SALT LAKE CITY — Utah’s Kyle Whittingham is the 2019 Pac-12 Coach of the Year and senior running back Zack Moss was named the conference’s Offensive Player of the Year. Whittingham and Moss headlined several Utes honored by the Pac-12 head coaches on Tuesday.
— Whittingham led the Utes to their second straight Pac-12 South crown with an 8-1 conference record. Overall they’re 11-2 — reaching double-figures in victories for the fifth time in 15 seasons under his direction. At 131-65, Whittingham is just 11 wins from surpassing Ike Armstrong as the winningest coach in team history. He’s having his most successful season at the helm since leading Utah to a 13-0 season in 2008 that ended with a win over Alabama. The Utes climbed to a school-record No. 5 in the College Football Playoff rankings earlier this month.
— Moss topped the Pac-12 in rushing with 1,359 yards, averaging 113.3 per game and 6.2 per carry. The senior had eight games of 100 yards or better. He became Utah’s career rushing leader this season and currently has 4,010 yards and 38 rushing touchdowns, also becoming the first player in team history to reach the 1,000-yard milestone three times.
“Winning the Pac-12 Offensive Player of the Year is a great honor to me and is greatly appreciated,” Moss said. “Shout-out to my teammates and coaches for putting me in the position to even be considered for this award, let alone win it. Thank you to the Pac-12 coaches for selecting me with this honor. I am beyond blessed and grateful.”
The all-conference squads included eight first-team selections: Moss, defensive end Bradlee Anae, linebacker Francis Bernard, safety Julian Blackmon, defensive tackle Leki Fotu, quarterback Tyler Huntley, cornerback Jaylon Johnson, and left tackle Darrin Paulo.
Winning the Pac-12 Offensive Player of the Year is a great honor to me and is greatly appreciated. Shout-out to my teammates and coaches for putting me in the position to even be considered for this award, let alone win it. Thank you to the Pac-12 coaches for selecting me with this honor. I am beyond blessed and grateful.” — Pac-12 Offensive Player of the Year Zack Moss
Tight end Brant Kuithe and defensive tackle John Penisini represented Utah on the second team, while safety Terrell Burgess, offensive lineman Nick Ford, nickel back Javelin Guidry, linebacker Devin Lloyd, offensive lineman Simi Moala, defensive end Mika Tafua, and center Orlando Umana made honorable mention.
The 11th-ranked Utes will face Texas (7-5) in the Alamo Bowl on Dec. 31.
2019 Pac-12 football awards
Offensive Player of the Year: Zack Moss, Utah
Pat Tillman Defensive Player of the Year: Evan Weaver, California
Freshman Offensive Player of the Year: Kedon Slovis, USC
Freshman Defensive Player of the Year: Kayvon Thibodeaux, Oregon
Coach of the Year: Kyle Whittingham, Utah
FIRST TEAM OFFENSE
QB: Tyler Huntley, Sr., Utah
RB: Eno Benjamin, Jr., Arizona State
RB: Zack Moss, Sr., Utah
WR: Brandon Aiyuk, Sr., Arizona State
WR: Michael Pittman Jr., Sr., USC
TE: Hunter Bryant, Jr., Washington
OL: Trey Adams, Sr., Washington
OL: Nick Harris, Sr., Washington
OL: Austin Jackson, Jr., USC
