Rob Weintraub’s 2021 All-Pac-12 Awards

NFL – The NFL Alumni Awards series has made it to its tenth year, which, sad to say, is known as the Tin Anniversary. There’s nothing malleable about these awards, my friends! I’ve had a great time capping off the NFL season over the last decade by determining who is the very best professional player from each of the Power 5 schools. It’s a great way to gauge the health of the collegiate teams, an indicator of the volatility of the pro game, and, most of all, a fun argument starter.

We conclude this Award Week by highlighting the best of the West, the pros from the Pac-12. The conference may be down lately but given the string of championships won by Los Angeles teams recently, can a Southern Cal renaissance be far off?

ARIZONA (10)
2012: Rob Gronkowski—TE New England
2013: Nick Foles—QB Philadelphia
2014: Rob Gronkowski—TE New England
2015: Rob Gronkowski—TE New England
2016: Rob Gronkowski—TE New England
2017: Rob Gronkowski—TE New England
2018: Rob Gronkowski—TE New England
2019: Reggie Gilbert—LB Tennessee
2020: Rob Gronkowski—TE Tampa Bay

2021: Rob Gronkowski—TE Tampa Bay

Will he or won’t he? The burning question is whether Gronk will indeed retire—for good this time—along with his buddy and fellow Alumni Award dominatrix Tom Brady, or whether he sticks around and goes for AAA (Arizona Alumni Award) No. 10 next season. 

ARIZONA STATE (12)
2012: Vontaze Burfict—LB Cincinnati
2013: Terrell Suggs—DE Baltimore
2014: Terrell Suggs—DE Baltimore
2015: Vontaze Burfict—LB Cincinnati
2016: Vontaze Burfict—LB Cincinnati
2017: Terrell Suggs—DE Baltimore
2018: Terrell Suggs—DE Baltimore
2019: Lawrence Guy—DE New England 
2020: Lawrence Guy—DE New England 

2021: Lawrence Guy—DE New England 

The most successful Guy since LaFleur and “and Dolls” overpowers wideout Brandon Aiyuk of the Niners to capture his third straight Pitchfork Trophy. 

CAL (20)
2012: Aaron Rodgers—QB Green Bay
2013: Marshawn Lynch—RB Seattle
2014: Aaron Rodgers—QB Green Bay
2015: Aaron Rodgers—QB Green Bay
2016: Aaron Rodgers—QB Green Bay
2017: Cameron Jordan—DE New Orleans
2018: Jared Goff—QB Los Angeles Rams
2019: Aaron Rodgers—QB Green Bay
2020: Aaron Rodgers—QB Green Bay

2021: Aaron Rodgers—QB Green Bay

The likes of Cam Jordan, Keenan Allen, and Alex Mack performed admirably, and with much less drama, than the Green Bay antivaxxer. But the repeat MVP is now 7-time alumni champ from Berkeley, where, rest assured, everyone is vaccinated. 

COLORADO (19)
2012: Nate Solder—OT New England
2013: Mason Crosby—K Green Bay
2014: Nate Solder—OT New England
2015: David Bakhtiari—OT Green Bay
2016: David Bakhtiari—OT Green Bay
2017: David Bakhtiari—OT Green Bay
2018: David Bakhtiari—OT Green Bay
2019: David Bakhtiari—OT Green Bay
2020: David Bakhtiari—OT Green Bay

2021: Chidobe Awuzie—CB Cincinnati

Bakhtiari’s injury woes ended his Buffalo Bagel Trophy streak at six. Chido had an outstanding season in his first season with the Bengals, good enough to possibly have won the award regardless of Bakh’s status.

OREGON (26)
2012: Jarius Byrd—S Buffalo
2013: Haloti Ngata—DT Baltimore
2014: Max Unger—C Seattle
2015: Max Unger—C New Orleans
2016: Marcus Mariota—QB Tennessee
2017: Marcus Mariota—QB Tennessee
2018: Max Unger—C New Orleans
2019: DeForest Buckner—DT San Francisco
2020: Justin Herbert—QB Los Angeles Chargers

2021: Justin Herbert—QB Los Angeles Chargers

Once again Buckner has the ill fortune shared by his baseball namesake, and fellow former Ducks Arik Armstead (SF) and rookie Penei Sewell (DET) also had award-worthy campaigns. But Herbert cruised to his second Duckbill in as many seasons. 

OREGON STATE (19)
2012: Brandon Browner—CB Seattle
2013: Keenan Lewis—CB New Orleans
2014: Keenan Lewis—CB New Orleans
2015: Brandin Cooks—WR New Orleans
2016: Brandin Cooks—WR New Orleans
2017: Johnny Hekker—P Los Angeles Rams
2018: Steven Nelson—CB Kansas City
2019: Jordan Poyer—S Buffalo
2020: Brandin Cooks—WR Houston

2021: Jordan Poyer—S Buffalo

Cooks had a surprisingly decent season amidst the mayhem in Houston, but Poyer was outstanding alongside Micah Hyde in the Buffalo defensive backfield, earning his second Beaver Trophy to mount on the wall. 

