Pac-12 Preview Pt. 2: Players-to-Watch

A Baker’s Dozen of Pac-12 Players-to-Watch

By Andrew Brown

1.    De’Anthony Thomas, RB/All-purpose-stud Oregon

Photo from fishduck.com

In terms of sheer awe-factor, Thomas is unmatched.

This third year back has more moves than Jagger and would be my favorite to win a foot race against anybody in the country. Depending on what kind of weight program Thomas has been on this summer and offseason, Thomas may be more durable and complete as a runner than we have seen him.

If that is the case then the sky is the limit for this second (hopefully legal) coming of Reggie Bush.

If Thomas is healthy enough to endure the bulk of the running work load in the Oregon offense that ranked third in rushing last season, averaging 315 yards per game, then he could see inflated numbers and finish the season hoisting the Heisman (not really though, Clowney is going to win it regardless) and working his way into the top-10 of next year’s NFL draft.

As a sophomore, Thomas ran the ball 92 times for 701 yards and 11 scores. Additionally, Thomas caught 45 passes for 445 yards and five touchdowns. Basically, the guy can burn you from anywhere on the field.

Thomas also scored twice last year on returns and totaled 611 yards off of only 29 punt and kickoff returns COMBINED.

Every time Oregon’s human highlight reel touches the ball is potential must-see TV.

2.    Austin Seferian-Jenkins, TE Washington

Photo from cbssports.com

My bet would be that only the real die-hard college football fans outside of the state of Washington know who this guy is. I would also bet, however, that ASJ is on the watch list of every NFL GM and on the shit list of every Pac-12 defensive coordinator.

The Huskies’ tight end is an absolute animal, towering over safeties and smaller linebackers at an impressive 6’6, 278 lbs.

ASJ is not just a physical presence though. He is just the latest in the wave of super-human tight ends that has entered the NFL in the last half decade. Seferian-Jenkins is a terrific athlete with big, strong hands that pluck the ball out of the air over smaller defenders. Additionally, he is blessed with speed and quickness to shake off any linebacker who tries to jam him and get physical.

Simply put, this cat can ball. He physically dominates competition, and if he has made strides with his football IQ in his third year then ASJ is looking at a monster year.

As a sophomore Seferian-Jenkins caught 69 balls a year ago for 857 yards and seven touchdowns—respectable numbers, certainly, but the junior will look to expand on those numbers in order to lead the optimistic Huskies to one of their best seasons in the last few decades. He also finished very strong down the stretch, catching a touchdown in six of Washington’s last eight games.

Helping his case is the fact that he will be catching passes from another member of the Pac-12 Baker’s Dozen.

3.    Marqise Lee, WR USC

Photo from sportsillustrated.cnn.com

It is hard to go into too much detail when praising Lee as a receiver, because it is easy to get carried away.

Lee is such a dominant physical specimen that there is not a corner back in the country that can check him one-on-one. The only way to beat Lee is to try to bracket him with a safety, or jam him at the line with help over the top. He has to be double-teamed, anything less than that is likely to result in a big-time highlight or touchdown.

Lee is the next elite receiver, following in the footsteps of guys like A.J. Green, Julio Jones, Megatron, etc. The dude is big-time.

He has the speed to burn anybody deep, the strength to overwhelm smaller corners, the hands to catch anything in his vicinity, and the athleticism to take care of everything else.

He still doesn’t have a quarterback, considering that the Daniel Tosh clone hasn’t named a starter yet, so that may be a factor toward his production this season but make no mistake, this guy is the real deal.

4.    Marcus Mariota, QB Oregon

Photo from zimbio.com

Admittedly, I am on record of saying that Marcus Mariota is going to win player of the year in the Pac-12 this season. I stand by that claim, even though I think Mariota isn’t the most electric player on his own team.

Mariota is one of the most balanced quarterbacks in the nation, displaying a good blend of throwing and rushing prowess. He is deceptively athletic who makes plays look effortless at times. As he enters his second year as the starter (third year in the program), Mariota should assume more of a leadership role.

