Wyoming's Mike Purcell All MWC

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Mike Purcell

Sr.

Wyoming

Notre Dame Linebacker Manti Te'o Selected 2012 Walter Camp Player of the Year

New Haven, CT - University of Notre Dame senior inside linebacker Manti Te'o (Laie, HI) has been selected as the 2012 Walter Camp Player of the Year. Walter Camp Football Foundation President John Marks made the presentation tonight during ESPN's 6 p.m. edition of SportsCenter.
The Walter Camp Player of the Year is voted on by the nation's 124 Football Bowl Subdivision head coaches and sports information directors. Other finalists for the Walter Camp 2012 Player of the Year award included Texas A&M quarterback Johnny Manziel, Kansas State quarterback Collin Klein, USC wide receiver Marqise Lee and Oregon running back Kenjon Barner.
The 46th recipient of the Walter Camp Player of the Year award, Te'o is the third defensive player to earn the honor. Former Pittsburgh defensive end Hugh Green (1980) and Michigan defensive back Charles Woodson (1997) each won the award.
Te'o is also the fourth Notre Dame player - tight end Ken MacAfee (1977), wide receiver Tim Brown (1987) and wide receiver Raghib Ismail (1990) - to be selected Player of the Year.
"Manti Te'o's performance on and off the football field has made him an outstanding recipient of the Walter Camp Player of the Year award," Marks said. "His consistency, leadership, and perseverance have been trademarks of the Fighting Irish's outstanding 2012 season."
The 6-foot 2, 255-pound Te'o is a Walter Camp First Team All-America selection after leading the Fighting Irish defensive unit that ranks first in the nation in scoring defense (10.3 points allowed per game) and sixth in total defense (286.8 yards allowed per game).
Through 12 games this season, Te'o has totaled a team-best 103 tackles (8.6 tackles per game) and is tied for third in the nation with seven interceptions. Te'o has played a role in 11 of Notre Dame's 23 turnovers this year (7 interceptions, 2 fumble recoveries and 2 pass hurries that directly led to interceptions).
Top-ranked Notre Dame (12-0) will play second-ranked Alabama (12-1) in the BCS National Championship Game on January 7.
Te'o has appeared in 50 career games and amassed 427 tackles (209 solo). He is the second Notre Dame player - joining two-time Walter Camp All-American linebacker Bob Crable - to register at least 100 tackles in three consecutive seasons. A graphic design major, Te'o has a 3.32 cumulative grade point average and is scheduled to graduate this month.
Te'o, along with members of the Walter Camp 2012 All-America team, will be honored at the organization's national awards banquet on Saturday, January 12, 2013 at the Yale University Commons in New Haven.
The Foundation is offering a "Holiday Ticket Promotion" for the National Awards Dinner. Buy two tickets for $400 (you save $150) before December 31. Please call (203) 288-CAMP (288-2267) for more information.
Walter Camp, "The Father of American football," first selected an All-America team in 1889. Camp - a former Yale University athlete and football coach - is also credited with developing play from scrimmage, set plays, the numerical assessment of goals and tries and the restriction of play to eleven men per side. The Walter Camp Football Foundation - a New Haven-based all-volunteer group - was founded in 1967 to perpetuate the ideals of Camp and to continue the tradition of selecting annually an All-America team. Visit http://www.waltercamp.org for more information.
The Walter Camp Football Foundation is a member of the National College Football Awards Association (NCFAA). The NCFAA was founded in 1997 as a coalition of the major collegiate football awards to protect, preserve and enhance the integrity, influence and prestige of the game's predominant awards. The NCFAA encourages professionalism and the highest standards for the administration of its member awards and the selection of their candidates and recipients. Visit http://www.ncfaa.org.
Walter Camp Player of the Year Recipients 2012 - Manti Te'o, LB, Notre Dame

Manti Te'o Wins Maxwell Award

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. (AP) - Notre Dame linebacker Manti Te'o has won the Maxwell Award, given to the nation's most outstanding player.
Te'o was presented with the award Thursday at the Home Depot College Football Awards show at Disney World. He beat out finalists and quarterbacks Johnny Manziel from Texas A&M and Collin Klein from Kansas State.
He is the first defensive player to win the award since 1980, ending a string of nine straight quarterbacks.
It's the sixth national award that Te'o has won since the end of the regular season. The Fighting Irish senior has also has won the Bednarik Award, Butkus Award, Bronko Nagurski Trophy, Lombardi Award and Walter Camp national player of the year award.
Te'o is also a finalist for the Heisman Trophy, which will be presented on Saturday.

