Pac-12 2018 Season Awards and All-Conference Team
Gardner Minshew, Washington State Cougars Football
Washington State entered the 2018 season with uncertainty at quarterback, but coach Mike Leach’s team ended the year with the Pac-12's Offensive Player of the Year on the Athlon Sports 2018 All-Pac-12 team. Gardner Minshew – a transfer from East Carolina – threw for 4,477 yards and 36 touchdowns to lead the Cougars to a 10-2 mark and a second-place finish in the Pac-12 North. North Division champion Washington boasted the league’s No. 1 defense, as coordinator Jimmy Lake’s group held opponents to 15.5 points a game. Cornerback Byron Murphy, safety Taylor Rapp and linebacker Ben Burr-Kirven lead the way for this group and all three earn first-team All-Pac-12 honors by Athlon Sports for 2018. Utah claimed the South Division title for the first time since joining the Pac-12, and as usual, coach Kyle Whittingham's team boasted a strong defense in Salt Lake City. Three players - John Penisini, Bradlee Anae and Chase Hansen - earned first-team All-Pac-12 honors by Athlon Sports.
Pac-12 2018 Awards
Off. Player of the Year: Gardner Minshew, Wash. State
Def. Player of the Year: Ben Burr-Kirven, Washington
Coach of the Year: Mike Leach, Washington State
Best Freshman (Offense): Jermar Jefferson, Oregon State
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Best Freshman (Defense): Merlin Robertson, Ariz. State
Def. Coordinator of the Year: Jimmy Lake, Washington
Newcomer of the Year: Gardner Minshew, Wash. State
Breakout Player: Joshua Kelley, UCLA
With the regular season completed and bowl season starting on Dec. 15, it’s time to recap and look back at the 2018 campaign. Athlon Sports offers its awards and honors the best players in the league with the first, second and third all-conference teams for the Pac-12:
Pac-12 2018 Postseason All-Conference Team
| First-Team Offense | Second-Team Offense | Third-Team Offense |
QB | Gardner Minshew Washington State | K.J. Costello Stanford | Justin Herbert Oregon |
RB | Eno Benjamin Arizona State | Myles Gaskin Washington | Jermar Jefferson Oregon State |
RB | Joshua Kelley UCLA | Zack Moss Utah | CJ Verdell Oregon |
AP | J.J. Taylor Arizona | Britain Covey Utah | James Williams Washington State |
WR | Laviska Shenault Colorado | Dillon Mitchell Oregon | Isaiah Hodgins Oregon State |
WR | N'Keal Harry Arizona State | Shawn Poindexter Arizona | Easop Winston Washington State |
WR | JJ Arcega-Whiteside Stanford | Michael Pittman USC | Aaron Fuller Washington |
TE | Caleb Wilson UCLA | Kaden Smith Stanford | Colby Parkinson Stanford |
C | Nick Harris Washington | Jake Hanson Oregon | Cohl Cabral Arizona State |
OL | Andre Dillard Washington State | Gus Lavaka Oregon State | Patrick Mekari California |
OL | Kaleb McGary Washington | Jackson Barton Utah | Chuma Edoga USC |
OL | Calvin Throckmorton Oregon | Jordan Agasiva Utah | Abe Lucas Washington State |
OL | Shane Lemieux Oregon | Chris Brown USC | Walker Little Stanford |
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| First-Team Defense | Second-Team Defense | Third-Team Defense |
DL | John Penisini Utah | Mustafa Johnson Colorado | Jordon Scott Oregon |
DL | Greg Gaines Washington | Christian Rector USC | Jalen Jelks Oregon |
DL | Bradlee Anae Utah | Logan Tago Washington State | Leki Fotu Utah |
LB | Nate Landman Colorado | Justin Hollins Oregon | Cody Barton Utah |
LB | Ben Burr-Kirven Washington | Troy Dye Oregon | Peyton Pelluer Washington State |
LB | Chase Hansen Utah | Colin Schooler Arizona | Cameron Smith USC |
LB | Jordan Kunaszyk California | Evan Weaver California | Merlin Robertson Arizona State |
CB | Byron Murphy Washington | Jaylon Johnson Utah | Julian Blackmon Utah |
CB | Paulson Adebo Stanford | Camryn Bynum California | Iman Marshall USC |
S | Taylor Rapp Washington | Thomas Graham (CB) Oregon | Darnay Holmes (CB) UCLA |
S | Ashtyn Davis California | Ugo Amadi Oregon | Jalen Thompson Washington State |
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| First-Team Specialists | Second-Team Specialists | Third-Team Specialists |
K | Matt Gay Utah | Jet Toner Stanford | Brandon Ruiz Arizona State |
P | Mitch Wishnowsky Utah | Jake Bailey Stanford | Stefan Flintoft UCLA |
KR | Ashtyn Davis California | Tony Brooks-James Oregon | Travell Harris Washington State |
PR | Britain Covey Utah | Shun Brown Arizona | Tyler Vaughns USC |
