Dimick PAC 12 Defensive POY

DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR

Utah DE Hunter Dimick: Dimick leads the Pac-12 and is tied for third in the nation in sacks (14.5) and tackles for loss (20.5). A four-year starter, he has a school-record 29.5 career sacks and his 44.5 career tackles for loss is third all-time at Utah. Also, he is currently tied for the Utes team lead in pass breakups with six and ranks fourth in tackles with 53. The coaches chose Adoree’ Jackson as their Player of the Year, and that’s a great choice, too. Within the ESPN.com discussion, there was a not unjustifiable advocacy for UCLA DE Takkarist McKinley, who might have a brighter NFL future. But if Pac-12 folks wanted a different defensive player of the year, they should have blocked Dimick better. Finally, while it’s not a football thing, we will also admit that Dimick earning Pac-12 All-Academic honors all four years — including first-team status in 2015 and 2016 — didn’t hurt his candidacy. A communications major, he carries a 3.33 grade point average.