Manti Te'o Wins Bednarik Award

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. (AP) - Notre Dame linebacker Manti Te'o has won the Bednarik Award, given to the nation's most outstanding defensive player.
Te'o was presented with the award Thursday night at the Home Depot College Football Awards show at Disney World. He beat out finalists Jadeveon Clowney from South Carolina and Georgia's Jarvis Jones.
The leader of the nation's top-ranked scoring defense, the senior had 103 tackles and seven interceptions this season. He is the first linebacker to win the Bednarik since 2008.
It's the fifth national award Te'o has received since the end of the regular season. He already has won the Butkus Award, Bronko Nagurski Trophy, Lombardi Award and Walter Camp national player of the year award.
The Fighting Irish play Alabama on Jan. 7 in the BCS national championship game.

Sporting News 2012 All-American Team

LB: Manti Te’o, Sr., Notre Dame
Why is Te’o the defensive superstar of college football? His seven interceptions—four more than any other non-defensive back has—are a big part of the explanation. But Te’o means so much more to the Irish than can be quantified. He’s a Tebow-like leader on the other side of the ball. That good enough?

CB: Jordan Poyer, Sr., Oregon State
There’s zero question who has been the Beavers’ best player throughout their return from the abyss of 2011 to true relevance in 2012. Poyer locks receivers down, plays wickedly hard and has a nose for the football—seven interceptions should make that abundantly clear.

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Manti Te'o Takes Home Rotary Lombardi Award

NOTRE DAME, Ind. - University of Notre Dame senior linebacker Manti Te'o won the Rotary Lombardi Award on Wednesday as college football's best lineman or linebacker. He is the second player in college football history to capture the Butkus, Nagurski and Lombardi awards in the same season.
Te'o recently became Notre Dame's 186th first-team All-America selection (AFCA). A National Scholar-Athlete by the National Football Foundation, Te'o also is a finalist for the Heisman Trophy, Maxwell Award, Bednarik Award, Walter Camp Player of the Year and Lott Trophy.
If Te'o were to receive any three of the following five awards - Maxwell, Bednarik, Walter Camp, Heisman or Lott - he would take home an unprecedented six major college football awards.
Former Michigan cornerback Charles Woodson captured five awards in 1997 (Bednarik, Nagurski, Thorpe, Walter Camp and Heisman).
The Maxwell, Bednarik and Walter Camp will be announced during Thursday's 2012 Home Depot College Football Awards show which will air on ESPN at 7:30 p.m.
Te'o is the fifth Notre Dame player to capture the Lombardi - joining defensive end Walt Patulski (1971), defensive end Ross Browner (1977), nose guard Chris Zorich (1990) and offensive tackle Aaron Taylor (1993).
Te'o leads the Irish with 103 tackles. He is the second Notre Dame player to ever collect at least 100 tackles in three consecutive seasons (Bob Crable, 1979-81). Te'o is the third player in Irish history to record 400 career tackles and currently ranks third in school history with 427 stops.
Te'o has recorded seven interceptions in 2012, which is tied for second in the Football Bowl Subdivision in total interceptions. He has set a Notre Dame single-season record for most interceptions by a linebacker. In fact, no FBS linebacker in the past 11 seasons has collected more single-season interceptions than Te'o. He has generated nine total turnovers (seven interceptions and two fumble recoveries), which is tied for the most of any FBS player. Te'o has actually played a role in 11 of the 23 turnovers forced by Notre Dame's defense in '12. In addition to the seven interceptions and two fumble recoveries, he has hurried two quarterbacks on plays that directly resulted in interceptions.
Te'o has started 48 career games at Notre Dame, including each of the last 47 contests. That is the longest streak of any linebacker in the nation and fourth longest of any defensive player in the country.
Top-ranked Notre Dame will play second-ranked Alabama on January 7, 2013, for the BCS National Championship.

Star Lotulelei named Walter Camp All-American

Utah senior defensive tackle Star Lotulelei was named as a first-team Walter Camp All-American on Thursday on the ESPN College Football Awards show.

Lotulelei was one of six Pac-12 players named to the first team. Lotulelei becomes the eighth Ute to earn Walter Camp honors and the fourth to win first-team recognition. Previous Utah first-team Walter Camp All-Americans were offensive lineman Jordan Gross (2002), kicker Louie Sakoda (2008) and punt returner Shaky Smithson (2010). Second-team Walter Camp selections were quarterback Alex Smith (2004), defensive back Eric Weddle (2006), and offensive linemen Zane Beadles (2009) and Caleb Schlauderaff (2010). All of Utah’s previous Walter Camp All-Americans, with the exception of Sakoda, are currently playing in the NFL. The 6-foot-4, 320-pound Lotulelei, a two-time first-team all-Pac-12 selection, finished the season with 42 tackles, including a team-high 11 tackles for loss and five sacks. The senior also had four pass breakups, four fumble recoveries and three forced fumbles. He leads the Pac-12 and is tied for second in the nation in fumble recoveries (4).

