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August 4, 2006
Rivals.com Preseason All-Pac 10 team
David Fox
Rivals.com College Football
Some things never change.
The departures of star players like Matt Leinart and Reggie Bush from the Pac-10 are one of the top storylines in the conference, but Southern California still has talent stockpiled.
The Trojans have six first-team all-conference selections - three on offense and three on defense - to lead the Pac-10.
However, California will take the league lead in preseason all-conference players with 10. Seven members of Cal's defense make up Rivals.com's two defensive teams, while Heisman hopeful running back Marshawn Lynch takes a first-team spot at running back.
Arizona State was second in the conference with eight overall selections while USC, Oregon and Oregon State had seven apiece.
| Rivals.com
2006 Preseason All-Pac 10 First Team | | |
OFFENSE | | DEFENSE |
The week before his injury, Keller led the Pac-10 in passing with 2,067 yards and 20 touchdowns in six games. A broken thumb ended his season in the seventh game of the year, allowing backup Rudy Carpenter to become the nation's most efficient passer. Keller might have been 3-4 as a starter in 2006, but he played the toughest stretch of the Sun Devils' schedule including losses to Southern California, Oregon and LSU. Now healthy, Keller will have to fight off Carpenter for the starting job.
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One of the quickest defensive ends in the country, Jackson is tied as the Pac-10's returning leaders in sacks with 10. A Rivals.com Freshman All-American in 2004, Jackson has only improved over time. In the win against UCLA last year, Jackson had three sacks and two forced fumbles.
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With former teammate J.J. Arrington and former rival Reggie Bush out of the conference, Lynch is poised to take over as the Pac-10's premier running back. A Rivals.com preseason First-Team All-American, Lynch rushed for 1,246 yards and 10 touchdowns in his first season as a starter. His average of 124.6 rushing yards per game was seventh in the country. Now imagine what he would have done had been healthy for the Washington (2-9), Illinois (2-9) and New Mexico State (0-12) games.
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Bruce returns this year leading the conference with 15 tackles for a loss and tied with Southern California's Lawrence Jackson as the Pac-10's leader in sacks with 10. He got off to a hot start with eight sacks in his first seven games to help him to 18.5 in his career.
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The Pac-10's leading returning rusher with 1,321 yards and 13 touchdowns, Bernard accounted for all but 27 yards of the Beavers' rush offense. His 299 carries were fourth-most in the country, causing coach Mike Riley to hold him out of contact during the spring. Bernard averaged 147.3 yards over the final six games.
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Mebane anchors the best defensive line unit in the league and one of the best in the country. A Rivals.com preseason Second-Team All-American, Mebane led Pac-10 defensive tackles with seven sacks and led the conference's No. 2 rush defense.
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A Rivals.com preseason First-Team All-American, Jarrett has the size and speed of a great receiver. More importantly, he's a top target in important situations. His fourth-down 61-yard catch in the fourth quarter against Notre Dame set up the game-winning touchdowns. In the Rose Bowl loss, he had 10 catches, 121 receiving yards and touchdown. His 16 touchdown catches led the nation and 91 receptions were third in the country.
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In his first season as starting nose tackle, Ellis stepped in for All-American Mike Patterson. After recording 50 tackles including eight for a loss last season, Ellis anchors USC's defensive line along with end Lawrence Jackson.
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No one has stretched the field like Hill over the last two seasons. From 2004-05, he's averaged 19.7 yards per catch. That's more than Biletnikoff winner Mike Hass and Biletnikoff finalist Dwayne Jarrett over the same span. Over the last two seasons, Hill has combined for 107 catches for 2,104 yards and 25 touchdowns.
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In his first season since transferring from junior college, Bishop claimed the starting job at middle linebacker. The second-team all-conference selection is the Pac-10's returning leading tackler among linebackers with 89 in 2005. Five of his six tackles for a loss on the season came in the 27-3 win over Stanford.
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Miller was the Pac-10's Freshman of the Year in 2004 following a 56-catch, 556-yard season. An ankle injury cut into his production in 2005, limiting him to 38 catches for 476 yards in nine games. Miller, a Rivals.com First-Team All-American, is on pace to break the school's all-time receptions by a tight end record held by Baltimore Raven Todd Heap.
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Linebackers Oscar Lua and Dallas Sartz have more experience, but the outside linebacker Rivers could be the best of the group. A five-star recruit in 2004, Rivers began to deliver on his potential last season. In the win over Notre Dame, Rivers had six tackles, a sack and an interception.
