PORTLAND, Ore. – The Western Oregon University football team was well represented on the Great Northwest Athletic Conference Academic All-Conference Team, Presented by Barnes & Noble College on Tuesday with 11 being named to the list.
Widney Joseph had the top mark at 3.79, followed by Ryan Worthley (3.73), Andrew Gross (3.65), Isaiah Abraham (3.44), Fernando Salazar (3.37), Jakob Pruitt (3.36), Mack Little (3.35), Austin Goldstein (3.34), Jordan Greenlee (3.34), Jarren Ford (3.28) and Cooger Smith (3.20).
Joseph, a senior defensive back from Novata, Calif., is majoring in organizational leadership. He has seen action on the field for the Wolves each of the past two seasons. During the 2018 season Joseph played in two games that included a rush against Central Washington. During the 2019 season, Joseph played against Texas A&M Commerce, Azusa Pacific and Central Washington, coming away with two solo tackles against Azusa Pacific and a solo stop versus Central Washington.
Worthley, a junior quarterback from Tigard, Ore., is majoring in economics. He has seen action on the field for the Wolves each of the past two seasons. During his first season in 2018, Worthley played against Humboldt State (twice) and Simon Fraser, picking up a pair of rushing attempts and attempting two pass attempts. During this past season in 2019, Worthley played in six games, completing a pass against Simon Fraser and attempting five total passes throughout the year.
Gross, a senior kicker/punter from Gladstone, Ore., is majoring in business. He was the main kicker for the Wolves during the 2019 season. Gross was named the GNAC Player of the Week twice during the season and was selected to the GNAC First Team. For the season he averaged 38.55 yards on 33 punts, hitting a long kick of 56 yards, six landing inside the 20 and four traveling over 50 yards. On field goals he went 3-6 with a long of 37 yards and on kickoffs he launched 64 kicks for an average of 58.4 yards. Gross connected on field goals against Simon Fraser (twice) and Midwestern State. He had his long punt of 56 yards against Angelo State and for the year he made 42 extra points. Gross lands of the GNAC academic list for the second straight year.
Abraham, a junior defensive back from Independence, Ore., is majoring in economics. Abraham has seen time on the field each of the past two seasons as he appeared in 11 games during the 2018 season coming away with seven tackles, a tackle for loss, two forced fumbles and a blocked kick. He went for a season-high two tackles against Simon Fraser and Eastern New Mexico, had a tackle for loss against Humboldt State, forced a fumble against Humboldt State and Eastern New Mexico and blocked a kick against Simon Fraser. This past year, Abraham played in 10 games tallying 16 total tackles and a tackle for loss. Of his 16 tackles, 12 were solo going for a season-high four solo tackles (five overall) against Simon Fraser. He added his tackle for loss also against Simon Fraser. Abraham lands on the GNAC academic list for the second straight year.
Salazar, a sophomore offensive lineman from Wilsonville, Ore., is majoring in business. After redshirting during the 2018 season, he saw time in the 2019 season playing against both Angelo State and Simon Fraser.
Pruitt, a senior offensive lineman from Beaverton, Ore., is majoring in criminal justice. Pruitt helped lead an offense for the record books this past season in 2019 and in the process was named to the GNAC First Team. It's the third time he has landed on the GNAC academic list. For the 2019 season, Pruitt and the WOU offense compiled 5,119 total yards for 53 touchdowns. The Wolves rushed for 2,910 yards and 30 touchdowns and threw for 2,452 yards and 21 touchdowns. That came after he took home GNAC Second Team honors in 2018 when the Wolves recorded 3,564 total yards and 26 touchdowns. WOU rushed for 1,665 yards and seven touchdowns, while throwing for 1,899 yards and 19 touchdowns. Pruitt began his career at WOU in 2017 helping the offense for 4,060 total yards and 34 touchdowns. The Wolves rushed for 1,160 yards and 13 touchdowns, while throwing for 2,900 yards and 21 touchdowns.
Little, a junior linebacker from Culver, Ore., is majoring in business. During the 2018 season, Little played in a pair of games against Angelo State and Central Washington. He saw significant time during the 2019 season playing in 11 games coming away with 28 total tackles, five solo, a tackle for loss, two quarterback hurries and a pass broken up. Little had multiple tackles in eight games, going for a season-high six against Simon Fraser. He also added a tackle for loss in that same game. He had a pair of quarterback hurries against Eastern New Mexico and broke up a pass against Azusa Pacific. Little had one rushing attempt on the season, but it was a big one as he collected a touchdown against Azusa Pacific.
Goldstein, a sophomore defensive end from Sherwood, Ore., is majoring in psychology. He played in six games during the 2019 season, coming away with a tackle against Angelo State and Azusa Pacific. Goldstein also posted a tackle for loss against Azusa Pacific and had three quarterback hurries on the season going for a season-high two against Simon Fraser. Goldstein also competes for the Wolves track and field team in the javelin hitting a top mark so far this spring of 183-6 at the PNW Team Clash.
Greenlee, a senior defensive lineman from Napa, Calif., is majoring in interdisciplinary studies. Greenlee saw time in a few games during the 2019 season in helping the Wolves to their historic season. He arrived at WOU after playing at Santa Rosa JC alongside current teammate Widney Joseph. Greenlee tallied 14 tackles, nine solo, along with a sack and three tackles for loss during his sophomore season.
Ford, a junior wide receiver from San Dimas, Calif., is majoring in business. Ford was a key part of a receiving group that helped WOU to their big season in 2019. He caught 16 passes for 302 yards and two touchdowns. He also added a rushing attempt for 11 yards against Simon Fraser. Ford had multiple receptions in six games, going for a season-high three catches for 121 yards and a score against Central Washington. He tallied his other touchdown reception versus Simon Fraser. Ford also competed for the WOU track and field team running in the sprints. So far this spring he has competed in the 100 at the PNW Team Clash crossing with a time of 11.21.
Smith, a junior linebacker from Redmond, Ore., is majoring in criminal justice. During his first season in 2018 he played in eight games collecting four tackles with two solo and recovered a fumble against Simon Fraser. During this past season he played in a couple of games against Midwestern State and Simon Fraser. He posted a solo tackle against Simon Fraser and helped WOU to a big home win over Midwestern State.
