25) and receiving yards (352) suffered an undisclosed lower body injury in the Pac-12 opener against UCLA and didn’t travel to Salt Lake City for WSU’s 38-13 loss to Utah.

Brandon Arconado, who leads Washington State in receiving yards (352) and is second in total receptions (25) did not travel with the team to Salt Lake City after leaving last week’s game against UCLA with an unspecified injury.

When Washington State’s wide receivers were handicapped before the season, many expected that a group returning Dezmon Patmon, Tay Martin and Easop Winston Jr. could be among the best in the Pac-12 Conference.

One season after recording more tackles (one) than receptions (zero), Brandon Arconado asserted himself for the second week in a row on Saturday, hauling in eight catches for 127 yards and a touchdown in Washington State’s 59-17 victory over Northern Colorado.

Here are five Washington State players for fans to keep an eye on during Saturday’s Crimson and Gray Game (1 p.m., Pac-12 Networks) at Martin Stadium.

Washington State wide receiver Brandon Arconado talks about teammate Kassidy Woods and previews Saturday's Crimson and Gray game.

Washington State wide receiver Brandon Arconado talks about Saturday's scrimmage and why he's been able to thrive in mock game settings with the Cougars.