Coming off a 4-8 season in Brent Brennan’s debut at the helm of Arizona, the Wildcats did not have lofty preseason expectations from the Big 12’s media or coaches. After finishing with a 9-3 record and a chance to secure the program’s fifth 10-win season, the league has set the record straight.
Quarterback Noah Fifita and defensive backs Dalton Johnson and Treydan Stukes have been named to the All-Big 12 First Team. The Wildcats’ three First Team selections are the most since 2008, when four players were Pac-10 First Team selections. Treydan Stukes and Dalton Johnson are the first pair of Arizona defensive players to earn First Team all-conference honors since 2007, when Antoine Cason and Spencer Larsen Sr. were First Team all-Pac-10 selections. Additionally, Arizona’s ballhawking tandem have four interceptions apiece on the year, tying for second most in the league this season.
Noah Fifita is Arizona’s first First Team all-conference quarterback since Bruce Hill in 1975, and just the third in program history, joining Hill and Ted Bland (1933-1935).
In total, after tying for third place in the Big 12, with a 6-3 record in conference play, Brent Brennan’s crew saw 15 players recognized by the league.
Wide receiver Kris Hutson, linebacker Taye Brown, and defensive backs Jay’Vion Cole and Genesis Smith were Third Team selections. Seven more Wildcats earned Honorable Mention nods, including running back Ismail Mahdi, wide receivers Tre Spivey and Javin “Nunu” Whatley, offensive lineman Ty Buchanan, defensive linemen Deshawn McKnight and Tia Savea and linebacker Max Harris.
Fifita was an Honorable Mention for Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year, which BYU running back LJ Martin took home. Brent Brennan earned the same recognition for Coach of the Year, which went to BYU head coach Kalani Sitake. Jay’Vion Cole was an Honorable Mention for Defensive Newcomer of the Year and defensive lineman Mays Pese was an Honorable Mention for Defensive Freshman of the Year.
I couldn’t be more proud of Arizona 🏈 football. I watch them and cheer them on in any condition. This year all of my sincere rooting paid off !!!!
UA. D FENCE. COMPLETED
THE FINAL BLOW TO GET US ON TOP.
Pima college graduate hearing a thunderous stadium from the UA downstairs library while doing homework on the computers.
GO CATS.
[…] and one of two quarterbacks, alongside USC’s Jayden Maiava, selected as a finalist. The First Team All-Big 12 selection has throw for 2,963 yards and 26 touchdowns (two away from the program’s single-season […]
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