Caleb Williams, Tuli Tuipulotu Named Pac-12 Players of the Year
Quarterback Caleb Williams and defensive end Tuli Tuipulotu were named the Offensive and Defensive Players of the Year in the Pac-12 following the 2022 season.
Williams became the second-consecutive USC Trojan to win the offensive award, following wide receiver Drake London’s win in 2021.
The Heisman Trophy finalist was without peer at the quarterback position this season. He ranked third in the country with 4,447 total offensive yards, which set a USC single-season record. Williams accounted for 47 total touchdowns while leading the nation with 37 passing touchdowns.
He ranks among the top five quarterbacks in the country in total yards, passing yards and interception rate. And his 372 rushing yards are the most by a USC quarterback in at least 70 years.
Williams is not only the overwhelming betting favorite to take home the Heisman Trophy this Saturday, he’s also a finalist for the Manning Award, Davey O’Brien Award and Maxwell Award.
Tuipulotu Named Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year
The Pat Tillman Defensive Player of the Year goes to Tuipulotu, who leads the nation with 12.5 sacks. He also heads into the bowl season No. 2 in FBS in tackles for loss, just five shy of Kenechi Udeze’s mark of 26 in the 2003 season.
Like Williams, Tuipulotu is a finalist for a number of awards this season, including the Bronko Nagurski, Lombardi, Bednarik and Lott IMPACT Trophy.
The Pac-12 Defensive Lineman of the Week honor only began in the 2019 season, but Tuipulotu this year became the first player to win it four times in one season.
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Major College Football Playoff implications
He’s now a back-to-back first-team All-Pac-12 performer and one of four Trojans to earn an All-America status by at least one publication for this season.
Other Pac-12 Yearly Awards
Oregon State running back Damien Martinez was named the Pac-12 Freshman Offensive Player of the Year. Utah linebacker Lander Barton won it on the defensive side.
And the Head Coach of the Year award was split between Oregon State’s Jonathan Smith and Washington’s Kalen DeBoer.
USC on All-Pac-12 Conference Team
Wide receiver Jordan Addison and offensive guard Andrew Vorhees joined Williams on the First-Team offense. Cornerback Mekhi Blackmon and Tuipulotu represented USC on the first-team defense.
Running back Travis Dye and center Brett Neilon are second-team All-Pac-12 performers on offense. Safety Calen Bullock made the second-team defense.
Honorable mention went to offensive linemen Justin Dedich and Jonah Monheim, linebacker Shane Lee, wide receiver Tahj Washington and defensive back Max Williams.
