DENVER Hawaii quarterback Colt Brennan, Nevada linebacker Ezra Butler and Boise State placekicker Kyle Brotzman were named the Western Athletic Conference offensive, defensive and special teams players of the week, respectively.
Butler, a senior from Calabasas, Calif. (Calabasas HS), had six tackles (4 solo) and intercepted a pass, returning it 11 yards for a touchdown in Nevada’s 37-21 win over Idaho. The interception occurred late in the first quarter and gave the Wolf Pack a 17-0 lead. He also helped hold Deonte’ Jackson, then the WAC’s leading rusher, to just 45 yards on 17 carries.
This is Butler's second career Player of the Week award as he won last year for his performance against New Mexico State. This is the third time this season a Nevada player has been honored and the 35th time a Wolf Pack player has won since Nevada joined the league in 2000.
Brennan, a senior from Irvine, Calif. (Saddleback CC), completed 29-of-46 passes for 425 yards and six touchdowns in Hawaii’s 50-13 win over New Mexico State. He also rushed four times for 13 yards. It was the fourth time this season he has thrown for more than 400 yards. The six touchdown passes gives him 119 in his career, two shy of tying the NCAA record of 121 set by Brigham Young’s Ty Detmer.
Brotzman, a freshman from Meridian, Idaho (Meridian HS), was perfect on Friday night in Boise State’s 34-21 win over Fresno State. He made all four of his extra points and both field goal attempts, including a career-long 47-yarder toward the end of the game. His first field goal was from 43 yards out and broke a 14-14 tie in the second quarter, givng the Broncos a lead they would never relinquish.
Others nominated on offense: freshman running back Jeremy Avery, Boise State; junior quarterback Tom Brandstater, Fresno State; sophomore running back Daniel Porter, Louisiana Tech; and junior running back Luke Lippincott, Nevada.
Also nominated on defense: senior safety Marty Tadman, Boise State; senior linebacker Marcus Riley, Fresno State; junior linebacker Adam Leonard, Hawaii; and junior linebacker Quin Harris, Louisiana Tech.
Other special teams nominations: senior punt returner Clifton Smith, Fresno State; freshman linebacker Dominique Faust, Louisiana Tech; and senior punt returner Alex Rosenblum, Nevada.
