Leinart, Ball Are Selected Pac-10 Players of the Year

USC quarterback Matt Leinart was voted offensive player of the year and UCLA end Dave Ball was voted defensive player of the year by Pacific 10 Conference coaches, the league announced Monday.

Leinart was one of nine USC players selected first-team all-conference. It is the most players from one school since 1989 when the Trojans placed 12 players on the team.

“It’s a statement about the football team and the program,” said USC’s Pete Carroll, who was selected co-coach of the year with Washington State’s Bill Doba.

Carroll, whose team is 10-1 heading into Saturday’s regular-season finale against Oregon State, is the first USC coach to be honored as coach of the year since Larry Smith in 1988.

Leinart, a redshirt sophomore who has passed for 30 touchdowns with only seven interceptions, joins former Stanford quarterback John Elway as the only sophomores to be named offensive player of the year.

“I owe a lot to my teammates,” Leinart said.

Leinart was joined on the first-team offense by sophomore wide receiver Mike Williams, senior tackle Jacob Rogers and senior center Norm Katnik.

“It’s awesome, a great feeling,” Katnik said.

Junior end Kenechi Udeze, junior tackles Shaun Cody and Mike Patterson and senior cornerback Will Poole were selected to the first-team defense.

It was the first time three defensive linemen from the same school were selected since a trio of Washington State players was recognized in 1994.

“The great thing is, they’re all coming back,” said Carroll, who acknowledged that Udeze would probably explore NFL opportunities after the season.

Ball, a senior, leads the nation with 16.5 sacks and is a finalist for several national awards. UCLA linebacker Brandon Chillar, a senior who averaged a conference-best 10.6 tackles a game, also was selected to the first-team defense.

USC sophomore Tom Malone, who is averaging 48.8 yards a kick, was the all-conference punter.

Senior wide receiver Keary Colbert and junior linebacker Matt Grootegoed were second-team selections.

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Williams also was selected one of the three finalists for the Biletnikoff Award, presented annually to the nation’s top receiver. Larry Fitzgerald of Pittsburgh and Mark Clayton of Oklahoma also are finalists.

Leinart was a semifinalist for the Davey O’Brien Award, presented to the nation’s top quarterback, but is not among the finalists. Jason White of Oklahoma, Eli Manning of Mississippi and Philip Rivers of North Carolina State are finalists.

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Junior offensive lineman John Drake, who had season-ending surgery for a broken right ankle Nov. 23, said he would not be able to walk for six weeks but planned to return for spring practice.... Linebackers coach Nick Holt is scheduled to interview for Idaho’s head coaching job this morning in Salt Lake City.

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All-Pacific 10 Team

FIRST-TEAM OFFENSE

QB -- Matt Leinart, USC, So.; RB -- Adimchinobe Echemandu, California, Sr.; Steven Jackson, Oregon State, Jr.; WR -- Mike Williams, USC, So.; James Newson, Oregon State, Jr.; Reggie Williams, Washington, Jr.; TE -- Tim Euhus, Oregon State, Sr.; OL -- Jacob Rogers, USC, Sr.; Mark Wilson, California, Sr.; Norm Katnik, USC, Sr.; Josh Parrish, Washington State, Sr.; Adam Snyder, Oregon, Jr.

FIRST-TEAM DEFENSE

DL -- Dave Ball, UCLA, Sr.; Kenechi Udeze, USC, Jr.; Shaun Cody, USC, Jr.; Mike Patterson, USC, Jr.; LB -- Brandon Chillar, UCLA, Sr.; Richard Seigler, Oregon State, Sr.; Will Derting, Washington State, So.; CB -- Jason David, Washington State, Sr.; Will Poole, USC, Sr.; S -- Erik Coleman, Washington State, Sr.; Keith Lewis, Oregon, Sr.; Donnie McCleskey, California, So.

FIRST-TEAM SPECIALISTS

PK -- Drew Dunning, Washington State, Sr.; P -- Tom Malone, USC, So.; KOR -- Kenny Washington, Oregon, Jr.; PR -- Charles Frederick, Washington, Jr.; Special Teams -- Keith Lewis, Oregon, Sr.

PLAYERS, COACHES OF THE YEAR

Offense -- Leinart, USC, QB; Defense -- Ball, UCLA, DE; Freshman -- Brandon Browner, Oregon State, CB; Coaches -- Pete Carroll, USC; Bill Doba, Washington State.