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Utah's Whittingham unanimous AP Pac-12 Coach of the Year

Anne M. Peterson

Associated Press

Tags: Kyle Ostendorp, Popo Aumavae, D.J. Davidson, Braeden Daniels, B.J. Baylor, Sean Rhyan, Camden Lewis, Kyle Philips, Drake Jackson, Clark Phillips, Quentin Lake, Travell Harris, Mika Tafua, Kayvon Thibodeaux, Aaron Lowe, Jay Shaw, Travis Dye, Nate Landman, Sports, Junior Tafuna, Noah Sewell, Calvin Jackson, Ron Stone, Nephi Sewell, Cameron Rising, Verone McKinley III, Greg Dulcich, Nick Ford, Avery Roberts, Nous Keobounnam, Race Porter, Cameron Goode, Britain Covey, Tavion Thomas, Andrew Vorhees, Brandon Dorlus, Kyle Whittingham, Trent McDuffie, Sataoa Laumea, Elijah Hicks, Abraham Lucas, Drake London, Parker Lewis, Dorian Thompson-Robinson, Nathan Eldridge, Dean Janikowski, Brant Kuithe, Devin Lloyd, Kellen Diesch
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FILE - Utah coach Kyle Whittingham watches from the sideline during the first half of the team's NCAA college football game against Southern California on Oct. 9, 2021, in Los Angeles. Whittingham was named the Associated Press Pac-12 Coach of the Year for 2021. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez, File)
FILE - Washington State wide receiver Calvin Jackson Jr. (8) catches a touchdown pass in front of California cornerback Josh Drayden (20) during the first quarter ofan NCAA football game Oct. 2, 2021, in Berkeley, Calif. Jackson was voted to The Associated Press All Pac-12 team, in results announced Friday, Dec. 10.(AP Photo/Lachlan Cunningham, File)
FILE - UCLA tight end Greg Dulcich runs the ball during the second half of the team's NCAA college football game against Arizona State on Oct. 2, 2021, in Pasadena, Calif. Dulcich was voted to The Associated Press All Pac-12 team, in results announced Friday, Dec. 10. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill, File)
FILE - UCLA quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson pulls back to throw a pass during the first half of an NCAA college football game against California on Nov. 27, 2021, in Pasadena, Calif. Thompson-Robinson was voted to The Associated Press All Pac-12 team on Friday, Dec. 10. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong, File)
FILE - Utah defensive end Mika Tafua rushes during the first half of the team's NCAA college football game against Arizona on Nov. 13, 2021, in Tucson, Ariz. Tafua was voted to The Associated Press All Pac-12 team, in results announced Friday, Dec. 10. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri, File)
FILE - Oregon defensive end Kayvon Thibodeaux rushes the passer as Washington offensive lineman Jaxson Kirkland blocks during an NCAA college football game Nov. 6, 2021, in Seattle. Thibodeaux was voted to The Associated Press All Pac-12 team, in results announced Friday, Dec. 10. (AP Photo/Stephen Brashear, File)
FILE - Oregon safety Verone McKinley III defends against UCLA during the first half of an NCAA college football game Oct. 23, 2021, in Pasadena, Calif. McKinley was voted to The Associated Press All Pac-12 team, in results announced Friday, Dec. 10. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez, File)
Southern California tailback Darwin Barlow (22) fumbles the ball as he's hit by California safety Elijah Hicks (3) during the second quarter of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Dec. 4, 2021, in Berkeley, Calif. California's Trey Paster picked up the ball and returned it for a touchdown. (AP Photo/D. Ross Cameron)
Utah head coach Kyle Whittingham looks on in the second half during an NCAA college football game against Oregon Saturday, Nov. 20, 2021, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)
Utah coach Kyle Whittingham, right, celebrates with team after Utah defeated Oregon 38-10 to win the Pac-12 Conference championship NCAA college football game Friday, Dec. 3, 2021, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Chase Stevens)
Utah linebacker Devin Lloyd, second from left, celebrates alongside coach Kyle Whittingham, left, quarterback Cameron Rising and wide receiver Britain Covey (18) after Utah defeated Oregon 38-10 to win the Pac-12 Conference championship NCAA college football game Friday, Dec. 3, 2021, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Chase Stevens)
FILE - Utah linebacker Devin Lloyd (0) celebrates with teammates following an NCAA college football game against Arizona State on Oct. 16, 2021, in Salt Lake City. Lloyd was recognized as the Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year, in voting released by The Associated Press on Friday, Dec. 10. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer, File)
FILE - Southern California wide receiver Drake London, right, pulls in a pass as Colorado cornerback Christian Gonzalez defends during the first half of an NCAA college football game Oct. 2, 2021, in Boulder, Colo. London was named The Associated Press Pac-12 Offensive Player of the Year. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski, File)
FILE - UCLA running back Zach Charbonnet carries the ball during the second half of the team's NCAA college football game against Southern California on Nov. 20, 2021, in Los Angeles. Charbonnet, who came to the Bruins from Michigan, was named The Associated Press Pac 12 Newcomer of the Year. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill, File)
FILE - Oregon State running back B.J. Baylor (4) rushes for a 27-yard touchdown during the second half of the team's NCAA college football game against Washington on Oct. 2, 2021, in Corvallis, Ore. Baylor was voted to The Associated Press All Pac-12 team, in results announced Friday, Dec. 10. (AP Photo/Amanda Loman, File)
FILE - Utah offensive lineman Braeden Daniels (71) runs off the field during the second half of the team's NCAA college football game against UCLA on Oct. 30, 2021, in Salt Lake City. Daniels was voted to The Associated Press All Pac-12 team, in results announced Friday, Dec. 10. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer, File)
FILE - Utah running back Tavion Thomas (9) hurdles Stanford cornerback Ethan Bonner (13) for a gain during the third quarter of an NCAA college football game Nov. 5, 2021, in Stanford, Calif. Thomas was voted to The Associated Press All Pac-12 team, in results announced Friday, Dec. 10. (AP Photo/D. Ross Cameron, File)
FILE - Southern California offensive lineman Andrew Vorhees (72) blocks during the second half of the team's NCAA college football game against Arizona on Oct. 30, 2021, in Los Angeles. Vorhees was voted to The Associated Press All Pac-12 team, in results announced Friday, Dec. 10. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez, File)
FILE - Washington defensive back Trent McDuffie gets ready to defend on a play during the first half of the team's NCAA college football game against Colorado on Nov. 20, 2021, in Boulder, Colo. McDuffie was voted to The Associated Press All Pac-12 team, in results announced Friday, Dec. 10. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski, File)

