Preseason Annual Awards

Coach of the Year: Dan Lanning, Oregon

Lanning’s team is loaded with talent.

While some of the playcalling risks he took in his first two seasons proved costly, they could pay off in a big way this season.

Offensive Player of the Year: Dillon Gabriel, Oregon

The Oklahoma transfer enters the season with more success and fewer questions than his predecessor, giving him a legitimate shot to become the second Oregon player to win the Heisman Trophy.

Gabriel enters 2024 tied for fourth in NCAA history with 152 career TDs and eighth in all-time passing yardage with 14,865. This season has a chance to be very special for him.

Defensive Player of the Year: Travis Hunter, Colorado

He is a playmaker on both sides of the ball, but his best work comes in shutting down opposing receivers.

A dependable difference-maker, the junior DB can turn defense into instant offense with his takeaways. In just nine games in 2023, he picked off three passes and recorded eight total passes defended.

First-Team Offense

QB: Dillon Gabriel, Oregon

Gabriel is making the third stop of his college career, having moved west from Orlando to Norman and now Eugene.

At UCF and Oklahoma, he put up huge numbers, and that trend should continue in the Ducks offense.

In his two seasons with the Sooners, he threw 55 touchdown passes with just 12 interceptions.

RB: Ashton Jeanty, Boise State

Jeanty has a legitimate shot at being the first running back taken in April’s NFL draft.

He is a complete two-way back and a threat whenever he touches the ball.

RB: Jaydn Ott, California

Ott is 1,156 yards away from becoming the all-time leading rusher in Cal history. If he stays healthy, that mark should be reached with relative ease.

The Bears will get some wins in the ACC if the All-America candidate has an exceptional season as expected.

WR: Tetairoa McMillan, Arizona

McMillan is the full package at wide receiver. He may have the best hands in the nation, and at 6-foot-5, he has the size to go up and get the ball when needed.

In 2023, he ranked fifth nationally with 107.8 receiving yards per game.

WR: Ricky White III, UNLV

A sure-handed receiver, White should be among the Biletnikoff finalists in December.

Last season, his 1,4083 receiving yards were the third-most in the nation.

WR: Tory Horton, Colorado State

Horton caught 96 passes in 2023, the fifth-most in the country.

He had four games in 2023 with at least 10 receptions, and at least seven receptions in eight of his 12 games.

The graduate wideout is one of the most dangerous receivers in the nation after the catch with speed to burn and the ability to make defenders miss.

TE: Brant Kuithe, Utah

Kuithe is back after missing the tail end of 2022 and all of the 2023 season with an ACL injury. There could be some early rust, but when healthy he might be the best tight end in the nation.

The seventh-year senior is elusive as a runner with 31 missed tackles forced from 2019-21, the most by any tight end in America during that time.

OL: Ajani Cornelius, Oregon

Last season Oregon led the nation in sacks allowed with just .36 given up per game and Cornelius was an anchor of that unit.

In 2023 he did not give up a sack and allowed 11 quarterback hurries.

OL: Joshua Gray, Oregon State

Gray has been an anchor in Corvallis.

He enters the 2024 season with 44 career starts and is one of the primer linemen in the nation.

OL: Jonah Monheim, USC

Monheim has been a mainstay on the Trojans line over the last three seasons, playing on the outside of the line.

This season he will move to center, and he has a chance to be one of the premier centers in the nation.

OL: Jonah Savaiinaea, Arizona

Savaiinaea allowed only two sacks last season in Arizona’s resurgence.

He enters his Junior year with starts in all 25 games of his career. He will be the driving force in the Wildcats offense in 2024.

OL: Michael Mokofisi, Utah

Mokofisi has made a name for himself with starts in all but four of his games at Utah.

He should be among the top linemen in the Big 12 this season.

First-Team Defense

DL: Bear Alexander, USC

Alexander will make a ton of plays in the backfield this season in D’Anton Lynn’s defense.

In 2023, he forced two fumbles and made 6.5 stops behind the line and four QB hurries while getting to the passer 1.5 times.

Those numbers could double this season.

DL: Ahmed Hassanein, Boise State

Hassanein collected 12.5 sacks, the sixth-most in the nation and the sixth-most in a single season in Boise State history.

He enters his junior campaign as a dominant force on the Boise State line.

DL: Junior Tafuna, Utah

Tafuna has started 36 consecutive games for the Utes and could end up being the Big 12 defensive player of the year.

He tends to save some of his best performances for the Utes’ biggest games.

DL: Jordan Burch, Oregon

Burch could be a dominant edge rusher in 2024. Last season he contributed three sacks and six tackles for loss.

Look for those numbers to jump and for Burch to be in a lot of opposing Big Ten backfields this season.

LB: Easton Mascarenas-Arnold, USC

One of the top linebackers in the nation, he will be a centerpiece for the new-look Trojan defense.

He collected 107 tackles in 2023 with 6.5 coming behind the line.

His numbers could be huge in 2024.

