Pac-12 Football: Predicting the Biggest Breakout Stars in 2015
Arizona and Oregon have no intention of turning their focus over to the 2015 season, and neither do the six other teams that are going bowling. But seeing players break out and become stars is one of the most exciting aspects of college football, and it's never too early to take a look at which guys will fill that role next season.
The most obvious choice would be Oregon's quarterback, assuming Marcus Mariota does indeed declare for the NFL draft. The Ducks retain most of the skill talent on offense and haven't gotten consistently poor play from the signal-caller since 2006 when Brady Leaf and Dennis Dixon split time.
But the next in line to hold the keys to the Ducks offense is an unknown, and there are plenty of promising players throughout the Pac-12 who have shown glimpses of what they can do.
We're looking for players who are relatively unknown at the present time but will be All-Pac-12 candidates a year from now. In other words, guys like Royce Freeman, Adoree' Jackson and Nick Wilson, though young, do not qualify because they'll head into 2015 as stars to watch.
Let's take a look at five guys who are poised to become breakout stars in 2015.
QB Luke Falk, Washington State
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One of the obvious picks for breakout star in 2015 is Washington State quarterback Luke Falk. After starting quarterback Connor Halliday suffered a season-ending injury against USC, Falk came in and in just five games proceeded to throw for over 1,800 yards and five touchdowns.
Is it the system that helped the freshman accomplish so much right away? Absolutely, and there's nothing wrong with that. Consider that Halliday, despite missing the final quarter of the season, still finished fourth in the country in passing yards with 3,873.
Falk wasn't too far off Halliday's pace, which has to send a shudder throughout the rest of the league given that he'll now have the offseason to prepare for the starting job with a wealth of experience under his belt. In other words, if he's shown this much promise already, just how good can he be?
It's a question Mike Leach can't wait to find the answer to. Falk could have the rare 4,000-yard season in just his first full year as the starting quarterback, which would definitely qualify him for the title of breakout star.
WR Jordan Villamin, Oregon State
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At the conclusion of the 2013 season, Oregon State wide receiver Victor Bolden looked like the guy who would follow in the footsteps of Brandin Cooks and become Sean Mannion's go-to target. Bolden went from six catches for 62 yards that season to 72 grabs for 798 yards in the current one, so it's safe to say he fulfilled his promise.
Next up in a fairly long line of top-notch Beavers wideouts is freshman Jordan Villamin, a 6'4", 240-pound beast coming off a spectacular campaign. In his first season, he caught 35 passes for 578 yards and led the team in receiving touchdowns with six.
Some might consider that a breakout season in its own right, but Villamin's name is not one that pops up on the national radar, and his ceiling is extremely high.
Look for Bolden to continue doing what he does, which is provide a home run threat who's dangerous in space. But if this Beavers offense is going to weather the loss of Mannion, it will be Villamin who breaks out as one of the Pac-12's star receivers. With such a promising start, look for the freshman to come back in the fall and post a 1,000-yard campaign with 10 or more scores.
LB Kenny Young, UCLA
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UCLA has become the premier school in the Pac-12 at the linebacker position with such stars as Anthony Barr, Jordan Zumwalt, Eric Kendricks and Myles Jack in recent years. One freshman who benefited from Zumwalt's departure was former 247Sports' 4-star recruit Kenny Young, just months removed from high school.
Given what Jack was able to do in his first season, Young's start may appear underwhelming, but his potential is just as great. And comparing anyone through the lens we use to view Jack is unfair. Playing linebacker at the college level requires you to understand a variety of offenses and add a level of physicality to your game that doesn't exist in high school.
In 2014, Young posted 34 tackles and appeared in all 12 contests. At 6'2" and nearly 230 pounds, he already has an intimidating presence despite his youth. In August, Bleacher Report's Kyle Kensing profiled Young because even as a true freshman, his name was popping up as a candidate to start.
After a promising 2014 campaign in which Young gained valuable experience and adjusted well to the speed of the college game, he's well on his way to a fantastic career. He'll be one of the league's breakout stars in 2015.
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CB Jarvis McCall Jr., Arizona
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We're looking for the players who are poised to break out and become well-known names in football throughout the Pac-12, so if you're not an Arizona fan reading this slide, your reaction of "who?" is entirely appropriate.
The "who" in question is Wildcats redshirt freshman cornerback Jarvis McCall Jr., a tall, physical player with potential to become one of the league's best. At 6'2" McCall fits more in the mold of the tall corners that the NFL has gravitated toward in the recent years after the exploits of players like Richard Sherman and Brandon Browner.
It's not often you see players in their first or second season take hold of a starting spot, especially one that faces relentless pressure in the Pac-12. Not only does the league boast the best group of quarterbacks by far, but offenses are generally pass-happy, which puts strain on even the savviest veterans.
McCall finished his first season with 48 tackles and five pass breakups, and he has the added experience of facing an incredible receiving corps each day in practice. Corner is a tough position, and you typically only stand out when you get beaten. That didn't happen too often for the freshman, and he'll be one of the breakout defensive stars in 2015.
WR Dante Pettis, Washington
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In Chris Petersen's first season as head coach of the Washington's Huskies, he brought his gritty, hard-nosed style of play—to the defense. The offense, on the other hand, was borderline pathetic on a number of outings, although it did manage at least 30 points in four of the team's final five games.
It would only make sense, then, that in order for the Huskies to have a prayer of challenging Oregon in the North, the scoreboard needs to shine a bit brighter at the end of games. The rushing attack was hampered by injuries, but Lavon Coleman and Dwayne Washington look like a solid duo.
Through the air, it needs to be Dante Pettis who steps up and takes the reins as one of the go-to playmakers. Leading the team in 2014 was Jaydon Mickens with 53 catches for 525 yards and three scores. He's been an important cog for several years, and you know what you're going to get from him each week.
After Mickens, it was John Ross, Joshua Perkins and Pettis in order of receiving yards. Ross flirted a bit with the cornerback position, and Perkins is clearly on his way to becoming a top-tier tight end. Pettis, a 6'0", 180-pound freshman, caught 15 passes for 233 yards and a score, and 12 of those grabs came in the last half of the season. Look for him to have a breakout year at receiver and help the Huskies keep pace on the scoreboard.
All stats via cfbstats.com.
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