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WALNUT CREEK, Calif. — The Pac-12 announced its selections for all-conference teams Monday, and three Utes made the list.
Utah defensive tackle Star Lotulelei and kickoff returner Reggie Dunn both made the All-Pac-12 First Team, while offensive lineman Sam Brenner made the All-Pac-12 Second Team.
Lotulelei is one of only two players to be repeat first team All-Pac-12, the other is LB Chase Thomas of Stanford.
Dunn had four 100-yard kickoff returns for touchdowns this season, an NCAA record. He has five 100-yard kickoff returns for touchdowns in his career.
Several other Utes made All-Pac-12 honorable mention: DB Brian Blechen, Jr.; DL Nate Fakahafua, So.; DL Joe Kruger, Jr.; TE Jake Murphy, So.; OL Jeremiah Poutasi, Fr.; LB Trevor Reilly, Jr.; DB Eric Rowe, So.; P Sean Sellwood, Sr.; OL Tevita Stevens, Sr.; RB John White, Sr.
The conference also announced selections for its annual awards:
Offensive Player of the Year: Marqise Lee, USC
Pat Tillman Defensive Player of the Year: Will Sutton, Arizona State
Freshman Offensive Player of the Year: Marcus Mariota, Oregon
Freshman Defensive Player of the Year: Leonard Williams, USC
Coach of the Year: David Shaw, Stanford
For more info on the Pac-12 football awards and all-conference teams, click HERE.
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Below is the press release from the Utah athletic office:
WALNUT CREEK, Calif.-- Utah senior defensive tackle Star Lotulelei and senior kick returner Reggie Dunn were named to the 2012 All-Pac-12 Conference first team as voted on by the conference coaches. Senior offensive lineman Sam Brenner made the second team and 10 Utes earned honorable mention recognition.
Lotulelei, a senior defensive tackle, also won first-team honors in 2011 and is one of two repeaters on the first team. Dunn, a senior kick returner/receiver who set five NCAA kickoff return records, was cited as the league's best return specialist.
Lotulelei, considered by many as the best defensive tackle in college football and last year's Morris Award winner as the best defensive lineman in the Pac-12, faced double or triple-teams on virtually every play this season. Still, he leads the Pac-12 and is tied for second in the nation in fumble recoveries (4) and his 42 total tackles includes a team-high 11 tackles for loss and 5.0 sacks. Lotulelei also has four pass breakups and three forced fumbles (tied for fifth in the league).
Dunn's 51.3 kickoff return average would easily lead the nation had he enough returns to meet the NCAA minimum of 1.2 returns per game. But Dunn made the most of his 10 chances--setting an NCAA single-season record with four 100-yard kickoff returns for touchdowns. He also finishes his Ute career as the NCAA record-holder for career 100-yard returns (5), single-game 100-yard kickoff returns (2) and kick return average in a game (74.0). He tied the NCAA record for kick return touchdowns in a game from any distance (2).
Brenner allowed just one sack in 743 plays in 11 games during the season (Colorado stats were not available). He had 13 knockdowns, seven cuts and two pancake blocks. During his career, he played in 50 of 51 games with 25 starts. He allowed just two sacks total over the past two seasons.
Earning honorable mention recognition were senior running back John White, junior defensive back Brian Blechen, sophomore defensive lineman Nate Fakahafua, junior defensive lineman Joe Kruger, sophomore tight end Jake Murphy, freshman offensive lineman Jeremiah Poutasi, junior linebacker Trevor Reilly, sophomore defensive back Eric Rowe, senior punter Sean Sellwood and senior offensive lineman Tevita Stevens. White was a second-team selection last year, while Blechen earns honorable mention honors for the second-straight season.