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OT
: Sam Baker Southern California, Jr., 6-5, 305 Despite Southern California's losses on the offensive line, the left tackle Baker remains on board. He's started every game the last two seasons blocking for Heisman Trophy winner Matt Leinart. A Rivals.com preseason First-Team All-American, Baker is a potential first-round NFL draft pick when he leaves Southern California.
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Davis emerged as the Cougars' top linebacker last season in the absence of oft-injured middle linebacker Will Derting. He amassed 66 tackles, five tackles for a loss and six pass break-ups from his outside linebacker spot. As a sophomore in 2004, he had 89 tackles and 8.5 tackles for a loss.
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Carnahan played in only nine games last season but he helped anchor the country's No. 2 team in total offense and No. 3 team in scoring offense. He has started 33 games at right tackle over the last three seasons but played at left tackle during the spring.
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A Rivals.com preseason First-Team All-American, Hughes led the Pac-10 with 17 passes defended last year and is the conference's returning leader in interceptions with five. The conference's best cover corner will have matchups with top receivers Dwayne Jarrett and Jason Hill.
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In his first full season as a starter, Tevaga was honorable mention All-Pac-10. This year, he will block for first-year starters at quarterback (Ben Olson) and running back (Chris Markey).
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Arizona secondary coach Mark Stoops, who coached defensive backs Ed Reed, Sean Taylor and Antrel Rolle at Miami, has another top student in Cason. A Rivals.com preseason Second-Team All-American, Cason has seven career interceptions in two years as a starter.
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An All-Pac-10 honorable mention selection last year, Schuening helped Yvenson Bernard to a 1,300-yard season at quarterback Matt Moore to 271.1 passing yards per game. He has started 23 consecutive games at right guard.
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Piscitelli had a knack for the big interception in his second season as a starter in 2005. His 23-yard interception return for a touchdown tied the score at 30 in an eventual 44-33 win over Washington State, and in the next game, his fourth-quarter interception set up the game-winning drive in the upset of California. He finished the season with four picks.
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Like Baker, Kalil remains in Los Angeles to anchor the offensive line. And like Baker, he's entering his third season as the starter. He is a Rivals.com preseason Second-Team All-American and is a welcome veteran presence to guide the Trojans' inexperienced backfield.
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A year removed from junior college, Catanese led all Pac-10 defensive backs with 107 tackles and returns as the conference's leading tackler. As the Sun Devils' only returning starter in the secondary, he'll have to provide more than just big hits in 2006.
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SPECIAL
TEAMS |
Ottovegio's average of 40.6 yards per punt was fourth in the Pac-10 last season, but his 16 fair catches led the conference.
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The Lou Groza Award winner converted 15 consecutive attempts on the way to kicking 23 of 28 field goals. He kicked six in an 18-10 win over Washington but missed three in a 20-17 loss to Stanford.
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All Stewart did as a true freshman was lead the country with 33.7 yards per kickoff return, aided by an 83-yard touchdown against Montana and a 97-yard score against Oregon State.
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With Maurice Drew headed to the NFL, Richardson is the Pac-10's top punt returner. He averaged 15.3 yards per return as a junior. He returned two punts for touchdowns last season, one to give the Sun Devils' the first touchdown in an eventual loss to Southern California and the other to tie Arizona in the fourth quarter in a win.
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As a starting running back and part-time wide receiver, Burgess averaged 121.6 yards per game last year helped by 644 rushing yards, 655 receiving yards and 160 kick return yards. He added to his workload this spring by practicing at cornerback.
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| Rivals.com
2006 Preseason All-Pac 10 Second Team | | |
OFFENSE | | DEFENSE |
A three-year starter, Edwards has continued to improve with each season. He completed 50.9 percent of his passes while throwing 13 touchdown passes to 20 interceptions during his first two seasons combined. Even with the nation's 110th-ranked rushing offense, Edwards completed 62.7 percent of his passes and had a 17-7 touchdown-to-interception ratio as a junior.
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A second-team All-Pac-10 pick last year, Tafisi will team up with tackles Brandon Mebane and Matthew Malele for the conference's best defensive line. A year ago, he had 10 tackles for a loss and 3.5 sacks. His 38 tackles led Cal's defensive linemen.
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Despite splitting time with Rudy Burgess, Herring set an Arizona State freshman record with 870 rushing yards, averaging 5.5 yards per carry. His rookie season was also the most productive for Sun Devils' running back since 2001.
