KSL Sports Announces Second Annual All-State Awards

Jan 19, 2020, 3:47 PM

(Photo courtesy of Getty Images and Deseret News)

KSL Sports

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – The entire KSL Sports team has submitted a ballot and has released their second annual All-State Awards from the 2019 college football season.

There was some great performances by many athletes around the state of Utah.

The KSL Sports staff voted for individual awards and the All-State team with honorable mentions.

Offensive MVP

Zack Moss, RB, Utah

The Pac-12 Offensive Player of the Year ran for 1,416 yards and 15 touchdowns. Moss broke basically every rushing record in Utah football history and was named first team All-Pac-12, while also receiving every first place vote from KSL Sports.

The decade ended with the #Utes having the best running back in program history. @PresMoss2 broke every rushing record this season and will have a successful NFL career. @kslsports pic.twitter.com/MeD7UuJZBr

— Trevor Allen (@TrevorASports) December 29, 2019

Honorable Mention: Tyler Huntley, QB, Utah

Defensive MVP

Bradlee Anae, DE, Utah

Anae had a spectacular season for the Utes. He broke the career sack record and finished his time at Utah with 30 sacks, including 13 sacks this season. Anae was named first team All-Pac-12 and was a unanimous selection for Defensive MVP.

The record breaking play from Anae, with a healthy dose of teamwork from Fotu! #goutes #SackLakeCity

📺: ESPN pic.twitter.com/Ic1eotQHwP

— Utah Athletics (@utahathletics) January 1, 2020

Honorable Mention: Julian Blackmon, S, Utah

Specialist Of The Year

Dominik Eberle, K, Utah State

Eberle narrowly edged out Savon Scarver for Specialist of the Year. The senior had a great season, connecting on 21 of his 24 field goal attempts, he was 5-5 on attempts between 20-29 yards, 8-8 from 30-39, 8-10 from 40-49 and 0-1 from 50-plus. His longest field goal was 48 yards and made all 45 of his extra point attempts. Eberle was also named first team All-Mountain West.

Honorable Mention: Savon Scarver, Returner, Utah State

Coach Of The Year

Kyle Whittingham, Utah

Whittingham led the Utes to their best season since joining the Pac-12 at 11-3. Utah reached their second straight Pac-12 Championship game and played in their best bowl game since joining the conference in 2011. Whittingham also received the Dodd Trophy.

Honorable Mention: Jay Hill, Weber State

All-State Team

Quarterback

Tyler Huntley, Utah

The senior had the best season of his career in 2019. He finished with 3,092 yards, 19 touchdowns and 4 interceptions. Huntley completed 73.1 percent of his passes, which is good for second in the nation behind LSU’s Joe Burrow. His 177.5 quarterback rating is ranked sixth in the country. Huntley was unanimously selected to the KSL Sports’ first team All-State and was also named first team All-Pac-12.

Well this worked out nicely!
📺 @FS1 #goutes #CALvsUTAH pic.twitter.com/uGXyOpBIgg

— Utah Athletics (@utahathletics) October 27, 2019

Honorable Mention: Jordan Love, Utah State

Running Backs

Zack Moss, Utah

Josh Davis, Weber State

The sophomore star running back had a productive season for the Wildcats. He finished 1,136 yards on 183 carries for 11 touchdowns on the ground. Davis received the most first place votes by KSL Sports other than Zack Moss and was also named first team All-Big Sky.

Honorable Mention: Gerold Bright, Utah State

Wide Receivers

Siaosi Mariner, Utah State

In his lone season with the Aggies, Mariner made the most of his opportunity. The graduate transfer caught 63 passes for 987 yards and 10 touchdowns, leading the team in all three categories. Not only was Mariner a unanimous first team All-State selection but was named second team All-Mountain West.

Jordan Love➡️Siaosi Mariner for an 80-yard TD!#AggiesAllTheWay pic.twitter.com/Ht0STxqbHA

— KSL Sports (@kslsports) November 16, 2019

Micah Simon, BYU

The senior led the Cougars with 50 receptions this season. He was second on the team with 605 receiving yards and tied for third with two receiving touchdowns. Simon’s best game this season was against Tennessee when he made some big catches in the final moments to help BYU beat the Volunteers.

BYU gets tricky for their 3rd touchdown of the #HawaiiBowl #BYU https://t.co/mswkFuB8kZ pic.twitter.com/xUuvNF7mIC

— Jeremiah Jensen (@JeremiahJensen) December 25, 2019

Devon Cooley, Weber State

The sophomore had a breakout season for Weber State with 59 catches for 733 yards and five touchdowns. Cooley nearly doubled his totals from his freshman season.

Honorable Mention: Samson Nacua, Utah

Tight End

Brant Kuithe, Utah

Kuithe had an incredible season that shocked Utah fans and the rest of the country after showcasing his skillset as a sophomore. He led the Utes with 34 catches for 602 yards and 6 touchdowns through the air, while also getting three rushing touchdowns. His performance this season made him a unanimous selection for the All-State team, while also being named second team All-Pac-12.

Brant Kuithe walks in for the first score of the night!
Utah 7, Arizona 0.
📺: FS1#goutes pic.twitter.com/WAZeZqRYaS

— Utah Athletics (@utahathletics) November 24, 2019

Honorable Mention: Matt Bushman, BYU

Offensive Line

Darrin Paulo, Utah

The talented left tackle was named first team All-Pac-12 after starting in all 14 games for the Utes this season. He was a four year starter at Utah, playing in 53 games, 41 on the offensive line and had 40 starts. He was a unanimous selection by the KSL Sports team.

