Pac-10 2008 post season awards were announced yesterday and Rey Maualuga earned top defensive honors.
USC linebacker Rey Maualuga was named the Pac-10 Defensive Player of the Year and he joined 7 other Trojans on the All-Pac-10 football first team that was announced today (Dec. 8).
USC's other All-Pac-10 first teamers were: quarterback Mark Sanchez, center Kristofer O'Dowd, defensive tackle Fili Moala, linebacker Brian Cushing, safeties Kevin Ellison and Taylor Mays and placekicker David Buehler.
The Trojans' 8 first team selections were the most of any school in 2008 and mark the sixth year in a row that at least 7 USC players were named to the first team. Five of the 12 players named to the All-Pac-10 first team defense were Trojans.
Maualuga becomes a 3-time first team pick, while Ellison repeats his honor from 2007. Ellison was 1 of 3 players (and the only Trojan) to be a unanimous first teamer, while Maualuga, Cushing and Sanchez were named on 9 of the coaches' 10 first team ballots.
USC also had 4 All-Pac-10 second team honorees: wide receiver Patrick Turner, offensive guard-center Jeff Byers, defensive end Clay Matthews and linebacker Kaluka Maiava.
USC's honorable mention selections were: offensive tackle Charles Brown, cornerback Cary Harris, tight end Anthony McCoy, tailback Joe McKnight, defensive end Kyle Moore, cornerback Josh Pinkard and wide receiver Damian Williams.
SC continues to make impressive showings...
Here is a little more from the LAT
USC middle linebacker Rey Maualuga, who leads the nation's top-ranked defense, was voted the Pacific 10 Conference defensive player of the year by league coaches, it was announced today.
Maualuga, a senior from Eureka, Calif., was selected to the all-conference first team for the third year in a row. He is the second consecutive Trojan to earn recognition as the league's top defensive player. Last year, nose tackle Sedrick Ellis earned the honor.Though he did not play in one game because of injury, Maualuga has a team-high 73 tackles. He also has intercepted two passes, including one he returned for a touchdown against Ohio State.
Maualuga was voted to the American Football Coaches Assn. All-America team last week. He is also a finalist for the Lombardi, Butkus and Bednarik awards.
After a tough first year at USC Rey has really matured as a person and a football player.
Congratulations to all of our plyers who were nomnated!