Two from Stanford, Cal’s Kunaszyk on it

Inside linebacker Jordan Kunaszyk was named to the All-Pac-12 first team Tuesday, becoming the first Cal defensive player to earn that honor since 2011.

The senior’s selection was the Bay Area highlight on a day when Cal and Stanford were left out of conversations about the highest honors in the Pac-12.

Washington State’s Mike Leach was named Coach of the Year and Cougars quarterback Gardner Minshew II the Offensive Player of the Year. Washington linebacker Ben BurrKirven — a Sacred Heart Prep alum — was chosen the Defensive Player of the Year and Oregon State running back Jermar Jefferson and Arizona State linebacker Merlin Robertson were considered the league’s top freshmen.

Cal finished third in the conference in scoring defense (21.3 points per game) and total defense (319.4 yards per game), and that showed in the coaches’ voting. In addition to Kunaszyk, fellow inside linebacker Evan Weaver was named to the second team.

Defensive lineman Luc Bequette, cornerback Camryn Bynum, safety/kick returner Ashtyn Davis and punter Steven Coutts each earned honorable mentions.

Stanford had 13 players listed, including first-team selections for offensive lineman Walker Little and defensive back Paulson Adebo. Quarterback K.J. Costello, receiver JJ Arcega-Whiteside, tight end Kaden Smith, offensive lineman Nate Herbig, punter Jake Bailey and kicker Jet Toner were second-teamers.

Honorable mentions went to these Stanford players: cornerback Alijah Holder, linebacker Bobby Okereke, tight end Colby Parkinson, defensive lineman Jovan Swann and running back Bryce Love, who was the Heisman runner-up a year ago.

Minshew finished in the top five nationally in yards (4,477), completion percentage (70.6) and touchdowns (36). BurrKirven finished fourth in the country in solo tackles per game at 6.5 — 0.4 behind Kunaszyk and 0.1 ahead of Weaver.