Go D.J.: ASU’s Davidson, Taylor earn Pac-12 Player of the Week honors

Two Arizona State Sun Devils were recognized by the Pac-12 for their efforts in the team’s dominant season-opening win over the Southern Utah Thunderbirds.

In the Pac-12’s weekly performance awards released Tuesday, redshirt freshman D.J. Taylor was honored with special teams Player of the Week, while graduate student D.J. Davidson secured the award along the defensive line.

Taylor took home the honors after recording 142 all-purpose yards in the punt (87) and kick (55) return games. He currently leads the conference in return yards.

His longest punt return of the evening, a 47-yarder, is tops in the Pac-12. Taylor is also fourth in all-purpose yards without recording an offensive touch.

The award marks the second straight time an ASU player has taken it home, with Will Shaffer winning the final honor last season.

Davidson’s productive night ended with six tackles, two of which were for losses, and a fumble recovery. He’s second in the conference in tackles and tackles for loss. The lineman is just one of seven players to record a fumble recovery in Week 1.

Davidson is the fourth Sun Devil to win the award since its inception in 2019. He’s the first ASU defender to earn the honor since Tyler Johnson did so in 2020.

While Taylor and Davidson took home the weekly honors, there was a trio of Sun Devils that were nominated thanks to their efforts.

A look at those whose names were in the running, but didn’t quite make the cut:

– Running back Rachaad White (offense)
– Punter Eddie Czaplicki (special teams)
– LaDarius Henderson (offensive line)

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