Pac-12 Football Recruiting: Ranking the Top Instant Impact Freshmen in 2011

Moving along to the Pac-12 in our Instant Impact Freshmen series, we arrive west, where the Pac-12 will welcome Colorado and Utah to the conference. Known as a conference that prides itself on the passing game, the Pac-12 has some great incoming talent at the offensive skill positions.

Many would expect this list to be dominated by the stellar recruiting class that USC signed, but as much as the Trojans are known to play freshmen immediately, their depth chart is loaded and there are some other schools that have good incoming talent as well. Also, you might be surprised to see who is left off this list and who ends up at No.1.

Without further delay, here are the top Pac-12 freshmen poised to make immediate impacts on their school's roster.

10. Kasen Williams, WR: Washington

Williams is the best receiver recruit to walk onto U-Dub's campus since Reggie Williams. He will look to become for the Dawgs what Craig Chambers did not. The 6'2", 200-pounder is a very consistent player who does just about everything well.

Williams was regarded as the most consistent receiver during Army Game practices and is as reliable as they come. With the receiver position, the fastest way to get on the field is to gain the coach's trust by consistently catching the football.

Extremely QB-friendly, Williams has chance to come into camp, impress with his length, route running and certain hands, which could get him on the field early for Steve Sarkisian.

9. Harvey Langi, RB: Utah

Langi drew some criticism from me for his decision to attend Utah months ago, but now I actually like his thought process because the Utes have Norm Chow in the fold to call the plays. Chow will move Utah from a spread offense to a more traditional pro-style attack, which will suit Langi's running style better.

At 6'1", 220 pounds, Langi is a big, strong runner that attacks the line of scrimmage coming downhill. During Chow's first years at USC, the Trojans' run game was not up to standards. Then Justin Fargas transferred from Michigan and brought a downhill, attacking style that put Chow's offense on schedule. Langi could do the same thing for Chow at Utah.

If so, look for Chow and Kyle Whittingham to feed him early and often as they move the program into BCS membership.

8. Stefan McClure, CB: California

The Pac-12 is known as a passing conference to outsiders, who always claim that the league is nothing more than a seven-on-seven practice period every Saturday. So in order to stop passing attacks, you need defensive backs right?

Correct.

Cal has a good one coming in Stefan McClure. He reminds me a lot of Bengals cornerback Leon Hall—not just that they come from the San Diego area, but they're both solid cover corners. At 5'11", 170 pounds, look for McClure to come in and immediately compete and see time as a nickel corner.

McClure is smart enough to balance out the Cal defensive scheme quickly and aware enough to play in zone coverages. With many teams having three, four and even five receiver sets, defensive backs are  needed more and more in the Pac-12—especially at Cal—which is why McClure looks poised to have an instant impact.

7. Aundrey Walker, OG: USC

Walker is regarded as the top offensive guard prospect coming into college football. He shocked many by picking USC over Ohio State, as his Glenville High School is a noted Buckeye pipeline program.

At 6'5", 355 pounds, Walker is a dominating run blocker that can hold his own as a pass protector in short areas. He's a classic phone booth mauler but also has good athletic ability to get on the second level, pull, pin and trap.

USC has some issues to address along the offensive line due to graduation, the NFL and injuries, and Walker could easily see time as a freshman on the Trojan offensive front. Walker has the size and strength to help protect Matt Barkley as a true freshman.

6. James Vaughters, LB: Stanford

Adjusting to life on The Farm is a tough task because of the academic demands that are always a bit of an adjustment to freshmen players.

But James Vaughters seems to be up to the task. Firstly, to spurn the SEC in favor of Stanford shows that he is serious about his studies and confident he's mentally tough enough to make the adjustment.

Oh—not to mention he's 6'2", 240 pounds and plays linebacker. Jim Harbaugh re-made the Stanford program and built it around toughness and physicality. Now that Davis Shaw is taking over, he will likely continue that mantra.

Vaughters is big, strong and smart enough to instantly see time for the the Cardinal program. He has the athletic ability to play well against the pass and his explosion at the point attack will suit him well against the run.

5. Brett Hundley, QB: UCLA

Already being hailed as the savior and future of Bruin football, Brett Hundley comes to Westwood looking to compete for the starting job. Richard Brehault and Kevin Prince will be his main competition.

Yet, UCLA is in the midst of an offensive overhaul. Norm Chow clearly did not believe in the pistol offense, and left for Utah. Now Rick Neuheisel and Jim Mastro—from a Nevada program that efficiently runs the pistol—will be in charge of the offense.

The key to running a successful pistol offense is a mobile quarterback, which  is where Hundley has an advantage over Brehaut and Prince. At 6'4", 200 pounds, Hundley has a great arm, very good running ability and makes plays with the ball.

The savior could start saving the Bruins in 2011.

4. Lamar Dawson, LB: USC

Dawson chose to head west to Hollywood over staying in Lexington to play for Kentucky. He's a big linebacker at 6'2", 230 pounds with great athleticism.

USC's defense did not play up to Trojan standards outside the Cal game, and the linebacker play was very sub-par. Mike Morgan and Malcolm Smith are gone, and Chris Galippo and Devon Kenard didn't play well last year.

Recruited to play the SAM linebacker spot, Dawson is in great position to see early time and even perhaps start as a true freshman in Los Angeles. The Trojans are known for playing players early and Dawson could be next in line.

Dawson may prove to be worthy of wearing No. 55 one day down the road—a prestigious honor at USC.

3. Colt Lyerla, ATH: Oregon

Lyerla is a  6'5", 225-pound ATH that can play a number of positions. Tight end, defensive end, full back, running back and linebacker are all spots that Lyerla could see time at. Yet his expected position will likely be SAM linebacker.

Lyerla is extremely athletic and can become a great coverage linebacker in the passing game. He's also tough enough to plug the run and is a solid wrap tackler.

I also think Lyerla can be an instant impact guy on special teams. I really believe that he will be an immediate force on coverage units where he will be allowed to run and hit.

Look for Nick Alioti to fall in love with Lyerla's size, speed and athletic ability and deploy him all over the field early in Lyerla's freshman season.

2. DeAnthony Thomas, RB/DB/ATH: Oregon

Thomas' departure from the Trojan recruiting class on National Signing Day stung the Trojans, but was just as much celebrated by the Ducks. While I still believe the 5'9", 160-pound Thomas could be a man without a true position, I think the jack-of-all-trades role on offense suits him best.

He's as fast and quick as any player in the country and is deadly with the football. Chip Kelly will find ways to use him in his fast-break-on-grass offense, and his speed will only make the Duck offense more dangerous.

Look for Kelly to use Thomas in the slot on some plays, running back on others and even in the return game, as he impacts the Pac-12 as a true freshman.

Thomas is also the original Black Mamba, according to Snoop Dogg.

1. Viliami Moala, DT: California

At 6'2", 330 pounds, Moala will be a force for the Bears. And not down the road: this season. He's just too big, strong, agile and quick not to have on the field.

He can come in right away and be a space eater—no doubt. Just let him clog the middle and make a mess on run downs. But Moala is also very quick off the ball and he fires out at the snap with a great motor. His effort and competitiveness is off the charts and he just imposes his will on players.

I really believe he was underrated, even though he was a top 100 player in high school. He will make an instant impact for the Bears and become great on Strawberry Hill.

Some even say he can become as good as Haloti Ngata was at Oregon.