Sapolu scores with new book

BY JERMEL-LYNN QUILLOPO / Special to the Star-Advertiser
Winter in Hawaii means getting to do what I love best during cold weather — snuggling in bed under warm covers while reading an interesting book.
My latest find? “I Gave My Heart to San Francisco,” a new memoir by retired NFL star Jesse Sapolu. I was able to catch up with the four-time Super Bowl champion during a book signing event at Barnes and Noble Ala Moana on Saturday. I met him once before while on assignment; he was such a kind man back then and hasn’t changed a bit.
Through his own words, Sapolu’s new book tells the story of his personal and professional journey to the National Football League. He said he was encouraged to share his story with the world after the death of his friend and fellow NFL player, Junior Seau, and the death of 19-year-old Fred Thompson, an athlete who was a teammate of his youngest son.
Born in Western Samoa to parents who were ministers, Sapolu’s family moved to Los Angeles when he was a young boy. In the book, he recalls the mixed emotions he felt over leaving everything he had ever known behind in Samoa, but also realizing the new opportunities that would be available in the United States. In 1971, the Sapolu family arrived in Kalihi, settling into public housing at Kuhio Park Terrace.
Sapolu said playing sports helped him adjust and make friends. He attended Farrington High School and said growing up in one of Oahu’s most troubled areas helped shape him. A desire to play college football in front of his extended family led him to the University of Hawaii, where he was a standout offensive lineman for the Rainbows and won numerous awards. He represented UH in the 1983 Hula Bowl, and soon after was drafted by the San Francisco 49ers.
During his successful 15-year career, however, Sapolu battled a dangerous health condition — a torn aortic heart valve. While on the field, Sapolu admitted that playing with that type of health condition was dangerous and that sharing his story will help teach others to be proactive when it comes to their health.
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Jesse Sapolu: 4-Time Super Bowl Champ Reflects On How Samoan Culture Shaped His Career

Jesse Sapolu played 15 NFL seasons, winning four Super Bowls with the 49ers and earning two trips to the Pro Bowl. He did this despite a torn aortic heart valve, a dangerous condition that left him short of breath at times. In his new book, I Gave My Heart To San Francisco, Sapolu reveals this secret and recounts his journey to the NFL. Born in Samoa and raised in Hawaii, Sapolu has special appreciation for the success he achieved in pro football when he knows that so many others had the more typical American upbringing. In this excerpt, Sapolu writes about how his heritage helped define him as a football player and a person.
When I chose the University of Hawaii over schools from the Pac-10 and the Big Ten, one of the most important factors was the ability to play in front of my extended family.
In my mind I knew that when I chose my school, I would not only be playing for Farrington High School and my little town of Kalihi, but I would be representing the entire state every single time I strapped on my helmet. The pride of representing the people I grew up with far outweighed playing in the spotlight of the Pac-10 and Big Ten.
Being of Samoan ancestry and raised in Hawaii, I feel very blessed and honored to be part of two proud cultures. The two cultures are similar in that RESPECT and HUMILITY are of utmost importance. It is a high priority to represent yourself, your family, and your people with humility which in return earns you respect. I understood early with both cultures that it doesn't matter what your accomplishments might be, if you’re not humble, accomplishments mean absolutely nothing to them.
It is a thought that never left me. Whether it was winning a Super Bowl or simply stepping on a field for practice; everyone deserves to be treated with respect. Represent your family and your people in a way that would make them proud, win or lose.

My three sons (Luke, London and Roman) have heard me say many times during training sessions, "Be humble. You don't have to be loud to carry a big stick, just be loud when you buckle up your chinstrap." It is what Coach Tony Dungy calls "quiet strength."

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Tai Tiedemann has a tremendous supporting role

The nominee for best supporting player in a drama for the 2012 Long Beach high school football season is Poly quarterback Tai Tiedemann.
Quarterbacks are rarely cast as supporting players in football.
Quarterbacks are stars. They're Jack Nicholson, Robert DeNiro or Denzel Washington, all Best Actor Oscar winners. No one ever said the Denver Broncos' offense revolved around anyone but John Elway; ditto for Peyton Manning in Indianapolis and Tom Brady in New England.
But at a few places, quarterbacks are background players. Long Beach Poly is one of those places, where CIF and Moore League champions have traditionally been built around running backs, big offensive lines and swift defensive players. That's how Poly won the CIF Southern Section Pac-5 Division title Saturday and why it will host Clovis North in a SoCal Regional Bowl on Friday at Veterans Stadium.
That doesn't mean a Poly quarterback can't occasionally have a breakthrough performance. Tiedemann did in 2012.
The junior didn't get into a game until the fourth of the season and shared the quarterback job with Eban Jackson during the Moore League season, but he has flourished in the postseason.
He had a 26-yard run for a touchdown in the win over Bishop Amat, was efficient (6 for 8) in the upset of Mission Viejo, stepped up with four third-down completions in the win over St. John Bosco, including a critical 34-yard pass to John Smith on the game-winning drive, and hrew two touchdown passes in the first half in the Pac-5 final against Mater Dei. 
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Heisman win for Te’o would be historic for Pacific Islanders

