Kenny Dillingham wins Big 12 Coach of the Year, 4 ASU players on First Team
Dec 5, 2024, 12:03 PM
The Big 12 announced its 2024 football award winners on Thursday, and Arizona State’s Kenny Dillingham won the Chuck Neinas Big 12 Coach of the Year.
ASU wide receiver Jordyn Tyson made the All-Big-12 First team along with Sun Devils running back Cam Skattebo, offensive lineman Leif Fautanu and defensive back Xavion Alford.
Dillingham’s Sun Devils jumped from three wins in 2023 to 10 during the regular season, the largest single-year improvement in the program’s history.
In its first season playing in a new conference, ASU will compete for the Big 12 championship against Iowa State on Saturday. The game has College Football Playoff implications, as likely one program from the Big 12 will crack the 12-team bracket. Dillingham’s success in his second year leading his alma mater will likely insert his name in national coach of the year discussions.
The last ASU head coach to win Pac-12 Coach of the Year was Todd Graham in 2013.
ASU football’s Jordyn Tyson, Sam Leavitt honored
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More Sun Devils received individual honors, as Tyson won the Big 12 Offensive Newcomer of the Year and quarterback Sam Leavitt the Offensive Freshman of the Year.
Tyson, who is out for the rest of the season after a second-half injury against Arizona last weekend, reeled in 75 catches for 1,101 yards and 14 touchdowns. He finished second in the Big 12 in touchdown grabs and third in receiving yards as ASU’s top target after having missed most of 2023 with injury.
Leavitt, a redshirt freshman after transferring from Michigan State, completed 62.7% of his throws for 2,444 yards, 21 touchdowns and only five interceptions during the regular season. ASU went 10-1 in games he played, and he won Big 12 Newcomer of the Week three times.
Leavitt earned a spot on the All-Big-12 Second Team with ASU tight end Chamon Metayer, defensive lineman C.J. Fite and linebacker Keyshaun Elliott.
Skattebo was named an honorable mention for Big-12 Offensive Player of the Year, which went to Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders. Skattebo led the conference with 169.6 all-purpose yards per game.
Offensive lineman Ben Coleman, linebacker Caleb McCullough, defensive back Myles Rowser and linebacker Martell Hughes were all honorable mentions for hardware.
Former Sun Devil defensive lineman BJ Green II won Defensive Newcomer of the Year for Colorado.
Arizona Wildcats honored by Big-12
Wildcats wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan worked his way onto the All-Big-12 First Team after leading the conference with 1,319 receiving yards. He was also an Offensive Player of the Year honorable mention.
Defensive back Tacario Davis made the All-Big-12 Second Team, while kicker Tyler Loop was a Special Teams Player of the Year honorable mention.
Left tackle Jonah Savaiinaea and defensive back Dalton Johnson also landed on the list of honorable mentions for Big 12 teams.
