2011 Preseason All-Pac-12 Team

Author:
SI Staff
Publish date:
Aug 18, 2011

2011 Preseason All-Pac-12 Team

Andrew Luck

Heisman hopeful Luck appears to have no weaknesses. "It seems like he's been in the [NFL] for six years already," said USC assistant head coach Monte Kiffin. "He was ready to come out this year. I was pulling for him to."

LaMichael James

The nation's quickest power back rushed for 1,731 yards and 21 touchdowns last year. Another Heisman candidate, James leads Kenjon Barner, Lache Seastrunk and De'Anthony Thomas in one of the nation's best backfields.

Rodney Stewart

The undersized (5-6, 175 pounds) back amasses a startling amount of yardage between the tackles -- 1,318 on 290 carries with 10 TDs in 2010. His production is important, as the Buffs had only 15 rushing TDs all season.

Juron Criner

The swift, physical playmaker was all-conference last season (82 catches for 1,233 yards and 11 touchdowns) despite being "75 percent," by his estimate, due to nagging injuries. Now healthy, he should catch 100 balls in '11.

Jermaine Kearse

With 12 touchdowns in '10, Kearse became the first wideout to lead U-Dub in scoring since Mario Bailey in 1991. A streaky receiver, Kearse will seek more consistency this season working with whoever replaces Jake Locker.

David Paulson

A chains-mover, Paulson had 24 receptions and four TDs in 2010. His 17.4 yards per catch was the most for Ducks with more than two receptions. Although a bit slight for his position (6-4, 241 pounds), he is a strong blocker, particularly downfield

Jonathan Martin

Luck isn't the only projected first-round draft pick on the Cardinal's offense. The 6-6, 304 pound Moose is smart, tough, agile and consistent.

David Decastro

The smart, tenacious and exceptionally strong DeCastro has his coaches raving about his great feet, balance and hand-punch.

Garth Gerhart

The three-year starter is the linchpin of a veteran o-line. At Norco (Calif.) High, Gerhart paved the way for brother (and former Stanford star) Toby.

Ryan Miller

The gargantuan (6-8, 312 pounds) run blocker finished 2010 with 80 knockdown blocks while giving up just two sacks.

Matt Kalil

The redshirt junior is the only Trojans o-line starter returning to the position he played last year and will serve as a coach in the trenches.

Junior Onyeali

The supremely gifted pass rusher had 61/2 sacks in 2010 and is capable of bull-rushing a tackle on one play, then beating him to the outside on the next.

Alameda Ta'Amu

The quick, technically sound 6-3, 330-pounder had 39 tackles last season, excellent for a down lineman. His explosive burst off the ball gives him good penetration, allowing him to disrupt the run game, and he's adept at using his hands to keep linemen off his body.

Justin Washington

Though slightly undersized (6-2, 280 pounds) for a nosetackle, Washington finished 2010 with 46 tackles (111/2 for loss), six sacks and a blocked kick.

Nick Perry

A high-ankle sprain early last season limited Perry to four sacks for the year, but the 6-3, 250-pounder (who boasts 4.6 speed in the 40) has said he wants "more than 15" sacks this season. If he stays healthy, he might just get them.

Vontaze Burfict

One of the nation's most gifted defenders has also been, at times, one of its most uncontrollable. He had 90 tackles (81/2 for loss) last season but was also regularly flagged for personal fouls and unsportsmanlike conduct.

Shayne Skov

The Mohawk-rocking junior all but took over the Orange Bowl with a dozen tackles, three sacks and a pass breakup in the Cardinal's rout of Virginia Tech. In 2010 he had 84 tackles (101/2 for loss) to go with 71/2 sacks.

Mychal Kendricks

Superb coming off the edge, Kendricks had 66 tackles last season, including 15 for loss -- 81/2 of which were sacks. The big-play specialist also recovered three fumbles.

Cliff Harris

As a freshman he declared to teammates, "I'm here to lock s--down." He has walked the talk: Harris may be the nation's top cover corner, but a team suspension for a June traffic citation may silence him.

John Boyett

The ball-hawker picked off five and broke up nine passes in 2010, and his 78 tackles, including 11 against Auburn, ranked second among all Ducks.

T.J. McDonald

Despite missing one game with a shoulder injury, McDonald had 89 tackles in 2010, including three for losses (with a sack), plus four deflections.

Nickell Robey

Trojans coaches simply could not keep the 5-8 freshman off the field last season. He started 13 games, making 48 tackles and a team-high four picks.

Erik Folk

A perfect 68 for 68 in PATs for his career, Folk gets the edge over Arizona's Alex Zendejas despite a slightly lower field goal percentage (65.0 to 73.7 in 2010) because he has made more clutch kicks and has the stronger leg.

Bryan Anger

Anger's 45.6 yards per punt in 2010 broke a 23-year-old Cal record. The two-time all-conference selection has 54 career punts over 50 yards, including a 71-yarder against Stanford last year, his third over 70 yards in a Big Game.

Chris Owusu

Nagged by injuries last year, Owusu should enter this season close to his form of '09, when he ranked fifth in the nation in kickoff-return average (31.5 yards), returning eight for 40 or more yards and bringing back three for TDs.

Cliff Harris

The dazzling talent who led the FBS with four punt returns for TDs in '10 will miss at least the Ducks' opener against LSU, team-levied punishment after receiving a citation for driving 118 mph on a suspended license in June.

2011 Preseason All-Pac-12 Team