College Football 2011 Preview: The Top 20 Players in the Pac-12

Danny FlynnMar 21, 2011

Utah and Colorado, come on down, it’s time to play Pac-12 football!

This year looks like it should be a wild and crazy ride out west as the inaugural season of the new look Pac-12 is shaping up to be an exciting and entertaining affair.

Oregon, Stanford, USC, even dare I say it, Arizona State all look like they could compete for top honors in the new 12 team conference, even though it will be the Ducks who enter the year as the prohibitive favorite, coming off their run to the national championship game last season.

The league is full of star power and intrigue and it’s most definitely a fun time to be a fan or a follower of one of the 12 schools (Well, that is unless you happen to root for Washington State).

Let’s have a look at some of the top players in the conference for 2011.

1. QB Andrew Luck, Stanford

Get those magazine covers ready because Andrew Luck is coming back to college.

When Luck, probably one of the most gifted pure quarterbacks we’ve seen in years, made the surprising decision to return to Stanford for one more season, he immediately became the face of college football for the 2011 season.

Even though coach Jim Harbaugh bolted for the bay, there’s no reason to believe that the Cardinal can’t contend for a national championship this season with Luck at the helm.

Only time will tell whether Luck made the right decision to skip becoming the No. 1 pick in order to chase a championship and a Heisman Trophy, but right now, the sky seems like the limit for the Stanford signal caller.

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2. RB LaMichael James, Oregon

Could you build a more perfect running back for Oregon’s spread offense than LaMichael James?

Sure, maybe you could add an inch or two to the mold, but James pretty much looks like the perfect package as is.

After breaking onto the scene, rushing for over 1,500 yards as freshman in 2009, the 5’9’’ human highlight reel came up with an encore performance that included 24 total TDs and 1,731 yards on the ground, a number that topped all running backs in the country.

Luckily for us, the 2010 Heisman finalist made the decision to put off the NFL and give us one more year of exciting runs.

3. LB Vontaze Burfict, Arizona State

I’ll admit, I’m starting to fall for this Arizona State team.

Yes, I know, they’ve tricked us into getting our hopes up before, but this Sun Devils squad feels different.

One of the main reasons for optimism is the man standing in the middle of the defense, linebacker Vontaze Burfict, one of the most feared defenders in all of college football.

Burfict is only a junior but it feels like he’s been out there in the desert, kicking ass and taking names for what seems like a decade.

Burfict has racked up 159 tackles over the last two seasons and you can bet he made each one of those hits count.

4. CB Cliff Harris, Oregon

So much attention was paid to the explosive Oregon offense in 2010 that it felt like some of the Ducks talented defenders flew under the radar.

Cornerback Cliff Harris is absolutely one of the players who deserved more recognition.

Harris led the conference with six interceptions, returning one for a game changing touchdown against Tennessee, and flashed great overall coverage skills throughout the season, rarely getting caught out of position.

The 5’11’’ 180 lb. junior showed why he belongs in the conversation for best cornerback in college football.

5. QB Matt Barkley, USC

It’s a shame that we’ll probably never get to see Matt Barkley play in another bowl game.

Thanks a lot, Reggie Bush.

Barkley enters his junior year for the Trojans as one of the top pro quarterback prospects in college football and there’s a good chance this season could be his swan song.

While Barkley may not have the high profile wins or awards of former USC quarterbacks such as Matt Leinart or Carson Palmer on his resume, he made it clear last season that he can handle being a leader even in times of adversity.

Barkley threw for over 2,700 yards and 26 TDs last season, and now that he’s accustomed to playing under Coach Lane Kiffin, his performance should be even better in 2011.

6. CB Omar Bolden, Arizona State

It’s always interesting to see how talented players handle bouncing back from season ending injuries.

Some come in and pick up right where they left off, while some are never the same player.

Arizona State CB Omar Bolden is the former.