Copyright 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.

FILE - Utah coach Kyle Whittingham watches from the sideline during the first half of the team's NCAA college football game against Southern California on Oct. 9, 2021, in Los Angeles. Whittingham was named the Associated Press Pac-12 Coach of the Year for 2021. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez, File)

With everything Utah endured — and accomplished — this season, it's no surprise coach Kyle Whittingham was named The Associated Press Pac-12 Coach of the Year for 2021.

Utah is going to the Rose Bowl for the first time after defeating Oregon in the Pac-12 championship, a game the Utes reached after righting themselves following a rocky start on the field.

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Utah opened the season 1-2, losing its third game to San Diego State. The Utes won their next game, the conference opener against Washington State, then tragedy struck: defensive back Aaron Lowe was shot and killed at a party in Salt Lake City.

The team rallied, winning all but one of its remaining regular-season games, including a 38-7 victory at home over then-No. 3 Oregon on Nov. 20 that derailed the Ducks' hopes for a playoff berth. They beat the Ducks again on Dec. 3 in the title game in Las Vegas.

Utah linebacker Devin Lloyd was recognized as the Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year.

Offensive Player of the Year honors went to USC wide receiver Drake London and UCLA's Zach Charbonnet, who came to the Bruins from Michigan, was named Newcomer of the Year.

The 2021 AP All-Pac-12 team, as selected by a panel of 14 sports writers and sportscasters who regularly cover the league, with name, school, height, weight, class and hometown. (“u-” denotes unanimous selection):

FIRST TEAM

Offense

QB — Dorian Thompson-Robinson, UCLA, 6-1, 205, Sr., Las Vegas.

RB — B.J. Baylor, Oregon State, 5-11, 205, RS-Jr., Wharton, Texas.

RB — Tavion Thomas, Utah, 6-2, 221, So., Dayton, Ohio.

T — Braeden Daniels, Utah, 6-4, 300, So., Carrollton, Texas.

T — Abraham Lucas, Washington State, 6-7, 319, RS-Sr., Everett, Washington.

G — Andrew Vorhees, USC, 6-6, 320, RS-Sr., Kingsburg, California.

G — Nous Keobounnam, Oregon State, 6-2, 292, RS-Sr., Portland, Oregon.

C — Nick Ford, Utah, 6-5, 317, Jr., San Pedro, California.

TE — Greg Dulcich, UCLA, 6-4, 250, RS Jr., Glendale, California.

WR — Drake London, USC, 6-5, 210, Jr., Moorpark, California.

WR — Calvin Jackson Jr., Washington State, 5-10, 194, Sr., Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

K — (tie) Parker Lewis USC, 6-3, 205, So., Phoenix.

Dean Janikowski, Washington State, 6-1, 211, RS-So., Fallbrook, California.