Nick Ford, Utah

Ford finished the 2019 season as a All-Conference honorable mention. He started at right tackle against BYU before starting the last 13 games at right guard.

James Empey, BYU

The sophomore has been an anchor for the offensive line for the Cougars after starting in all 13 games this season for BYU. He also started in all 13 games last season as a true freshman.

Brady Christensen, BYU

Another talented young offensive lineman for the Cougars is named to the All-State team by KSL Sports after starting on the offensive line in all 26 games in the last two seasons, 13 this season and last year.

Ty Whitworth, Weber State

It’s the second straight season that Whitworth has been named to the All-Big Sky team. As a junior, he started in all of the games this season for the Wildcats and hasn’t missed a game since arriving on campus.

Honorable Mention: Orlando Umana, Utah

Defensive Line

Bradlee Anae, Utah

Leki Fotu, Utah

Fotu was named first team All-Pac-12 after a productive season. The stats won’t show up but his impact on the defensive line has stood out. He finished the season with 28 tackles, 1.5 sacks, two pass deflection and one forced fumbles.

Khyiris Tonga, BYU

Tonga had a major impact on BYU’s defensive line this past season, finishing with 45 tackles, one sack and two pass deflections.

John Penisini, Utah

Much like Fotu, Penisini made his mark by being disruptive towards to opposing offensive line. He recorded 38 tackles, two sacks, one pass deflection and two forced fumbles. Penisini was named second team All-Pac-12.

Honorable Mention: Jonah Williams, Weber State

Linebackers

Francis Bernard, Utah

In his final season, Bernard finished second on the Utes in tackles with 85. He also had one pass deflection, two interceptions, one pick-six and a forced fumble. Bernard was named first team All-Pac-12 and was a unanimous selection for first team All-State by KSL Sports.

Utah with a MASSIVE Pick 6 to swing the momentum!

(Via @ESPNCFB)pic.twitter.com/lWDtKHWGcT

— PFF College (@PFF_College) August 30, 2019

David Woodward, Utah State

Despite missing half of the season due to injury, Woodward was extremely productive in the time he was on the field. The junior finished with 93 tackles, including 53 solo tackles, 5 tackles-for-loss, 2 sacks, 2 pass breakups, 4 forced fumbles and a fumble recovery.

WOODY!!!!#AggiesAllTheWay pic.twitter.com/71h0NSwreN

— USU Football (@USUFootball) September 29, 2019

Devin Lloyd, Utah

As a red-shirt sophomore, Lloyd led the Utes in tackles with 91. He also had 6.5 sacks, two pass deflections, one interception and one pick-six. Lloyd was named honorable mention in the Pac-12.

Honorable Mention: Isaiah Kaufusi, BYU

Defensive Backs

Julian Blackmon, Utah

Blackmon had a great season as a safety for the Utes, making the move from cornerback. The Layton High School alum racked up 60 tackles, including 41 solo tackles, 4 tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks, 4 interceptions, one pick-six, 4 pass breakups and two forced fumbles. He was named first team All-Pac-12.

Jaylon Johnson, Utah

Johnson had a major impact for Utah’s secondary even if it doesn’t show up on the stat sheet. Opposing quarterbacks did not feel comfortable throwing his way. Johnson ended the 2019 season with 36 tackles, one tackle for loss, two interceptions, one pick-six and 11 pass deflections. The junior was named first team All-Pac-12.

PICK 😤 SIX 😤 JAYLON 😤 JOHNSON 😤#goutes #UTAHvsUW
📺: FOX pic.twitter.com/X1ojmxOLzW

— Utah Athletics (@utahathletics) November 2, 2019

Dayan Ghanwoloku, BYU

The senior defensive back had a productive season for the Cougars. Ghanwoloku had 62 tackles, 48 solo tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss, 2 sacks, 2 interceptions, one forced fumble and 2 fumble recoveries.

https://twitter.com/BYUfootball/status/1178011030787522560?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1178011030787522560&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fsports.ksl.com%2F417794%2Fdayan-ghanwoloku-recovers-football-after-toledo-fumbles-on-punt-return%2F%3F

Terrell Burgess, Utah

The Pac-12 Honorable Mention selection recorded 81 tackles, 50 solo tackles, 6 tackles for loss, 0.5 sacks, one interception and 2 fumble recoveries in his senior season for the Utes.

Honorable Mention: Shaq Bond, Utah State

Kicker

Dominik Eberle, Utah State

The senior had a great season, connecting on 21 of his 24 field goal attempts, he was 5-5 on attempts between 20-29 yards, 8-8 from 30-39, 8-10 from 40-49 and 0-1 from 50-plus. His longest field goal was 48 yards and made all 45 of his extra point attempts. Eberle was also named first team All-Mountain West.

Honorable Mention: Trey Tuttle, Weber State

Punter

Doug Lloyd, Weber State

Lloyd punted the ball 82 times this season for 3,558 yards for an average of 43.4 yards per punt. His longest punt traveled 72 yards, 5 were touchbacks, 32 landed inside the 20-yard line and 14 traveled over 50 yards. Lloyd was named second team All-Big Sky.

Honorable Mention: Ben Lennon, Utah

Returner

Savon Scarver, Utah State

Scarver made the most of his limited opportunities to return kickoffs. He returned 22 kickoffs for 613 yards, which added up to 27.86 yards per return. His longest return was 100 yards and the Aggie scored two touchdowns on special teams. Scarver was named first team All-Mountain West.