2024 Pac-12 Football Top Performers Announced

2024 Pac-12 Football Top Performers Announced

Pac-12 Conference Press Release –

2024 Pac-12 Football Top Performers

OFFENSIVE: John Mateer, QB – Washington State (R-So.)

• Led the nation in total touchdowns in the regular season with 44 (29 pass, 15 rush) and is the only player in the country with 20+ passing touchdowns and 10+ rushing touchdowns.
• Ranks second all-time in Washington State single-season history, trailing only Anthony Gordon’s 48-touchdown season in 2019.
• His 15 rushing touchdowns broke Washington State’s single-season record for rushing scores by a quarterback and are second-most all-time by any player in program single-season history.
• Compiled 3,139 passing yards and 826 rushing yards on the year, the most rushing yards all-time by a Cougar quarterback in a single season.
• Finalist for the Manning Award, given annually to the nation’s best quarterback.

DEFENSIVE: Taariq (Buddah) Al-Uqdah, LB – Washington State (R-So.)

• Secured a career-high three interceptions on the year, including a 29-yard pick-six against Oregon State (Nov. 23).
• Washington State’s leading tackler with 76 stops, including a Pac-12-best 51 solo tackles and 5.0 tackles for loss.
• Snagged a career-high 3 interceptions this season, securing picks in back-to-back games in Washington State’s victories over Hawaii (Oct. 19) and San Diego State (Oct. 26).
• Added 4 fumble recoveries and 3 forced fumbles, leading the Cougars in both categories.

OFFENSIVE LINEMAN: Gerad Christian-Lichtenhan, OL – Oregon State (R-Sr.)

• The Pac-12’s top-rated offensive lineman, according to Pro Football Focus (PFF), with an 81.8 offensive rating in his first season with Oregon State.
• Led Oregon State with an 84.6 run block rating, helping spring the Beavers to 2,270 rushing yards and 29 scores on the ground.
• Logged 815 snaps from the critical left tackle spot, allowing just 2 sacks and 1 quarterback hit on the year.

• Led the Pac-12 with 6.0 sacks and 7.0 tackles for loss on the year.
• Posted 24 tackles across the regular season, including 14 solo stops from the defensive line.
• Compiled a career-high 3.0 sacks in Washington State’s win over San Diego State (Oct. 26), becoming the first Cougar since Daiyan Henley in 2022 to record a trio of sacks in a single game.
• Capped his season with a 1.5-sack performance against Wyoming (Nov. 30), his third game with 1+ sacks in 2024.

SPECIAL TEAMS: Dean Janikowski, P/K – Washington State (R-Sr.)

• Appeared in all 12 games for Washington State as two-way specialist, serving as the Cougars’ kicker and primary punter.
• Logged 26 total punts for 1,111 total yards in his first season as as collegiate punter, including 6 punts of at least 50 yards.
• Recorded 5 punts that were downed inside the 20-yard line.
• Converted 8 of his 11 field goal tries this season, including a season-long 52-yarder as time expired to send Washington State into overtime against San José State (Sept. 20). The Cougars would go on to defeat the Spartans, 54-52, in double overtime.

• Racked up 735 yards on the ground on 137 carries (5.4 YPC), adding four rushing scores in his true freshman season with the Cougars.
• Posted a standout performance in his collegiate debut, going for 96 rushing yards and a touchdown and adding a 52-yard touchdown reception in Washington State’s win over Portland State (Aug. 31).
• Had a career day in the Cougs’ victory over Utah State, rushing for a career-high 149 yards and a pair of touchdowns, including a 75-yard score.