PULLMAN –WSU center Kenny Alfred has been named to the 2009 All-Pacific-10 Conference Football Second Team, the league office announced today. Additionally, five other Cougars received honorable mention.
Alfred, as a senior from Gig Harbor, Wash., was the undisputed leader of the Cougar offense, starting all 12 games this season, garnering WSU Offensive Player of the Week seven times. He was one of two offensive linemen to start each week and ended his career starting his final 29 games. A Rimington Award candidate each of the past three seasons signifying the nation’s outstanding center, Alfred was also a Pac-10 All-Academic selection last month.
Joining Alfred on the All-Pac-10 teams were punter Reid Forrest, safety Xavier Hicks Jr., wide receiver Jared Karstetter, defensive end Travis Long and running back Dwight Tardy, all earning honorable mention.
Forrest, a junior from Ephrata, Wash., averaged 43.2 yards per punt this season, third in the Pac-10 and 22nd nationally. He registered 18 punts that were 50 yards or better and tied for the top mark in the conference. He also had four punts over 60 yards, including a career-best 65-yarder against USC. Forrest led the Pac-10 with 86 punts and 3,718 yards.
Hicks, a senior from Fullerton, Calif., finished the season with 81 tackles, second on the team and ninth in the Pac-10. He started all 12 games this season, adding four tackles-for-loss, two forced fumbles, one fumble recovery and a team-best three interceptions. Hicks collected a season-best 14 tackles at California this season, followed by back-to-back games of 12 tackles against Notre Dame and Arizona. He finished his career with 220 tackles, 7.5 tackles-for-loss and six interceptions.
Karstetter, a sophomore from Spokane, Wash., led all Cougar receivers this season with 38 receptions for 540 yards and six touchdowns. He had a career-high six receptions at California and against Oregon State, along with a season-high 91 receiving yards in the season-opener against Stanford. Against Notre Dame he recorded the Cougars’ only multi-touchdown game of the season, hauling in two touchdown passes.
Long, from Spokane, Wash., started all 12 games as a true freshman, registering 47 tackles, including team-bests of 6.5 tackles-for-loss and two sacks. Those marks led all Cougar defensive linemen. He had a season-high nine tackles against SMU and had six tackles against Arizona State and Arizona. His two sacks came in consecutive games against SMU and USC.
Tardy, a senior from Walnut, Calif., rushed for 417 yards and two touchdowns, adding 18 receptions for 114 yards. He became the first Cougar in school history to lead WSU in rushing four times. He finished his career seventh on WSU’s all-time rushing list with 2,241 yards and sixth with 528 carries.
