Freshman earns 2010 Pac-10 praise

December 10, 2010

Arizona State University defensive end Junior Onyeali, a true freshman from Denver, Colo., has been selected as the 2010 Pacific-10 Conference Defensive Freshman Of The Year by the league's coaches. Onyeali was key to a Sun Devil defense that was second in the league and 17th in the nation in rushing defense (120.2 yards per game). He led the Sun Devils and all Pac-10 freshmen with 6.5 sacks for a loss of 61 yards. Of his 18 stops this season, 11.5 were for loss.

Arizona State claims back-to-back honors as linebacker Vontaze Burfict was honored last season as the Pac-10 Defensive Freshman of the Year.

Junior cornerback Omar Bolden (Ontario, Calif.) earned First-Team All-Pacific-10 Conference honors in 2010. Bolden led ASU with three interceptions for 85 yards and one touchdown and collected 52 tackles, including 37 solo stops. Bolden added three tackles for loss, seven pass breakups and one forced fumble. He also returned 11 kickoffs for 321 yards and a 29.2 yard average. He returned one for a touchdown against Wisconsin. For his special teams play, Bolden also was named Second-Team All-Pac-10 Conference as a kickoff return specialist.

Sophomore middle linebacker Burfict (Corona, Calif.) was named Second-Team All-Pac-10 Conference in 2010. Burfict led ASU with 90 tackles, including 54 solos. He added 8.5 quarterback sacks for minus 18 yards and had three pass breakups. He also forced two fumbles.

Sun Devils earning All-Pac-10 Conference Honorable Mention kudos were junior center Garth Gerhart (Norco, Calif.), defensive tackle Lawrence Guy (Las Vegas, Nev.), senior punter Trevor Hankins (Scottsdale, Ariz.), junior defensive end Jamaar Jarrett (San Marcos, Calif.), junior linebacker Brandon Magee (Corona, Calif.), sophomore running back Cameron Marshall (San Jose, Calif.), sophomore punt returner Jamal Miles (Peoria, Ariz.), and senior wide receiver Kerry Taylor (Chandler, Ariz.).

All Sun Devil student-athletes who earned Pac-10 awards return in 2011 except for Hankins (punter) and Taylor (wide receiver).

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