USC might have finished just short of the Pac-12’s top prize, but no conference football team had more players honored in a vote by coaches.
No defensive player was more dominant across the conference this year than Trojans junior safety Talanoa Hufanga, who was selected the Pac-12’s defensive player of the year on Tuesday.
The anchor of USC’s retooled defense over six games, Hufanga led the team in tackles (62), tallied three sacks, and paced the entire conference in interceptions (4), despite having never picked off a pass in two previous seasons.
Over the final two games of the season, as USC upended UCLA and fell short against Oregon, Hufanga came alive, corralling 29 tackles (four for loss), two sacks, an interception and a forced fumble.