Arizona State, coming off its first losing season since 2003, did not place anyone on the All-Pac-10 first team in balloting by the league’s coaches.
Wide receiver Michael Jones and defensive back Troy Nolan were the only Sun Devils picked to the second team. Jones had a team-best 61 catches for 744 yards and four touchdowns this season. Nolan collected 64 tackles, four interceptions and a fumble recovery on the year, and also scored three touchdowns.
Oregon State running back Jacquizz Rodgers was named the Offensive Player of the Year and Freshman of the Year. He rushed for 1,253 yards and 11 touchdowns, and became the first freshman in conference history to be named offensive player of the year.
USC middle linebacker Rey Maualugo is the Pat Tillman Defensive Player of the Year. Maualugo, a first-team pick for the third straight year, anchors a Trojans defense that leads the Pac-10 in every major statistical category.
Mike Riley of Oregon State was named Coach of the Year after the Beavers went 8-4 and finished second in the Pac-10. Oregon State had the fewest returning starters in the Pac-10 entering the season and was picked to finish seventh in the conference.
USC placed the most players on the first team with eight (including five on the 12-member defensive team). Oregon and Oregon State had five first-teamers each, and Arizona and California each had four.
Eight ASU players received honorable-mention All-Pac-10 honors: quarterback Rudy Carpenter, defensive end Dexter Davis, defensive tackle Lawrence Guy, offensive linemen Shawn Lauvao, linebacker Mike Nixon, defensive end Luis Vasquez, kicker Thomas Weber and kick returner Kyle Williams.
2008 ALL-PACIFIC-10 CONFERENCE FOOTBALL TEAM
First Team Offense Second Team Offense
QB Mark Sanchez, Jr., USC QB Willie Tuitama, Sr., Arizona
RB Jacquizz Rodgers, Fr., Oregon State RB Toby Gerhart, Jr., Stanford
RB Jahvid Best, So., California RB Jeremiah Johnson, Sr., Oregon
WR Mike Thomas, Sr., Arizona WR Patrick Turner, Sr., USC
WR Sammie Stroughter, Sr., Oregon State WR Michael Jones, Sr., Arizona State
TE Rob Gronkowski, So., Arizona TE Ed Dickson, Jr., Oregon
OL Alex Mack, Sr., California TE Ryan Moya, Jr., UCLA
OL Andy Levitre, Sr., Oregon State OL Alex Fletcher, Sr., Stanford
OL Max Unger, Sr., Oregon OL Adam Speer, Sr., Oregon State
OL Eben Britton, Jr., Arizona OL Fenuki Tupou, Sr., Oregon
OL Ben Muth, Sr., Stanford OL Jeff Byers, Sr., USC
OL Kristofer O'Dowd, So., USC OL Noris Malele, Sr., California
First Team Defense Second Team Defense
DL Nick Reed, Sr., Oregon DL Tyson Alualu, Jr., California
DL Fili Moala, Sr., USC DL Daniel Te'o-Nesheim, Jr., Washington
DL Brian Price, So., UCLA DL Brigham Harwell, Sr., UCLA
DL Victor Butler, Sr., Oregon State DL Clay Matthews, Sr., USC
LB Brian Cushing, Sr., USC LB Kaluka Maiava, Sr., USC
LB Rey Maualuga, Sr., USC LB Keaton Kristick, Jr., Oregon State
LB Zack Follett, Sr., California LB Reggie Carter, Jr., UCLA
DB Kevin Ellison, Sr., USC DB Alterraun Verner, Jr., UCLA
DB Syd'Quan Thompson, Jr., California DB Brandon Hughes, Sr., Oregon State
DB Taylor Mays, Jr., USC DB Troy Nolan, Sr., Arizona State
DB Jairus Byrd, Jr., Oregon DB Greg Laybourn, Sr., Oregon State
DB Patrick Chung, Sr., Oregon DB Devin Ross, Jr., Arizona
First Team Specialists Second Team Specialists
PK David Buehler, Sr., USC PK Kai Forbath, So., UCLA
P Aaron Perez, Sr., UCLA P Bryan Anger, Fr., California
KOR James Rodgers, So., Oregon State KOR Terrence Austin, Jr., UCLA
PR Mike Thomas, Sr., Arizona PR Sammie Stroughter, Sr., Oregon State
ST Patrick Chung, Sr., Oregon ST Wopamo Osaisai, Sr., Stanford
ST=special teams player (not a kicker or returner)
Offensive Player of the Year: Jacquizz Rodgers, TB, Fr., Oregon State
Pat Tillman Defensive Player of the Year: Rey Maualuga, MLB, Sr., USC
Freshman of the Year: Jacquizz Rodgers, TB, Oregon State
Coach of the Year: Mike Riley, Oregon State
