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The University of Utah Athletics
Utah Places Nine On All-Conference Football Team.
12/5/2005 12:00 AM | Football
Dec. 5, 2005
SALT LAKE CITY -
The Emerald Bowl-bound Utah football team placed five players on the all-Mountain West Conference first team and another four on the second team in a vote by the league's coaches.
Junior defensive back Eric Weddle was named the MWC Defensive Player of the Year, marking the second straight year a Utah DB has won the award (Morgan Scalley was co-MVP in 2004). Weddle was also named to the first team, along with senior defensive lineman Steve Fifita, senior offensive lineman Jesse Boone, senior linebacker Spencer Toone and senior kicker Dan Beardall. Fifita made the all-MWC first team for the second straight year.
Earning second-team honors for the Utes were junior defensive back Casey Evans, sophomore quarterback Brian Johnson, senor running back Quinton Ganther and junior offensive lineman Tavo Tupola. The Utes did not win any honorable mention citations.
Weddle, a two-time MWC Defensive Player of the Week, led the conference in passes defended (15). The versatile defender began the year at strong safety but moved to corner for the final three games, where he shut down some of the league's best receivers. He finished with 75 tackles, 11 tackles for loss, four sacks, four interceptions and 11 pass breakups.
Fifita was Utah's only repeat first-team selection from a year ago. He leads Utah in tackles for loss (12) and sacks (5), ranking third and seventh, respectively, in the MWC. Fifita, who has started 35 straight games, dating back to his sophomore year, has 41 total tackles.
Boone, Toone and Beardall became first-time first-team selections in their senior seasons. Boone has not had a single missed assignment in 839 plays and leads the Utes in knockdowns (43) and pancake blocks (23). Toone ranks second in the MWC in tackles going into the bowl season and could move into first after the Emerald Bowl (his 106 total tackles trails Freddy Keihao of San Diego State by seven). Beardall won MWC Special Teams Player of the Week twice, including his first game as a starter against Arizona. He leads the league in field goals per game (1.36) and PAT conversion (97.4%)
Evans, a two-time MWC Defensive Player of the Week, tied for the league lead and ranks No. 7 in the nation in interceptions per game (0.45) and has a total of five picks. He is Utah's second-leading tackler (84) in his first year as the starting free safety.
Johnson finished as the league's leader in total offense (337.0 average) and pass efficiency (151.0), while ranking second in passing yards per game (289.2). He passed for 18 touchdowns and rushed for eight before tearing his ACL in the 10th game of the season on Nov. 12.
Ganther finished third in the MWC in rushing yards per game (100.0) and had five 100-yard rushing games and six touchdowns. He is Utah's first 1,000 rusher since 2001. Ganther also caught 24 passes for 296 yards and one touchdown.
Tupola started every game at left tackle and led Utah with eight cuts. He also recorded 20 knockdowns and five pancake blocks.
Players Mentioned
DB/LB
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QB
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OL
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DB
/ FootballFormer Utah Football Head Coach Urban Meyer inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame.
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