Top 5 Pac-12 Quarterbacks Returning for 2012 Season

Last season many Pac-12 quarterbacks enjoyed success. Andrew Luck and Stanford represented the Pac-12 in the Fiesta Bowl, while Darron Thomas and Oregon beat Wisconsin in the Rose Bowl. With almost half of the quarterbacks that started last year leaving, Pac-12 fans are left to wonder which returning starters will step up their game for the upcoming season.

Here is a list of the top five Pac-12 quarterbacks returning for the 2012 season.

5. Jordan Wynn

After only playing three full games as a junior, Jordan Wynn sustained a season-ending shoulder injury. In those three games, he threw for 727 yards and six touchdowns en route to a 2-1 record, crushing rival BYU 54-10 and losing to USC on a blocked field goal that would have sent the game into overtime. 

In his career as a starter, Wynn is 11-4.

Wynn has battled injuries his entire career at Utah. If he wants to be an elite Pac-12 quarterback, his No. 1 priority going into 2012 will be to stay healthy.

4. Zach Maynard

Zach Maynard passed for a career-best 2,990 yards and 17 touchdowns in 2011. Maynard returns in 2012 for his senior season. His brother, Cal's top receiver Keenan Allen, will return for his junior year.

Along with his 17 touchdowns, Maynard also threw 12 interceptions. To have a good 2012 season Maynard will have to become more accurate and more consistent.

3. Sean Mannion

Sean Mannion is the youngest of the starting Pac-12 quarterbacks returning next year. Last year Mannion was good enough to be named to the FWAA Freshman All-America Team. He is 6'5", 218 pounds and has all the skills to be successful in the Pac-12.  

Once given the starting job last season (after Ryan Katz went 0-2), he put his skills on display, throwing for 3,328 yards and 16 touchdowns.  Mannion also threw for more than 300 yards in four different games. Not everything ran smoothly for Mannion last season, though, as he lobbed 18 interceptions, 17 of which were thrown in conference play.    

For Mannion to be successful next season he will need to get control of his interception problem.

2. Keith Price

Keith Price did a phenomenal job replacing Jake Locker last season. Price threw for 3,063 yards and 33 touchdowns in 2011, breaking Washington's single-season passing touchdown record.  

In the Pac-12, Price was ranked second in pass efficiency, trailing only Andrew Luck. He also had the seventh-best passer rating in the nation with a rating of 161.9.

Price will have a lot of momentum coming into 2012 after an astonishing performance against Baylor in the Alamo Bowl. In arguably the most entertaining bowl game of the season, Price threw for 438 yards and four touchdowns, also running for three touchdowns.

1. Matt Barkley

No surprise here, Matt Barkley is No. 1.

Barkley is returning to USC after a 3,528-yard, 39-touchdown season. In 2011, he led the Pac-12 in passing touchdowns and only Oregon's Darron Thomas threw fewer interceptions. Barkley was also third in the Pac-12 in pass efficiency, average passing yards per game,and total offense. He should lead the conference in all relevant passing stats next year with the departure of quarterbacks like Thomas, Andrew Luck, Nick Foles and Brock Osweiler.    

Expect Barkley to have a Heisman-like season in 2012. The Trojans bring back their two top receivers Robert Woods and Marquise Lee. Last year both of these receivers were ranked in the top 20 in the nation in receiving touchdowns (Woods was ranked fifth and Lee was tied for 18th).  

Also, with the Trojans coming off NCAA sanctions, Barkley will have a little extra motivation to finish on top in his senior year.