Pac-12 Players To Watch In 2013

Author:
SI Staff
Publish date:
Mar 11, 2013

Pac-12 Players To Watch In 2013

WR Marqise Lee

Lee followed up a breakout year in 2011 with an even better 2012, catching 118 passes for 1,721 yards and 14 touchdowns. Those totals ranked first, second and third in the NCAA, respectively. Lee was also a dangerous kick returner, leading the Pac-12 with 856 kick return yards -- including an 100-yarder for a touchdown against Hawaii in last year's season opener.

QB Marcus Mariota

Chip Kelly is off to the NFL, and now Mariota will be tasked with keeping Oregon's high-powered offense running smoothly. The quarterback sensation racked up 2,677 passing yards, 752 rushing yards and 37 total touchdowns while leading the Ducks to a 12-1 record in 2012. Mariota was also the most efficient passer in the Pac-12 and the sixth-most efficient passer in the nation; he averaged 9.1 yards per attempt and completed 68.5 percent of his passes.

RB Ka'Deem Carey

One of the unheralded stars of 2012, Carey rushed for an NCAA-best 1,929 yards in his debut season in Rich Rodriguez's offense. Carey also scored 23 touchdowns on the ground and caught 36 passes for 303 yards. The 2013 Heisman hopeful's career has taken a rocky turn since the end of the season, however; he has had multiple run-ins with law enforcement, including charges for misdemeanor assault and disorderly conduct.

DT Will Sutton

The junior defensive lineman put together a huge 2012 campaign, highlighted by 23.5 tackles for loss, the second most nationally. Sutton also recorded 13 sacks and three forced fumbles en route to earning Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year honors. He'll look to lead the Sun Devils' defense -- which ranked 27th in the FBS in total defense last season -- to even greater heights in 2013.

LB Anthony Barr

A relative unknown entering last year, Barr went on to finish second in the NCAA in sacks (14) in 2012. His production, which also included 22 tackles for loss, is made all the more impressive by the fact that Barr just completed his first season as a linebacker for the Bruins. He served as a wide receiver as a freshman and a running back as a sophomore.

RB De'Anthony Thomas

You can't teach speed. Luckily for Oregon, Thomas has it in spades. Despite splitting carries with departed senior Kenjon Barner in 2012, Thomas accumulated 1,146 yards from scrimmage to go with his 17.1 yards per punt return average, third best nationally among those with 13 or more returns. Thomas is always capable of taking it to the house: He scored once every 8.6 times he touched the ball on a carry or reception last season.

QB Kevin Hogan

Hogan wasn't even in the conversation when Stanford's quarterback competition came to a close in the summer before the 2012 season. Yet by the end of the year, there was no question who possessed the reins to the Cardinal's efficient attack. Although Hogan's numbers weren't necessarily eye-popping, he succeeded in the No. 1 job of any quarterback: winning games. Stanford went 6-0 in the games in which Hogan was the primary quarterback. He threw for 1,087 yards and eight touchdowns to lead Stanford to victories in the Pac-12 championship game and the Rose Bowl.

QB Brett Hundley

Of all the freshman quarterbacks to see serious action in 2012, Hundley was one of the top passers of the bunch. The UCLA gunslinger threw for 3,740 yards and 29 touchdowns while rushing for nine additional scores. The fact that he recently described his performance last year as "so ugly" hints at his potential in 2013. Still, defenses will zero in on him more. He'll have to compete without the threat of standout running back Johnathan Franklin in the backfield.

DE Scott Crichton

Back-to-back productive seasons have made Crichton a can't-miss Pac-12 defensive end. Building on a six-sack, 14.5-tackle-for-loss freshman campaign, Crichton recorded nine sacks and 17.5 tackles for loss in 2012. His ability to break into the backfield played a huge role in Oregon State claiming the No. 2 scoring defense in the conference last season.

S Ed Reynolds

A year off due to injury couldn't hold Reynolds back in 2012, as the junior intercepted six passes and returned three of them for touchdowns. Only five teams -- including Stanford -- notched more pick-sixes than Reynolds did alone. The Cardinal's safety situation seems to be in good hands with both Reynolds and Jordan Richards returning in 2013.