By Christopher Kamrani

| The Salt Lake Tribune

First Published Dec 06 2012 11:18 am • Last Updated Dec 07 2012 05:55 pm

Bountiful High assistant football coach Alema Te’o was still marveling at the moment from his Southern California hotel room, one night before undefeated and top-ranked Notre Dame was to wrap up its unforgettable season against rival USC at the Los Angeles Coliseum.

Alema’s great-nephew, Notre Dame star linebacker Manti Te’o, had just gotten off a plane after flying in from South Bend, Ind., with the rest of the team, but he still found time to gather with family members who had poured into L.A. for the big game.

"He could have said, ‘I’m tired, I need to go to my room,’ but he didn’t," Alema Te’o said of Manti. "He stayed the whole time with family members, talked to them about working hard and doing what’s right."

If there is a face behind the resurgence of the most storied college football program in the country, it’s Te’o, the Herculean heart of the Fighting Irish defense who also showcases a million-dollar smile and a big-hearted attitude that has helped Notre Dame reach the BCS National Championship game against No. 2 Alabama on Jan. 7.

Teo’s role in helping restore Notre Dame to prominence also has resulted in another pinnacle. He will be in New York on Saturday as a Heisman Trophy finalist, along with Texas A&M quarterback Johnny Manziel and Kansas State quarterback Collin Klein.

This is mostly foreign territory for a linebacker — Charles Woodson is the only defensive player to ever win the Heisman, and he won it largely as a return specialist. But it is a potentially history-making moment for the Pacific Islander community in Utah, the rest of the U.S. and abroad. No college football player of Polynesian descent has ever won a Heisman, or even been invited to the award ceremony.

"No doubt if he wins it was destiny," said Alema Te’o, who created the popular All-Poly Football Camp 14 years ago. "If Manti wins it, I can honestly believe that this will be the first step in elevating the effort level for the next generation [of Polynesian players] to come up. Everybody and their dog is going to want to be like Manti. They already do."

Utah defensive coordinator Kalani Sitake noted that the Sitakes and the Te’os are old family friends and he and Manti Te’o even hail from the same hometown in Hawaii. It was Sitake who drew the job of recruiting Te’o to Utah four years ago, but Utah’s defensive coordinator said he is proud of the way Te’o carved out a niche for himself in South Bend.

"He represents himself and Notre Dame the right way," Sitake said. "He’s always giving credit to his roots and his family and his faith, and when you have a guy like that people are going to flock to him whether they’re Polynesian or not. There’s T-shirts out here in Utah that say ‘Manti for Heisman.’ He’s a dynamic young man."

Saia Saltiban, who will be a senior outside linebacker at Bingham next season, said Te’o’s collegiate career is epitomized by his ability to think for himself and make the most of his decision to go to Notre Dame.

"I just think he’s a different player because he chose his own path. As a Polynesian, you’re supposed to stay at a West Coast school, but he went to an [eastern]," Saltiban said. "I’d rather have him win the Heisman Trophy because I think it’d be a bigger attribute for the Polynesian football community. He’s going to have a great career in the NFL, and he’s going to be a legend in college football history."

Alema Te’o said his nephew has an innate ability to simplify things when the circumstances may seem gargantuan to others. That night before the Fighting Irish defeated the Trojans 22-13 to punch their ticket to the BCS title game, Manti Te’o talked to every last one of his cousins who took different treks to Southern California to visit their hero.

"He’s already got his next group of cousins wearing his jersey and walking and talking just like him," Alema Te’o said.

No longer overlooked

Cyrus Coen didn't receive any offers coming out of Pearl City, but the sophomore has turned into star linebacker at Washington State

By Billy Hull

The first thing to stand out from this year's All-Hawaii Grown team is the defense.

Seven of the 11 members chosen to the team still have a game to play as the bowl season kicks off next weekend.

All 11 ended the season as starters at the Football Bowl Subdivision level, with seven doing so at BCS schools.

But unlike Manti Te'o, the Heisman Trophy finalist from Notre Dame who was destined for greatness from the moment he arrived on the Punahou campus as a sophomore, some have come out of nowhere.