LB: Jacob Manu, Arizona

Manu led the Pac-12 in tackles in 2023 and should be at the top of the Big 12 rankings this season.

He can make plays in the backfield as he had 9.5 tackles for loss and 6.5 sacks in 2023. He can also drop into coverage.

LB: Andrew Simpson, Boise State

Simpson may be one of the most well-balanced and versatile linebackers in the nation.

He picked off two passes last season while collecting 16 tackles for loss and 6.5 sacks. The 6-foot sophomore has a nose for the ball that’s just as good in run support as in pass coverage.

He could be poised for a breakout in 2024.

LB: Jackson Woodard, UNLV

Jackson Woodard made an immediate impact for the Rebels in 2023.

He returns as one of the best linebackers in the Mountain West and will be a key cog in the middle of the UNLV defense.

DB: Travis Hunter, Colorado

Our selection for Defensive Player of the Year, Hunter is the most versatile player in the nation and a lockdown defender.

He finished 2023 with .89 passes defended per game and is a threat to make a play every time teams throw his way.

DB: Tacario Davis, Arizona

Davis averaged 1.23 passes defended per game in 2023, the eighth-most in the nation.

At 6-foot-4 he can go toe to toe with the biggest of receivers. He led the Pac-12 with 15 pass breakups in 2023.

DB: Jabbar Muhammad, Oregon

Muhammad was seventh in the nation last season with 1.27 passes defended per game.

He should stand out among an Oregon secondary that is loaded with talent.

DB: Ike Larsen, Utah State

Larsen does a lot for the Aggies. In 2023 he put up 103 tackles with 4.5 coming behind the line of scrimmage.

His 109 yards on interception returns last season was the 11th-most in the nation.

First-Team Special Teams

K: Jonah Dalmas, Boise State

This spot may have been the most difficult to narrow down to one player.

We are spoiled with two of the best kickers in the nation, but I give a slight edge to Dalmas over John Hoyland.

Dalmas was 24 of 27 on field goals last season with a long of 56 while logging an NCAA-best 90.9% on FG attempts of 40+ yards.

P: James Ferguson-Reynolds, Boise State

Ferguson-Reynolds is not only the best punter among the 25 teams in our coverage area, but may also be the best in the nation.

In 2023 he led the nation averaging 49.7 yards per punt, with 29 punts traveling 50+ yards and 23 punts landing inside the 20.

RET: Jacob De Jesus, UNLV

De Jesus has terrific speed and great vision as a return man.

His 1,079 combined kick return yards in 2023 was the most in the nation by 200+ yards, and his 25.7 yards per kickoff return ranked 13th nationally.

Second-Team Offense

QB: Cam Rising, Utah
RB: Jordan James, Oregon
RB: Harrison Waylee, Wyoming
WR: Tez Johnson, Oregon
WR: Jalen Royals, Utah State
WR: Elic Ayomanor, Stanford
TE: Terrance Ferguson, Oregon
OL: Emmanuel Pregnon, USC
OL: Josh Conerly, Oregon
OL: Tiger Shanks, UNLV
OL: Spencer Fano, Utah
OL: Josh Baker, Arizona

Second-Team Defense

DL: Devo Bridges, Fresno State
DL: Jordan Bertangnole, Wyoming
DL: Tyler Batty, BYU
DL: Jalen Dixon, UNLV
LB: Shae Suiaunoa, Wyoming
LB: Jeffrey Bassa, Oregon
LB: Karene Reid, Utah
LB: Chase Wilson, Colorado State
DB: Cameron Oliver, UNLV
DB: Jack Howell, Colorado State
DB: Shamari Simmons, Arizona State
DB: Craig Woodson, California

Second-Team Special Teams

K: John Hoyland, Wyoming
P: Jack Bouwmeester, Utah
RET: LaJohntay Wester, Colorado

Third-Team Offense

QB: Shedeur Sanders, Colorado
RB: Jonah Coleman, Washington
RB: Malik Sherrod, Fresno State
WR: Evan Stewart, Oregon
WR: LaJohntay Wester, Colorado
WR: Kyle Williams, Washington State
TE: Jack Endries, California
OL: Victor Stoffel, California
OL: Leif Fautanu, Arizona State
OL: Raymond Pulido, Arizona
OL: Weylin Lapuaho, BYU
OL: Marcus Harper, Oregon

Third-Team Offense

DL: Jay Toia, UCLA
DL: Soane Toia, San Jose State
DL: Dayon Hayes, Colorado
DL: BJ Green, Colorado
LB:  Mason Cobb, USC
LB: Cade Uluave, California
LB: Alphonzo Tuputala, Washington
LB: Jack Kelly, BYU
DB: Avanti Dickerson, Utah State
DB: Treydan Stukes, Arizona
DB: Jacob Robinson, BYU
DB: Zamaiah Vaughn, Utah

Third-Team Special Teams

K: Tyler Loop, Arizona
P: Mark Vassett, Colorado
RET: Zachariah Branch, USC