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USA Today tabs Washington State right tackle Abraham Lucas as Freshman All-American

Washington State offensive lineman Abraham Lucas stands on the field during the second half against Arizona in Pullman on Nov. 17. (Young Kwak / AP)
By Theo Lawson theol@spokesman.com(509) 459-5584

PULLMAN – One week after he was named to the All-Pac-12 Conference second team, Washington State redshirt freshman right tackle Abraham Lucas continues to rake in postseason recognition.

On Wednesday, Lucas was one of five offensive linemen named to the USA Today Freshman All-American team. Earlier in the week, Lucas received the same honor from The Athletic when the website released its freshman All-American teams.

Lucas started all 12 games on WSU’s offensive line during the regular season, helping the Cougars reduce their sacks total from 44 in 2017 to 11 in 2018. The Everett native and Archbishop Murray High product anchored the right side of an offensive line that was named a semifinalist for the Joe Moore Award – given to the nation’s top offensive line – and was integral in WSU’s FBS-leading passing totals.

The Cougars led the country in pass completions (443), pass attempts (628) and passing yards per game (379.8), which means their offensive line conceded one sack per every 57 pass attempts.

Earlier this season, WSU coach Mike Leach called Lucas “one of the best offensive linemen in the conference as a freshman,” also noting, “as long as we’re talking about ceilings, I don’t know where his ceiling is, but it’s up there pretty good.”

The rookie also earned high praise from veteran teammate Andre Dillard, a left tackle who was named to the Associated Press All-American third team on Monday.

“That kid is just some kind of robot or demigod, because he’s just the most naturally talented, athletic kid I’ve seen since I’ve been here,” Dillard said in September. “It almost looks effortless.”

Next season, Lucas will have a chance to become the fourth WSU offensive lineman in five years to earn All-American honors. By doing so, he’d also make it five consecutive years of a Cougar offensive lineman earning such recognition. Current Detroit Lions tackle/guard Joe Dahl was an All-American in 2015, former left guard Cody O’Connell was honored in 2016 and ’17, and Dillard was recognized this season.