The best players in the Pac-12 football conference are led by quarterbacks Marcus Mariota of the Oregon Ducks and Brett Hundley of the UCLA Bruins. However, there is plenty of other talent in the conference and there will be some good races for the end of season awards. As we get ready for the season, let’s take a look around the Pac-12 and make some predictions and pick the early favorites.
Every year, each conference has awards for individuals. For the Pac-12 the list includes:
– Offensive Player of the Year
– Pat Tillman Defensive Player of the Year
– Freshman Offensive Player of the Year
– Freshman Defensive Player of the Year
– Coach of the Year
– Pac-12 First Team All-Conference.
Here are the predictions for the players that seem poised to win an award.
Offensive Player of the Year: Marcus Mariota, QB Oregon– If Marcus Mariota did not suffer the knee injury against Stanford, he could very well be the Heisman Trophy winner from 2013. The duel-threat QB threw for 3,665 yards and 31 touchdowns against just four interceptions; he added 715 yards and nine touchdowns rushing. Mariota is fast, smart, and has a million dollar arm. You are looking at a guy that is a front-runner to win the Heisman in 2014. The only competition against Mariota for the OPOY is Brett Hundley, QB UCLA, who will give Mariota a run for the award.
Pat Tillman Defensive Player of the Year: Leonard Williams, DE USC- Leonard Willams is an absolute physical speciman. Back in 2012, as a true freshman, Williams recorded 64 tackles, eight sacks and an interception. Sophomore year for the big man wasn’t dissapointing either with 73 tackles and five sacks. Despite the success, he isn’t very explosive off the ball and doesn’t possess great speed, so why is he so special? Williams has a very intelligent mind on the field and even for a big man, he has quick and dominant moves. Very good at plugging the gaps but also at rushing the passer, he plays sort of like JJ Watt. He is already a top 3 overall prospect on some 2015 NFL mock drafts. There isn’t a more feared defensive lineman in the Pac-12.
Freshman Offensive Player of the Year: Max Browne, QB USC- A former 5 star recruit in 2013, Max Browne is filled with potential. Coming into the 2014 season as a redshirt freshman, if Browne could win the starting job in USC, he could be the next star in college football. Standing at 6’5 and weighing in at 215 pounds, Browne’s size is not dissapointing. He also possesses a strong arm, with a quick release. You don’t get named an All-American in the Army Bowl if you are not talented. The question is, will he be able to show off his skills to the world? He will have to win the starting spot over Cody Kessler first, but if he does, Max Browne will shine.
Freshman Defensive Player of the Year: Arrion Springs, CB Oregon- Arrion Springs has a god-given balance of size and speed. Standing at 5-11 and weighing 192 pounds, Springs possesses the size to cover big time receivers from any team. Get this, he runs a 4.44 40 yard dash. To put it in a short way, Springs has the talent, size, and speed to eventually cover any wide receiver in college football. He is raw, so coaching will be necessary. But once the D-1 trainers are done with him, watch out.
Coach of the Year: Chris Peterson, Washington- Behind new coach Chris Peterson, the Huskies will be a team to watch in 2014. You’re looking at a team who devastated Boise State 38-6, and only lost to Stanford by 3. There aren’t many gaps on the depth chart, aside from Bishop Sankey leaving a hole at RB. The defense is led by MLB Shaq Thompson, who may even play at RB. Not many coaches get the luxury of having a good roster right away as a head coach. With a strong depth chart, new coach Peterson should have a very successful season, leading to Coach of the Year.
Projected Pac-12 First Team All-Conference (Offense and Defense):
QB: Marcus Mariota, Oregon
RB: Byron Marshall, Oregon/D.J. Foster, Arizona State
WR: Ty Montgomery, Stanford/Nelson Agholor, USC
TE: Connor Hamlett, Oregon State
OL: Jamil Douglas, Arizona State/ Andrus Peat, Stanford/ Hroniss Grasu, Oregon/ Cameron Hunt, Oregon/ Isaac Seumalo, Oregon State
DL: Leonard Williams, USC/ Danny Shelton, Washington/ DeForest Buckner, Oregon/ Wade Keliikipi, Oregon
LB: Myles Jack, UCLA/ Hayes Pullard, USC
CB: Ifo Ekpre-Olomu, Oregon/ Fabian Moreau, UCLA/ Marcus Peters, Washington
S: Jordan Richards, Stanford/ Su’a Cravens, Stanford
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