All-Time Pac-12 Defensive Freshman Players of Year

All winners of the Conference annual award with breakdown by program since 2009

Posted on December 10, 2023


  By Staff, SuperWest Sports

Here are all of the Pac-12 Football Defensive Freshmen of the Year winners as selected by a vote of the coaches from its inception in 2009 through 2023.

Pac-12Arizona’s Vontaze Burfict won the first award and California’s Cade Uluave earned the last award in the final year of the Conference.

From 1999 to 2008, the Conference did not distinguish between Defensive Freshmen and Defensive Freshmen of the Year, simply choosing one overall Freshman of the Year.

Below you’ll also find a table listing award counts by program with the most recent year won.


All-Time Pac-12 Defensive Freshmen of the Year

YearPlayerPositionProgram
2023Cade UluaveLBCal
2022Lander BartpmLBUtah
2021Junior TafunaDTUtah
2020Noah SewellLBOregon
2019Kayvon ThibodeauxDEOregon
2018Merlin RobertsonLBArizona State
2017Colin SchoolerLBArizona
2016Taylor RappDBWashington
2015Cameron SmithLBUSC
2014Adoree' JacksonCBUSC
2013Myles JackLB/RBUCLA
2012Leonard WilliamsDEUSC
2011Dion BaileyLBUSC
2010Junior OnyealiDEArizona State
2009Vontaze BurfictMLBArizona State


Breakdown of Winners by Program

ProgramWinnersMost Recent
USC32015
Oregon22020
Utah22022
Arizona12017
ASU12018
Cal12023
UCLA12013
Washington12016
Colorado0—
OSU0—
Stanford0—
WSU0—



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