Pac-12 Press Release
SAN FRANCISCO — Quarterback Josh Rosen of UCLA, defensive back Justin Thomas of UTAH and wide receiver Dante Pettis of Washington have been named offensive, defensive and special teams Pac-12 Players of the Week in football.
Rosen, a true freshman from Manhattan Beach, Calif., impressed in his collegiate debut, leading the No. 13 Bruins over Virginia, 34-16 at the Rose Bowl. He became the first true freshman to start in a season opener at quarterback in UCLA history. Rosen went 28-for-35 for 351 passing yards and tossed three touchdowns, all UCLA true freshman records. His longest TD pass was a 30-yard hurl to WR Thomas Duarte in the second half to put the Bruins up 14-6. The rookie quarterback found three different receivers in the end zone. Rosen’s performance named him the Walter Camp Offensive Player of the Week.
Thomas, a junior from Orange, Texas, helped Utah take down Michigan at home, 24-17. Thomas made a momentum-shifting, 55-yard interception off the Michigan quarterback for a touchdown in the fourth quarter, effectively ending the Wolverines’ drive. Along with Thomas’ first-career interception, the junior defensive back made four tackles on the night with one coming solo. With the win, Utah is now 3-1 all time against Michigan.
Pettis, a sophomore from San Clemente, Calif., was the only Husky to find the end zone with his third quarter, 76-yard punt return in the 16-13 road loss to Boise State. Pettis, a starter at wide receiver and Washington’s primary punt returner, captured his second-career punt return for a touchdown (at Colorado, 2014). Only in his second year, Pettis became the first Husky since Charles Frederick (2002-03) to return more than one punt for a touchdown during his career.
Also nominated for Offensive Player of the Week: Jared Goff, QB, CAL; Royce Freeman, RB, ORE; Seth Collins, QB, OSU; Tre Madden, TB, USC; Travis Wilson, QB, UTAH; Also nominated for Defensive Player of the Week: Devonte Downs, LB, CAL; Derek McCartney, DE/OLB, COLO, Rommel Mageo, LB, OSU; Blake Martinez, LB, STAN, Kenny Clark, DL, UCLA, Chris Hawkins, S, USC; Also nominated for Special Teams Player of the Week: DaVonte’ Neal, CB, ARIZ; Matt Rockett, WR, CAL; Byron Marshall, KOR, ORE; Garrett Owens, PK, OSU; Alex Robinson, P, STAN; Randall Goforth, DB, UCLA.