Mariota, Murphy and Montgomery named Pac-12 football players of the week

WALNUT CREEK, Calif. -- Quarterback Marcus Mariota of OREGON, linebacker Trent Murphy of STANFORD and wide receiver/kick returner Ty Montgomery, also of Stanford, have been named Pac-12 Players of the Week in football.

Mariota, a sophomore from Honolulu, Hawai’i, set a school record with 42 points accounted for in Oregon’s 57-16 win at Colorado on Saturday. He completed 16 of 27 passes for 355 yards and five touchdowns. Mariota also ran for an additional 43 yards and two more scores. He is eighth in the country in passing efficiency (176.30 QB rating) and ninth in total offense (339.20 ypg), helping Oregon to a No. 2 national ranking in total offense (630.40 ypg). 

Murphy, a senior from Mesa, Ariz., recorded six tackles, including 2.5 tackles for loss and two sacks, in Stanford’s narrow 31-28 win over Washington at home on Saturday night. He also deflected a pass that led to a Stanford interception that ended a Huskies’ drive late in the fourth quarter. The forced turnover proved to be pivotal in the Cardinal’s three-point victory.            

Montgomery, a junior from Tahlequah, Okla., set a school-record with 204 kickoff return yards that included a 99-yard kickoff return for a touchdown to open the game against Washington. He added a 39-yard touchdown reception and ended the game with 290 all-purpose yards on nine carries (32.2 yards per touch). Montgomery currently ranks sixth in the nation in all-purpose yards (176.6 ypg).

Also nominated for offensive player of the week honors were quarterbacks Brett Hundley of UCLA and Connor Halliday of WASHINGTON STATE; and wide receivers Jaelen Strong of ARIZONA STATE, Chris Harper of CALIFORNIA, and Dres Anderson of UTAH. Also nominated for defensive player of the week honors were linebackers Addison Gillam of COLORADO, Eric Kendricks of UCLA and Jared Norris of UTAH; safety Deone Bucannon of Washington State; and defensive back Damarious Randall of Arizona State. Also nominated for special teams player of the week honors were kickers Zane Gonzalez of Arizona State, Ka’imi Fairbairn of UCLA and Andy Phillips of Utah.

2013 Pac-12 Football Players of the Week