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Pac-12 football: Midseason awards and superlatives

By Patrick Mayhorn

GENE, OR - OCTOBER 13: Linebacker Justin Hollins #11 of the Oregon Ducks, place kicker Peyton Henry #47 of the Washington Huskies, punter/holder Race Porter #46 of the Washington Huskies and cornerback Thomas Graham Jr. #4 of the Oregon Ducks watch as Henry's field goal attempt to win the game misses in the final seconds of the regulation at Autzen Stadium on October 13, 2018 in Eugene, Oregon. The Ducks won the game in overtime 30-27. (Photo by Steve Dykes/Getty Images)
GENE, OR - OCTOBER 13: Linebacker Justin Hollins #11 of the Oregon Ducks, place kicker Peyton Henry #47 of the Washington Huskies, punter/holder Race Porter #46 of the Washington Huskies and cornerback Thomas Graham Jr. #4 of the Oregon Ducks watch as Henry's field goal attempt to win the game misses in the final seconds of the regulation at Autzen Stadium on October 13, 2018 in Eugene, Oregon. The Ducks won the game in overtime 30-27. (Photo by Steve Dykes/Getty Images) /
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Best defensive player: Ben Burr-Kirven, LB, Washington

This was a pretty easy pick, although I will say that Porter Gustin (LB, USC), Jordan Kunaszyk (LB, Cal), Colin Schooler (LB, Arizona), Mustafa Johnson (DL, Colorado), Oregon’s defensive back duo of Jevon Holland and Ugo Amandi, Paulson Abedo (DB, Stanford) and Washington’s Byron Murphy and Taylor Rapp are all deserving of recognition.

However, Burr-Kirven is the best player on the best defense in the conference, and one of the top ten defenses in the whole country. He leads the country in total tackles with 93, and has spent the year leading the Washington defense with his lockdown play in the middle of the field. He isn’t an elite athlete, but he’s proven that he doesn’t really need to be.

His play, paired such an awesome defensive backfield, and a pretty solid line up front makes Washington super tough to do much of anything against. While their losses to Oregon and Auburn sting (especially the latter), Washington still looks to be in a great spot to make another New Year’s Six bowl because of their excellent defense.

More: Bowl projections after Week 7

If the defense can continue shutting down opponents, and if they can maybe get a bit more help from their offense, the Huskies can abolutely win out and finish at 10-2. Can they get the help needed from Oregon to make the conference title game (they need the Ducks to lose another conference game)? Maybe. However, even without a conference title, this team can still finish the year strong.

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