Pac-10: The Return of the Quarterback Conference

The Pac-10 is hoping for a bounce-back season after a year in which its teams went 1-5 in bowl games and saw its national powerhouse, Southern Cal, plummet from the country’s elite to finish out of the top 25 for the first time since 2001.

Trying to make the jump towards respectability may be difficult this season, though. USC was hit with a postseason ban and Oregon lost starting quarterback Jeremiah Masoli to a case of bone-headedness, resulting in his expulsion from the university.

In the past six years, those two teams have represented the Pac-10 in the Rose Bowl and both could struggle due to off the field issues.

It is up to some of the middle-of-the-Pac teams, then, to make a difference and this year there are plenty of sleepers in the conference.

Arizona loses offensive coordinator Sonny Dykes but still has quarterback Nick Foles and running back Nic Grigsby.

Jake Locker returns for his senior season in Washington with legitimate Heisman hype and a robust offense with returning 1,000-yard rusher Chris Polk and a dynamite receiving corp.

And Andrew Luck brings his NFL-ready passing game to help Stanford get over the loss of halfback Toby Gerhart, who finished second in the Heisman race in ‘09.

With the No.3-No. 8 spots almost completely up for grabs this season, it may be up to the quarterbacks to determine who falls where this season.

1. Jake Locker, Sr., Washington – The last time the Washington Huskies had a Heisman candidate was also the last time the Dawgs went to the Rose Bowl and won double-digit games. Unlike Marques Tuiasosopo, who finished fourth in the 2000 race, Locker has become a much more viable passer.

In his first two seasons, Locker toyed with the 50% mark in completion percentage before making the jump to 58% in his first season under head coach Steve Sarkisian. Locker threw for 2,800 yards and 21 touchdowns, while lowering his interceptions to 11.

Things should only get better with a more reliable receiving corps and another year with Sarkisian, who has coached the likes of Carson Palmer, Matt Leinart and Mark Sanchez – all NFL signal callers.

2. Andrew Luck, So., Stanford – As a redshirt freshman, Luck led the Pac-10 in passing efficiency with a Phil Steele rating of 143.5. While playing second banana to Gerhart, who rushed for 1,871 yards and 38 touchdowns, Luck still managed 2,575 yards, throwing 13 touchdowns and just four interceptions.

In his second full year starting on the Farm, Luck should improve his 56.3 completion percentage.

Like Locker, Luck has the pro scouts and talking heads salivating over his draft stock in the 2011 draft. Luck is 6-4, 234 and has a cannon of an arm that Pac-10 opponents will see unleashed for the first time.

3. Matt Barkley, So., USC – The Trojans may not have a postseason to play for, but first-year coach Lane Kiffin is not the kind of competitor to let the Trojans fall to even further depths.

Barkley finished with an efficient 59.9 completion percentage, but also had a troublesome 15-14 touchdown/interception ratio as a freshman. He loses Damian Williams from the receiving corps as well as tight end Anthony McCoy, but Ronald Johnson leads a formidable wide out crew.

4. Ryan Katz, So., Oregon St. – Sean Canfield and Lyle Moevao both split after last season leaving Katz as the go-to-guy this season. Katz has a cannon arm and in relief of Canfield in four games last season, he went 14 of 27 for 232 yards and a touchdown.

The Beavers have an outstanding running game because of junior dynamo Jacquizz Rodgers, and don’t need Katz to dominate games. But with James Rodgers back as well as a reliable tight end in Brady Camp coming across the middle Katz has an opportunity to surprise the Pac-10.

5. Nick Foles, Jr., Arizona – The biggest question surrounding Foles and the Wildcat offense is how they will move forward without Dykes, who boosted the ‘Cats to 264 passing yards per game, good for second in the conference behind OSU last season.

Foles tossed for 2,486 yards and a completion percentage of 63.4 percent living and dying by the short pass. His 19 touchdowns were second in the conference and the low-risk sideways passing led to just nine interceptions in his first year as a starter.

6. Kevin Prince, So., UCLA – Health will be the biggest issue for Prince, who battled injuries to start 11 games. He suffered a concussion in the Bruins’ opener against Tennessee and separated his shoulder against Washington, but still went for 2,050 yards and returns as fifth in the conference for total offense per game.

Prince threw for just eight touchdowns and added eight picks, as UCLA’s offense staggered to just 20.1 points per game against Pac-10 opponents. Provided coach Rick Neuheisal can keep Prince upright with an experienced offensive line, Prince should improve.

7. Darron Thomas, So., Oregon – Nate Costa has more experience and a better arm, but in an effort to replace Masoli, who threw for 2,147 yards but also was second in rushing yards with 668 yards, Chip Kelly may opt for Thomas, who is a true speedster.

Thomas has 4.5 speed and threw for 268 yards as a true freshman with a 3-1 TD/Int ratio.

Costa was the backup last season and threw for 197 yards and one touchdown in a start against UCLA.

8. Kevin Riley, Sr., California – Riley threw for 2,850 yards last season with 18 touchdowns and eight interceptions last season.

Perhaps that should be good enough to move him up this list, but Riley has yet to have earned coach Jeff Tedford’s unflinching trust.

For two years Tedford juggled Riley and incumbent Nate Longshore and last year Riley had freshman Beau Sweeney looking over his shoulder out of summer camp.

As a senior Riley should have the job in hand, but was a big factor in the Bears’ five losses, throwing at a 46% clip in those games with four interceptions and just three touchdowns.

9. Jeff Tuel, So., Washington St. – In 121 attempts in his inaugural season, Tuel threw for a 58.7% clip and six touchdowns.

By the time coach Paul Wulff took the training wheels off Tuel the Cougars were in serious trouble, losing Marshall Lobbestael for the season and Kevin Lopina for a few weeks with injury.

The Cougars have not been healthy since the end of the Bill Doba era, which at this point looks to be a flaw in the strength and conditioning under Wulff.

10. Steven Threet, Jr. Arizona St. – Threet last played in 2008 with Michigan, but will attempt to be the second Wolverines transfer in the last two years to make an impact in the Pac-10.

Threet threw for 1,105 yards as a sophomore at UM with nine touchdowns and seven interceptions.

Dennis Erickson may also choose to go with 6-8, 245 sophomore Brock Osweiler, who passed up a basketball scholarship at Gonzaga to play QB for Erickson and threw for 249 yards in a backup role last year.