All Purpose — Britain Covey, Utah, 5-8, 170, Jr., Provo, Utah.

Defense

DE — Kayvon Thibodeaux, Oregon, 6-5, 258, So., Los Angeles.

DE — Mika Tafua, Utah, 6-3, 250, Jr., Laie, Hawaii.

DT — Brandon Dorlus, Oregon, 6-3, 284, So., Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

DT —Popo Aumavae, Oregon, 6-5, 305, Jr., Stockton, California.

LB — u-Devin Lloyd, Utah, 6-3, 235, Jr., Chula Vista, California.

LB — Noah Sewell, Oregon, 6-3, 251, Fr., Malaeimi, American Samoa.

LB —Nephi Sewell, Utah, 6-0, 228, Jr., Malaeimi, American Samoa.

CB — Trent McDuffie, Washington, 5-11, 195., Jr., Westminster, California.

CB —Kylor Gordon, Washington, 6-0, 200, Jr., Mukilteo, Washington.

S — Verone McKinley III, Oregon, 5-11, 194, So., Carrollton, Texas.

S — Elijah Hicks, California, 5-11, 200, Sr., Long Beach, California.

P — Kyle Ostendorp, Arizona, 6-1, 215, So., Phoenix.

Pac-12 Offensive Player of the Year — Drake London, USC.

Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year — Devin Lloyd, Utah.

Pac-12 Coach of the Year — u_Kyle Whittingham, Utah.

Pac-12 Newcomer of the Year — Zach Charbonnet, UCLA.

SECOND TEAM

Offense

QB — Cameron Rising, Utah, 6-2, 220, So., Ventura, California.

RB —Travis Dye, Oregon, 5-10, 190, Jr., Norco, California.

RB — Raachad White, Arizona State, 6-2, 210, RS-Sr., Kansas City.

OT — Sean Rhyan, UCLA, 6-5, 320, Jr., Ladera Ranch, California.

OT — Kellen Diesch, Arizona State, 6-7, 300, Sr., Trophy Club, Texas.

OG — Paul Grattan Jr., UCLA, 6-4, 300, RS-Sr., Pittsburgh.

OG —Sataoa Laumea, Utah, 6-4, 304, RS-Fr. , Rialto, California.

C — Nathan Eldridge, Oregon State, 6-4, 297, RS-Sr., Anthem, Arizona.

TE — Brant Kuithe, Utah, 6-2, 230, Jr., Katy, Texas.

WR — Kyle Philips, UCLA, 5-11, 191, RS Jr., San Marcos, California.

WR —Travell Harris, Washington State, 5-9, 185, RS-Sr., Tampa, Florida.

All Purpose — Kyle Philips, UCLA, 5-11, 191, RS-Jr., San Marcos, California.

K — Camden Lewis, Oregon, 5-11, 208, So., Charlotte, North Carolina.

Defense

DE —Drake Jackson, USC, 6-4, 250, Jr., Corona, California.

DE — Ron Stone Jr., Washington State, 6-3, 240, RS-Jr., San Jose, California.

DT — D.J. Davidson, Arizona State, 6-5, 325, Sr., Mesa, Arizona.

DT — Junior Tafuna, Utah, 6-3, 290, Fr., Taylorsville, Utah

LB — Nate Landman, Colorado, 6-3, 235, Sr., Danville, California.

LB — Avery Roberts, Oregon State, 6-1, 234, RS-Jr., Wilmington, Delaware.

LB — Cameron Goode, California, 6-4, 240, RS-Sr., Spring, Texas.

CB — Clark Phillips III, Utah, 510, 185, Fr., Lakewood, California.

CB — Jay Shaw, UCLA, 5-11, 190, Sr., Corona, California.

S — Quentin Lake, UCLA, 6-1, 205, Sr., Irvine, California.

S — Vontae Davis, Utah, 6-0, 195, Sr., Rosenberg, Texas.

P— Race Porter, Washington, 6-3, 190, Sr., Seattle.

___

AP All-Pac-12 Voting Panel:

Gary Horowitz, KBZY Radio; Dale Grummert, Lewiston Tribune; Jeff Faraudo, Cal Sports Report; Jeff Call, Deseret News; Brian Howell, Boulder Daily Camera; Josh Furlong, KSL; Sean Keeler, Denver Post; James Crepea, Oregonian; Jesse Sowa, Corvallis Gazette-Times; Mark Whicker, Southern California New Group; Nick Daschel, Oregonian; Jon Wilner, Bay Area News Group; Michael Lev, Arizona Daily Star; Michelle Gardner, Arizona Republic.

___

More AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/college-football and https://twitter.com/AP_Top25 Sign up for the AP’s college football newsletter: https://apnews.com/cfbtop25

Copyright 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.

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