Top Pac-12 quarterback? Easy. Minshew is AP panel’s choice

There’s no question at quarterback: Washington State’s Gardner Minshew II leads the way in the Pac-12.

Minshew, a graduate transfer who leads the nation with an average of 373.1 passing yards per game, was the unanimous choice for first-team quarterback on The Associated Press AllPac-12 team, selected by a panel of sports writers who cover the conference.

Unsurprisingly, he also got the nod as the league’s Offensive Player of the Year.

Minshew has thrown for 4,477 yards and 36 touchdowns for the Cougars, who are 10-2 overall and headed to the Alamo Bowl on Dec. 28 against Iowa State.

Stanford’s K.J. Costello earned the second team quarterback honors.

Minshew joins Arizona State running back Eno Benjamin as the two unanimous first-team selections on offense. There were several on the firstteam defense: Washington’s Greg Gaines at defensive tackle, fellow Husky Ben Burr-Kirven at linebacker and Utah’s Bradlee Anae at defensive end.

As for Pac-12 Coach of the Year, Washington State’s Mike Leach also topped all the ballots.

Burr-Kirven was defensive player of the year and Minshew got the nod as newcomer of the year.