Will Sutton wins Pac-12 Pat Tillman Defensive Player of the Year award

After watching Will Sutton dominate the Pac-12 this season, there was no surprise today when Sutton was announced the Pac-12's Pat Tillman Defensive Player of the Year.

Here's the official press release:

Sutton, a redshirt junior from Corona, Calif., leads the Pac-12 and ranks fifth in the FBS with 1.82 tackles for loss per game (20 total). He also ranks 12th in the nation (third in the Conference) with .95 sacks per game (10.5 total) and anchors a Sun Devil defense that has averaged 4.0 sacks and 8.83 tackles for loss per game in 2012; both figures rank second nationally. Arizona State, propelled by its prolific pass-rush, leads the Pac-12 in pass defense and pass efficiency defense, allowing 178.83 passing yards per game and limiting opposing quarterbacks to a combined 105.16 passer rating. Sutton earned a Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Week nod after collecting eight tackles (six solo), including three sacks, and forced a fumble in a victory over California.

This award was well-earned by Sutton, who terrorized Pac-12 offenses all season. The team was completely different when Sutton was in the game, and during his three-week injury the team did not win a game.

The all-conference teams were also announced. No one from Arizona State made either the First or Second Teams on the offensive side of the ball.

On defense, both Brandon Magee and Alden Darby earned Second Team Defense honors, while Sutton locked up a spot on the First Team Defense.

Finally, Josh Hubner earned a spot on the Second Team Specialists, finishing behind UCLA punter Jeff Locke.

Here's a list of the All-Pac-12 Honorable Mention class of 2012 for ASU.

ARIZONA STATE: LB Carl Bradford, So.; DB Deveron Carr, Sr.; TE Chris Coyle, Jr.; OL Evan Finkenberg, Jr.; RB D.J. Foster, Fr.; RB Marlon Grice, Jr.; DT Jaxon Hood, Fr.; DB Osahon Irabor, Jr.; DB Keelan Johnson, Sr.; QB Taylor Kelly, So.; RS Rashad Ross, Sr.

Lots of potential for next season.