LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — Oregon offensive coordinator Will Stein was announced as one of five finalists for the 2023 Broyles Award on Monday by the Frank & Barbara Broyles Foundation. The Broyles Award is presented annually to the top assistant coach in college football.
Stein is a finalist along with Mike Bobo (Georgia), Phil Parker (Iowa), Mike Denbrock (LSU) and Sherrone Moore (Michigan). He joins Gary Crowton (2005) as the only Oregon assistant coaches ever to be named a finalist for the award.
The winner of the 2023 Broyles Award will be announced at the Broyles Award ceremony on Tuesday, Dec. 5, at the Statehouse Convention Center in Little Rock.
Stein has directed one of the nation’s most potent and balanced offenses in his first season with the Ducks. Entering Friday’s Pac-12 Championship Game vs. Washington (5 p.m. PT, ABC), the Ducks lead the nation in passing offense (351.4 YPG), completion percentage (78.3), sacks allowed (5), first downs per game (27.3) and scrimmage plays of 10-plus yards (229).
Oregon is No. 2 nationally in scoring offense (45.3 PPG), total offense (540.3 YPG), total yards per play (7.85) and fewest turnovers (6), and No. 3 in both yards per carry (5.84) and third-down conversion percentage (52.24). The Ducks are the only team in the nation to score at least 30 points in every game this season.
Stein has coached quarterback Bo Nix to a Heisman Trophy-worthy season. Nix leads the nation in both passing yards per game (325.5) and completion percentage (78.6), a mark that is on pace to break the NCAA single-season record of 77.4 (Mac Jones, 2020). Nix also ranks second nationally in passing touchdowns (37), second in passer rating (189.82), second in total yards per game (338.8), second in total touchdowns (43) and third in total yards per play (9.07).
Troy Franklin has also put together the best season ever by an Oregon receiver under Stein, setting the single-season program records for receiving yards (1,349), receiving touchdowns (14) and 100-yard receiving games (8). Franklin’s 77 receptions this season are also tied for the most in single-season history entering the postseason.
Tez Johnson is just 58 yards away from a 1,000-yard receiving season of his own, which would mark just the second time (1998) Oregon has had two 1,000-yard receivers in the same season. Franklin and Johnson are one of just two FBS duos (LSU) to each have at least 900 receiving yards and nine touchdowns.
Running backs Bucky Irving and Jordan James have each ran for 10 touchdowns to lead the rushing attack, making Oregon one of just two teams (Georgia) to have two running backs with at least 10 scores on the ground.
