KEVIN B. KLAUS/Arizona Daily Wildcat Senior Bobby Wade (left) was selected as a member of the Pacific 10 Conference first team yesterday. Wade has set numerous records this season.

There was very little good news this season for the Wildcat football team, but four Arizona seniors got some good news yesterday.

Wide receiver Bobby Wade and linebackers Lance Briggs and Ray Wells were named to the Pacific 10 Conference's first team, while offensive lineman Makoa Freitas was named to the second team. Wade was also named to the second team as a punt returner.

"They all deserved it," said head coach John Mackovic.

This was Wade's second time on the Pac-10's first team. The first was in 2000, when he earned the award as a return specialist. Last season, he was on the conference's honorable mention list for receivers.

Wade finished his Arizona career as the all-time leader in receptions, with 230, and receiving yardage, with 3,351. He also set the single-season mark with 93 catches this year.

He finished the season as the Pac-10 conference leader in four different categories: receptions per game, receiving yards per game, all-purpose yards and punt return average.

Briggs, who led the team in tackles with 98, was one of only two Pac-10 players to be named to the first team for a third straight year. The other was UCLA cornerback Ricky Manning.

Most surprising, but as deserving of the recognition of all the other selections, was Wells. He was picked as the only special teams player on the first team that was not a kicker or a returner.

"There is no more fitting first team All-Conference player than Ray Wells," Mackovic said. "He was one of our most consistent players all year."

Wells was recognized for his play on special teams. He only played on the Wildcats' punt team, but led the team in special teams tackles.

Freitas finished his Arizona career as the anchor to a very young line this season. He was the one constant in an ever-changing core of players.

Five other Arizona players were on the Pac-10's honorable mention list. Four seniors were on the list: tight end James Hugo, quarterback Jason Johnson, defensive tackle Young Thompson and free safety Jarvie Worcester. Redshirt freshman Darrel Brooks also was recognized.

Two quarterbacks won co-conference offensive player of the year ÷ USC's Carson Palmer and Washington State's Jason Gesser. Arizona State's Terrell Suggs won defensive player of the year. Southern California's Mike Williams won freshman player of the year. California head coach Jeff Tedford won coach of the year.

In a season that was full of turmoil, controversy and uncertainty, one thing remained constant for the Wildcats this year ÷ injuries.

What started three days into practice with the loss of senior offensive tackle Darren Safranek continued all year for the Wildcats.

Arizona starters and regular players missed a total of 120 games combined throughout the season. In a 12-game year, that averages out to 10 players missing a game, or almost half of the offensive and defensive starters.

"The team that arrived here in August never really made it on the field," Mackovic said. "That's not really an excuse, but it's a reality."

One of the areas hit hardest by injuries was the offensive line. The Wildcats started the season with 15 scholarship offensive lineman, but were reduced to as few as six in some games.

That meant a lot of young players were forced to play for Arizona, and led to a big reason for the offensive line's ineffectiveness.

As a unit, the offensive line gave up 52 sacks on the season for a loss of 446 yards, tops in the Pac-10.

Only a few weeks removed from a meeting held between over 40 players and President Pete Likins, Mackovic said that he has kept in close contact with athletic director Jim Livengood.

The two have met several times over the last couple of weeks, including once yesterday. According to Mackovic, both agreed that they still have a lot of things to evaluate, but he said it will take time.

"We need to spend some time looking at how we all fit," Mackovic said. "I've encouraged (Livengood) to share his thoughts (with me). This is an important offseason for us."

Although many seniors played their last collegiate game Friday in the 34-20 loss to Arizona State, a few of them have a good opportunity to play on Sunday next season.

Mackovic said that it's hard to tell how college players will pan out in the professional ranks.

"You never really know which guys will make it," said Mackovic.

He also added that most NFL teams look to fill team needs and look for players to fit into their systems, so a lot of that will factor into when and where the Wildcat players go.

"Pro teams look at what their needs are and they look how someone projects into those needs," said Mackovic.

Wade and Briggs are two players who will most likely be drafted. But where they will be taken in the draft will come down to the players' performances in pre-draft combines.

"Lance can run sideline to sideline and makes a lot of tackles," Mackovic said. "There will be a team interested in that. Any team in the NFL could use Bobby Wade. He's a returner, has good hands, he's smart and a hard worker."

Freitas was another player that Mackovic mentioned as a possible pro player next year, depending on whether or not he can find a team that needs his type of player.