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Washington sweeps 2018 Morris Trophy

Dec 11, 2018

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