STANFORD (27)
2012: Andrew Luck—QB Indianapolis
2013: Richard Sherman—CB Seattle
2014: Andrew Luck—QB Indianapolis
2015: Doug Baldwin—WR Seattle
2016: Richard Sherman—CB Seattle
2017: David DeCastro—G Pittsburgh
2018: Andrew Luck—QB Indianapolis
2019: Christian McCaffrey—RB Carolina
2020: Andrus Peat—OT New Orleans

2021: Davis Mills—QB Houston

Dallas’ Dalton Schultz led a comme ci, comme ca group of former Cardinal tight ends (Zach Ertz, Austin Hooper), none of whom could match the surprisingly successful season turned in by Mills at the helm of the lowly Texans.

UCLA (28)
2012: Akeem Ayers—LB Tennessee
2013: Datone Jones—DE Green Bay
2014: Anthony Barr—LB Minnesota
2015: Anthony Barr—LB Minnesota
2016: Eric Kendricks—LB Minnesota
2017: Anthony Barr—LB Minnesota
2018: Myles Jack—LB Jacksonville
2019: Eric Kendricks—LB Minnesota
2020: Kolton Miller—OT Las Vegas

2021: Kenny Clark—DT Green Bay

Clark eased past Miller and a host of decent if not spectacular defenders (Jack of the Jags, Vikings teammates Barr and Kendricks, Cowboys rookie d-tackle Osi Odhigizuwa) to snag the Baby Bear Trophy. 

USC (29)
2012: Clay Matthews—LB Green Bay
2013: Ryan Kalil—C Carolina
2014: Tyron Smith—OT Dallas
2015: Carson Palmer—QB Arizona
2016: Tyron Smith—OT Dallas
2017: Everson Griffen—DE Minnesota
2018: Jurrell Casey—DT Tennessee
2019: Tyron Smith—OT Dallas
2020: Leonard Williams—DT New York Giants

2021: Leonard Williams—DT New York Giants

Tyron Smith missed a few games, harming his candidacy. The closest player to denying Williams a repeat was the awesomely named Amon-Ra St. Brown, whose rookie season in Detroit was as worthy of worship as the Sun God himself. Most excitingly for Southern Cal fans, Lincoln Riley presented the award, promising a near future full of tight battles for the Trojan Trophy.

UTAH (26)
2012: Paul Kruger—LB Baltimore
2013: Alex Smith—QB Kansas City
2014: Star Lotulelei—DT Carolina
2015: Eric Weddle—S San Diego
2016: Eric Weddle—S Baltimore
2017: Alex Smith—QB Kansas City
2018: Eric Weddle—S Baltimore
2019: Star Lotulelei—DT Buffalo
2020: Garrett Bolles—OT Denver

2021: Garrett Bolles—OT Denver

Weddle is the sentimental winner, but he got a Super Bowl ring out of a handful of games, so no need to give him the Ute Trophy as well. Bolles edges out a handful of decent candidates—corner Jaylon Johnson in Chicago, kicker Matt Gay in LA, safety Marcus Williams in New Orleans, wide receiver Tim Patrick in Denver—to snag his second straight award. 

WASHINGTON (40)
2012: Dashon Goldson—S San Francisco
2013: Mason Foster—LB Tampa Bay
2014: Desmond Trufant—CB Atlanta
2015: Desmond Trufant—CB Atlanta
2016: Marcus Peters—CB Kansas City
2017: Budda Baker—S Arizona
2018: Cory Littleton—LB Los Angeles Rams
2019: Marcus Peters—CB Baltimore
2020: Budda Baker—S Arizona

2021: Vita Vea—DT Tampa Bay

Baker was back in hot pursuit of his second Husky Trophy, but the much huskier Vea blocked him out to snag the award. 

WASHINGTON STATE (8)

2012: Brandon Gibson—WR St. Louis
2013: Ryan Lindell—K Tampa Bay
2014: Deone Bucannon—S Arizona
2015: Deone Bucannon—LB Arizona
2016: Deone Bucannon—LB Arizona
2017: Deone Bucannon—LB Arizona
2018: Deone Bucannon—LB Arizona
2019: Gardner Minshew—QB Jacksonville
2020: Gardner Minshew—QB Jacksonville

2021: Jalen Thompson—S Arizona

The two Wazzu-to-Wawas candidates, Minshew and his fellow Eagle, tackle Andre Dillard, didn’t get much action this season, allowing Thompson to slip in and grab the Cougar Trophy.