KSL Sports Announces Inaugural All-State Awards

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – KSL Sports has unveiled their first ever All-State awards for the in-state schools. 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

Jordan Love, Utah State QB

Love was sensational in 2018 and was a big part of the Aggies success. He threw for 3,208 yards and 28 touchdowns while throwing just five interceptions. Love ran in another six touchdowns on the ground.

He threw for 200 yards or more in seven games, 300 or more yards four times and 400 yards or more twice. His career-high was 491 yards against San Jose State. Love was named All-Mountain West second team. He was unanimously voted by KSL Sports as the offensive MVP.

Honorable Mention: Zack Moss, Utah RB

 

Defensive MVP

Chase Hansen, Utah LB

Not only is Hansen considered one of the best linebackers in the state but in the country. He ranked in the top 10 in the nation in tackles per loss with 22. Hansen compiled 114 total tackles including 70 solo while sacking the quarterback five times. He also had two interceptions, one returned for a touchdown against Northern Illinois. He unanimously won the KSL Sports defensive MVP.

Hansen was selected as a first team All-Pac-12 performer.

Honorable Mention: David Woodward, Utah State LB

 

Specialist of the Year

Matt Gay, Utah K

Gay put up numbers that would normally qualify for finalist of the Lou Groza award but he takes home Specialist of the Year. He made 24 of his 29 field goal attempts including a perfect 10-for-10 between 30 and 39 yards. Gay knocked in 7-of-10 attempts. He made three field goals from 50 yards or longer and set the Pac-12 Championship game record with a 53 yard field goal.

Gay was named first team All-Pac-12 and was a unanimous selection from KSL Sports for Specialist of the Year.

Honorable Mention: Dominik Eberle, Utah State K

 

Coach of the Year

Matt Wells, Utah State

After a 6-7 season in 2017, Wells led the Aggies to a 10-2 record in 2018 with a top ranked offense in the country. The school set multiple records offensively and was one win away from hosting their first ever Mountain West Conference Championship. The success led Wells to accepting the head coaching position at Texas Tech. He was also named Mountain West Conference Coach of the Year for the second time in his tenure in Logan.

Honorable Mention: Jay Hill, Weber State

 

All-State Team

Quarterback: Jordan Love, Utah State

Honorable Mention: Tyler Huntley, Utah

Huntley played just eight and a half games this season before suffering an injury against Arizona State that forced him to sit the rest of the regular season and Conference Championship game. He threw for 1,788 yards and 12 touchdowns while rushing for 304 yards and four more scores. The Utes were 6-3 with Huntley as the starting quarterback.

 

Running Back: Zack Moss, Utah

Moss had a big impact early in the season before his season ending injury. He played nine games while racking up 1,096 yards and 11 touchdowns on the ground. Moss was named first team All-Pac-12 and a unanimous selection for All-State running back.

Running Back: Josh Davis, Weber State

Davis had a record setting season as a freshman for Weber State. He had a school record for freshman 1,350 rushing yards and nine touchdowns and finished sixth in FCS rushing yards. Davis was named National and Big Sky Freshman of the Year.

Honorable Mention: Gerold Bright, Utah State

Honorable Mention: Darwin Thompson, Utah State

 

Wide Receiver: Britain Covey, Utah

Covey was the swiss army knife for the Utes as he did just about everything. He led Utah with 637 receiving yards on 60 receptions while rushing for 172 yards. Covey also handled kickoff and punt returns.

Wide Receiver: Ron’quavion Tarver, Utah State

Tarver was Jordan Love’s top target during the regular season as he snatched 62 receptions for 676 yards and seven touchdowns. He was named All-Mountain West Honorable Mention.

Wide Receiver: Jalen Greene, Utah State

The USC graduate transfer made an instant impact in his only season in Logan. He collected 38 catches for 538 yards and 5 touchdowns in the high powered Utah State offense.

Honorable Mention: Samson Nacua, Utah

Honorable Mention: Aaren Vaughns, Utah State

 

Tight End: Matt Bushman, BYU

The sophomore had his breakout game against the Utes during the 2018 season. He had six catches for 92 yards and one touchdown to go with his season total of 25 receptions for 459 yards and two touchdowns.

Honorable Mention: Dax Raymond, Utah State

 

Offensive Line: Jackson Barton, Utah

The senior was named a first team All-Pac-12 selection and was unanimously voted by KSL Sports as an All-State offensive lineman.

Offensive Line: Jordan Agasiva, Utah

Like Barton, Agasiva saw the field a lot for the Utes and was awarded for his play with an All-Pac-12 first team selection and unanimously voted by KSL Sports as All-State offensive lineman.