OL: Darrin Paulo, Sr., Utah
OL: Penei Sewell, Soph., Oregon
SECOND TEAM OFFENSE
QB: Anthony Gordon, Sr., Washington State
RB: Joshua Kelley, Sr., UCLA
RB: C.J. Verdell, Soph., Oregon
WR: Isaiah Hodgins, Jr., Oregon State
WR: Laviska Shenault, Jr., Colorado
TE: Brant Kuithe, Soph., Utah
TE: Colby Parkinson, Jr., Stanford
OL: Blake Brandel, Sr., Oregon State
OL: Cohl Cabral, Sr., Arizona State
OL: Drew Dalmon, Jr., Stanford
OL: Shane Lemieux, Sr., Oregon
OL: Abe Lucas, So., Washington State
OL: Alijah Vera-Tucker, R-So., USC
FIRST TEAM DEFENSE
DL: Bradlee Anae, Sr., Utah
DL: Leki Fotu, Sr., Utah
DL: Levi Onwuzurike, Jr., Washington
DL: Jay Tufele, Soph., USC
LB: Francis Bernard, Sr., Utah
LB: Nate Landman, Jr., Colorado
LB: Evan Weaver, Sr., California
DB: Paulson Adebo, Jr., Stanford
DB: Julian Blackmon, Sr., Utah
DB: Jaylon Johnson, Jr., Utah
DB: Elijah Molden, Jr., Washington
SECOND TEAM DEFENSE
DL: Ryan Bowman, Jr., Washington
DB: Drake Jackson, Fr., USC
DL: John Penisini, Sr., Utah
DL: Joe Tryon, Soph., Washington
LB: Troy Dye, Sr., Oregon
LB: Hamilcar Rashed, Jr., Oregon State
LB: Casey Toohill, Sr., Stanford
DB: Myles Bryant, Sr., Washington
DB: Camryn Bynum, Jr., California
DB: Ashtyn Davis, Sr., California
DB: Talanoa Hufanga, Soph., USC
FIRST TEAM SPECIALISTS
PK: Blake Mazza, Soph., Washington State
P: Michael Turk, Soph., Arizona State
RS: Brandon Aiyuk, Sr., Arizona State
AP/ST: Brady Breeze, Jr., Oregon
AP/ST: Case Hatch, Fr., Arizona State
SECOND TEAM SPECIALISTS
PK: Peyton Hentry, Soph., Washington
P: Alex Kinney, Sr., Colorado
RS: Velus Jones, Jr., USC
AP/ST: Travion Brown, Fr., Washington State
AP/ST: Michael Pittman Jr., Sr., USC
HONORABLE MENTION
ARIZONA: DB Lorenzo Burns, Jr.; OL Cody Creason, Sr.; LB Colin Schooler, Jr.; RB J.J. Taylor, Jr.; Jace Whittaker, Sr.
ARIZONA STATE: WR Frank Darby, Jr.; DB Jack Jones, Jr.; LB Khaylan Kearse-Thomas, Sr.; DL Jermayne Lole, So.; OL Dohnovan West, Fr.; DB Kobe Williams, Sr.
CALIFORNIA: OL Jake Curhan, Jr.; LB Kuony Deng, Jr.; LB Cameron Goode, Jr.; DB Jaylinn Hawkins, Sr.; DL Zeandae Johnson, Sr.
COLORADO: WR Tony Brown, Sr.; OL Arlington Hambright, Sr.; LB Davion Taylor, Sr.
OREGON: DB Thomas Graham Jr., Jr.; OL Jake Hanson, Sr.; QB Justin Herbert, Sr.; DB Jevon Holland, So.; DB Deommodore Lenoir, Jr.; DL Jordon Scott, Jr.; DL Kayvon Thibodeaux, Fr.; OL Calvin Throckmorton, Sr.; RS Mykael Wright, Fr.
OREGON STATE: OL Brandon Kipper, Soph.; QB Jake Luton, Sr.; TE Noah Togiai, Sr.
STANFORD: DL Thomas Booker, Soph,; LB Curtis Robinson, Sr.; OL Foster Sarell, Jr.; RS Connor Wedington, Jr.
UCLA: TE Devin Asiasi, Jr.; LB Krys Barnes, Sr.; DB Darnay Holmes, Jr.; P Wade Lees, Sr.
USC: DB Olaijah Griffin, So.; LB John Houston Jr., Sr.; PK Chase McGrath, Soph.; WR Amon-Ra St. Brown, Soph.; QB Kedon Slovis, Fr.; WR Tyler Vaughns, Jr.
UTAH: DB Terrell Burgess, Sr.; OL Nick Ford; DB Javelin Guidry, Jr..; LB Devin Lloyd, Soph.; OL Simi Moala, Fr.; DL Mika Tafua, Soph.; OL Orlando Umana, Jr.
WASHINGTON: RB Salvon Ahmed, Jr.; DB Kyler Gordon, Fr.; P Joel Whitford, Sr.
WASHINGTON STATE: RB Max Borghi, Soph.; OL Josh Watson, Jr.; WR Easop Winston, Sr.; LB Jahad Woods, Jr.