Arizona sophomore Scooby Wright won a third of the available conference player of the week honors, so it comes as no surprised the league named him the Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year award for 2014, it was announced on Tuesday.
The conference also named Rich Rodriguez as the 2014 Coach of the Year after leading the Wildcats to a 10-2 record and Pac-12 South Division title.
Wright finished the year with six forced fumbles, 14 sacks and a nation-leading 27 tackles for loss. He is a finalist for the Chuck Bednarik Award, Bronko Naguraski Trophy, and Rotary Lombardi Award -- though not for the Dick Butkus Award given to the nation's best linebacker. Wright also finished with 139 tackles on the year.
Oregon Ducks quarterback Marcus Mariota earned the Offensive Player of the Year honors just days before he and Mark Helfrich's team face Arizona in the Pac-12 Championship game. Ducks freshman running back Royce Freeman earned the Pac-12 Offensive Freshman of the Year nod, while USC receiver and defensive back Adoree' Jackson took home the Defensive Freshman of the Year award.