One of those guys is Washington State sophomore linebacker Cyrus Coen, a 2011 Pearl City graduate.

Coen had no scholarship offers coming out of high school. A broken foot cost him the final month of his senior season and he was left with few options.

"Probably not," Coen said when asked if he thought he'd play football in college. "One of my uncles used to go here and he called me and told me to give (walking on at WSU) a shot."

His "uncle" is Jack Thompson, known to many as the "Throwin' Samoan."

Thompson was the No. 3 overall pick in the 1979 NFL Draft by the Cincinnati Bengals after playing college ball at Washington State.

He convinced the now-previous coaching staff to give Coen a look as a walk-on and it took exactly one year before Coen earned a scholarship.

Coen responded with a tremendous season, finishing with 60 tackles. Twelve of them went for a loss. Coen also had three sacks and three interceptions as WSU's do-everything linebacker.

"You know what? I kind of surprised myself," Coen said. "I just thank the coaching staff for giving me the chance, and the one thing they always tell us is to work hard and do what you're supposed to do and I've been able to kind of stick to it and it's worked out."

Coen's first year as a full-time starter didn't go so well in terms of wins and losses, but it couldn't have ended any better.

Instead of finishing winless in the Pac-12, the Cougars pulled out a stunning overtime win in the Apple Cup against cross-state rival Washington.

"Oh man, it was one of the best experience's I've ever had," Coen said. "Ending on a good note … I'm excited for next season."

The win made a lot of the disappointments of coach Mike Leach's first season in Pullman fade away quickly.

Although the team isn't playing in a bowl game, Coen works out every morning with his teammates and again in the afternoon.

Next year's season opener is at Auburn on Aug. 31.

"If we can pick up where we left off, everything is uphill from there," Coen said. "We can't wait to get back out there. We're excited."

Eight of the 24 players selected to the All-Hawaii Grown team, including Coen, are freshmen and sophomores.

Coen edged out Eastern Michigan's Bryan Pali, a 2008 Kamehameha-Maui alumnus, for the final spot at linebacker.

Pali played in nine games for the Eagles and finished 41st in the country with an average of 9.22 tackles a game.

ALL-HAWAII GROWN FOOTBALL TEAM

Team selected from Hawaii athletes at mainland colleges

 

Boise State's Jeremy Ioane All MWC

Honorable Mention
Jeremy Ioane, a redshirt sophomore safety from Honolulu, finished second on the team in tackles with 65 (38 solo). He intercepted two passes, one of which he returned for a touchdown. Ioane also broke up two passes, forced a fumble and record two TFLs

UH's Paipai Falemalu All MWC

Second Team

Paipai Falemalu, a preseason all-MW pick, tied for the team-lead with 56 tackles, including 10.0 for loss, which is tied for 11^th in the MW. The senior from Hau'ula, O'ahu also had five sacks, which is tied for ninth in the MW, and has two fumbles recovered.

Honorable Mention
Tavita Woodward, a junior from Honolulu, played in all 12 games as at defensive end and tackle and was sixth on the team with 38 tackles. He also ranks sixth in the MW in sacks with 5.5 and had one interception and three quarterback hurries. 

SDSU's Jake Fely All MWC

Second Team
Jake Fely was named a second-team performer after recording 86 tackles, and leading the squad in solo stops (64), tackles for loss (11.5), sacks (7) and forced fumbles (2). Fely, who also has two fumble recoveries and a PBU, ranks fourth in the conference in both sacks per game (0.58) and TFL per game (0.96). He twice was named the MW Defensive Player of the Week (Oct. 15 and Oct. 19), becoming the first SDSU player to do that since Joe Martin in 2006.

Honorable Mention
2012 Polynesian All American participant
Sam Meredith also was an honorable-mention pick after starting all 12 games at defensive tackle as a true sophomore, while helping San Diego State lead the league in rushing defense (140.2). He finished the regular season with 31 tackles, 4.5 TFL, one sack, a fumble recovery and a PBU. He led all Aztec defensive linemen in tackles, TFL, PBUs and fumble recoveries.

UNLV's John Lotulelei All MWC

First Team All MWC
Lotulelei (Kihei, Hawaii), announced yesterday as the Rebels' Defensive Most Valuable Player for 2012, currently ranks third in the Mountain West and 39th in the nation with 9.2 tackles per game and his total of 120 was the 10th-highest in UNLV single-season history. A team captain, he turned in a career-high 19 total tackles vs. Nevada, Reno and grabbed his first interception vs. Washington State.

