San Jose State defensive end Anthony Larceval was picked by the Football Writers Association of America for its courage award this year, after he battled back from a viral infection that could have ended his career to play in nine games this season.
The redshirt senior was hospitalized at the end of last year with viral meningoencephalitis, and doctors told him his football career was over. He was able to battle back to play this season. He is the second San Jose State player to win the award, following Neil Parry in 2003.
He will be honored at a banquet at the Orange Bowl in January.
For more: Spartan Athletics release on Larceval’s award.
In other San Jose State news …
- Wide receiver Tyler Winston earns another freshman honor, making the second all-freshman team by PhilSteele.com. He had previously been picked as Mountain West Conference freshman of the year, a third-team pick by Athlon Magazines and an honorable mention selection by CollegeFootballNews.com.
- Nevada basketball is a revolving door of injuries right now, reports Dan Hinxman of the Reno Gazette-Journal. The Spartans open conference play against the Wolf Pack on Jan. 1.
- San Jose State hired Lauren Hanson, a former assistant soccer coach at Oregon, to take over the women’s soccer program. The Spartans let the previous coach, Jeff Leightman, go after a 3-14-1 season and six seasons at the helm.
- Another basketball doubleheader on Saturday: San Jose State men face NAIA Westminster (Utah), which enters the game 7-5, at noon; the women face Missouri-Kansas City at 2 p.m. in their last game for 10 days. The men play Pacifica (D-II) on Dec. 28, while the women are off until Jan. 1, when they open conference play at Nevada.
Climbing the Mountain West 