Colorado University Athletics
Four Buffs Draw AP Honors; MacIntyre Coach of the Year
December 09, 2016 | Football
The Associated Press released its All-Pac-12 team on Friday, honoring four Buffs and coach Mike MacIntyre
Three Buffs - CB Chidobe Awuzie, OLB Jimmie Gilbert and S Tedric Thompson - were first team selections while CB Ahkello Witherspoon drew a second-team nod.
MacIntyre, who has already been named the national coach of the year by the Walter Camp Foundation and Home Depot, earned the AP nod to follow up on being named the Pac-12 Coach of the Year in a selection by the coaches in the Pac-12 Conference. MacIntyre led the Buffs to the greatest single-year turnaround in Pac-12 Conference history (from 1-8 in 2015 to 8-1 in 2016). CU won its first Pac-12 South Division title and currently stands ranked No. 10 in the College Football Playoff poll with a 10-3 record, its first 10-win season since 2001, heading into the Dec. 29 Valero Alamo Bowl where the Buffs will face off against No. 12 Oklahoma State.
Washington receiver John Ross was voted as the player of the year while Utah defensive end Hunter Dimick and multi-dimensional USC cornerback Adoree' Jackson shared defensive player of the year honors.
Southern California quarterback Sam Darnold was a unanimous choice as newcomer of the year.
Washington led the first team with six players, including Budda Baker, a unanimous choice at safety.Â
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CU's Associated Press All-Pac-12 Selections
Senior CB Chidobe Awuzie – First-Team All-Pac-12: Marquee player in CU's secondary that ranked fourth in the FBS in pass efficiency defense and 22nd in passing defense, both categories that topped all Pac-12 teams … finished the year with 54 tackles (44 solo), four sacks (the most by any CU defensive back), 13 pass breakups and two forced fumbles … also had one interception and 17 third-down stops, ranking second on the team in that category … he became CU's all-time quarterback sacks leader – among defensive backs – over the course of the season and now stands with nine in his career … played in 771 snaps on defense, ranking third on the squad … led CU in special teams points with 26.
Senior OLB Jimmie Gilbert – First-Team All-Pac-12: Ranked third in the Pac-12 in sacks (10 by CU's count, 9.5 by press box stats that the Pac-12 uses; CU uses coaches film for defensive stats) … his six forced fumbles are the second-most in CU single-season history, rank in a tie for the second-most forced by any player in the country this year and are the most by any Pac-12 player since Arizona's Scooby Wright III also had six back in 2014 … led the team in multiple categories including tackles for a loss with 12.0 (includes sack figure), third-down stops with 19, quarterback hurries with 13 and quarterback chasedowns with six.
Senior S Tedric Thompson – First-Team All-Pac-12: Led the Pac-12 in interceptions with seven on the season, a mark that tied for the most in CU single-season history … his seven picks were also the second-most in the country in 2016 … by CU's count (school uses coaches film for defensive stats), his 25 total passes defended (18 pass breakups plus his seven interceptions) led all FBS players … his 18 pass breakups tie for the fifth-most in CU single-season history … ranked third on the team with 72 tackles (44 solo and two for losses) … was credited with 15 third-down stops and three quarterback pressures … twice collected Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Week honors (for games at Stanford, versus Utah) – he was one of only two Pac-12 defenders to earn the award twice on the season (joined by Stanford Solomon Thomas) … he played in 776 snaps on defense, ranking second on the team.
Senior CB Ahkello Witherspoon – Second-Team All-Pac-12: Led the nation in pass breakups with 22 on the year, which tied Ben Kelly's single-season school record that he set back in 1998 … also ranked second in the nation in total passes defended with 23, trailing only teammate Tedric Thompson (25) … his lone interception on the year was one of CU's biggest plays of the season, as his pick in the end zone at Oregon when the Ducks had the ball inside the Buffalo 10-yard line with under a minute to play sealed CU's 41-38 victory to open Pac-12 play … was credited with a pass breakup in 12-of-13 games on the season, including seven games with multiple pass breakups (high of four versus Utah in regular season finale) … finished the year with 24 tackles and nine third-down stops … played in 719 snaps on defense.
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Aaron Fentress, CSN Northwest; Dale Grummert, Lewiston Morning Tribune; Anthony Gimino, Lindy's Football Annuals; Dough Haller, Arizona Republic; Brian Howell, Boulder Daily Camera; Gina Mizell, Oregonian; Tony Parks, KZNS; Jacob Thorpe, Spokesman-Review; Jon Wilner, San Jose Mercury News.
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The 2016 AP All-Pac-12 team, with players listed by name, school, height, weight, class and hometown (u-denotes unanimous selections):
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FIRST TEAM
Offense
Quarterback — Jake Browning, Washington, 6-2, 209, So., Folsom, California.
Running backs — Christian McCaffrey, Stanford, 6-0, 200, Jr., Castle Rock, Colorado.; Joe Williams, Utah, 5-11, 205, Sr., Allentown, Pennsylvania.
