Colin Kaepernick one of 16 finalists for honor

RENO - Colin Kaepernick isn't worried about any postseason awards.

"That's a great honor but the only thing I'm worried about is our next game against Utah State," the Nevada Wolf Pack quarterback said Monday.

Kaepernick was named Monday as one of the 16 finalists for the prestigious Davey O'Brien Quarterback Award. The winner of the award will be announced on Dec. 9.

Kaepernick is 26th in the nation with a 151.89 passing efficiency rating and has thrown for 1,480 yards and 10 touchdowns. Boise State's Kellen Moore, also one of the 16 Davey O'Brien finalists, leads the nation with an efficiency rating of 190.35.

Kaepernick is one of just three seniors among the 16 finalists along with Iowa's Ricky Stanzi and Andy Dalton of TCU.

Moore is one of seven juniors along with Kirk Cousins of Michigan State, Blaine Gabbert of Missouri, Andrew Luck of Stanford, Ryan Mallett of Arkansas, Cam Newton of Auburn and Terrelle Pryor of Ohio State.

Five sophomores (USC's Matt Barkley, Baylor's Robert Griffin, Oklahoma's Landry Jones, Michigan's Denard Robinson and Oregon's Darron Thomas) and one freshman (Taylor Martinez of Nebraska) also are among the 16 finalists.

Moore and Kaepernick are the only Western Athletic Conference quarterbacks in the final 16. Hawaii's Bryant Moniz, who has passed for 2,921 yards and 22 touchdowns and is 13th in the nation with an efficiency rating of 159.6, is not among the finalists.

Fans also have a small part in who wins the O'Brien Award. Fans can vote for their favorite quarterback (as much as once a day) at www.VoteOBrien.com. Fan voting, which ends Nov. 21, makes up 5 percent of the final selection process.

DOUGLAS TIGER ON UTAH STATE ROSTER

Utah State, which comes to Mackay Stadium to face the Wolf Pack on Saturday (7:30 p.m. kickoff), has a familiar face on its roster.

Parker Robertson, a 2009 Douglas High graduate, is a backup offensive lineman for the Aggies.

Robertson, who played both offensive and defensive lines for Douglas and also played basketball, sat out his first year in college as a red-shirt last season and has yet to see any playing time this season.

The 20-year-old Robertson is 6-foot-3, 293 pounds.

WOLF PACK MOVES UP IN RANKINGS

The Wolf Pack is a Top 25 team once again.

The Wolf Pack is ranked 24th in this week's Bowl Championship Series standings. The Pack was not ranked in the Top 25 last week when the BCS standings debuted this season.

The Pack, which did not play a game this past weekend, is ranked 26th in both the Associated Press media poll and USA Today coaches' rankings, up two spots from the previous week in both polls.

"All that stuff is fine but we can't worry about that," Pack coach Chris AUlt said. "It's not about where you are right now. It's about where you end up and that's what we're worried about."

WAC WINNERS ANNOUNCED

Hawaii running back Alex Green, Hawaii linebacker Corey Paredes and Fresno State kicker Kevin Goessling were named Monday as this week's WAC Offensive, Defensive and Special Teams Players of the Week.

Green ran for 172 yards and four touchdowns in a 45-7 victory over Utah State last weekend. Paredes had 10 tackles and two interceptions against Utah State. Goessling had four field goals and three extra points in a 33-18 victory over San Jose State.

BALL STAYING READY

Mike Ball has had one incredible afternoon as a Wolf Pack running back in his two seasons in Northern Nevada. The Las Vegas-area (Desert Pines High) product ran for 184 yards and five touchdowns against UNLV in one memorable game last year.

Ball, though, has had just 18 carries for 71 yards and no touchdowns in the Pack's 16 games since that memorable day.

Ball, who sat out his first season in Nevada as a redshirt in 2008, is staying positive despite his inactivity.

"I'm just looking at doing whatever my coaches ask me to do," Ball said. "I just need to prepare and stay ready."

Ball had an 84-yard kickoff return in the loss at Hawaii.

"We needed a big play," Ball said.

AULT SAYS MATTHEWS 'SHOWING FLASHES' THIS YEAR

Ault said he has been pleased with the development of wide receiver Rishard Matthews this year.

Matthews, a junior college transfer from Bakersfield (Calif.) College, leads the Wolf Pack with 24 receptions for 344 yards this year.

The 6-2, 215-pounder has also returned 12 punts for an 8.5 average. He returned one punt 44 yards against Hawaii to set up a Pack touchdown.

"He's getting there," Ault said. "Each game he does something a little better. He shows flashes of something special every game."