PAC-12 Football: 2011 First Team All Conference Predictions
The start of the PAC-12 season less than three months away, it is time to start thinking about who is going to shine in the 2011 season.
The PAC-12 has the best returning players out of any of the conferences making the top of the PAC-12 conference very heavy.
Two Heisman candidates returning as well, there will be an unprecedented amount of talent in 2011.
Excluding special teams, these are the best players at the offensive and defensive positions.
QB: Andrew Luck, Stanford
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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 passing rating in the nation last year.
If he has even close to the season he had last year, he will be a 1st team consensus All American and will be drafted number one in the 2012 NFL draft.
RB: LaMichael James, Oregon
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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 3rd in the Heisman voting.
He is a very versatile running back and will run past, through or around any defender in his way to the end zone.
RB: Chris Polk, Washington
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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 damage we all know he is capable of.
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WR: Juron Criner, Arizona
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Criner is in his senior year and although he caught 82 passes for 1233 yards and 11 touchdowns as a junior, next year’s season will be his best.
Criner has great speed and always is the center of his teams passing offense. With Nick Foles being better than ever before, look for Criner to be named as an All-American candidate in 2011.
WR: Robert Woods, USC
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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 6 touchdowns. One particular game that showed me he has stardom in his future was when he caught 12 passes for 224 yards and 3 touchdowns last October against Stanford.
Watch out for Robert Woods to go for 1500 yards and 15 touchdowns next year.
TE: David Paulson, Oregon
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He will repeat the 2010 season as the best tight end in the PAC-12 in 2011. He caught 24 passes for 418 yards and four touchdowns, but his biggest strength is his blocking.
At Oregon, it’s obvious that their biggest strength is their run game and David Paulson is unreal at it.
He is very good at sealing off the end on sweeps and kicking out the outside linebackers on dives and off tackles. Not to mention he was on the academic all PAC-10 first team.
OL: Jonathan Martin, Stanford
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If Andrew Luck and the Stanford Cardinal want to have a good season next year, it starts with their offensive line.
Jonathan Martin is the center piece to the Cardinals offensive line by being one of the only two returning starters.
He was a first team All-PAC 10 last season and should be rewarded again after the 2011 season.
OL: David DeCastro, Stanford
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He is an absolute beast at guard. At six five, 310 pounds, he is one of the best guards in the nation. He is a load to blocks when he pulls on the counter and can pass block very well.
Stanford will have two amazing offensive lineman in DeCastro and Jonathan Martin; the real question lies in how the other three will protect Andrew Luck.
OL: Mitchell Schwartz, Cal
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Cal is lucky that they will have a good left tackle for their inexperienced quarterback next season. Mitchell Schwartz is one of the best offensive linemen in the PAC-12 and he proved that with his first team all PAC-10 last season.
If Cal has any chance to have a non losing season next year, it will greatly depend on how well Mitchell Schwartz and the Golden Bears offensive line holds up.
OL: Mark Asper, Oregon
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Oregon’s offensive line way extremely undersized last year no thanks to Mark Asper. At six seven and 322 pounds he is a mammoth on the offensive line for the Ducks.
Three of the five starters graduating, Mark Asper will be asked to burden the load on the offensive line.
He has great feet and is very smart; two things that must show at all times for the Ducks to have another shot at the national championship.
OL: Matt Kalil
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Top 10 draft pick. Already regarded as the best offensive lineman in the PAC-12 if not the nation, Matt Kalil is a freak at right tackle.
He is strong, quick, and tough and will show everyone that in the 2011 season.
He will most likely move to left tackle this season to protect Matt Barkley’s blind side and to show NFL scouts that he truly is the best offensive lineman in the nation.
DL: Terrell Turner, Oregon
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I think that this will be Terrell Turners breakout season. He has the talent and the skill set, he just needs to perform at his best.
He recorded 29 tackles and 2.5 sacks last season. He is a speed rusher off the side at only 263 pounds.
He is starting for a very good defense at Oregon in hopes that he will be left in a one on one match up with the tackle where Terrell Turner should excel.
DL: Alameda Ta'amu, Washington
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Washington will be better on defense next year because of Alameda Ta’amu. He is a beast a six three 330 pounds and after totaling 39 tackles last season, he proved that he can make plays as well.
Washington lost most of their good defensive players last year but one he is one of the solid returners should become a first team all PAC-12
DL: Travis Long, Washington State
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Extremely consistent and very tough are two easy ways to describe Travis Long. The past two seasons he had recorded at least 45 tackles and two sacks.
Although he plays for the Cougars, he is one of the rare bright spots on an otherwise very sup par team.
DL: Nick Perry, USC
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USC seems to always produce stellar lineman year after year and Nick Perry is next player in that group. He showed signs of great play last year, especially in USC’s last game of the season against UCLA making 5 tackles.
It is a stretch to say he is a shoe in be a first team all league performer, but with a very weak group of defensive lineman returning to the PAC-12 somebody is going to have to step up.
LB: Shayne Skov, Stanford
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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 that has incredible lateral quickness as well as hit power. Watch out for Skov to really impress some NFL scouts in this upcoming year.
LB: Vontaze Burfict, Arizona State
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Vontaze Burfict will win next year’s Defensive Player of the Year and will enter next year 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 below average 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.
LB: Mychal Kendricks, Cal
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As a first team all PAC-10 player last year, he is expected to perform at the level again next season. He recorded 62 tackles and 8.5 sacks for the Golden Bears last year.
He is very under rated in that he is very quick and has great technique making him a pro-style line backer, yet nobody seems to know about him.
If he has another solid season, look for Mychal Kendricks to get drafted in the first couple rounds of the 2012 NFL draft.
DB: Cliff Harris, Oregon
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Cliff Harris is the most explosive player in college football. He won second team all defensive back 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 4. 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.
DB: Omar Bolden, Arizona State
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He is a lock down corner for the Sun Devils. He will take away half the field even in the conference with the best college quarterbacks in 2011.
He had three interceptions and made a staggering 52 tackles at the corner position. He will be all over the field next year and every team in the PAC-12 will have to adjust their offense to steer clear of Omar Bolden.
DB: T.J. McDonald, USC
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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 play maker like McDonald is going to shine.
DB: Tony Dye, UCLA
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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.
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