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Utah’s Ty Jordan earns Pac-12 Offensive Freshman Player of the Year honors

In all, 12 Ute players earned All-Pac-12 recognition, including offensive lineman Nick Ford, linebacker Devin Lloyd placekicker Jadon Redding and return specialist Britain Covey the first team.

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Utah Utes running back Ty Jordan (22) carries the ball into the end zone for a touchdown during an NCAA football game at Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Dec. 19, 2020.

Yukai Peng, Deseret News

Utah’s football program was well-represented Tuesday when the Pac-12 announced its 2020 awards. 

Leading the way was running back Ty Jordan, who was named Offensive Freshman of the Year. In all, the Utes earned 12 All-Pac-12 selections, including offensive lineman Nick Ford, linebacker Devin Lloyd placekicker Jadon Redding and return specialist Britain Covey voted to the first team.

Jordan, tight end Brant Kuithe and freshman offensive lineman Sataoa Laumea were selected to the second team. It marks the first time since Utah has had two freshmen appear on the first or second all-conference teams. 

Defensive end Mika Tafua was also a second-team pick along while linebacker Nephi Sewell, cornerback JaTravis Broughton, Covey (as a wide receiver), and snapper Keegan Markgraf were given honorable mention selections. 

Jordan is the first Utah player to earn conference freshman of the year honors since Jason Kaufusi accomplished the feat in 2000 in the Mountain West. 

Jordan rushed for 597 yards and 723 all-purpose yards this season. He concluded the year with three straight 100-plus yard performances, including a career-high 167 yards against Oregon State. He ranks ninth in the FBS, and first among freshmen, in rushing yards per game (119.4) and is 11th in the FBS (first among freshmen) in rushing yards per carry (7.2) 

In total, including both first and second team selections, USC had a league-high nine honorees, followed by Utah’s eight.

Other Pac-12 Awards included Colorado running back Jarek Broussard as Offensive Player of the Year; USC safety Talanoa Hufanga as Defensive Player of the Year; and Oregon linebacker Noah Sewell, an Orem High product, as Freshman Defensive Player of the Year. 

Colorado’s Karl Dorrell was named the Pac-12 Coach of the Year. 

Of note, Brighton High product Simi Fehoko, a Stanford receiver, was named to the first team, while teammate Houston Heimuli, a fullback from Bountiful High, received honorable mention.

2020 ALL-PAC-12 CONFERENCE FOOTBALL TEAM

First Team Offense

QB Kedon Slovis, So., USC

RB Jarek Broussard, So., Colorado

RB Jermar Jefferson, Jr., Oregon State

WR Simi Fehoko, Jr., Stanford

WR Amon-Ra St. Brown, Jr., USC

TE Cade Otton, Jr., Washington

OL Drew Dalman, Sr., Stanford

OL Nathan Eldridge, Sr., Oregon State

OL Nick Ford, Jr., Utah

OL Jaxson Kirkland, Jr., Washington

OL Alijah Vera-Tucker, Jr., USC

OL Dohnovan West, So., Arizona State

First Team Defense 

DL Osa Odighizuwa, Sr., UCLA

DL Kayvon Thibodeaux, So., Oregon

DL Marlon Tuipulotu, Jr., USC

DL Zion Tupuola-Fetui, So., Washington

LB Nate Landman, Sr., Colorado (1)

LB Devin Lloyd, Jr., Utah

LB Avery Roberts, Jr., Oregon State

DB Camryn Bynum, Sr., California

DB Talanoa Hufanga, Jr., USC

DB Elijah Molden, Sr., Washington (1)

DB Mykael Wright, So., Oregon

First Team Specialists

PK Jadon Redding, So., Utah

P Michael Turk, Jr., Arizona State (1)

RS Britain Covey, Sr., Utah

ST Thomas Booker, Jr., Stanford

Second Team Offense

QB Sam Noyer, Sr., Colorado

QB Dorian Thompson-Robinson, Jr., UCLA

RB Demetric Felton, Sr., UCLA

RB Ty Jordan, Fr., Utah

WR Drake London, So., USC

WR Tyler Vaughns, Sr., USC

TE Greg Dulcich, So., UCLA

TE Brant Kuithe, Jr., Utah

OL Alex Forsyth, Jr., Oregon

OL Joshua Gray, Fr., Oregon State

OL Sataoa Laumea, Fr., Utah

OL Abe Lucas, Jr., Washington State

OL Will Sherman, Jr., Colorado

Second Team Defense

DL Thomas Booker, Jr., Stanford

DL Mustafa Johnson, Sr., Colorado

DL Tyler Johnson, Jr., Arizona State

DL Mika Tafua, Jr., Utah

LB Cameron Goode, Sr., California

LB Drake Jackson, So., USC

LB Edefuan Ulofoshio, So., Washington

DB Deommodore Lenoir, Sr., Oregon

DB Chase Lucas, Sr., Arizona State

DB Trent McDuffie, So., Washington

DB Chris Steele, So., USC 

Second Team Specialists

PK Jet Toner, Sr., Stanford

P Oscar Draguicevich, Sr., Washington State

RS D.J. Taylor, Fr., Arizona

ST Jaylon Jackson, Jr., Colorado