University of Idaho senior guard Mike Iupati and junior safety Shiloh Keo earned first-team all-Western Athletic Conference honors after a vote of the league’s coaches.
Five other Vandals – senior receiver Max Komar, senior center Irv Stevens, junior defensive end Aaron Lavarias, junior linebacker JoJo Dickson and freshman kicker Trey Farquhar, were second-team choices.
Iupati, a native of American Samoa and a graduate of Western (Anaheim, Calif.) High School, earned the honor after a memorable senior season. He is regarded as one of the nation’s top linemen and is one of three finalists for the Outland Trophy. He is a first-team American Football Coaches Association choice – one of just three Vandals in school history to be so honored.
Keo, a graduate of Archbishop Murphy High School at Everett, Wash., is the Vandals’ leading tackler in 2009 with 109 total tackles (70 solo and 39 assists). He is second in the conference in tackles per game with an average of 9.1, which ranks 31st in the FBS. He is tied for 10th nationally in solo tackles per game.
Komar, from Auburn (Wash.) Riverside High School, caught 62 passes for 1,036 yards to lead a balanced Idaho receiving corps. His 12 receptions against Colorado State tie for sixth best for a single game at Idaho. Komar ranks 20th in total receiving yards in the FBS, 22nd in receiving yards per game and 45th in average receptions per game.
Stevens, from Centennial High School of Corona, Calif., was a durable and reliable center for the Vandals after taking over the position for four-year starter Adam Korby. He was part of an offensive unit that had its best rushing production since 1998, its best passing yardage since 2001 and the fewest sacks since 2006.
Lavarias, from Woodinville (Wash.) High School, is the Vandals’ tackles-for-loss leader with 7.5 for minus 29 yards – four of those were sacks totaling -22 yards. He had a total 50 tackles (31 solo and 19) assists in addition to five quarterback hurries, one pass defensed, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery.
Dickson, a graduate of Baldwin (Wailuku, Hawai`i) High School, is Idaho’s second leading tackler and leader among the linebacking corps. He had 73 total tackles (39 solo and 34 assists) as well as four tackles for loss, one sack, one fumble recovery, two interceptions, one hurry and two passes defensed. His 74-yard interception return for a touchdown against San Diego State is sixth longest in school history.
Farquhar, from Redlands (Calif.) East Valley High School, was successful on 13 of 19 field goal attempts and 45 of 46 PATs. His 54-yard field goal at Nevada is the fourth longest in school history, while his 52-yarder at San Jose State ties for ninth longest.
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