Bolden returned from a knee injury that robbed him of much of his sophomore season and came in and shut down opposing wide receivers without breaking a stride in 2010.

The 5’10’’, 195 lb. senior has the potential to be a first round pick in the 2012 NFL Draft if he keeps progressing.

7. OT Jonathan Martin, Stanford

The term franchise left tackle gets thrown around a little too loosely these days, but one player who actually fits the mold is Stanford’s Jonathan Martin.

Martin has the physical makeup that will have pro scouts drooling this season.

The 6’6’’ 305 lb. junior, who has been manning the tackle spot for the past two seasons, has the athleticism and power desired in a top flight linemen.

Martin’s job is to keep Andrew Luck upright and it’s a duty he excels at.

8. WR Juron Criner, Arizona

Juron Criner made every Arizona fan’s day when he announced his intentions to return to Tucson for his senior season.

Criner, the conference’s leading receiver in 2010, did enough as a junior to warrant NFL interest, but in the end the 6’4’’ senior may have made the right choice coming back to hook up with Nick Foles for one more year.

Criner finished with 83 catches for over 1,200 yards and 12 TDs last season and he has a chance to best those numbers as a senior.

9. LB Shayne Skov, Stanford

I look at Shayne Skov and I see a big, strong, tough throwback type linebacker. Then I think, boy, that guy resembles Brian Cushing an awful lot.

It’s a pretty flattering comparison considering Cushing dominated during his time at USC a few years ago and eventually ended up becoming a first round NFL draft pick.

It wouldn’t be surprising to see Skov, who led the Cardinal with 83 tackles last season, forge a similar path.

10. RB Chris Polk, Washington

The Jake Locker era has come to an end at Washington and you know what that means.

Time to start running the football.

As the Huskies try to break in Locker’s successor, whether it be Keith Price or Nick Montana, they’ll have to lean on talented RB Chris Polk to do some heavy lifting early on.

That’s certainly not a bad thing as Polk has proven that he’s one of the backs out west.

Polk, who rushed for over 1,400 yards as a sophomore last year, outgained both Jacquizz Rodgers and Shane Vereen, two NFL Draft early entrants.

11. S T.J. McDonald, USC

In a way, I feel like T.J. McDonald is the player the Pac-12 gods gave us to make up for all those expectations we had for Taylor Mays.

McDonald, a former five star recruit, certainly came to USC with expectations to meet just as Mays did, but unlike his predecessor he’s actually lived up to the hype.

McDonald, who led the Trojans with 89 tackles in 2010, may not be the hitter or provide the same type of physicality as Mays did, but when it comes to coverage and instincts, it’s not even a debate.

After just one season as a starter, the 6'’2’’ 205 lb. junior has already established himself as one of the premier defensive backs in the country.

12. QB Nick Foles, Arizona

I watch Nick Foles sometimes and I wonder to myself : Is this guy just going to be one of those quarterbacks who never gets over the hump?

The ability is there, we all know that, but every time Foles seems like he’s about to reach his immense potential, he’ll have that one disastrous setback game that sends him back to square one.

Remember, even with so many big name quarterbacks floating around last year, Foles was still able to lead the conference with 290 passing yards per game in 2010.

He’ll once again be overshadowed by conference counterparts Andrew Luck and Matt Barkley going into the season, but Foles has a real chance to make his mark on the Pac-12 in 2011, especially with top target Juron Criner returning.

13. WR Robert Woods, USC

A lot was expected of Robert Woods as a freshman and the former five star recruit out of California’s Junipero Serra High School didn’t disappoint.

Woods became an immediate contributor and one of Matt Barkley’s favorite targets right from the get go, and ended up finishing his first season with 64 catches, 6 TDs and a team leading 786 receiving yards.

Now that Ronald Johnson is off to the NFL, Woods will be expected to be the team’s main man in the passing game in 2011.

He has a good chance to be the Trojans next big thing at wide receiver.