Iolani's Foy, Punahou's Savaiinaea head ILH all-stars

Iolani quarterback Reece Foy was named Offensive Player of the Year and Punahou linebacker Isaac Savaiinaea was named Defensive Player of the Year for the Interscholastic League of Honolulu, according to the league's website.

Punahou's Kale Ane was named Coach of the Year.

INTERSCHOLASTIC LEAGUE OF HONOLULU ALL-STARS
Offensive Player of the Year: Reece Foy, QB, Iolani
Defensive Player of the Year: Isaac Savaiinaea,, LB, Punahou

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Football Has Played A Key Role In Senior Defensive Lineman's Outlook on Life

LOGAN, Utah - Being a part of a Division I football team is not an easy task. Senior defensive lineman Havea Lasike (San Jose, Calif.) will be the first to admit that. He will also be the first to admit that the experience has made him stronger and ready to take on the world.
"You have to learn to never give up and fight your way through obstacles and adversity," Lasike said. "The fact that I overcame everything to get here. The fact that I had this chance. It's all great."
Lasike (La-see-kay) started his collegiate career at Foothill College in Los Altos Hills, Calif., where he earned first-team all-Northern California Football Association honors after posting 81 tackles his sophomore season. He was tied for eighth in the NCFA in sacks with nine and was a part of 14 tackles for loss. He was named the team defensive MVP after leading the Owls to a 9-2 record and the Silicon Valley Bowl title.
"Foothill was good. I had guidance from my older brother and my coaches had a huge impact on me," Lasike said. "They were Tongan and Samoan guys, so it was cool. They could put me in check."
While at Foothill College, Lasike caught the attention of the Utah State coaches and started working toward securing him to be an Aggie.
"He was one of the top defensive tackles out of the junior colleges, so we were lucky to get him," said defensive line coach Frank Maile. "He does a great job for us."
Early on during his Utah State career, Lasike experienced first-hand the difficulties of transferring from junior college to the Division I level.
"You can't take a day off. You can't take a play off," Lasike said. "If you're injured or tired in junior college, you could decide for yourself if you wanted to go to practice or not, that is not the case now."
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Louisiana Tech's Colby Cameron WAC Offensive POY

Quarterback Colby Cameron was named the WAC Offensive Player of the Year after finishing the season ranked second in the nation in passing with 345.6 yards per game and fourth in total offense with 360.3 yards per contest.  Cameron completed 359-of-522 passes for 4,147 yards and 31 touchdowns with just five interceptions.  He didn't throw his first interception until the 11th game of the season.  Cameron set a new NCAA record for most consecutive passes without an interception with 428 attempts this year and 444 going back to last season.  This is Louisiana Tech's second WAC Offensive Player of the Year award as running back Ryan Moats was the 2004 recipient.

Idaho's Mauga and Siavi'i All WAC

Honorable Mention
Linebackers: Homer Mauga Sr, Robert Siavi'i Sr.

San Jose State's David Tuitupou All WAC

Second Team
DL-David Tuitupou, Sr., San Jose State

Utah State's Al Lapuaho All WAC

First Team 
DL-Al Lapuaho, Utah State, 6-3, 289, Sr.

Lapuaho, a 6-3, 284-pound senior defensive tackle from West Valley City, Utah (Granger HS/Snow College) ranks first among USU's defensive linemen with 35 tackles. He also has 4.5 tackles for loss and 3.0 sacks this year, to go along with four quarterback hurries, one forced fumble and one pass breakup.

Manti Te'o Captures Butkus Award

NOTRE DAME, Ind. - University of Notre Dame senior linebacker Manti Te'o was honored with the 28th annual collegiate Butkus Award® Monday. The announcement came in a surprise telephone call by legendary linebacker and award namesake Dick Butkus and his son Matt. A presentation is planned for December 17 on the Notre Dame campus as part of an "I Play Clean" workshop series.
Te'o was selected by a panel of 51 coaches, recruiters, scouts and journalists coordinated by Pro Football Weekly.
"Manti Te'o embodies the toughness, intensity, competitiveness and on-field demeanor of a throwback performer like Dick Butkus himself," said Hub Arkush of Pro Football Weekly. "Te'o was the first ever High School Butkus winner (2008), and he has lived up to all the expectations and positioned his team for a chance at the national championship. He has been an inspiration to his team and community, and serves as a model citizen."
Te'o finished with 83 points in the Butkus Award voting system. Finishing second was Jarvis Jones of Georgia (54 points) and third was C.J. Mosley of Alabama (21 points). Kevin Minter of LSU and Dion Jordan of Oregon were tied for fourth.
Te'o leads the Irish with 103 tackles. He is the second Notre Dame player to ever collect at least 100 tackles in three consecutive seasons (Bob Crable, 1979-81). Te'o is the third player in Irish history to record 400 career tackles and currently ranks third in school history with 427 stops.
Te'o has recorded seven interceptions in 2012, which is tied for second in the Football Bowl Subdivision in total interceptions. He has set a Notre Dame single-season record for most interceptions by a linebacker. In fact, no FBS linebacker in the past 11 seasons has collected more single-season interceptions than Te'o. He has generated nine total turnovers (seven interceptions and two fumble recoveries), which is tied for the most of any FBS player. Te'o has actually played a role in 11 of the 23 turnovers forced by Notre Dame's defense in '12. In addition to the seven interceptions and two fumble recoveries, he has hurried two quarterbacks on plays that directly resulted in interceptions.
Te'o has started 48 career games at Notre Dame, including each of the last 47 contests. That is the longest streak of any linebacker in the nation and fourth longest of any defensive player in the country.
Te'o already became Notre Dame's 186th All-American first team selection (AFCA). A National Scholar-Athlete by the National Football Foundation and finalist for the Heisman Trophy, Nagurski Award, Lombardi Trophy, Maxwell Award, Bednarik Award, Walter Camp Player of the Year and Lott Trophy.
Notre Dame will play Alabama January 7, 2013, for the BCS National Championship.

