College football roundup \ Monday’s news & notes

Big Ten: Penn State senior quarterback Daryll Clark, an Ursuline High graduate, earned first team All-Big Ten honors for the second straight year. Clark led the conference in passer efficiency (136.6). Iowa wide receiver Derrell Johnson-Koulianos, a Mooney High graduate who also played at Campbell, earned second team honors Wisconsin running back John Clay, who leads the Big Ten in rushing, was chosen as the conference’s offensive player of the year. Michigan State linebacker Greg Jones (media vote) and Penn State defensive tackle Jared Odrick (coaches) shared the Big Ten defensive player of the year honors. Coach of the Year went to Iowa’s Kirk Ferentz, whose team finished 10-2 after a 9-0 start. Wisconsin linebacker Chris Borland was named freshman of the year. Odrick was also chosen defensive lineman of the year and offensive lineman of the year went to Iowa tackle Bryan Bulaga.

Arizona: The Wildcats are out of the Pac-10 race, and it’s easy to see why. The Wildcats haven’t learned how to finish games. They led in the fourth quarter of all three of their conference losses. Last weekend’s 44-41 double-overtime loss to No. 11 Oregon was the latest in a string of heartbreakers for the Wildcats. This one hurt even more because it ended Arizona’s hopes for its first Rose Bowl berth in 32 years as a Pac-10 member. With trips to Arizona State and USC looming, the Wildcats (6-4, 4-3 Pac-10) have lost back-to-back games for the first time this season. “We understand that you’ve got to play 60 minutes,” said coach Mike Stoops, a Mooney High graduate. “Our players understand that very well now, that you’ve got to play a full game.”

Maxwell, Dave O’Brien awards: Tim Tebow and Colt McCoy are set for at least one showdown off the field. The quarterbacks for No. 1 Florida and third-ranked Texas were chosen finalists for two of the biggest postseason awards outside the Heisman Trophy. Tebow, McCoy and Alabama running back Mark Ingram are the finalists for the Maxwell Award that goes to the best all-around player in college football. Tebow won the past two Maxwells. Houston’s Case Keenum joins Tebow and McCoy as finalists for the Davey O’Brien Award given to the best quarterback. The winners of the Maxwell, O’Brien and seven other awards will be announced Dec. 10.

Other awards: Ingram is also a finalist for the Doak Walker Award. The others are Toby Gerhart of Stanford, the national leader with 23 touchdowns, and Clemson’s C.J. Spiller. McCoy’s favorite target, receiver Jordan Shipley, is a finalist for the Biletnikoff Award. He is joined by Freddie Barnes of Bowling Green and Golden Tate of Notre Dame. Nebraska defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh is a finalist for the Outland Trophy (best interior lineman) and the Chuck Bednarik Award (best defensive player). The other Outland finalists are Mike Iupati of Idaho and Russell Okung of Oklahoma State. The other Bednarik contenders are Alabama nose guard Terrence Cody and Florida linebacker Brandon Spikes. The winner of the Jim Thorpe Award for best defensive back will come from the trio of Tennessee’s Eric Berry, Florida’s Joe Haden and Earl Thomas of Texas. The Lou Groza finalists for best kicker are Kai Forbath of UCLA, Leigh Tiffin of Alabama and Blair Walsh of Georgia. The finalists for the Ray Guy Award (best punter) are Georgia’s Drew Butler, Michigan’s Zoltan Mesko and Florida’s Chas Henry.

Associated Press