By Theo Lawson

The Spokesman-Review

Speedy Washington State wide receiver/kick returner Travell Harris earned preseason recognition Thursday, being named to the Hornung Award watch list, the Louisville Sports Commission announced.

The Hornung Award is given to the most versatile player in college football and typically recognizes players who excel at their primary position and also on special teams.

Harris, who Wednesday was named preseason All-Pac-12 Honorable Mention as an all-purpose player, fits the bill after excelling both as a slot receiver and kick return specialist for the Cougars in 2018.

He led the Pac-12 Conference and ranked sixth in the country in kick average, at 27.6 yards per return, and recorded six returns of 30 yards or more. The Tampa, Florida, native won Pac-12 Special Teams Player of the Week after returning a kickoff 100 yards for a touchdown in WSU’s game against Eastern Washington.

Harris would need just one more kick return for a touchdown to take control of the school record.

As an “H” receiver, Harris caught 27 passes for 309 yards and one touchdown last fall. He also earned Pac-12 All-Academic Honorable Mention, posting a 3.29 GPA during the fall semester.

Harris was one of 44 players named to the Hornung watch list and the first at WSU to be named since Jamal Morrow in 2017.

Seven other Pac-12 players joined Harris on the watch list: Washington’s Salvon Ahmed, Utah’s Britain Covey, Colorado’s Laviska Shenault Jr., Cal’s Ashtyn Davis, Arizona State’s Eno Benjamin, USC’s Tyler Vaughns and UCLA’s Darnay Holmes.