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A school-record seven Utes were announced as Pac-12 first- and second-team all-conference players Tuesday, a reflection of the Utah's school-record six Pac-12 victories in its fifth season as a member of the conference.

Senior punter Tom Hackett, senior linebacker Gionni Paul, sophomore defensive tackle Lowell Lotulelei and sophomore safety Marcus Williams were named to the Pac-12 first team, while senior running back Devontae Booker, junior right tackle J.J. Dielman and senior linebacker Jared Norris were voted by the league's coaches as second-teamers.

"It's great to be recognized, and essentially you're recognized by the other coaches in the league," Kyle Whittingham said earlier in the day. "That's indicative of the respect that we may be gaining in this conference."

Hackett, the defending Ray Guy Award winner as the nation's best punter and a repeat semifinalist, was named to the first team for a third consecutive year, joining Arizona State's Mike Black and Cal's Bryan Anger as the only punters to accomplish that feat.

Omitted from most preseason watch lists, Paul led the Utes in tackles, with 109, and tackles for loss, with 12.5, and added four interceptions, three fumble recoveries, two forced fumbles and three sacks.

Lotulelei became the second Utah defensive tackle from his household to make the all-conference squad, following in the footsteps of brother and two-time first-teamer Star.

And Williams is tied for first in the conference with five interceptions, most recently picking off Colorado's Cade Apsay in the regular-season finale. Williams doubles as a Pac-12 All-Academic first-teamer, compiling a 3.72 GPA as he aims to become a civil engineer.

No player was more central to Utah's rise than Booker, but Oregon's Royce Freeman totaled 1,706 yards and 14 touchdowns, Stanford's Christian McCaffrey rushed for 1,640 yards and seven touchdowns, and Booker sat out Utah's final two regular-season games with a meniscus injury, settling at 1,261 yards and 11 touchdowns.

Dielman was described by teammate Isaac Asiata as probably Utah's best offensive lineman, and by Whittingham as its most consistent.

Norris, who formed a formidable tandem with fellow captain Paul, had 86 tackles, five pass breakups and two forced fumbles.

Utes earning honorable mentions were Asiata, true freshman wideout and return specialist Britain Covey, senior defensive end Jason Fanaika and junior kicker Andy Phillips.

Only Stanford (seven), Oregon and USC (five each) had more first-teamers than Utah, and only Stanford, UCLA and USC had more combined first- and second-teamers (nine each).

Utah totaled five first-teamers in 2014 and six between the first and second teams. The Utes had six combined during 5-7 seasons in 2012 and 2013.

Later Tuesday, Stanford's David Shaw and Washington State's Mike Leach split the Pac-12's Coach of the Year Award. McCaffrey was named Offensive Player of the Year and Oregon's DeForest Buckner was Defensive Player of the Year.

Paul, thought to be a contender for the latter, was honest about his reaction on Twitter.

Clay breaks one for Ravens

Released by Tampa Bay, signed off the Detroit's practice squad by Baltimore, Kaelin Clay said he's had plenty of opportunities to lose faith during his rookie NFL season.

But "I never questioned myself," Clay told The Tribune on Tuesday. "I never thought that this was not for me."

The reward for his patience: an 82-yard touchdown on Clay's fourth professional punt return, and on Monday Night Football, no less.

Clay, who came to the U. with one year of eligibility and was a first-team All-American return specialist, said he felt the weight come off his shoulders as he returned the sideline.

"It was just a sign," he said. "It's a process. Everything that I've been through has been a process. Nothing has ever really been easy for me. I'll always have to fight to get to where I want to get to."

One guy who knows all about what Clay has gone through: senior safety Tevin Carter. Clay's teammate at Cal in 2010 before reuniting at the U., Carter gave Clay his take on the 82-yarder.

"Tevin told me he would have caught me," Clay said. "I'm not sure about that one."

