2024 Pac-12 Football Top Performers Announced  

December 10, 2024 News, Pac 12 Football, Uncategorized
Conference staff & media select the top performers of the 2024 season
The Pac-12 today announced it has selected standout performers from the 2024 football season who will be recognized as “Top Performers” in the league’s archives and historical records. Completing its first football season as a two-team conference during a unique two-year period of its 109-year history, the league worked collectively to determine a unique fashion for recognizing standout performers among its football student-athletes. Voting took place among Pac-12 staff and media who covered both teams to determine the individual recognitions in each of the following categories. 2024 Pac-12 Football Top Performers  OFFENSIVE:  John Mateer, QB – Washington State (R-So.) Led the nation in total touchdowns in the regular season with 44 (29 pass, 15 rush) and is the only player in the country with 20+ passing touchdowns and 10+ rushing touchdowns.  Ranks second all-time in Washington State single-season history, trailing only Anthony Gordon’s 48-touchdown season in 2019. His 15 rushing touchdowns broke Washington State’s single-season record for rushing scores by a quarterback and are second-most all-time by any player in program single-season history. Compiled 3,139 passing yards and 826 rushing yards on the year, the most rushing yards all-time by a Cougar quarterback in a single season. Finalist for the Manning Award, given annually to the nation’s best quarterback.  DEFENSIVE:  Taariq (Buddah) Al-Uqdah, LB – Washington State (R-So.) Secured a career-high three interceptions on the year, including a 29-yard pick-six against Oregon State (Nov. 23).  Washington State’s leading tackler with 76 stops, including a Pac-12-best 51 solo tackles and 5.0 tackles for loss.  Snagged a career-high 3 interceptions this season, securing picks in back-to-back games in Washington State’s victories over Hawaii (Oct. 19) and San Diego State (Oct. 26).  Added 4 fumble recoveries and 3 forced fumbles, leading the Cougars in both categories.  OFFENSIVE LINEMAN:  Gerad Christian-Lichtenhan, OL – Oregon State (R-Sr.) The Pac-12’s top-rated offensive lineman, according to Pro Football Focus (PFF), with an 81.8 offensive rating in his first season with Oregon State. Led Oregon State with an 84.6 run block rating, helping spring the Beavers to 2,270 rushing yards and 29 scores on the ground. Logged 815 snaps from the critical left tackle spot, allowing just 2 sacks and 1 quarterback hit on the year.   DEFENSIVE LINEMAN:  Ansel Din-Mbuh, DL – Washington State (So.) Led the Pac-12 with 6.0 sacks and 7.0 tackles for loss on the year.  Posted 24 tackles across the regular season, including 14 solo stops from the defensive line.  Compiled a career-high 3.0 sacks in Washington State’s win over San Diego State (Oct. 26), becoming the first Cougar since Daiyan Henley in 2022 to record a trio of sacks in a single game. Capped his season with a 1.5-sack performance against Wyoming (Nov. 30), his third game with 1+ sacks in 2024.  SPECIAL TEAMS:  Dean Janikowski, P/K – Washington State (R-Sr.) Appeared in all 12 games for Washington State as two-way specialist, serving as the Cougars’ kicker and primary punter. Logged 26 total punts for 1,111 total yards in his first season as as collegiate punter, including 6 punts of at least 50 yards. Recorded 5 punts that were downed inside the 20-yard line.   Converted 8 of his 11 field goal tries this season, including a season-long 52-yarder as time expired to send Washington State into overtime against San José State (Sept. 20). The Cougars would go on to defeat the Spartans, 54-52, in double overtime.   FRESHMAN:  Wayshawn Parker, RB – Washington State (Fr.) Racked up 735 yards on the ground on 137 carries (5.4 YPC), adding four rushing scores in his true freshman season with the Cougars. Posted a standout performance in his collegiate debut, going for 96 rushing yards and a touchdown and adding a 52-yard touchdown reception in Washington State’s win over Portland State (Aug. 31).  Had a career day in the Cougs’ victory over Utah State, rushing for a career-high 149 yards and a pair of touchdowns, including a 75-yard score.  Washington State will continue its 2024 season with a trip to the DIRECTV Holiday Bowl at Snapdragon Stadium on Saturday, Dec. 27, facing off against No. 21 Syracuse from the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC). The Cougars ended the regular season at 8-4, opening the season with four-straight victories including wins over Texas Tech and Washington. The bowl appearance will be Washington State’s eighth in the last nine years and 11th in the last 13 seasons.    Following the 2025-26 academic season, the Pac-12 will expand to include Boise State, Colorado State, Fresno State, San Diego State and Utah State in football as well as Gonzaga in men’s and women’s basketball and other league-sponsored sports. The collective eight universities will continue to collaboratively chart additional membership and other future conference considerations.   – Pac-12.com –