Francisco named
to MWC first teamThe Kahuku alumnus and BYU
safety posted a career high in tackles
Kahuku alumnus Aaron Francisco was named to the Mountain West Conference first team last week.
Francisco, a 6-foot-2, 210-pound junior from Laie, ranked third in the Mountain West with a career-high 116 tackles on the season, averaging 9.7 takedowns per game.
He totaled 53 solo tackles and was credited with seven tackles for a combined loss of 14 yards. He led the Cougars with three interceptions and totaled three pass deflections, three forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries.
Francisco, a former Star-Bulletin all-state first-teamer, was a Mountain West honorable mention last season, when he was named team Defensive Most Valuable Player.
Also, he was named the 10th-best player in the conference regardless of position by CollegeFootballNews.com.
Francisco posted double-digit tackles in six different games this season, including a stretch of three straight games. During that period, he recorded 32 tackles.
The league's eight head coaches and conference-wide media panel selected the all-conference teams, coach, offensive player, defensive player and freshman awards.
Utah coach Urban Meyer captured Coach of the Year honors, while Kirk Morrison of San Diego State and Bradlee Van Pelt of Colorado State were selected the Defensive and Offensive Player of the Year. Freshman of the Year honors went to Lynell Hamilton of San Diego State.