Mariota is surrounded by some of the top talent players in the country and will be handing off and throwing to a fellow Heisman candidate in De’Anthony Thomas, so Mariota’s stats should pop off the page again this season.

My prediction is that he throws and runs for a combined total of around 50 touchdowns this season.

If he can lead the Ducks past Stanford then the accolades will start stacking up faster than he can count.

5.    Stanford Defense

Photo from pacifictakes.com

It is kind of a cop-out, admittedly, but picking the entire defense seemed more fair than forcing myself to pluck out one or two.

This is one of the most physical and experienced defenses in the country. It plays hard, aggressively, and smart. Harbaugh may be gone but his impact is still prevalent throughout his predecessor’s ball club.

A year ago the Cardinal were pretty mediocre on offense, ranking 72^nd in points per game scored. What made Stanford such a hardnosed, tough team to beat was their 11^th ranked defense that allowed only 17 points per game last season.

When you play UCLA, USC, Oregon, Oregon State, and some of the other high-powered and explosive offenses in the Pac-12 then 17 points per game is pretty damn good.

The Stanford defense is going to be even better this season and if their offense can step up their game then this will be a very fun season for the Cardinal.

6.    Ka’Deem Carey, RB Arizona

Photo from tusconcitizen.com

It is hard to believe that more people don’t know about the nation’s leading rusher from a season ago.

Carey destroyed Pac-12 defenses last year, rushing for a season total of 1,929 yards and 23 touchdowns.

What impresses me the most about Carey as a runner is that he was as consistent as any runner in the country. Rich Rod’s favorite son failed to reach triple digit rushing yards in a game only three times.

While he is not your traditional bulldog running back, he has exceptional quickness and vision and knows how to find open space, which there is plenty of in Rodriguez’s spread offense scheme. Additionally he is a good receiver so he can stay on the field for every down.

He reminds me a lot of Arian Foster.

Carey pummeled teams down the stretch last year, rushing for a whopping 914 yards in Arizona’s last FOUR games. He blazed past Colorado for 366 yards and (not 1… not 2…) five touchdowns.

Not enough people know about him, and the fact that his team is recovering from a lousy stretch means that his Heisman hopes are pretty slim.

This cat can ball though and his production speaks for itself.

7.    Shaq Thompson, S Washington

Photo from seattletimes.com

There aren’t many defensive players that stand out above some of the offensive forces in the Pac-12, but Shaq Thompson does just that.

He played all over the field as a freshman, totaling 67 tackles and three interceptions.

Thompson is the latest in the new breed of the safety/linebacker hybrids that have become a popular trend throughout college football.

The TCU tweener (as I will never refer to it again) is a position that has been utilized best by GMFP with players like Tyler Luttrell and Sam Carter. The QB of the defense who is free to roam and make plays in the box or step out into coverage. Or blitz. Or do anything.

Thompson established himself as the leader of the Huskies defense that spent a lot of time on the field getting pounded when the offense couldn’t maintain a drive.

Expect him to have filled out physically after a full year on a D1 weight program.

Between his physical growth, pre-existing football IQ, and his established leadership role on the sneaky good Huskies adds up to a potential All-American season for the sophomore.

8.    Brett Hundley, QB UCLA

Photo from rfssportsradio.blogspot.com

Hundley may be more important to his team than any other player to any other team in the conference.

The redshirt-sophomore is a balanced, dual-threat quarterback that is the spark behind nearly everything the Bruins are looking to do on offense this year.

Last year Hundley was accompanied by backfield mate Jonathan Franklin, who is now a pledge for the Green Bay Packers.

Franklin’s departure leaves a big hole in terms of skill players that can help Hundley by creating plays for themselves.

Hundley will be relied upon to create lightning in a bottle in every game with both his arm and legs.

If the second-year man is up to the task mentally then this could be a fun season for Bruins fans, because physically Hundley is every bit of competent.

