USC football places three on 2019 All-Pac-12 first team, Kedon Slovis honored

Three USC football players were honored on the All-Pac-12 first team for 2019, while quarterback Kedon Slovis was named Freshman Offensive Player of the Year.

After failing to place any players on last year’s All-Pac-12 first team, USC football made up for it in 2019 with three first team selections, five second teamers, six honorable mentions and a Freshman Offensive Player of the Year.

Wide receiver Michael Pittman, left tackle Austin Jackson and defensive lineman Jay Tufele were each voted to the first team.

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Pittman, whose senior campaign put him among the Biletnikoff Award finalists, led the conference with 95 catches and 1,222 yards receiving. His 11 touchdowns ranked second. Though Utah running back Zach Moss was voted Offensive Player of the Year, a strong case could have been made for the Trojan playmaker.

Jackson was one of the steadier performers on the Trojan offensive line, making waves off the field as well when he missed part of USC’s Fall Camp by becoming a bone marrow donor for his sister.

Tufele was a second teamer last year and built on that with an even stronger showing in 2019. He had 4.5 sacks and 6.5 tackles for loss as a redshirt sophomore.

Right guard Alijah Vera-Tucker, defensive lineman Drake Jackson, safety Talanoa Hufanga, kick returner Velus Jones Jr. and Pittman as an all-purpose special teams player were named to the second team.

Honorable mentions include cornerback Olaijah Griffin, linebacker John Houston, kicker Chase McGrath, wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown, wide receiver Tyler Vaughns and quarterback Kedon Slovis.

Slovis’ future looks plenty bright after his outstanding freshman campaign which earned him Freshman Offensive Player of the Year honors.

The quarterback finished second in the Pac-12 with 294.7 passing yards per game and a passer rating of 167.61. He tossed 28 touchdowns with nine interceptions and a completion percentage of 71.8 all told.

Jackson was an honorable mention for Freshman Defensive Player of the Year.

The 2019 season might not have held everything Trojan fans would have hoped for, but with an 8-4 record and far better representation on the all-conference team, some things did go right.

There’s still work to be done though. Utah led all teams with eight selections while Arizona State and Washington had five first teamers. USC should strive to top that group every season.