Offensive Line: Quin Ficklin, Utah State

Another Unanimous selection by KSL Sports, Ficklin was the leader of the stout offensive line for Utah State that did a tremendous job of protecting Jordan Love. He was selected as a first team All-Mountain West performer.

Offensive Line: Roman Andrus, Utah State

Andrus was instrumental with Ficklin to make the offensive line a force for Utah State. He was selected to the All-Mountain West second team.

Offensive Line: Iosua Opeta, Weber State

The leader of the Wildcats offensive line that opened up chunk plays for Josh Davis to rack up over 1,300 yards was a big reason why Weber State had a historic season. Opeta was selected to the All-Big Sky first team.

Honorable Mention: James Empey, BYU

Honorable Mention: Lo Falemaka, Utah

Honorable Mention: Brady Christensen, BYU

 

Defensive Line: Bradlee Anae, Utah

Anae brought the mayor back to “Sack Lake City” as he led the conference with 8 sacks to go with 24 solo tackles, 14 tackles-for-loss and one forced fumble. He was a first team All-Pac-12 selection and unanimously voted by KSL Sports as an All-State defensive lineman.

Defensive Line: Corbin Kaufusi, BYU

Kaufusi was the anchor of BYU’s defensive line as he led the team with 8 and a half sacks while racking up 38 solo tackles, 9 and a half tackles-for-loss and blocked a field goal. Kaufusi played in the game against the Utes despite dealing with three season ending injuries. He was unanimously voted by KSL Sports as an All-State defensive lineman.

Defensive Line: Leki Fotu, Utah

The junior from Herriman high school had a breakout season with the Utes, collecting 3 sacks and 5 and a half tackles-for-loss. He earned first team All-Pac-12 and was unanimously voted by KSL Sports as an All-State defensive lineman.

Defensive Line: John Penisini, Utah

Penisini was an important part of Utah’s dominate defensive line as he chipped in 17 solo tackles, 7 tackles-for-loss, 2 sacks and one blocked field goal. He was named second team All-Pac-12.

Honorable Mention: Adam Rodriguez, Weber State

Honorable Mention: Filipe Sitake, Weber State

 

Linebacker: Chase Hansen, Utah

Linebacker: Cody Barton, Utah

Barton created one of the best linebacker tandems in Utah history as he complimented Chase Hansen very well. He had 108 total tackles, including 61 solo, 10 tackles-for-loss, 3 and a half sacks, 1 interception and forced fumble. He was named Pac-12 Honorable Mention.

Linebacker: David Woodward, Utah State

Woodward put up staggering numbers and he is only a sophomore. He had 124 tackles, including 45 solo, 12 and a half tackles-for-loss, five sacks, one interception and two forced fumbles. He was award All-Mountain West second team.

Honorable Mention: Sione Takitaki, BYU

Honorable Mention: Tipa Galeai, Utah State

 

Defensive Back: Jaylon Johnson, Utah

The All-Pac-12 first team selection had 40 tackles, including 30 solo, 2 tackles-for-loss, one sack, 4 interceptions, which one was returned for a touchdown.

 

Defensive Back: Julian Blackmon, Utah

The leader of the secondary had a great season that included an All-Pac-12 second team where he had 44 tackles, 34 solo, 4 tackles-for-loss, one interception and 10 pass break-ups.

 

Defensive Back: Jontrell Rocquemore, Utah State

The second team All-Mountain West performer was the leader in the Aggies secondary and his stats showed with 69 tackles, 29 solo, 8 and a half tackles-for-loss, 2 sacks, 3 interceptions, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery and 1 touchdown.

 

Defensive Back: Marquise Blair, Utah

The physical Utah safety made an impact on the Utes defense with 50 tackles, 38 solo, one and a half tackles-for-loss, one interception and one forced fumble. He was named to the All-Pac-12 second team.

Honorable Mention: Gaje Ferguson, Utah State

Honorable Mention: Keilan Benjamin, Weber State

 

Kicker: Matt Gay, Utah

Honorable Mention: Dominik Eberle, Utah State

 

Punter: Mitch Wishnowsky, Utah

The Ray Guy award finalist had another stellar season where he was awarded All-Pac-12 first team with 54 punts for 2,438 yards, including 22 inside the 20 and 19 punts that traveled 50 yards or more.

Honorable Mention: Doug Lloyd, Weber State

 

Returner: Savon Scarver, Utah State

The All-Mountain West first team was a weapon for the Aggies return game with 21 kick returns for 719 yards and two touchdowns.

Honorable Mention: Rashid Shaheed, Weber State