Pac-12 Performance Awards, presented by Nextiva

The Pac-12 today announced its 2023 football season’s seventh weekly performance awards, presented by Nextiva. See below for Week Seven’s recognitions across the Conference and keep track of the 2023 Offensive Player of the Year watchlist here:

OFFENSE: Elic Ayomanor, So., WR, Stanford (Medicine Hat, Alberta, Canada)

Had 13 receptions for 294 yards and 3 TD in Stanford’s 46-43 double overtime win at Colorado on Friday night
Set the Stanford program record for receiving yards in a game (294), besting the mark from Troy Walters in 1999 
Second most single-game receiving yards in Pac-12 history (USC’s Marquise Lee, 345 in 2012) 
Most receiving yards by an FBS player since Ohio State’s Jaxon Smith-Njigba in the 2022 Rose Bowl (347) 
His 13 receptions are tied for the 2nd most in Stanford history, trailing only Simi Fehoko (16) at UCLA in 2020 
His 97-yard touchdown reception is the longest by a Cardinal since Troy Walters’ 98-yard score in 1999 
First player in the Pac-12 with multiple touchdown receptions of 60+ yards since Washington’s John Ross III on November 5, 2016
Eclipsed 100 receiving yards for the first time in his career, becoming the first Stanford wide receiver with 100 yards in a game this season (second player overall)
In first 5 games this season, had 15 receptions for 207 yards and 1 touchdown.  Did not appear in a game last season as a true freshman
The 2 longest plays of this season by the Stanford offense were Ayomanor touchdowns on Friday
His 3 TD game is the first by a Cardinal since Simi Fehoko in 2020 at UCLA
1st Stanford player to be name Pac-12 Offensive Player of the Week since Simi Fehoko in 2020

Also nominated: Michael Penix, Jr., QB, Washington; Sione Vaki, S/RB, Utah; DJ Uiagalelei, QB, Oregon State; Jonah Coleman, RB, Arizona

Check out the 2023 Offensive Player of the Year Watchlist, presented by Nextiva, to learn more. 

DEFENSE:  Ryan Cooper, Jr., Sr., DB, Oregon State (San Jose, Calif.)

Returned an interception 67 yards for a touchdown late in the first half in Oregon State’s 36-24 win over #18 UCLA 
Interception stopped a UCLA drive that was threatening to score late in the half, the 1st INT for a score for the Beavers this season
1st INT return of 65 or more yards by a Beaver since Treston Decoud in 2016 
1st INT return of more than 65 yards in a conference game since Jordan Poyer versus USC in 2010
1st time winning this award but 2nd time in 3 weeks an Oregon State player has won after Easton Mascarenas-Arnold took home the honors in Week 5

Also nominated: Edefuan Ulofoshio, LB, Washington; Alaka’i Gilman, S, Stanford; Ephesians Prysock, CB, Arizona; Jonah Elliss, DE, Utah

SPECIAL TEAMS:  Joshua Karty, Sr., K, Stanford (Burlington, N.C.)

Hit the game-winning 31-yard kick to seal Stanford’s double overtime victory at Colorado 
Made 2 of 3 field goals and all 4 extra point attempts in the win
6 kickoffs, all for touchbacks
12-13 this season on FG attempts of less than 50 yards.  Was 18-18 on all FG attempts last season
1st Stanford player to earn this honor this season.  Karty won this award 4 times last season.

Also nominated:  Atticus Sappington, K, Oregon State; Tyler Loop, PK, Arizona

OFFENSIVE LINE:  Taliese Fuaga, Jr., RT, Oregon State (Tacoma, Wash.)

Part of an offensive line that helped the Beavers to 415 yards in OSU’s 36-24 win over then-No. 18 UCLA
Graded out at 89.9 for run blocking by Pro Football Focus, the best mark nationally by an offensive lineman with at least 7 snaps in Week 7
Had an 84.3 overall grade by PFF, 3rd best nationally among lineman with at least 50 snaps, #1 for the week in both grades – 2nd in Pac-12 for overall graded out 20th nationally 
For run blocking, the #2 graded offensive lineman was 16th nationally
Per PFF, Fuaga, among players who have played at least 280 snaps this season, is the #1 overall offensive lineman per grade, and #1 in run blocking
Has not given up a sack or a hit and just 4 QB hurries all season
3rd straight week a different Oregon State offensive lineman has won this award and 4th time in the last 5 weeks a Beaver has earned this honor.  1st time Fuaga has been recognized