Last year Hundley threw 29 touchdowns and ran for another nine. If the Bruins want to have similar success to last year’s nine-win season then Hundley will likely have to throw closer to 35 touchdowns and run for 10-12 more.

9.     Storm Woods, RB Oregon State

Photo from lebanon-express.com

Woods totaled over 1,200 yards of total offense and 13 rushing touchdowns last season as a freshman.

His best game of the season may have come in the final game of the year against the touted Texas run defense when he ran for 118 yards and a couple scores.

Storm runs with a good combination of thunder and lightning, running tough between the tackles while also demonstrating the quickness and burst to turn a five-yard run into 50 yards if he can find a seam.

Woods finished the season strong when he became more comfortable as the feature back for the Beavers, finishing the season with seven scores in his last four games.

If he can manage to carry that momentum into this year then he could potentially challenge Ka’Deem Carey for the honors of best back in the Pac-12.

Woods runs with very good balance and has great feet and patience, to go along with underrated physical tools.

I would look for him to be involved in almost everything Beaver Nation has planned this season on offense.

10.  Taylor Kelly, QB Arizona State

Photo from zimbio.com

Not many people know about the ASU gunslinger, but his is a name worth remembering.

In his sophomore year, his first year as a starter, Kelly threw for over 3,000 yards with a nifty 29:9 touchdown-to-INT ratio.

The Sun Devil QB threw for three or more scores six times a season ago, his best game coming against Colorado when he threw for 308 yards and five touchdowns (with no picks) on 20 of 28 passing.

Kelly was very efficient as a sophomore, and should be even better now that he has had a full year to take the reigns of this program.

ASU is a team that could quietly wind up around the top 15 this season thanks to its solid core of skill players and athletes.

If Kelly can step up big as a second-year starter then ASU may be representing the southern division in this year’s Pac-12 title game.

11.  Keith Price, QB Washington

Photo from seattletimes.com

This is a guy I have been high on since he was a freshman, but he has just never managed to take the next step from prospect to product.

Now a senior, this dual-threat quarterback didn’t get a lot of help in his junior campaign when he endured a miserable 37-sack season.

I don’t hold Price too responsible for Washington’s blunders last season, as the team was subject to a rough personnel transition and injury issues all year, but still Price is too talented to post a line of 2,728 yards and 19:13 TD-to-INT in his junior year.

I think Price will come back with a vengeance this season.

If Washington has made strides with their offensive line and defense this year then Price’s numbers will likely be a better reflection of his natural talent.

12.  Marion Grice, RB Arizona State

Photo from nfl.com

Grice is one of the most explosive players in the country, let alone the Pac-12.

Totaling over 1,000 total yards last season, as well as 19 total touchdowns, Grice is possibly the best dual-threat running back in the country.

Grice finished the season exceptionally strong with two of his best performances of the year, running for 156 yards and three scores against Arizona and 159 yards and two touchdowns in a bowl victory against Navy.

Grice, now a senior, has big time speed and breakaway ability that make him a potential homerun threat with every touch.

Also adept as a receiver, Grice topped 100 yards receiving against Colorado when he hauled in three touchdown catches on five receptions.

I don’t expect Grice to be a household name by the end of the season, but I do expect him to put up some pretty solid numbers and add pieces to a highlight reel that could catapult him into the first five rounds of next Spring’s NFL draft.

13.  Ty Montgomery, WR/KR Stanford

Photo from zimbio.com

Montgomery, now a junior, has been relatively quiet in his first two seasons at Stanford.

Fear not though, Cardinal fans, because Stanford’s program is one that rarely favors young players.

Montgomery is now one of the most experienced receivers on the Cardinal roster with an established second-year QB, one of the nation’s premiere defenses, and a power running game.

To me, that spells production for the junior receiver.

I wouldn’t be surprised if Montgomery ends up with seven or eight touchdowns off of play action shots down field alone.

He is also an adequate kick returner that has very good understanding of pacing and sees lanes develop very well.

For a team that is short on offensive playmakers, Montgomery provides much welcomed speed and burst that head coach David Shaw certainly has big plans for.