The season ended exactly as expected, with Washington, the overwhelming pick in the preseason, lifting the trophy in Levi’s Stadium for the second time in three years.
The road to that point, however, was loaded with twists and turns. The Hotline’s postseason award winners and all-conference teams reflect that journey — not only with the selections but the omissions.
Who would have guessed that neither Bryce Love or Khalil Tate would be first- or second-team worthy?
Or that the offensive player of the year would be a transfer from East Carolina?
Or that Washington’s secondary would produce multiple all-conference performers?
Eh, never mind on that one.
Note: The Pac-12 will announce the all-conference team and award winners today, along with the 2019 schedule.
Coach of the Year: Washington State’s Mike Leach
Comment: Cal’s Justin Wilcox, ASU’s Herm Edwards and Utah’s Kyle Whittingham did fine work, but Leach stood out. The Cougars were slammed by attrition, plus the passing of Tyler Hilinski, but Leach managed to assimilate Gardner Minshew and beat Stanford, Utah and Oregon. And we’ll never know what might have become of the Cougars’ season given first down on USC’s 10.
Offensive Player of the Year: Washington State quarterback Gardner Minshew
Comment: Our midseason OPOY, in the second week of October, was Oregon’s Justin Herbert. But Herbert struggled in the second half and Minshew emerged as the dominant force, locking up this honor before the Apple Cup. The only other player the Hotline considered was Arizona State receiver N’Keal Harry.
Defensive Player of the Year: Washington linebacker Ben Burr-Kirven
Comment: Strongly considered Washington safety Taylor Rapp and Utah linebacker Chase Hansen, but Burr-Kirven was a machine in the middle of the conference’s best defense. He was instrumental in the Apple Cup, with a fumble recovery, interception and 10 tackles.
Offensive Freshman of the Year: USC quarterback JT Daniels
Comment: With so much expected (too much) and with so much responsibility (too much), Daniels nonetheless performed at a high level for a true freshman. Gave serious thought to Oregon State tailback Jermar Jefferson, but his production dropped markedly in conference play.
Defensive Freshman of the Year: ASU linebacker Merlin Robertson
Comment: Lived up to, and exceeded, the significant hype that accompanied his recruitment. Recorded five sacks and 8.5 tackles-for-loss and was a consistent force for the Sun Devils.
Notes:
The Hotline selected three receivers, four linebackers and five defensive backs on both the first- and second-team to reflect groupings used by the majority of teams.
All-purpose players and return specialists were selected in a manner so as to avoid one player appearing at two positions.
I could have selected three teams of worthy offensive tackles; that was not the case with guards.
FIRST TEAM
Offense
QB: Washington State’s Gardner Minshew
RB: Arizona State’s Eno Benjamin
RB: Utah’s Zack Moss
OT: Washington State’s Andre Dillard
OT: Oregon’s Calvin Throckmorton
OG: Utah’s Jordan Agasiva
OG: Oregon’s Shane Lemieux
C: Arizona State’s Cohl Cabral
TE: UCLA’s Caleb Wilson
WR: Oregon’s Dillon Mitchell
WR: Stanford’s JJ Arcega-Whiteside
WR: Arizona State’s N’Keal Harry
All-Purpose: Arizona’s JJ Taylor
Defense
DE: Washington State’s Logan Tago
DE: Utah’s Bradlee Anae
DT: Washington’s Greg Gaines
DT: Oregon’s Jordon Scott
LB: Washington’s Ben Burr-Kirven
LB: Utah’s Chase Hansen
LB: Cal’s Jordan Kunaszyk
LB: Colorado’s Nate Landman
CB: Washington’s Byron Murphy
CB: Utah’s Javelin Guidry
CB: Stanford’s Paulson Adebo
S: Washington’s Taylor Rapp
S: Washington State’s Jalen Thompson
Specialists
K: Utah’s Matt Gay
P: UCLA’s Stefan Flintoft
KOR: Washington State’s Travell Harris
PR: Arizona’s Shun Brown
SECOND TEAM
Offense
QB: Oregon’s Justin Herbert
RB: Washington’s Myles Gaskin
RB: UCLA’s Joshua Kelley
OT: Arizona State’s Quinn Bailey
OT: Utah’s Jackson Barton
OG: USC’s Chris Brown
OG: Oregon State’s Gus Lavaka
C: Washington’s Nick Harris
TE: Stanford’s Kaden Smith
WR: USC’s Michael Pittman
WR: Colorado’s Laviska Shenault
WR: Utah’s Britain Covey
All-Purpose: Stanford’s Cameron Scarlett
Defense
DE: Oregon’s Justin Hollins
DE: USC’s Christian Rector
DT: Colorado’s Mustafa Johnson
DT: Utah’s Leki Fotu
LB: Arizona’s Colin Schooler
LB: Arizona State’s Merlin Robertson
LB: Cal’s Evan Weaver
LB: Utah’s Cody Barton
CB: UCLA’s Darnay Holmes
CB: Oregon’s Thomas Graham
CB: Cal’s Camryn Bynum
S: Oregon’s Ugo Amadi
S: Cal’s Ashtyn Davis
Specialists
K: Arizona State’s Brandon Ruiz
P: Utah’s Mitch Wishnowsky
KOR: Oregon’s Tony Brooks-James
PR: USC’s Tyler Vaughns
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