Malzahn coach of year

Auburn’s worst-to-first run in the SEC continued to pay dividends Wednesday as Coach Gus Malzahn and tailback Tre Mason were voted as the SEC’s coach and offensive player of the year.

The SEC’s 14 head coaches voted on the awards and were not allowed to select their own players.

Alabama linebacker C.J. Mosley and Missouri defensive end Michael Sam were selected to share the defensive player of the year award. Alabama’s Christion Jones was voted special teams player of the year, and Ole Miss receiver Laquon Treadwell was picked as the freshman of the year.

Georgia quarterback Aaron Murray was named the scholar-athlete of the year, and Texas A&M left tackle Jordan Matthews won the Jacobs Blocking Trophy.

Malzahn, a Fort Smith native, guided Auburn to a 12-1 regular season and a spot in the final BCS Championship Game against Florida State on Jan. 6 in Pasadena, Calif., one year after the Tigers finished 3-9 overall and 0-8 in the SEC.

Mason, the MVP of the SEC Championship Game with 304 rushing yards in Auburn’s 59-42 victory over Missouri, is one of six finalists for the Heisman Trophy. He has 1,621 rushing yards this season.

Sam posted 10 ½ sacks and 18 tackles for loss for the SEC East champion Tigers, while Mosley racked up 102 total tackles. Jones leads the SEC in punt returns (14.4 average) and kickoff returns (29.3).

Treadwell caught 67 passes for 557 yards and 5 touchdowns. He ranked third in the SEC with his 67 receptions.

Treadwell beat out Arkansas tailback Alex Collins, the nation’s leading freshman rusher with 1,026 yards, who was chosen as the SEC freshman of the year by The Associated Press on Monday.