14. WR Jermaine Kearse, Washington

Lost in the shuffle of Jake Locker’s senior struggles was how well Jermaine Kearse performed last season.

After leading the team in receiving in 2009, Kearse took his game to another level as a junior, finishing the season with 63 catches for over 1,000 yards.

His 12 trips to the end zone didn’t hurt either.

Kearse’s numbers may take a hit this season as Washington tries to break in a new quarterback, but his presence on the edge is definitely something that defenses will have to account for on every snap.

15. OG David DeCastro, Stanford

Yes, Stanford has the two top offensive linemen in the conference and they sure aren’t afraid to show it.

Coach Harbaugh knew he had the hogs up front to steamroll through opponents last season and the Cardinal did just that.

The philosophy probably won’t change much under new head coach David Shaw, who will continue to use guys like guard David DeCastro to his benefit.

DeCastro paved the way for RB Stepfan Taylor to rush for over 1,100 yards by opening up massive holes to run though last season.

The 6'5'' 315 lb. junior earned All-Conference honors for his performance, something he should do once again this season as one of the country’s top interior offensive linemen.

16. WR Marquess Wilson, Washington State

If you happen to be a Washington State football fan, I feel for you because I know there just hasn’t been a whole lot to get excited about recently.

The Cougars have a grand total of five wins over the last three seasons and you can’t exactly say they’ve been playing inspired football as of late.

Still, if you’ve been searching for a glimmer of hope, you may have found it in the form of WR Marquess Wilson.

Wilson turned out to be Washington State’s lone star in his first year, hauling in 55 passes for more than 1,000 yards.

The 6’3’’ 175 lb. sophomore is the big play threat that Washington State has desperately needed for so long.

17. OT Matt Kalil, USC

USC took a hit when offensive tackle Tyron Smith opted to forgo his senior season to enter the 2011 NFL Draft. But don’t expect Coach Kiffin and his staff to be shedding too many years.

Sure, Smith will be missed, but his departure opens the door for emerging tackle Matt Kalil to shine and soak up the spotlight.

Kalil, the younger brother of Ryan Kalil of the Carolina Panthers, was good enough to start every game at left tackle last season, forcing Smith to stay on the right side.

The former All-American recruit excelled in his first season as a starter.

Don’t be surprised if you see the 6’7’’ 295 lb. junior in the NFL with his brother sooner rather than later.

18. QB Darron Thomas, Oregon

Remember that Jeremiah Masoli guy?

If you do, chances are you’re probably in the minority because Darron Thomas sure made most college football fans forget about him in a hurry.

What once was perceived as one of the team’s biggest question mark positions, Thomas fortified as a strength with his remarkable performance in a midseason win over Stanford.

Thomas turned out to be the catalyst of Oregon’s lethal lightning quick attack as he helped guide the Ducks to an undefeated regular season, a conference championship and a berth in the BCS Title Game.

The dual threat quarterback may not be the fastest runner and he may not have the strongest arm, but he’s one of those players who does everything well enough to win you ball games.

19. DT Justin Washington, Arizona

Former Wildcats Brooks Reed and Ricky Elmore, two NFL bound defensive ends, had excellent senior campaigns last season, yet you could make the case that Justin Washington was just as an important factor for Arizona's defensive line.

The 6‘’2’’ 275 lb. sophomore stepped in and became an instant headache for opposing offensive linemen, finishing the 2010 season with six sacks and 11.5 tackles for loss.

Washington earned Freshman All-American honors for his efforts and he should onl y keep improving as he continues to develop.

20. WR Chris Owusu, Stanford

If it wasn’t for injuries, Chris Owusu might just be a household name by now. But instead, the speedy wideout who doubles as a return threat has been limited in his effectiveness.

Owusu, who played in just seven games last season, only caught 25 passes, but he’s now set to be Stanford’s No. 1 passing option and you have to expect that Andrew Luck will look his way an awful lot in 2011.

When Owusu's healthy, he's a dynamic game changer.

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