STANFORD, Calif. - Junior defensive lineman Solomon Thomas was named winner of the Morris Trophy as the Pac-12 Conference's top defensive lineman on Tuesday afternoon.
The Morris Trophy is given annually to the most outstanding offensive and defensive linemen in the Pac-12. Winners are selected by opposing Pac-12 linemen, in which the league's offensive linemen vote for the defensive winner and vice versa. Utah's Isaac Asiata earned the Morris Trophy's offensive honor.
Thomas is Stanford's sixth Morris Trophy recipient, and the second defensive player to earn the award since Willie Howard in 1999. Other Stanford winners include Joshua Garnett (2015), Andrus Peat (2014), David Yankey (2012) and Kwame Harris (2002).
A native of Coppell, Texas, Thomas led Stanford and ranked in the top five in the Pac-12 in sacks (7.0) and tackles for loss (13.0). A two-time Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Week (Sept. 26 and Oct. 17), Thomas also led the Cardinal with 36 solo tackles, and tied for the team lead with 55 total tackles.
Thomas and Asiata will be presented their awards at a luncheon at the Washington Athletic Club in Seattle on Jan. 19.
Stanford finished the season 9-3 overall and 6-3 in the Pac-12 to reach the postseason for the eighth straight year. The Cardinal faces North Carolina in the Sun Bowl on Dec. 30. The game will be televised on CBS at noon MT.