Whittingham mum on USC

USC athletic director Pat Haden told the Los Angeles Times that USC had considered talking to "somewhere around 17 names" before settling on interim coach Clay Helton for the vacancy created by Steve Sarkisian earlier this season.

Asked if he was among the 17, Whittingham declined comment Tuesday.

He did say, however, that talks with Utah athletic director Chris Hill, who agreed with Whittingham on a raise and a one-year extension in January, are "ongoing, and heading in a positive direction."

Senior Bowl-bound

Last year, Nate Orchard and Eric Rowe went to Mobile, Ala., hoping to prove to NFL scouts that they were more than just versatile; they were capable. Both impressed to the extent that they were selected in the second round by the Browns and Eagles, respectively.

This year's Senior Bowl, played Jan. 30 at Mobile's Ladd Peeples Stadium, will feature Fanaika and Norris, it was announced Tuesday.

CBS Sports projects the 6-foot-1, 240-pound Norris as a fifth- or sixth-rounder in the upcoming draft, and sees the 6-foot-3, 270-pound Fanaika going in the sixth round.

mpiper@sltrib.com

Twitter: @matthew_piper

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All-Pac 12 team

First team offense

QB • Luke Falk, So., Washington State

QB • Jared Goff, Jr., Cal

RB • Royce Freeman, So., Oregon

RB • Christian McCaffrey, So. Stanford

WR • Kenny Lawler, Jr., Cal

WR • Gabe Marks, Jr., Washington State

WR • JuJu Smith-Schuster, So., USC

TE • Austin Hooper, Jr., Stanford

OL • Zach Banner, Jr., USC

OL • Joe Dahl, Sr., Washington State

OL • Joshua Garnett, Sr., Stanford

OL • Tyler Johnstone, Sr., Oregon

OL • Kyle Murphy, Sr., Stanford

First team defense

DL • DeForest Buckner, Sr., Oregon

DL • Kenny Clark, Jr., UCLA

DL • Lowell Lotulelei, So., Utah

DL • Aziz Shittu, Sr., Stanford

DL • Antwaun Woods, Sr., USC

LB • Su'a Cravens, Jr., USC

LB • Blake Martinez, Sr., Stanford

LB • Gionni Paul, Sr., Utah

DB • Budda Baker, So., Washington

DB • Adoree' Jackson, So., USC

DB • Sidney Jones, So., Washington

DB • Marcus Williams, So., Utah

First team specialists

PK • Aidan Schneider, So., Oregon

P • Tom Hackett, Sr., Utah

RS • McCaffrey, Stanford

AP/ST • Charles Nelson, So., Oregon

Second team offense

QB • Kevin Hogan, Sr. Stanford

RB • Devontae Booker, Sr., Utah

RB • Paul Perkins, Jr., UCLA

WR • Bralon Addison, Jr., Oregon

WR • Darren Carrington, So., Oregon

WR • Nelson Spruce, Sr., Colorado

TE • Thomas Duarte, Jr., UCLA

OL • Jake Brendel, Sr., UCLA

OL • J.J. Dielman, Jr., Utah

OL • Conor McDermott, Jr., UCLA

OL • Christian Westerman, Sr., Arizona State

OL • Chad Wheeler, Jr., USC

Second team defense

DL • Darryl Paulo, Sr., Washington State

DL • Delvon Simmons, Sr., USC

DL • Taniela Tupou, Sr., Washington

DL • Destiny Vaeao, Sr., Washington State

LB • Travis Feeney, Sr., Washington

LB • Deon Hollins, Jr., UCLA

LB • Jared Norris, Sr., Utah

DB • Chidobe Awuzie, Jr., Colorado

DB • Randall Goforth, Jr., UCLA

DB • Ronnie Harris, Sr., Stanford

DB • Jaleel Wadood, So., UCLA

Second team specialists

PK • Ka'imi Fairbairn, Sr., UCLA

P • Drew Riggleman, Sr., Arizona

RS • Jackson, USC

AP/ST • Soma Vainuku, Sr., USC