Pac-12 Football: 2011's 20 Best Overall Players in the Conference
The Pacific 12 Conference is going to be better than ever in the 2011 football season. With Oregon and Stanford both projected to be ranked in the top 10, the Pacific 12 has many elite football players.
This slideshow ranks the 20 best overall players in the conference.
Check it out and see if you're team has more stars than your hated rival.
20. Tony Dye, UCLA: Safety
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Tony Dye is coming off of a fantastic junior season at safety. He recorded 96 tackles with one interception and was known as the leader of the UCLA defense.
He is not the biggest safety out there, but he hits very hard and covers well down field.
19. Jermaine Kearse, Washington: Wide Reciever
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This Huskies wide receiver is going to be a huge help to Keith Price in his new role as quarterback. Kearse had over 1,000 yards receiving last year and scored 12 touchdowns.
Most memorably, he had nine catches for 146 yards and four touchdowns last year against Oregon State. Kearse has "big play" written all over him and should make a large impact for the Huskies next year.
18. T.J. McDonald, USC: Safety
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This junior safety is going to a first team All Pac-12 safety next year to go along with a gang of tackles. He recorded 89 tackles last year as well as three interceptions and one sack.
He is playing in Monte Kiffin’s system and if the 2002 Buccaneers defense proves anything, it’s that a playmaker like McDonald is going to shine.
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17. Rodney Stewart, Colorado: Running Back
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Rodney Stewart has an unfortunate situation in Colorado in that he is one of the only star players on this team.
He rushed for 1,318 yards and 10 touchdowns last year, but without Jimmy Smith and Jalil Brown on defense, Stewart is going to have to rush for a lot more if the Buffaloes plan to have a record better than last year's 5-7.
16. Keenan Allen, Cal: Wide Reciever
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Allen is the one of the few Golden Bears who has the talent to make this year a success. He was a 5-star recruit out of North Carolina and started last year as a true freshman.
He caught 46 passes for 490 yards and five touchdowns. The real question is who will be throwing Allen the ball and if there is going to be enough chemistry to let Allen shine.
He is a very talented receiver; it just takes two to tango.
15. Jordan Wynn, Utah: Quarterback
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It is looking like this is going to be Jordan Wynn's year.
He has played a majority of the snaps at quarterback the past two seasons, and if he improves his 62-percent accuracy from last year, he will be very effective.
14. Jeff Tuel, Washington State: Quarterback
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Jeff Tuel is in the worst-case scenario for such a talented, young quarterback. He is playing for one of the worst college football teams in the country in one of the worst possible locations.
The one upside for Tuel this year is that his favorite target, Marquess Wilson, is returning, and the two of them hooked up for over 1,000 yards and six touchdowns.
Tuel has good mechanics and a high football IQ, but he will need help from his teammates if he hopes to improve Washington State’s 2-10 record from 2010.
13. Darron Thomas, Oregon: Quarterback
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Darron Thomas is going to be Oregon’s key to success this year. He is an extremely athletic quarterback who threw for 2,880 yards while rushing for over 450.
He had an impressive 30 touchdowns to only nine interceptions. He is going to have playmakers such as LaMichael James, Kenyon Barner, Josh Huff, David Paulson, DeAnthony Thomas and Lavasier Tuinei to help him make plays.
If the Ducks want to go back to the national championship, Thomas is going to have to play like a star.
12. Jonathan Franklin, UCLA: Running Back
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UCLA needs someone on the team to step up and give the Bruins the offensive production they are in dire need of. Last year, Franklin rushed for 1,127 yards and eight touchdowns.
The game that cemented his starting job was at Texas when he rushed 19 times for 118 yards and one touchdown.
He is a smaller back, so this year the offensive line must step up and give Franklin the holes he needs to use his talent to the fullest.
11. Shayne Skov, Stanford: Linebacker
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As a true freshman, Shayne Skov recorded 62 tackles. As a sophomore, he played in only 11 games and recorded 84 tackles and 7.5 sacks.
This upcoming year, Skov will finally get the recognition he deserves. He was the rock that held the defense together last year, helping the Cardinal win 11 games.
He is a 6’3’’, 237-pound linebacker who has incredible lateral quickness as well as hit power. Watch out for Skov to really impress some NFL scouts in this upcoming year.
