BOULDER — The Pac-12 football coaches submitted their ballots and the results are in.
The conference announced on Tuesday that Colorado head coach Karl Dorrell was chosen for the league’s Coach of the Year award and running back Jarek Broussard won Offensive Player of the Year. Dorrell won Pac-12 Coach of the Year in 2005 with UCLA, as well.
Broussard told reporters on Tuesday that Dorrell brought something different than the two previous coaches he’d played for at Colorado.
“(Mike) MacIntyre really, really taught us brotherhood,” Broussard said. “Coach Tuck [Mel Tucker] came in and he kind of taught that nothing’s gonna be given to you. You’ve got to go out there and take it. Then when Coach Dorrell came in he really taught us about self-confidence and believing in yourself and I really feel like that really helped his team a lot because it starts with you yourself. Once you believe in yourself and believe in the guy next to you, things can happen.”
Broussard had an incredible year, running for 813 yards in five games while averaging nearly 6.5 yards per carry. He was the first Buffalo to win a Pac-12 player of the year honor. His position coach, Darian Hagan, was the first Buffalo to win offensive player of the year in any conference.
“I just want to say how proud I am of Jarek, how far he’s come,” Hagan said Tuesday. “He’s been through a lot—two consecutive knee injuries—and for him to fight with the desire and the heart that he displayed this past season I’m just so proud of him and his perseverance. A lot of things I could say about him that I gotta refrain from, but I’m just so proud of him and he’s deserving.”
On top of the yearly awards, a few Buffs made it onto All-Pac-12 teams as well. The six Buffs named to an all-conference team were the third-most in the conference.
Broussard and linebacker Nate Landman were named first-team all-conference. Landman is the first two-time, first-team, All-Pac-12 Buffalo and he may have been considered for Defensive Player of the Year, but the award was ultimately given to USC’s Talanoa Hufanga.
Quarterback Sam Noyer, left tackle Will Sherman, defensive lineman Mustafa Johnson and special-teamer Jaylon Jackson were all named second-team all-conference. It was the first time since 1996 that a Colorado quarterback was named to an all-conference team.
Sherman wasn’t thrilled with his second-team placement.
“Obviously I wanted first team,” Sherman told reporters Tuesday. “Didn’t get that but it’s still a blessing. Our running back, Jarek Broussard, got Pac-12 Offensive Player of the Year, so if he’s doing well I’m happy.”
The biggest snub for Colorado—and probably for the whole conference–was linebacker Carson Wells, who was placed on the honorable mention list. On top of any number of other impressive stats, Wells led the entire country in tackles for loss per game this year.
Right tackle Frank Fillip, defensive end Terrance Lang, safety Isaiah Lewis, guard Casey Roddick and returner Dimitri Stanley were also placed on the honorable mention list.
