The surprising success of the 2015 Portland State Vikings was one of the feel-good stories of the college football season.
The Vikings went from 3-9 to 9-3 under first-year coach Bruce Barnum.
For that. Barnum was honored Friday as the FCS national coach of the year.
PSU safety Patrick Onwuasor finished a close second in the FCS defensive player of the year balloting.
Onwuasor earned his accolades on the field. But the transfer from Arizona has a compelling back story too.
He will get his shot at the NFL in the months ahead.