Ducks’ Paulson earns All-Pac-10 first-team honors

Oregon tight end David Paulson, an Auburn Riverside graduate, was named to the Pacific-10 All-Conference first team today.

Oregon tight end David Paulson, an Auburn Riverside graduate, was named to the Pacific-10 All-Conference first team today.

Paulson, a 6-foot-4, 241-pound junior, was one of seven Ducks to make the first team, a school record. He joined running back LaMichael James, a Heisman finalist, center Jordan Holmes, wide receiver Jeff Maehl, linebacker Casey Matthews, cornerback Talmadge Jackson III and punt returner Cliff Harris on the Pac-10’s top squad, as selected by a vote of the conference’s head coaches.

In addition, Oregon’s Chip Kelly was named Pac-10 Coach of the Year.

The Ducks capped an unbeaten regular season last Saturday with a 37-20 Civil War win over Oregon State. The No. 2 Ducks (12-0) will face No. 1 Auburn (13-0) in the Tostitos BCS National Championship Game at Glendale, Ariz., on Jan. 10 (5:30 p.m., ESPN).

Paulson and James were two of just four Pac-10 players named to both the All-Pac-10 team and All-Academic team. Paulson, who supports a 3.66 GPA in business administration, is a two-time recipient of the All-Academic honor.

Paulson is the Ducks’ fourth-leading receiver with 370 yards and four touchdowns. He caught a touchdown and had career highs of four receptions and 61 yards in a win at Tennessee in September. He made two grabs for 42 yards, including the first touchdown of his career on a 30-yard reception, in a season-opening rout of New Mexico.

Paulson follows a long list of heralded Ducks at the position.

“He’s a very smart player, and a very productive player,” Ducks offensive coordinator Mark Helfrich told the Eugene Register-Guard. “He maybe doesn’t look as flashy as some other guys, or make as much noise, but we’ll take him.”

Paulson is the son of Scott and Kristi Paulson.