Also nominated: Satoa Laumea, RT, Utah; Troy Fautanu, LT, Washington; Levi Rogers, C, Stanford; Jonah Savaiinaea, RT, Arizona; 

DEFENSIVE LINE:  Sione Lolohea, Jr., DL, Oregon State (Houma Tukulalo Vava’u, Tonga)

Recorded career-high 10 tackles in the win over No. 18 UCLA on Saturday night 
Became the first Beaver defensive lineman since Scott Crichton in 2011 to record 10 or more tackles in a game 
Among the Beavers’ leaders with 30 tackles this season 
8.5 tackles for loss this season to go along with 1.5 sacks and 4 quarterback hurries
1st time an Oregon State player has won this award since it was created prior to the 2019 season

Also nominated:  Jonah Elliss, DE, Utah; Bill Norton, DL, Arizona; Lance Keneley, OLB, Stanford

FRESHMAN:  Noah Fifita, RS Fr., QB, Arizona (Huntington Beach, Calif.)

Completed 34-of-43 passes for 342 yards to lead Arizona to a 44-6 win at #19 Washington State
Made his third career start, and his third straight start against a ranked opponent.  Has 877 passing yards against Top 25 teams this season, the 6th most among all FBS quarterbacks.  86 completions against Top 25 teams this season, 2nd most among all FBS quarterbacks
Finished with a career-high completion percentage of 79.1%.  Has improved his completion percentage in each of his last 2 starts
His 342 yards are the most without a touchdown by an Arizona quarterback since at least 1996 (previous: 314 yards, Khalil Tate, vs. Houston, 2018)
The Wildcats 38-point margin of victory ties their largest margin of victory over a ranked opponent in program history (also: #7 UCLA in 2005). It is the largest MOV in a road game against a ranked opponent in program history
Arizona’s offense posted their third 40-point performance (2-1) and their seventh 500-yard effort (3-4) under coach Fisch
Wins the award in back-to-back weeks, the first Arizona player to do it and first Pac-12 player to win back-to-back Freshman of the Week awards since Oregon State RB Damien Martinez in the final 2 weeks last season 
Becomes 2nd Arizona player to win this award twice in the same season (award created in 2019).  Fifita’s high school teammate Tetairoa McMillan won it twice for Arizona last season

Also nominated:  Mikey Matthews, WR, Utah;  Tiger Bachmeier, WR, Stanford; Noble Thomas, Jr., DB, Oregon State

Date 
Offensive
Defensive
Special Teams
Offensive     Line
Defensive Line
Freshman
Sept. 5
Shedeur Sanders, Colorado
Travis Hunter, Colorado
Jack Bouwmeester, Utah
Brian Driscoll California
David Bailey Stanford
Dylan Edwards, Colorado
Sept. 11
Bo Nix, Oregon
Ron Stone Jr., Washington State
Zachariah Branch, USC
Gerad Christian-Lichtenhan, Colorado
Ron Stone Jr., Washington State
Dante Moore, UCLA
Sept. 18
Michael Penix, Jr., Washington
Shilo Sanders, Colorado
Jack Bouwmeester, Utah
Joshua Gray, Oregon State
Zion Tupuola-Fetui, Washington
Parker Brailsford, Washington
Sept. 25
Cameron Ward, Washington State
Karene Reid, Utah
Rome Odunze, Washington
Jackson Powers-Johnson, Oregon
Jonah Elliss, Utah
Tackett Curtis, USC
Oct. 2
Caleb Williams, USC
Easton Mascarenas-Arnold, Oregon State
Lachlan Wilson, California
Tanner Miller, Oregon State
Jonah Elliss, Utah
Omarion Miller, Colorado
Oct. 9
DJ Uiagalelei, Oregon State
Laiatu Latu, UCLA
Alejandro Mata, Colorado
Joshua Gray, Oregon State
Laiatu Latu, UCLA
Noah Fifita, Arizona
Oct. 16
Elic Ayomanor, Stanford
Ryan Cooper, Jr., Oregon State
Joshua Karty, Stanford
Taliese Fuaga, Oregon State
Sione Lolohea, Oregon State
Noah Fifita, Arizona