Outland Trophy Finalist OL Cody O'Connell Returning For Final Season

Washington State redshirt junior left guard Cody O'Connell, a consensus All-American in 2016, will return for his final season in Pullman, O'Connell confirmed with Rivals.

In November Pro Football Focus graded O'Connell as the top-rated offensive lineman for the Cougars with an 88.4 grade. Being a redshirt junior O'Connell still has one final year of eligibility remaining allowing him to return for the 2017 season.

NFLDraftScout.com has O'Connell ranked as the No.5 offensive guard prospect for the 2018 draft class with another All-American type season next year allowing him to possibly rise even further up draft boards.

Prior to the Cougars' 17-13 loss to Minnesota in the Holiday Bowl, Washington State coach Mike Leach said starting quarterback Luke Falk is expected back in 2017 as well, sort of.

"It won't be his last game," Leach said. "Any conversations we've had are between us, but I don't believe he's leaving."

O'Connell led a WSU offensive line that allowed 29 sacks this season, tied for 82nd most in the country. Still the Cougars offense flourished in the Air Raid system averaging 482.5 yards per game and 38.2 points per game, 19th and 18th in the country respectively.