Story Created:
Dec 8, 2009 at 2:24 PM PST
Story Updated:
Dec 8, 2009 at 2:24 PM PST
UCLA junior defensive tackle Brian Price has been named Pac-10 Pat Tillman defensive player of the year by the conference coaches.
The Crenshaw High School graduate is among 11 Bruins named first team, second team or honorable mention.
Other Bruins joining Price on the first team were senior linebacker Reggie Carter (Crenshaw), sophomore safety Rahim Moore (Dorsey), senior cornerback Alterraun Verner and junior place kicker Kai Forbath.
Redshirt freshman punter Jeff Locke and senior wide receiver Terrence Austin were selected to the second team, the latter as a kickoff returner.
Four Bruins were honorable mention — sophomore linebacker Akeem Ayers (Verbum Dei), senior linebacker Kyle Bosworth, sophomore wide receiver Nelson Rosario and freshman offensive tackle Xavier Su'a-Filo.
Price, who was named first-team All-America by the American Football Coaches Association, is tied for third in the nation in tackles for loss with 1.88 per game. His 22.5 tackles for loss ranks second in UCLA history and first among defensive linemen.
Moore leads the nation with nine interceptions. Forbath, also named first-team All-America by the AFCA and a finalist for the Lou Groza Award, ranks No. 2 in the NCAA with 26 field goals in 12 games. Verner is second in the Pac-10 to Moore with five interceptions and Carter is the Bruins’ leading tackler with 72.
Locke leads the Pac-10 with a 44.0 punting average and Austin ranks among the league leaders in all-purpose yards (sixth), kickoff returns (third) and punt returns.
Representing USC on the first-team offense is wide receiver Damian Williams and linemen Jeff Byers and Charles Brown. Safety Taylor Mays is a first-team defensive pick and Williams was selected as a punt returner.
Trojans on the second team are defensive lineman Everson Griffen, defensive backs Josh Pinkard and Kevin Thomas and special teamer Garrett Green.
Honorable mention selections for USC are tailback Allen Bradford, defensive tackle Jurrell Casey, middle linebacker Chris Galippo, strong safety Will Harris, offensive guard Butch Lewis, tight end Anthony McCoy, tailback Joe McKnight, offensive tackle Tyron Smith and nose tackle Christian Tupou.
Oregon tight end Ed Dickson, a Bellflower High product, is on the first team offense.
Among those earning honorable mention were Arizona middle linebacker Vuna Tuihalamaka (Hawthorne High, El Camino College) and Washington State running back Dwight Tardy (St. Paul High).
Stanford running back Toby Gerhart, who rushed for 1,736 yards and 26 TDs, is the Pac-10 offensive player of the year.
Oregon’s Chip Kelly is coach of the year.
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