The Pac-10 closed out its regular season three days ago, and now the conference honors are beginning to roll in.
According to a press release issued by the Pac-10, Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck was named the conference’s Offensive Player of the Year. Luck, who was named yesterday as one of four finalists for the 2010 Heisman Trophy, is ranked seventh in the nation in passing efficiency and threw just seven interceptions in 349 pass attempts.
On the other side of the ball, Oregon State defensive tackle Stephen Paea was named the Pat Tillman Defensive Player of the Year. The senior led the Beavers with six sacks and 10 tackles for loss.
While some could make a (very compelling) case for Luck’s head coach, there was simply no way of denying Oregon’s Chip Kelly the Coach of the Year honors. And there wasn’t; Kelly was tabbed as the conference’s top coach after leading the Ducks to a perfect 12-0 mark, a Pac-10 championship and a spot next to Auburn in the BcS title game.
Two other major honors were also announced: USC wide receiver Robert Woods was named the Offensive Freshman of the Year, while Arizona State defensive end Junior Onyeali was named Defensive Freshman of the Year.
