Pac-12 Performance Awards, presented by Nextiva – Football Week 11

SAN FRANCISCO – The Pac-12 today announced its 2022 football season’s 11th weekly performance awards, presented by Nextiva. See below for Week 11’s recognitions across the Conference and keep track of the 2022 Offensive Player of the Year watchlist here:

OFFENSE:  Michael Penix, Jr., Jr., QB, Washington (Tampa, Fla.)

• Led the Huskies to a 37-34 road win at No. 6 Oregon, passing for 408 yards on 26-of-35 passing. Penix passed for 2 touchdowns, had 1 interception, and also rushed for 20 yards on 2 carries.
• Became the 4th Husky ever to pass for 2 touchdown passes of 60 yards or longer in the same game, connecting with Ja’Lynn Polk on a 76-yard score in the 3rd quarter, and with Taj Davis on a 62-yard pass in the 4th quarter. The latter tied the game at 34-34.
• The 408 yards were the 7th most ever by a Husky in a single game.
• 2nd time this season that Penix has won this award, previously earning it in Week 3.  First Husky to earn Offensive Player of the Week twice in a season since RB Louis Rankin in 2007 and first UW QB to do it since Marques Tuiasosopo in 1999.

Also nominated:  Jayden de Laura, QB, Arizona; Tavion Thomas, RB, Utah; Zach Charbonnet, RB, UCLA; Damien Martinez, RB, Oregon State; Caleb Williams, QB, USC; Nakia Watson, RB, Washington State; X Valladay, RB, Arizona State; 

Check out the 2022 Offensive Player of the Year Watchlist, presented by Nextiva, to learn more. 

DEFENSE:  Tuli Tuipulotu, Jr., DL, USC (Hawthorne, Calif.)

• Once again a defensive standout for the Trojans in their 55-17 victory over Colorado in the Coliseum on Friday night. He recorded 3 tackles, with 2.5 for loss and 2.5 sacks. He also tallied 1 forced fumble and 1 pass breakup.
• Lott IMPACT Trophy Semifinalist, Rotary Lombardi Semifinalist and Bednarik Award Semifinalist.
• On the season, Tuipulotu has 32 tackles (17.5 for loss with 11.5 sacks), 3 pass breakups, 2 quarterback hurries and 2 forced fumbles.
• 11.5 sacks this season are the most in a single season by a Trojan since Kenechi Udeze set the USC record with 16.5 sacks in the 2003 season. Leads the nation in sacks with 11.5 on the season (1.15 per game is 2nd in FBS).  Tuipulotu now has 19.0 career sacks.
• Tied for 2nd in the nation in tackles for loss with 1.8 per game, and leads the Pac-12 Conference in the stat.  17.5 TFL is 3rd in FBS.
• 2nd time this season Tuipulotu has won this award (Week 6) as well as winning Defensive Lineman of the Week 3 times this season (Weeks 2, 6, 10).  First player this season to win Defensive Player of the Week twice and first Trojan to do it since LB Rey Maualuga in 2008.

Also nominated: Jacob Manu, LB, Arizona; Brennan Jackson, EDGE, Washington State; Simote Pepa, DT, Utah; Ryan Cooper Jr., DB, Oregon State

SPECIAL TEAMS:  Peyton Henry, Sr., PK, Washington (Danville, Calif.)

• For the 2nd week in a row, Henry made a tie-breaking, game-winning field goal in the final minute of game. Saturday at No. 6-ranked Oregon, Henry hit a 43-yarder with just 0:51 remaining on the clock, breaking a 34-34 tie and giving the Huskies a 37-34 win.
• 3-for-3 on field goals in the game, also making from 27 and 30 yards earlier in the game.
• 2nd straight week and 3rd time this season winning this award (Week 4 & 10).  4th time in his career (Week 9 in 2021).  1st UW player to take home this award 3 times in the same season since KR/WR Dante Pettis in 2017. 2nd player to win this award 3 times this season (Stanford’s Joshua Karty) and 1st UW kicker to ever win it 3 times in a season.

Also nominated:  Anthony Gould, WR/PR, Oregon State; Kyle Ostendorp, P, Arizona; Nick Haberer, P, Washington State; James Djonkum, LB, Arizona State; Aadyn Sleep-Dalton, P, USC

OFFENSIVE LINE:  Corey Luciano, Sr., C, Washington (Danville, Calif.)

• Was the highest-graded offensive lineman in Washington’s 37-34 win over No. 6 Oregon in Eugene.
• Huskies compiled 522 yards of total offense: 114 on the ground and 408 through the air, averaging a whopping 9.2 yards per play.
• For the 7th time in 10 games this year, the line also kept Michael Penix Jr.’s uniform clean, not allowing a sack. In fact, Oregon managed just 2 tackles for loss, for just 2 yards.
• 2nd Washington player to win this award this season with Troy Fautanu being honored in Week 3.

Also nominated: Joshua Gray, LT, Oregon State; Keaton Bills, LG, Utah; Brett Neilon, C, USC; Paiton Fears, RT, Arizona

DEFENSE LINE:  Brennan Jackson, RS Jr., EDGE, Washington State (Temecula, Calif.)

• Accounted for 5 tackles, 2 sacks, 2 tackles-for-loss and a forced fumble in WSU’s 28-18 win over Arizona State. 
• Set the tone early, as on ASU’s first possession, he sacked Trenton Bourguet for a 25-yard loss, forcing a fumble that ASU recovered on their 2-yard line.  Jackson added his second sack of the game late in the 4th quarter.
• According to PFF, 4th best pass rush grade among Pac-12 defensive linemen, and 5th best defensive grade. 
• Jackson leads WSU in sacks with 5 on the season and is second in TFL with 10.5.
• 1st time this season winning this award after taking it home twice last year (Week 5 & 7).  

Also nominated:  Tuli Tuipulotu, DL, USC; Jalen Harris, DL, Arizona; Jonah Eliss, DE, Utah; James Rawls, DL, Oregon State; Nesta Jade Silvera, DL, Arizona State; 

FRESHMAN:  Jacob Manu, Fr., LB, Arizona (Santa Ana, Calif.)

• Tied a career-high 10 tackles (5 solo, 5 assists) which led the team.  Recorded 1 quarterback hurry and 1 pass breakup.
• A member of a defense that recorded a season-high 7 tackles for loss.  Helped the defense limit UCLA QB Dorian Thompson-Robinson to 245 yards passing and 1 touchdown.
• Held off a late drive by UCLA to secure a 34-28 win with a stop on a Hail Mary that fell incomplete.
• Marked the 1st win over a ranked opponent for Arizona since 2018, and their 1st road AP Top 10 win since beating No. 10 Utah in 2015.
• 2nd Arizona player to win this award this season after WR Tetairoa McMillan won it twice (Week 5 & 7).  1st Arizona defensive player to win this award since it created prior to the 2019 season.  2nd straight week a defensive player has won this award after an offensive player won it in each of the first 9 weeks.

Also nominated:  Simote Pepa, DT, Utah; Raleek Brown, RB, USC; Damien Martinez, RB, Oregon State; Jaden Hicks, Safety, Washington State