ASU's Zane Gonzalez is state's lone All-Pac-12 first-team selection
Arizona State senior kicker Zane Gonzalez is the lone All-Pac-12 first-team selection from the state of Arizona.
It was a down year for the state's two Pac-12 programs -- a combined record of 8-16 overall, 3-15 in conference play, and the all-conference voting of Pac-12 coaches reflected as much.
In addition to Gonzalez, ASU (5-7, 2-7) had three second-team selections -- sophomore defensive lineman JoJo Wicker, senior linebacker Koron Crump and senior punter Matt Haack -- and a pair of honorable mentions -- senior linebacker Laui Moeakiola and freshman wide receiver N'Keal Harry. Arizona (3-9, 1-8) had no players on the first or second teams and three honorable mentions -- all-purpose senior Samajie Grant and senior receivers Nate Phillips and Trey Griffey.
The conference's top honors went to Washington sophomore quarterback Jake Browning (Offensive Player of the Year), USC junior defensive back Adoree' Jackson (Pat Tillman Defensive Player of the Year) and Colorado's Mike MacIntyre (Coach of the Year). The Freshmen of the Year were USC quarterback Sam Darnold (offense) and Washington defensive back Taylor Rapp (defense).
Browning threw for 3,162 yards and a school-record 40 touchdowns with seven interceptions for the North champion Huskies. Jackson had 51 tackles and four interceptions on defense and scored four touchdowns on special teams. MacIntyre led the Buffaloes to a 10-2 overall record and the Pac-12 South title a year after they went 1-8 in the Pac-12 last season.
ASU's Gonzalez capped his college career by making 23 of 25 field-goal attempts, including 7 of 8 from 50-plus yards. He became college football's all-time leader for most field goals (96) and points scored by a kicker (494). He also was a first-team All-Pac-12 selection as a freshman in 2013.
Crump led ASU with nine sacks; Wicker had 11 tackles for loss; and Haack averaged 43.9 yards on 66 punts. Harry finished his freshman season with 58 receptions, one better than Zach Miller's previous freshman school record.
Grant, a starting receiver at Arizona for three seasons, converted to running back midway through his final year to fortify a injury-riddled position. He finished the year with 461 rushing yards, 247 receiving yards and nine touchdowns (six rushing, three receiving). Phillips led the Wildcats with 33 receptions for 414 yards, and Griffey had 23 catches for 382 yards.
Washington led the all-conference voting with nine first-team selections. USC had four (Jackson was listed twice, as both a defensive back and return specialist); UCLA and Utah had three apiece; Colorado, Stanford and Washington State had two each; Arizona State and Oregon had one. Oregon State, California and Arizona were not represented on the first team.
Browning threw for 3,162 yards and a school-record 40 touchdowns with seven interceptions for the North champion Huskies. Jackson had 51 tackles and four interceptions on defense and scored four touchdowns on special teams. MacIntyre led the Buffaloes to a 10-2 overall record and the Pac-12 South title a year after they went 1-8 in the Pac-12 last season.
Six players repeated as first-team selections: Stanford running back Christian McCaffrey, Washington State wide receiver Gabe Marks, USC offensive lineman Zach Banner and defensive back Jackson and Washington defensive backs Budda Baker and Sidney Jones.
ALL PAC-12 FIRST TEAM OFFENSE
Quarterback -- Jake Browning, Soph., Washington; Running back -- Myles Gaskin, Soph., Washington; Christian McCaffrey, Jr., Stanford; Wide receiver -- Gabe Marks, Sr., Washington State; John Ross, Jr., Washington; Tight end -- Pharaoh Brown, Oregon; Offensive line -- Trey Adams, Soph., Washington; Zach Banner, Sr., USC; Garett Bolles, Jr., Utah; Jake Eldrenkamp, Sr., Washington; Scott Quessenberry, Jr., UCLA; Chad Wheeler, Sr., USC.
ALL PAC-12 FIRST TEAM DEFENSE
Defensive line -- Hunter Dimick, Sr., Utah; Tak McKinley, Sr., UCLA; Elijah Qualls, Jr., Washington; Solomon Thomas, Jr., Stanford; Linebacker -- Jayon Brown, Sr., UCLA; Jimmie Gilbert, Sr., Colorado; Azeem Victor, Jr., Washington; Defensive back -- Budda Baker, Jr., Washington; Adoree' Jackson, Jr., USC; Sidney Jones, Jr., Washington; Shalom Luani, Sr., Washington State.
ALL PAC-12 FIRST TEAM SPECIALISTS
Place-kicker -- Zane Gonzalez, Sr., Arizona State; Punter -- Mitch Wishnowsky, Soph., Utah; Return specialist -- Adoree' Jackson, Jr., USC; All-purpose special teams -- Ryan Moeller, Jr., Colorado.
