Pac-12 Football: Ranking the 10 True Freshmen Who Will Light Up 2015
National signing day was a day of celebration across the West Coast, as many of the country’s top high school players committed to play Pac-12 football. Now that 39 Pac-12 players have been picked in the 2015 NFL draft, there are plenty of spots to fill in the upcoming season. But which true freshmen will make the biggest impact in 2015?
In ranking the top 10 true freshmen for next season, there were a number of factors to consider.
This is not just a regurgitation of the recruiting services’ rankings. Talent, of course, plays a big part in where a player ends up on the list, but so does the opportunity for immediate playing time.
With the departure of Brett Hundley, UCLA quarterback Josh Rosen has a clear path to a starting job, which bodes well for his ranking. But Oregon running back Taj Griffin, the Ducks’ top-ranked offensive recruit, has Royce Freeman, Thomas Tyner and Byron Marshall blocking his path, which will hurt his ranking on this list.
Where most recruiting services take a player’s ceiling or potential into account, these rankings are focused on the here and now. Players that will need more time to develop (typically offensive linemen) will not be featured heavily.
Lastly, positions will also be taken into consideration. No single player impacts a team more than the quarterback, so any freshman signal-callers who could earn starting jobs will be ranked higher than, say, freshmen defensive backs who will be rotated in and out throughout the season.
Honorable Mention
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Stanford S Frank Buncom IV
On a defense that lost seven of its top 10 tacklers from 2014, there are bound to be freshmen that make a big impact, and Buncom should be one of them. Stanford has limited experience in the secondary and will rely on newcomers to continue its tradition of dominant defense.
UCLA DE Keisean Lucier-South
Lucier-South was one of the most highly coveted players in California. His commitment helped give the Bruins one of the best recruiting classes in the Pac-12, but there is simply too much talent returning next year to expect Lucier-South to get enough snaps to warrant a spot on this list.
Oregon RB Taj Griffin
The Ducks have plenty of firepower returning in the backfield, but Griffin is a speedster that adds a new dimension to their attack. Oregon could be even more run-heavy this season while breaking in a new quarterback, so Griffin will have early opportunities to earn consistent playing time.
Arizona OT Keenan Walker
Adding Walker was a huge win for Rich Rodriguez. He is an athletic lineman that is an ideal fit for the Wildcats’ uptempo scheme, but it will be difficult for him to lock down anything more than a reserve position on Arizona’s offensive line.
California RB Lonny Powell
An early enrollee from nearby Sacramento, Powell turned plenty of heads during spring practice. Cal returns its top five rushers from last season, including team MVP Daniel Lasco, so Powell will have his work cut out for him in the battle for in-game carries.
UCLA RB Soso Jamabo
Jamabo was one of the biggest commitments UCLA received on signing day, but his immediate future is unclear after he was arrested in April on charges of evading police and drinking alcohol. There has been no update on his status for the 2015 season since the arrest.
With the return of Paul Perkins, the Pac-12’s leading rusher a season ago, and the emergence of backup running back Nate Starks, it is unlikely Jamabo will play a big role in the Bruins offense in 2015.
No. 10: Arizona State DT Joseph Wicker
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The Sun Devils lost their team leader in sacks and tackles for loss when Marcus Hardison entered the draft, and junior college commit Davon Durant, a highly touted pass-rusher, was suspended indefinitely after his arrest on allegations of aggravated assault against his girlfriend.
In a wide-open battle for defensive-line reps, Wicker could emerge as a playmaker in his first season in Tempe. He’s been compared to former Sun Devil All-American Will Sutton by coach Todd Graham and should earn a role in ASU’s aggressive defensive front.
No. 9: USC LB Osa Masina
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Masina and fellow USC commit Porter Gustin are two of the best high school players that the state of Utah has produced in quite some time. Masina gets the nod on this list because he is lauded for his pass-rushing skills, an area where the Trojans could use some help.
Masina’s versatility will allow him to play inside and outside linebacker, and it might also get him some reps on the other side of the ball. He was listed as a linebacker/tight end by USC on signing day, and the Trojans are desperate for bodies at tight end.
Coach Steve Sarkisian showed last season that he is not afraid of letting freshmen play on both sides of the ball, and Masina is just one of several newcomers who could go both ways in 2015.
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No. 8: Oregon State QB Seth Collins
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By far the least-heralded recruit on this list, Collins wowed coaches during spring practice and appears to be the favorite to replace Sean Mannion as Oregon State's starting quarterback.
At 6’3” and 171 pounds, Collins could stand to gain some weight, but his athleticism has put him in position to get the first shot at the starting job. New offensive coordinator Dave Baldwin is implementing a faster-paced system, which helps Collins’ chances.