Tackles — Garett Bolles, Utah, 6-5, 300, Jr., Lehi, Utah; Zach Banner, USC, 6-6, 310, Sr., Tacoma, Washington.
Guards — u-Cody O'Connell, Washington State, 6-8, 354, Jr., Wenatchee, Washington.; Jake Eldrenkamp, Washington, 6-5, 297, Sr., Medina, Washington.
Center — Scott Quessenberry, UCLA, 6-4, 315, Jr., La Costa, California.
Wide receivers— u-John Ross, Washington, 5-11, 190, Jr., Long Beach, California.; Chad Hansen, California, 6-2, 205, Jr., Fillmore, California.
Tight end — u-Pharaoh Brown, Oregon, 606, 250, Sr. Lyndhurst, Ohio
All-purpose — Adoree' Jackson, USC, 5-11, 185, Jr., Belleville, Illinois.
Kicker — u-Zane Gonzalez, Arizona State, 6-1, 195, Sr., Deer Park, Texas
Defense
Defensive ends — u-Takkarist McKinley, UCLA, 6-2, 265, Sr., Richmond, California.; u-Hunter Dimick, Utah, 6-3, 272, Sr., Syracuse, Utah
Tackles — Solomon Thomas, Stanford, 6-3, 273, Jr., Coppell, Texas; Elijah Qualls, Washington, 6-1, 321, Jr., Petaluma, California.
Linebackers — u-Jayon Brown, UCLA, 6-0, 320, Sr., Long Beach, California.; Jimmie Gilbert, Colorado, 6-5, 230, Sr., College Station, Texas; Azeem Victor, Washington, 6-3, 230, Jr., Upland, California.
Cornerbacks — Chidobe Awuzie, Colorado, 6-0, 205, Sr., San Jose, California.; Adoree' Jackson, USC, 5-11, 185, Jr., Belleville, Illinois.
Safeties — u-Budda Baker, Washington, 5-10, 192, Jr., Bellevue, Washington.; Tedric Thompson, Colorado, 6-1, 205, Sr., Valencia, California.
Punter — Mitch Wishnowsky, Utah, 6-2, 220, So., Australia
SECOND TEAM
Offense
Quarterback — Sam Darnold, USC, 6-4, 225, Fr., Capistrano Beach, California.
Running backs —Myles Gaskin, Washington, 5-10, 195, So., Lynnwood, Washington.; Ronald Jones, USC, 6-1, 195, So., McKinney, Texas
Tackles — Chad Wheeler, USC, 6-6, 310, Sr., Santa Monica, California.; Stevie Tu'ikolovato, USC, 6-1, 320, Sr., Salt Lake City
Guards — Isaac Asiata, Utah, 6-3, 323, Sr., Spanish Fork, Utah; Damien Mama, USC, 6-4, 325, Jr., Moreno Valley, California.
Center — Coleman Shelton, Washington, 6-4, 293, Jr., Pasadena, California.
Wide receivers— JuJu Smith-Schuster, USC, 6-2, 220, Jr., Long Beach, California.; Gabe Marks, Washington State, 6-0, 190, Sr., Venice, California.
Tight end — Nate Iese, UCLA, 6-3, 242, Sr., Elk Grove, California.
All-purpose — Christian McCaffrey, Stanford, 6-0, 200, Jr., Castle Rock, Colorado.
Kicker— Andy Phillips, Utah, 5-10, 210, Sr., Draper, Utah
Defense
Defensive ends— Hercules Mata'afa, Washington State, 6-2, 255, So., Lahaina, Hawaii; JoJo Wicker, Arizona State, 6-3, 263, So., Long Beach, California.
Tackles — Vita Vea, Washington, 6-5, 332, So., Milpitas, California.; Lowell Lotulelei, Utah, 6-2, 310, Jr., South Jordan, Utah
Linebackers — Koron Crump, Arizona State, 6-3, 218, Jr., St. Louis; Keishawn Bierria, Washington, 6-1, 221, Jr., Carson, California.; Cameron Smith, USC, 6-5, 245, So., Roseville, California.
Cornerbacks — Sidney Jones, Washington, 6-0, 181, Jr., Diamond Bar, California.; Ahkello Witherspoon, Colorado, 603, 195, Sr., Sacramento, California.
Safeties — Shalom Luani, Washington State, 6-0, 205, Sr., American Samoa; Marcus Williams, Utah, 6-1, 195, Jr., Corona, California.
Punter — Matt Haack, Arizona State, 6-1, 201, Sr., West Des Moines, Iowa
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Offensive Player of the Year — John Ross, Washington.
Defensive Player of the Year — Hunter Dimick, Utah and Adoree' Jackson, USC
Newcomer of the Year — u-Sam Darnold, USC
Coach of the Year — Mike MacIntyre, Colorado