Manti Te'o Wins Nagurski Award For Top Defensive Player

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) - Manti Te'o got a call from Dick Butkus on Monday morning, letting him know he was voted the nation's best linebacker. A few hours later, the Notre Dame star accepted the Bronko Nagurski Award as the nation's top defensive player.
Oh yeah, he also picked up a trip to New York as one of the finalists for the Heisman Trophy.
Not a bad day at all.
The energetic senior from Hawaii helped put Notre Dame back in the spotlight this season, leading the top-ranked Fighting Irish to an unbeaten regular season and a date with Alabama in the BCS championship game Jan. 7.
Te'o says being mentioned along with former Nagurski winners such as Charles Woodson, Terrell Suggs, Warren Sapp and Champ Bailey is "something very special to me."
Te'o led the nation's top-ranked defense with 103 tackles and seven interceptions.
He beat out four other finalists: South Carolina end Jadeveon Clowney, Georgia linebacker Jarvis Jones, Alabama cornerback Dee Milliner and Florida State end Bjoern Werner.
Notre Dame coach Brian Kelly was on hand as the event's keynote speaker at a downtown Charlotte hotel Monday night and said it's impossible to describe what Te'o has meant to the program.
"It takes time to move from not being part of the national championship discussion for over 20 years to be right at the point of being able to be a national champion," Kelly said. "You need somebody that can galvanize the team and somebody to get them to believe that they can do it. His actions, the way he played and the way he led did incredible things for our football program."
Te'o said this will be a season he'll never forget, but first he'd like to see the Fighting Irish get one more win.
"It's something that you dream of when you're a little kid," Te'o said. "You never think it could happen, then it finally hits you in the face and it's a dream come true."
When asked what he'd rather win - a national championship or the Nagurski Award - Te'o smiled and laughed as if it's the easiest question he's ever answered.
"Hey, all these awards are great, but football is a team sport," he said. "If you ask people who the Butkus Award or the Bednarik Award winners are, or even the Heisman Trophy winner some years, they probably don't remember them. But they remember who won the national championship. They remember that. That's the trophy everybody wants."
Te'o said he's anxious for the BCS title game, although it's still a month away.
As for the 45-day layoff, he doesn't believe it will be a factor once the game begins.
"It can be good or bad, depending on the player and team," Te'o said. "It depends on how badly you want it. You can approach those 45 days as a pro. But if you just want to be in the national championship game and that's enough, you're obviously in trouble. Alabama has obviously been there a lot recently. You've got to act like you've been there, even if we haven't."
Kelly said he doesn't see the Fighting Irish losing focus as long as Te'o is in the locker room leading the way.
"He's a great student and he's really been a role model for everybody in our program," Kelly said. "When you put all of those things together he's more than just a football player and I'm blessed that I had an opportunity to coach him."

Manti Te'o Named Heisman Trophy Finalist

NEW YORK - Notre Dame's Manti Te'o was selected as a finalist for the Heisman Trophy on Monday, along with Kansas State quarterback Collin Klein and Texas A&M quarterback Johnny Manziel.
Te'o, the only non-quarterback among the finalists, provided strong senior leadership for a Notre Dame club that ran the table and is playing for its first national championship in the BCS era.
Te'o had seven interceptions and 103 tackles for the Irish (12-0), who will take on Alabama in the Discover BCS National Championship Game on Jan. 7 in Miami.
Te'o is trying to become the first defense-only player to win a Heisman and the eighth player from Notre Dame. The Fighting Irish have had seven Heisman winners, tied for the most, but none since Tim Brown in 1987.
Te'o, who has already captured the 2012 Butkus Award, is also a finalist for the Nagurski, Campbell, Lombardi, Bednarik, Maxwell, Lott and Walter Camp Player of the Year awards.

