Dec. 7, 2010
WALNUT CREEK, Calif.-- Quarterback Andrew Luck of STANFORD has been selected Pac-10 Offensive Player of the Year, tackle Steven Paea of OREGON STATE the Pat Tillman Defensive Player of the Year and Chip Kelly of OREGON the Pac-10 Coach of the Year. In addition, wide receiver Robert Woods of USC and defensive tackle Junior Onyeali of ARIZONA STATE have been named Pac-10 Offensive and Defensive Freshmen of the Year. The award winners are selected by the Pac-10 head football coaches.
Offensive Player of the Year Andrew Luck, QB, Stanford:
Luck, a sophomore from Houston, Texas, led a Stanford team that finished the season with an 11-1 record, the most wins in school history, and will participate in a BCS bowl game for the first time since 2000. The All-America quarterback leads the Pac-10 and ranks seventh in the nation with a 166.1 passing efficiency rating. Luck this season completed 245 passes in 349 attempts for 3,051 yards, just the fourth 3,000-yard season in school history, and a school record 28 touchdowns against just seven interceptions. He also rushed for 438 yards (8.6 yards per carry), establishing a single-season best mark by a Stanford quarterback. Under Lucks leadership, the Cardinal averaged 40.3 points per game, scoring 30 or more points in 11 of 12 games, and averaged 467.3 yards in total offense.
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SIGN UP HERE Pat Tillman Defensive Player of the Year Stephen Paea, DT, Oregon State:
Paea, a senior from Los Altos, Calif., anchored a Beaver defense that ranks fourth in the Pac-10 and 24th in the nation in sacks with 2.5 per game. He leads the team with six sacks and 10.0 tackles for loss. Last season he was co-recipient of the Morris Trophy presented to the Pac-10s top defensive lineman as voted on by the leagues offensive lineman. Paea has amassed 129 tackles for his career, including 29.5 tackles for loss and 14.0 sacks, and has established a school record with nine forced fumbles.
Offensive Freshman of the Year Robert Woods, WR, USC:
Woods, a true freshman from Carson, Calif., was among the league leaders in receptions (644.9 per game) and receiving yards (78660.5 per game), while hauling in six touchdown receptions. However, it was his school record-breaking kickoff returns marks that earned him !rst-team All-Conference kickoff returner. He returned 38 kicks for 971 yards (25.6 yard average) - both school records - and one touchdown. He ranks second in the Pac- 10, and 27th nationally, with 139.8 all-purpose yards.
Defensive Freshman of the Year Junior Onyeali, DE, Arizona State:
Onyeali, a true freshman from Denver, Colo., was key to a Sun Devil defense that was second in the league and 17th in the nation in rushing defense (120.2 yards per game). He led the Sun Devils and all Pac-10 freshmen with 6.5 sacks for a loss of 61 yards. Of his 18 stops this season, 11.5 were for loss. Arizona State claims back-to-back honors as LB Vontaze Bur!ct was honored last season as the Pac-10 Defensive Freshman of
the Year.
Coach of the Year Chip Kelly, Oregon:
Kelly has guided Oregon to back-to-back Pac-10 titles. While the Ducks have won back-to-back titles in 2000 and 2001, this is the !rst time doing so outright as they tied for the 2000 title. In addition, Oregon became the 12th Pac-10 team to have gone undefeated and untied en route to the Conference championship. The 12-0 perfect regular season are the most wins by an Oregon team, and the nine league wins is a !rst for any league team in Pac-10 history.
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While the high-powered Ducks lead the nation in scoring offense (49.3 ppg) and are second in total offense (537.5 yards per game), the defense leads in the league in rushing defense (117.6) and are second in scoring defense (18.4 ppg). Kelly becomes just the fourth coach to earn Pac-10 Coach of the Year honors in back-to-back years (Larry Smith, USC 1987-88; Don James, Washington 1990-91; Pete Carroll, USC 2005-06).
In addition to individual awards, the Pac-10 coaches selected the 2010 All-Pac-10 Football Team that follows.
NOTES ON THE 2010 ALL-PAC-10 FOOTBALL TEAM
Selection Procedures: The All-Pac-10 Team is selected by the Pac-10 head football coaches.
By School: OREGON and STANFORD placed the most players on the !rst team with seven selections each, followed by CALIFORNIA and USC with three each.
By Class: Of the 28 !rst-team selections, 13 are seniors, 11 are juniors, three are sophomores and one freshman.
Unanimous: Four players were named on the !rst-team ballot of all 10 head coaches--QB Andrew Luck and WR Juron Criner of Arizona, DB Omar Bolden of Arizona State, and PR Cliff Harris of Oregon.
Three-time Selection: RB Jacquizz Rodgers of Oregon State is a three-time selection, the first ever for an Oregon State player.
Two-time Selections: Three players are repeat !rst-team selections from last year--DT Stephen Paea of Oregon State, DB Rahim Moore of UCLA, P Bryan Anger of California.
All-Academic: Four players were named to the !rst team on both the All-Pac-10 Team and the Pac-10 All-Academic Football Team--RB LaMichael James and TE David Paulson of Oregon, and OL Chase Beeler and RB Owen Marecic of Stanford. In addition, P Jeff Locke of UCLA was named first-team All-Academic and second-team All-Pac-10.
Courtesy Pacific-10 Conference media services.