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Toeaina played alongside Haloti Ngata last season at defensive tackle but will likely move to defensive end this season. He rushed the passer well from his tackle position the last two seasons. This year, he will try his hand at that task full time at end after picking up three sacks last year
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Markey has made the most of his limited opportunities the last two seasons playing behind Maurice Drew. When Drew was injured in the Sun Bowl last year, Markey carried the ball 24 times for 161 yards. In 2004, again subbing for Drew, Markey had 24 carries for 131 yards and five catches for 84 yards against Oregon. Now, the job is his full-time.
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Before an ankle injury kept him out for the 2005 season, Brown was poised to become one of the Pac-10's defensive tackles. Now healthy, he will try to improve the conference's worst rush defense from a year ago. In 2004, Brown had 8.5 tackles for a loss including five sacks.
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Along with Dwayne Jarrett, Smith will help create the most dangerous receiver duo in the conference. Even while Jarrett had 91 catches a year ago, Smith caught 60 passes for 957 yards in his first season after recovering from a broken leg.
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DT
: Matthew Malele California, Jr., 6-3, 335
Malele will benefit from playing next to All-American defensive tackle Brandon Mebane on the line. He expects to be ready for the fall after missing the spring with an injury. At 335 pounds, Malele takes up plenty of space.
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The speedy Jackson was a difference-maker right away as a true freshman, scoring touchdowns on his first reception and punt return in the opener against Sacramento State. He finished the year with seven touchdown receptions and 601 receiving yards on 38 catches.
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A Rivals.com First-team Freshman All-American last year, Felder started eight games in his first season removed from high school. He's California's fourth-leading returning tackler with 39 stops last year.
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Newton caught 56 passes for 687 yards and seven touchdowns in 2004 before missing 2005 with a torn leg muscle. With Biletnikoff winner Mike Hass and his 90 receptions gone, quarterback Matt Moore and the Beavers will welcome Newton's return to the offense.
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Okwo was close to becoming one of the Pac-10's top linebackers last year, but he was limited by injuries midseason, missing one game. He still had 5.5 tackles for a loss last season, but a better indication of his potential was the final three games of 2004 when he had 22 tackles, 3.5 for a loss and fumble recovery against Arizona State, Oregon State and California.
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A Rivals.com First-team Freshman All-American last year, Unger started all 12 games at left tackle as a redshirt freshman. He protected the blindside for three different quarterbacks (Kellen Clemens, Dennis Dixon and Brady Leaf) in the country's No. 8 passing offense.
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Washington's only returning starter at linebacker, White has been of Washington's best tacklers over the last two seasons with 83 in 2004 and 79 last season. White added 7.5 tackles for a loss and three sacks last year.
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After starting at guard in 2004, Byrd moved to left tackle in 2005, protecting quarterback Alex Brink. With Byrd at tackle, the Cougars allowed the second-fewest sacks in the Pac-10 to Southern California. Washington State averaged 489.2 yards per game.
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Along with Daymeion Hughes, Mixon gives California the most experienced pair of cornerbacks. Mixon was fourth in the Pac-10 last season with 13 pass defended, including three interceptions for the second consecutive year. He's also an All-Pac-10 second-team punt returner.
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Perry was the Pac-10's Co-Offensive Freshman of the Year along with Arizona wide receiver Mike Thomas and is among five returning starters on the offensive line blocking for 1,300-yard back Yvenson Bernard.
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After redshirting in 2004, Lewis became Oregon State's starting cornerback in 2005. With 45 tackles and 11 pass break-ups, Lewis was named a Rivals.com Second-team Freshman All-American last year. He will be counted on to elevate the conference's worst pass defense.
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Fletcher started last year at right guard but was temporarily moved to center in the eighth game of the season. After Fletcher's to guard in his second year, Stanford will count on him to help revive the rushing attack that averaged 92.3 yards per game last year.
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The hard-hitting Nelson finished last season with 64 tackles in his second year as a starter. He added five pass break-ups and an interception last season. Along with fellow safety Patrick Chung, he anchored the Pac-10's top pass defense (even if it was ranked 68th in the country).
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Playing against defensive tackle Haloti Ngata in practice has served Lucas well. The Honolulu native has started 20 games in his career and helped transition Oregon to Gary Crowton's spread offense last season.
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One of the Pac-10's rising starts on defense, Chung recorded 91 tackles from his rover position as a redshirt freshman. With inexperience at one of the Ducks' cornerba  ... More... To continue reading this article you must be a member. Sign Up Now for a FREE Trial |
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