SAN FRANCISCO –– Washington’s offensive tackle Kaleb McGary and defensive lineman Greg Gaines have been named winners of the 39th annual Morris Trophy. Washington collects it’s 14th and 15th honors all-time and marks the program’s second sweep since 1991, joining USC as the only two schools in Conference history to earn both awards in the same season (USC; 2006, 1982). Husky defensive lineman Vita Vea won the defensive nod in 2017 and the last Washington offensive lineman to win the honor was Chad Ward, in 2000.
The Morris Trophy is given annually to the most outstanding offensive and defensive linemen in the Pac-12 Conference. What makes the award unique is the selection procedure, in which the league’s starting offensive linemen vote for the defensive winner and vice versa. It is truly a players’ award.
McGary, a senior from Fife, Wash., collected his second-straight All-Pac-12 first team honors and garnered Washington’s John P. Award earlier this month, which is presented to the team's top offensive lineman. McGary has started every game over the last three seasons, with six coming in his freshman year for 46 career starts entering the Rose Bowl held on Jan. 1 versus Ohio State. With McGary at right tackle, Washington allowed only 11 sacks this season (0.92 per game), which ranks seventh in the nation. McGary was key to Washington’s strong offensive talents, as quarterback Jake Browning now ranks sixth in the Pac-12 in career passing yards (11,796) and running back Myles Gaskin became the first Pac-12 player ever to rush for 1,000 yards in four consecutive seasons.
Gaines, a senior from La Habra, Calif., started every game this season and earns the award after collecting 52 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss (34 yards), 3.5 sacks and one interception. Gaines was a first-team All-Pac-12 honoree this season after having earned second-team last year and honorable mention in 2016. Gaines was tabbed Washington’s L. Wait Rising Award as the Huskies' top defensive lineman, for an unprecedented third-straight year while playing in 53 career games and making 46 starts. Gaines’ performance helped lead Washington to a Conference-best 301.8 yards of total defense that ranks 12th in the FBS. Gaines recorded three tackles, including a 12-yard sack, in the Apple Cup victory at Washington State to secure the team’s second trip to the Pac-12 Championship Game in the last three years.
The Morris Trophy is sponsored by the Washington Athletic Club, Sports Radio 950 KJR, Anthony’s Restaurants, Athletic Awards of Seattle and the Morris Trophy Foundation. It was created by Traci (Morris) Drake in 1980 and named after her father, G. Patrick Morris. McGary and Gaines will be presented their trophy’s on Thursday, Jan. 17 at the Washington Athletic Club in Seattle. Contact Darin Barr (dbarr@wac.net), Washington Athletic Club, for banquet information.
For a list of past winners, visit www.morristrophy.com
PAC-12 MORRIS TROPHY HISTORY
Year | Defensive Winner | Offensive Winner |
1980 | Vince Goldsmith, Oregon | Roy Foster, USC |
1981 | Fletcher Jenkins, Washington | Roy Foster, USC |
1982 | George Achica, USC | Bruce Matthews, USC |
1983 | Keith Millard, WSU | Gary Zimmerman, Oregon |
1984 | Ron Holmes, Washington | Dan Lynch, WSU |
1985 | Erik Howard, WSU | Jeff Bregel, USC |
1986 | Reggie Rogers, Washington | Danny Villa, Arizona State |
1987 | Dana Wells, Arizona | Randall McDaniel, Arizona State |
1988 | Dana Wells, Arizona | Joe Tofflemire, Arizona |
1989 | Esera Tuaolo, Oregon State | Bern Brostek, Washington |
1990 | Steve Emtman, Washington | Pat Harlow, USC |
1991 | Steve Emtman, Washington | Lincoln Kennedy, Washington |
1992 | Rob Waldrop, Arizona | Lincoln Kennedy, Washington |
1993 | D'Marco Farr, Washington | Todd Steussie, California |
1994 | Chad Eaton, Washington State | Tony Boselli, USC |
1995 | Tedy Bruschi, Arizona | Jonathan Ogden, UCLA |
1996 | Darrell Russell, USC | Bob Sapp, Washington |
1997 | Jeremy Staat, Arizona State | Olin Kreutz, Washington |
1998 | Inoke Breckterfield, Oregon State | Yusef Scott, Arizona |
1999 | Willie Howard, Stanford | Travis Claridge, USC |
2000 | Andre Carter, California | Chad Ward, Washington |
2001 | Kenyon Coleman, UCLA | Levi Jones, Arizona State |
2002 | Terrell Suggs, Arizona State | Kwame Harris, Stanford |
2003 | David Ball, UCLA | Jacob Rogers, USC |
2004 | Bill Swancutt, Oregon State | Adam Snyder, Oregon |
2005 | Haloti Ngata, Oregon | Ryan O'Callaghan, California |
2006 | Sedrick Ellis, USC | Ryan Kalil, USC |
2007 | Sedrick Ellis, USC | Alex Mack, California |
2008 | Nick Reed, Oregon | Alex Mack, California |
2009 | Stephen Paea, OSU | Charles Brown, USC |
2010 | Stephen Paea, OSU | Tyron Smith, USC |
2011 | Star Lotulelei, Utah | Matt Kalil, USC |
2012 | Will Sutton, ASU | David Yankey, Stanford |
2013 | Will Sutton, ASU | Xavier Su'a-Filo, UCLA |
2014 | Nate Orchard, Utah | Andrus Peat, Stanford |
2015 | DeForest Buckner, Oregon | Josh Garnett, Stanford |
2016 | Solomon Thomas, Stanford | Isaac Asiata, Utah |
2017 | Vita Vea, Washington | Tyrell Crosby, Oregon |
2018 | Greg Gaines, Washington | Kaleb McGary, Washington |