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Arizona Football’s Colin Schooler robbed in all Pac-12 honors

By Eric Townsend

LOS ANGELES, CA - NOVEMBER 04: Linebacker Colin Schooler (7) of the Arizona Wildcats warms up before the game against the USC Trojans at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on November 4, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - NOVEMBER 04: Linebacker Colin Schooler (7) of the Arizona Wildcats warms up before the game against the USC Trojans at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on November 4, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images) /
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Another year, another snub by the Pac-12, as Arizona’s Colin Schooler does not make a single all Pac-12 team following a remarkable season.

Just burn the tape! Don’t keep anything from the 2018 season. During a rather inconsistent and tumultuous first season under Kevin Sumlin, one of the few silver linings was the play of Colin Schooler.

Now a sophomore, the former Mission Viejo standout has come to Tucson on a terror, putting together tremendous, back-to-back seasons.

Arizona Wildcats
Arizona Wildcats /

Arizona Wildcats

In 2018, Schooler led a defensive unit that wasn’t anything to write home about, but above it all, Schooler shined the brightest. In 12 games for the Wildcats, Schooler had 119 tackles (72 solo), with 21.5 tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks, two interceptions, four pass deflections and a forced fumble.

If there was a play to be made, Schooler made it.

Despite Arizona not making a bowl game, we were hoping to at least find some solace in some potential postseason honors for a few of our Wildcats. On Tuesday, the conference released their team honors.

Seldom on the list of 1st team honors are there ever any Wildcats, but alas, we got one! J.J. Taylor! But that’s it…

Omitted from the 1st team list was Schooler! In a conference with a slew of talented linebackers, perhaps it shouldn’t be too alarming, but even more angering, is that Schooler didn’t even make 2nd team all-conference.

For comparison sake, here’s how everyone else performed this year.

1st Team:

  • Ben Burr-Kirven (Washington)- 165 tackles (85 solo), 4.0 TFL, 1.0 sack, two interceptions, six pass deflections, four forced fumbles
  • Chase Hansen (Utah)- 114 tackles (70 solo), 22.0 TFL, 5.0 sacks, two interceptions, four pass deflections and a touchdown
  • Jordan Kunaszyk (Cal)- 129 tackles (82 solo), 10.0 TFL, 4.0 sacks, three pass deflections and five forced fumbles

2nd Team:

  • Troy Dye, Jr. (Oregon)- 101 tackles (58 solo), 5.0 TFL, one interception, five pass deflections, and one forced fumble
  • Cameron Smith, Sr. (USC)- 81 tackles (58 solo), 7.5 TFL, 1.0 sacks, four pass deflections
  • Evan Weaver, Jr. (Cal)- 141 tackles (79 solo), 8.5 TFL, 4.0 sacks, two interceptions, six pass deflections and a touchdown

Buried underneath all those players was Schooler. Yes, the same player who was tied for 22nd in all of FBS in tackles and 6th overall in Tackles for Loss couldn’t beat out either Smith or Dye. I call foul!

I’m not sure if the conference is punishing him because he was on a bad defense, but what does team performance have to do with individual accolades? If a play maker happens to play on a bad unit, is that the players fault? No!

The last Wildcat defensive player to make an all Pac-12 Defensive list was Scooby Wright, when he was named the conference defensive player of the year, and was a 1st team all Pac-12 Defensive player.

More. On Arizona Football. light

At Zona Zealots, we are disappointed in the snub by the conference, they got this one wrong badly. However, we just gotta move on, I’m sure this will motivate Schooler even more for 2019! As always, Bear Down, Arizona!

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