Paea named AP first team All-America

DEFENSIVE TACKLE Stephen Paea has been named to the Associated Press All-America First Team. He is the first defensive lineman from Oregon State to earn All-America First Team honors since Jess Lewis in 1967.

Stephen Paea finished the season with 45 tackles, including 10 tackles-for-loss and six quarterback sacks.

Paea also caused four fumbles during the season to become the new OSU record holder for career forced fumbles with nine.

He received the 2010 Pac-10 Conference Pat Tillman Defensive Player of the Year honor last week via a vote by the league’s head coaches.

He was also a semifinalist for the Bednarik Award, presented to the nation’s top defensive player, and was named the Pac-10 Defensive Player of the Week after OSU’s 36-7 victory over No. 20 USC last month.