By ISU Sports Information
NORMAL – Illinois State senior running back Marshaun Coprich was honored Tuesday with the Adrian “AP” Peterson FCS Offensive Player of the Year Award by College Sporting News, capping off a flurry of offseason honors for the Redbird All-American.
Coprich was among 50 student-athletes in the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision named to the College Sporting News 2015 Fabulous Fifty FCS All-America Team. An additional 17 players received enough votes to earn honorable mention honors, which included Illinois State All-American wide receiver Anthony Warrum.
The award and honor from College Sporting News is the latest for Coprich, who was previously honored as an All-American by The American Football Coaches Association (AFCA), The Walter Camp Football Foundation, the Football Championship Subdivision Athletics Directors Association (FCS ADA), STATS and The Associated Press.
The Victorville, California, native followed up a historic junior campaign in 2014 with another stellar effort during his senior season in 2015. The two-time Missouri Valley Football Conference Offensive Player of the Year led the league in every rushing category and ranks No. 2 in the FCS in rushing yards (1,967) and rushing yards per game (151.3), and No. 3 in points per game (11.2). He helped Illinois State to a share of the MVFC title for a second-consecutive season and led the Redbirds to the quarterfinals of the FCS playoffs for the third time in the last four seasons.
Warrum exploded onto the scene during his junior season and earned All-MVFC First-Team and third-team All-America honors for the Redbirds at wide receiver. He set an Illinois State single-season record and led the MVFC with 15 receiving touchdowns and ranked second in the league with 1,290 yards on 58 receptions. He recorded over 100 yards receiving in six contests, including the last two games of the season, and set a career-best with 241 yards receiving at South Dakota State.
The Fishers, Indiana, native finished the season ranked No. 2 in receiving touchdowns (15) and yards per reception (22.2), No. 4 in receiving yards (1,290) and No. 8 in receiving yards per game (99.2) among all receivers in FCS football.
Unlike other All-American teams, the College Sporting News squad is designed to be like a real team, capable of taking the field and competing in a game. It includes everything from quarterbacks who can run or pass and often-overlooked fullbacks, to long snappers and other special teams performers. The Fabulous Fifty also emphasizes players who have exhibited character and other team-oriented traits, not just lofty statistics, or talent.
Five-time reigning national champion North Dakota State led the number of selections of the College Sporting News Fabulous Fifty Division I FCS All-American team, with three major award winners and five total selections. In total, 34 teams and all 13 conferences are represented on the team. Jacksonville State and The Citadel landed three players on the squad, while seven other teams also had multiple selections – Montana, Chattanooga, Charleston Southern, Fordham, Northern Arizona, Eastern Washington, and William & Mary.
