The last of the five major All-American teams will be handed out Wednesday, when the AFCA releases its A-A team.

Selection to all five of the major teams makes for the rarest of the rare: unanimous first-team All-American. Jason Hanson is the only Cougar to be named first-team unanimous All-American.

To be considered a consensus All-American a player must be named a first-team honoree by three of the five major organizations: Associated Press, American Football Coaches Association, Football Writers of America, Sporting News and the Walter Camp Football Foundation.



Coming out of Wenatchee High, O'Connell was rated 2 stars by Scout.com and received only one other scholarship offer -- from Idaho -- besides WSU. “We knew he had the ability to play at this level. I’m proud of him. It’s awesome to see him step up and take advantage of the playing time,” WSU assistant coach Clay McGuire told CF.C in this feature story on O'Connell last month.

O'Connell becomes Washington State's fifth consensus All-American, joining Jerome Harrison (2005); Rien Long (2002) Jason Hanson (1989); Mike Utley (1988). Note: Rueben Mayes is listed by the Pac-12 media guide also as being a WSU consensus All-American in 1984 but CF.C as of yet has been unable to verify, research continues).

O'Connell was one of three finalists for the Outland Trophy and has also been named first team All-America by Pro Football Focus, USA Today and Sports Illustrated.

In what no doubt stands as one of the greatest oversights in Pac-12 history, O'Connell this season wasn't named either first- or second-team all-conference by the Pac-12.



Washington State plays Minnesota in the Holiday Bowl on Dec. 27 (4 pm, ESPN).



WSU'S AP ALL-AMERICA HISTORY:



First team

Deone Bucannon, safety - 2013

Jerome Harrison, running back - 2005

Rien Long, defensive tackle - 2002

Lamont Thompson, safety - 2001

Jason Hanson, kicker - 1989

Mike Utley, guard - 1988

Dan Lynch, guard - 1984

Clancy Williams, back - 1964

Turk Edwards, tackle - 1930



Second team

Mel Hein, center - 1930

George Sander, back - 1932

Bob Kennedy, fullback - 1942

Bill Steiger, end - 1956

Hugh Campbell, end - 1962

Rueben Mayes, running back - 1984

DeWayne Patterson, defensive end - 1994

Ryan Leaf, quarterback - 1997

Derrick Roche, center - 2002

Marcus Trufant, corner - 2002



Third team

Mel Dressel, tackle - 1928

Elmer Schwartz, fullback - 1930

Ed Goddard, quarterback - 1936

Nick Susoeff, end - 1941

Bill Sewell, quarterback - 1941

Don Ellingsen, end - 1957

Hugh Campbell, end - 1960

Hugh Campbell, end - 1961

Jason Hanson, punter - 1990

Chad Eaton, defensive tackle - 1994

Mark Fields, linebacker - 1994

Leon Bender, defensive tackle - 1997

Mkristo Bruce, defensive end - 2006





WSU’S FIRST-TEAM ALL-AMERICA HISTORY ON THE O-LINE:

Turk Edwards - 1930



Mel Hein - 1930



Harold Ahlskog – 1930



Laurie Niemi – 1948



Geoff Reece – 1974



Dan Lynch – 1984



Mike Utley – 1988



Scott Sanderson – 1996



Derick Roche – 2002



Cody O’Connell - 2016