5 Utah players named to All-Pac-12 first team

SALT LAKE CITY — Five players from the University of Utah football team have been named to the 2014 All-Pac-12 first team.

Punter Tom Hackett leads Utah as a two-time first team selection. He's joined by fellow specialists Andy Phillips and Kaelin Clay, and running back Devontae Booker and Nate Orchard. The team's five players named to the first team is the most in school history since joining the conference, and is tied with Oregon and USC for the most by a team in the conference.

Offensive tackle Jeremiah Poutasi was the only Utah player named to the All-Pac-12 second team. Pac-12 honorable mentions from Utah include safety Brian Blechen, defensive end Hunter Dimick, defensive tackle Lowell Lotulelei, linebacker Jared Norris and cornerback Eric Rowe.

Ray Guy Award finalist Hackett leads the nation in punts inside the 20-yard line (35) and the 10-yard line (19). Hackett is also third in the nation in punt average, with 47.0 yards per punt. Fellow kicker Phillips is second in the nation in field goals made over 40 yards (12-of-15) and in field goal percentage (84.6 percent). Clay is ranked fourth in the nation in punt return average (16.9) and is third in the Pac-12 in kickoff return average (25.4). Clay finished the regular season with three punt returns for a touchdown and one kickoff return for a touchdown, making him a viable threat for opposing teams.

Booker finished the regular season rushing for 1,350 yards and leads the conference with 266 carries. Booker averaged 130.1 yards per game in Pac-12 play and is third in the conference in yards per game with 112.5. Orchard was a threat to opposing offenses all season and leads the nation in sacks per game with 1.46 and is second in the nation in total sacks with 17.5. Orchard is also tied for fifth in the nation in total tackles for loss with 20 for 118 yards and tackles for loss per game with 1.7.

Of the players honored, Utah is expected to only lose seniors Blechen, Clay, Orchard and Rowe.

Booker was also named to the Pac-12 All-Academic first team on Monday with an overall 3.38 grade point average. Five other players from Utah were named to the second team, including Hunter Dimick (3.12), Marcus Sanders-Williams (3.56), Brian Blechen (3.16), Eric Rowe (3.21) and Chase Dominguez (3.76).

A total of 17 players earned honorable mentions: Brian Allen, Dres Anderson, Evan Eggiman, Siale Fakailoatonga, Jacoby Hale, Sese Ianu, Delshawn McClellon, Filipo Mokofisi, Jared Norris, Andy Phillips, Bubba Poole,Marc Pouvave, Junior Salt, Pita Taumoepenu, Salesi Uhatafe, Chris Van Orden, and Travis Wilson.

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