The Beavers were a disappointing 5-7 last season, but with returning starters at nearly every other position on offense, Collins should be in a great position to succeed in his first season.
No. 7: UCLA TE Chris Clark
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Clark was the first of several big signing day commitments for the Bruins, and he fills an immediate need for the team.
UCLA has lacked a big, pass-catching tight end since Joseph Fauria left after the 2012 season, and Clark should be able to lock down the starting job as soon as he arrives on campus.
At 6’6” and 247 pounds, Clark will be most effective in the red zone. Offensive coordinator Noel Mazzone called Fauria’s number often near the goal line (12 receiving touchdowns in 2012), and Clark will be the biggest receiving option on UCLA’s roster next season.
No. 6: Washington QB Jake Browning
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Few players on this list had as much success in high school than Jake Browning. Browning threw a national record 91 touchdown passes in his senior year and has impressed coaches as an early enrollee in spring practice.
Despite Browning’s strong performance in the spring, junior quarterback Jeff Lindquist appears to have the inside track heading into the summer, but Browning is still in the hunt. Lindquist started last year’s season opener and was unimpressive in a 17-16 win against Hawaii, but he has shown improvement this offseason.
Even if Lindquist wins the job out of training camp, it won’t take much for coach Chris Petersen to make a change, as Browning’s talent is indisputable.
Update: Washington's 2014 starting quarterback Cyler Miles has retired from football due to a hip injury, according to the Seattle Times.
No. 5: USC RB Ronald Jones II
7 of 11Jones, the top-ranked high school running back by ESPN, is one of three running backs the Trojans signed in this class.
USC has only two scholarship running backs returning from the 2014 season—junior Justin Davis and redshirt senior Tre Madden. Davis has never averaged more than 10 carries per game for a season, and Madden missed all of last year with a foot injury, so Jones should have ample opportunity to earn regular playing time.
No. 4: Oregon DE Canton Kaumatule
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After coming up short in the national championship game, the Ducks must replace several key contributors on defense, including Arik Armstead, a first-round pick in the 2015 NFL draft. Returning defensive end DeForest Buckner missed all of spring practice with a knee injury, so the door is open for Kaumatule to seize a starting spot.
At 6’6” and 280 pounds, Kaumatule looks the part of an upperclassman and will be an immediate contributor for the defending Rose Bowl champions.
For all the attention Oregon gets for its high-octane offense, the Ducks defense was second in the Pac-12 in scoring last season. Having Kaumatule contribute as a freshman will go a long way in deciding how successful Oregon is on defense next season.
No. 3: Stanford WR Trent Irwin
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Stanford has led the Pac-12 in scoring defense in four of the past five seasons, so there is little reason to think that the Cardinal won’t again be strong on that side of the ball in 2015.
The offense, however, is a different story. Stanford had the second-worst scoring offense in the conference in 2014, and with wide receiver Ty Montgomery gone to the NFL, the Cardinal are in need of playmakers on the perimeter.
That gives Irwin a great chance to become a primary target for quarterback Kevin Hogan. At 6’2” and 193 pounds, Irwin will combine with senior wide receiver Devon Cajuste (6’4”, 229 pounds) to form a physically imposing tandem that should help kick-start Stanford's anemic offense in 2015 and return the Cardinal back to conference championship contention.
No. 2: USC CB Iman Marshall
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Marshall announced his commitment to USC with style on signing day, and he will play a huge role in the Trojans defense in 2015.
USC lacks experience at cornerback, and with sophomore Adoree’ Jackson expected to play a larger role on offense next year, Marshall will have plenty of opportunities to play.
At 6’1” and 195 pounds, Marshall is a physical cornerback who thrives in press coverage. Marshall was the crown jewel in what was considered one of the best recruiting classes in the country, and he’s a major reason why big things are expected of the Trojans in 2015.
No. 1: UCLA QB Josh Rosen
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Brett Hundley carried the Bruins to their most successful three-year run in school history. With Hundley as the starting quarterback, UCLA won at least nine games in three consecutive seasons for the first time ever and had a perfect record against USC.
Replacing him will be nearly impossible, but Rosen has already been heralded as having the polish and skill set to win the starting job from the onset. He has all the physical tools necessary, and with quarterback Asiantii Woulard transferring, there is little standing in the way of Rosen becoming the Bruins’ starting quarterback.
UCLA returns its entire starting offensive line from last year, as well as its top rusher and top five receivers, so Rosen will have plenty of talent surrounding him. After receiving tons of preseason hype a year ago, the Bruins have their sights set on the College Football Playoff in 2015, and Rosen might be the missing piece to get them there.
Nick is a member of Bleacher Report's Advanced Program in Sports Media. You can follow him on Twitter @NickSelbe.
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