Cooper Kupp announces he is returning to EWU for his senior season

Cooper Kupp evading a Portland State defender in a game at Roos Field on Nov. 21

Photo by Melanie Flint

Cooper Kupp evading a Portland State defender in a game at Roos Field on Nov. 21

By Brandon Cline, Sports Editor

Cooper Kupp is coming back.

The 2015 Big Sky Offensive MVP and the two-time All-American wide receiver announced Nov. 30 that he would be returning to Eastern Washington University for his senior season, rather than entering the 2016 NFL Draft.

“I want to let you guys know first what my plan is going into this next year,” Kupp said in a video message to Eagle Athletic Fund supporters. “I’ve decided that I want to spend the 2016 season as an Eagle and be a part of something great here at Eastern Washington.”

“I believe that God has a plan for me and a great plan for Eastern Washington. I want to be a part of that and I’m really looking forward to the offseason and getting Eastern Washington back to a national championship,” said Kupp.

The Eagles ended the 2015 season 6-5 and were ranked as high as fourth in the STATS FCS poll during the season. The Eagles ended up missing out on the postseason altogether after losing their final three games of the season, including a 34-31 loss in the season finale against Portland State University, which many thought could have been Kupp’s final game in an Eagles uniform.

In the 2015 season, Kupp broke the Big Sky single-season record in catches with 114, which ranks ninth all-time in FCS history. His 4,764 career receiving yards are second-most in FCS history, passing NFL Hall of Famer Jerry Rice, who had 4,693 at Mississippi Valley State University from 1981-1984.

Kupp’s 56 receiving touchdowns rank second in FCS history, a record he is primed to claim for himself next season, just two touchdowns behind the 58 that the University of New Hampshire’s David Ball caught from 2003-2006.