10. James Rodgers, Oregon State: Wide Reciever
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With Jacquizz leaving for the NFL draft, this redshirt senior will be the best player on Oregon State next year. Rodgers tore his ACL last year and he will return next season with a chip on his shoulder, working harder than ever.
In 2009, he caught 91 passes for 1,034 yards and nine touchdowns, not to mention rushing 57 times for 300-plus yards. Rodgers is a versatile athlete who will have to carry the weight next year.
I expect James Rodgers to have the best year of his career and give every defense that faces him an extremely difficult time trying to catch him.
9. Juron Criner, Arizona: Wide Reciever
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Criner is in his senior year and although he caught 82 passes for 1,233 yards and 11 touchdowns, next year’s season will be his best.
Criner has great speed and always is the center of his team's passing offense. With Nick Foles being better than ever before, look for Criner to be named as an All-American candidate.
8. Robert Woods, USC: Wide Reciever
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This sophomore wide receiver has the talent and ability to become a star at the college level. He has a phenomenal vertical jump, plays like he is 6’4", 200 pounds and gets off the line of scrimmage with ease.
Last year as a true freshman, he caught 65 passes for 792 yards and six touchdowns. One particular game that showed me he has stardom in his future was when he caught 12 passes for 224 yards and three touchdowns against Stanford.
Watch out for Robert Woods to go for 1,500 yards and 15 touchdowns next year.
7. Cliff Harris, Oregon: Cornerback
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Cliff Harris is the most explosive player in college football. He was second-team All-Defense for the Pac-10 last year and led the nation in punt returns for touchdowns.
He tied DeSean Jackson’s Pac-10 record for most punt returns in a season with four. He picked off six passes and returned one for a touchdown as well.
He shuts down half of the football field with his excellent man coverage and has the ability to intercept any ball thrown in his direction.
6. Nick Foles, Arizona: Quarterback
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Foles improved in all of the crucial quarterback categories from 2009 to 2010, and nothing says he will not continue to improve.
He stands tall in the pocket, completes over 67 percent of his passes and has his star receiver, Juron Criner, returning for the 2011 season.
The only question about Nick Foles' production is if his offensive line can hold up since all five of his offensive linemen haven’t started more than two games while in college.
5. Chris Polk, Washington: Running Back
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Chris Polk is the engine that will decide how far Washington goes this year. He is definitely their best athlete, and with an inexperienced quarterback, Polk will have to carry the load.
He rushed for over 1,400 yards last year, averaging 5.4 yards a carry.
The question will be whether the Huskies offensive line will be able to create enough lanes and holes for Polk to get to the second level and cause the damage we all know he is capable of.
4. Vontaze Burfict, Arizona State: Linebacker
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Burfict will win next year’s Defensive Player of the Year and will enter next year's NFL draft. He is a freak on defense, leading the Sun Devils in tackles with 90 in 2010.
He recorded 10 tackles and held the Oregon Ducks to a measly 42 points. He is massive in size at 245 pounds, yet he can run with most running backs in the nation.
He will take over numerous games this year and will finally get the recognition he has always deserved.
3. Matt Barkley, USC: Quarterback
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This year will be Matt Barkley’s breakout year. He came into USC with all the hype in the world, being the top overall recruit from the 2009 recruiting class.
He improved his completion percentage, touchdowns and yards from his freshman to his sophomore year. He also has arguably the best receiver corps in the nation with Robert Woods, Markeith Ambles, Kyle Prater, Ronald Johnson and George Farmer.
He will become one of the elite QBs in the nation and will probably be a top 10 draft pick if he decides to enter the draft after next year.
2. LaMichael James, Oregon: Running Back
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LaMichael James was considered the best running back in the nation last year. The last two years he has rushed for over 1,500 yards and averaged 19 touchdowns.
He only played in 12 games last year, but finished third in the Heisman voting. He is a very versatile running back and will run past, through or around any defender on his way to the end zone.
1. Andrew Luck, Stanford: Quarterback
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Luck is the best football player in the nation and should be considered as the Heisman favorite.
He passed for over 3,300 yards, completing over 70 percent of his passes and had the third-best passer rating in the nation last year.
If he has the season he had last year, he will be a first-team consensus All-American and will be drafted No. 1 in the 2012 NFL Draft.
.jpg?w=480 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