2012 All-Simone Team

All-Simone Team, which recognizes the top prep football players in the Kansas City area at every position.

Linebacker – Mamu Tauiautusa, Senior, Fort Osage (Independence, MO)
Defensive Back – Joseph Tuimaseve, Senior, Fort Osage (Independence, MO)

Buck Buchanan award, (most outstanding lineman or linebacker): Matt Plank, Gardner Edgerton; Braden Smith, Olathe South; Elijah Lee, Blue Springs; and Mamu Tauiatusa, Fort Osage).

Read more here: http://varsity.kansascity.com/news/finalists-announced-for-simone-awards/#storylink=cpy

Novice to peerless: Solomon puts cap on unparalleled run

When Jarrett Solomon first stepped onto Bishop Gorman’s football field a little more than three years ago, he wasn’t sure he could be a varsity quarterback.
“I barely even played quarterback,” Solomon said. “It was my second year. All I did was work out every Sunday with my private coach.”
Then first-year Gaels coach Tony Sanchez made the decision to start Solomon at quarterback as a freshman.
Four state championships, 138 touchdowns and more than 10,000 yards later, Sanchez might have made the smartest decision anywhere.
Solomon threw for 201 yards and four touchdowns Saturday, leading Gorman to its fourth straight state championship in a 63-10 rout of Liberty at Sam Boyd Stadium.
“When he came in, physically he was able to compete,” Sanchez said. “We had so many good guys around him, we felt like it was something we could manage. We knew we had something special.
“He just kept evolving. He’s been the best quarterback in the history of the state.”
Solomon, a 6-foot-1-inch, 200-pound senior who has committed to the University of Arizona, started all but one of Gorman’s 60 games in four seasons. The Gaels were 57-3, with all three losses coming to out-of-state teams.
“As a freshman, I didn’t even know what a state championship was,” Solomon said. “I never thought I would be as successful as I am right now.”
His career numbers are beyond eyebrow-raising.
Solomon finished 532 of 838 for 10,113 yards, the only quarterback in state history to surpass the 10,000-yard mark. He threw 138 touchdowns and only 17 interceptions. He averaged 12 yards per attempted pass and attempted only 14 passes per game, often because he threw sparingly, if at all, in the second half of games.
“If you look at his stats, they could have been so much better if we would have come out throwing the ball every play,” Sanchez said. “He understood the team concept. He did a great job managing the offense, being able to audible.”
Solomon misfired on his first three pass attempts Saturday, including one interception. He then went 7-for-8 and eclipsed 10,000 yards on a 78-yard touchdown pass to tight end Alize Jones with 59 seconds left in the first half.
Two of Solomon’s touchdown passes went to wide receiver Ryan Smith, who was one of the quarterback’s favorite targets all four years.
“We had a little bit of a bond,” Smith said. “In practice, I’ll get on him a little bit. In games, we’re out there and we just play our best. I wish we could play together in college.”
Solomon, Smith and senior wide receiver Jamir Tillman left the game together to a standing ovation during a timeout with 8:24 to go, leaving behind a level of success that might never be matched.
“Before I called that timeout, I walked up to those guys and said I’m going to put you guys out there and I’m going to call a timeout and pull you off,” Sanchez said. “I couldn’t get through the conversation without crying. I had to walk away. I’ve been tough on him. It hasn’t always been easy, but I love him to death.”

AAA/CIF SAN FRANCISCO SECTION ALL-CITY FOOTBALL 2012-13

Defensive Player of the Year: Young Potasi (Lincoln)
Defensive Lineman of the Year: Young Potasi (Lincoln)

First Team
OL/DL Young Potasi Sr Lincoln
OT/DL Mane Fale Sr Mission

Second Team
FB/LB Jeremiah Iuli Soph Balboa
WR/LB Prince Taouma Jr Balboa
OL/LB Iosefa Leui Sr Lincoln
LB Joey Sagiao Sr Marshall
DE Tali Sione Sr Marshall

Link

2012 All-East County™ Football Team

First Team
OL William Milo Helix Sr
DL William Milo Helix Sr
LB Rocky Fuga Helix Sr
LB Sammy Samoata Mt Miguel Sr

Second Team
DL Justin Lepisi West Hills Sr
DL Josh Tausaga Mount Miguel Sr
DL Miracle Tausaga Mount Miguel Jr
LB Rueben Leasau Helix Jr

Link