We've already looked at the numbers. Anticipation of college football begins with each conferences' media day. For the newly-knighted Pacific 12 Conference, the first media day is Tuesday, July 6. Among the hot topics? Expect much on the Oregon football scandal of Willie Lyles. Of course, we'll expect more on the additions of Utah and Colorado reshaping the conference into North and a South divisions. And how will the Wildcats fare?
So leading into Media Day, our staff writers make some wild, effort-filled predictions. First up, we took a look at our guesses for the final division standings by the end of the regular season (bowl games and the Pac-12 Championship not included). Saturday, we checked out the All-Offense teams we expect by the end of the season. Today, we look at the All-Defense teams and finally, we'll make Coach of the Year picks on Monday.
*** All Defensive Team ***
By Alec Sills-Trausch
DE- Nick Perry, USC
DT- Justin Washington, Arizona
DT-Alameda Ta’amu, Washington
DE- Devon Kennard, USC
LB- Vontaze Burfict, Arizona State
LB- Shayne Skov, Stanford
LB- Paul Vassallo, Arizona
CB- Cliff Harris, Oregon
SS- Tony Dye, UCLA
FS- Delano Howell, Stanford
CB- Trevin Wade, Arizona
Special Teams
P- Jeff Locke, UCLA
K- Erik Folk, Washington
Defensive Player of the Year- Vontaze Burfict, LB, Arizona State
While arguably the best linebacker in the country, Burfict is known as much for his emotional outbursts
than bone shattering hits. If he can keep his cool, he will easily be the Pac-12’s best players on the
defensive side.
Defensive Freshman of the Year- Viliami Moala, DT, California
325 pounds. That’s what opposing offensive linemen will be seeing when they line up against Moala.
This "big guy" should be seeing playing time from the ‘get-go’ and will help solidify a Cal defensive front
that can only get better with this force in the thick of things.
The Pac-12’s defense is what many people would call my cooking, just "blah." There is no one who
stands out other than Burfict, and he is almost known more for hitting opposing players out of bounds,
than during the game. Without great talent on the defensive side of the ball, this season will be known
more for ‘shootouts,’ than ‘shutouts.’
Kevin Zimmerman
DE- Nick Perry, USC
DT- Justin Washington, Arizona
DT- Lawrence Guy, Arizona State
DE- Devon Kennard, USC
LB- Vontaze Burfict, Arizona State
LB- Shayne Skov, Stanford
LB- Paul Vassallo, Arizona
CB- Cliff Harris, Oregon
S - Adam Hall, Arizona
S- Delano Howell, Stanford
CB- Desmond Trufant, Washington
Special Teams
P- Jeff Locke, UCLA
K- Erik Folk, Washington
Defensive Player of the Year - Vontaze Burfict
There's a lot of "what-ifs" on this All-Defensive team. What if Adam Hall returns from his torn ACL and finds his form from the end of last season? What if Cliff Harris doesn't stay out of trouble and gets suspended for driving REALLY fast again? Those two guys are juggernauts, but it's hard to say whether they'll find their potential greatness after distractions for two VERY different reasons.
And you can hate on ASU all you want, but if Vontaze is serious about football rather than getting stupid penalties, he's not on the best Pac-12 linebacker, he's college football's best linebacker.
Ryan Clay
DE - Junior Onyeali, So., Arizona State
DE - Travis Long, Jr., Washington State
DT - Justin Washington, So., Arizona
DT - Will Pericak, Jr., Colorado
LB - Mychal Kendricks, Sr., California
LB - Vontaze Burfict, Jr., Arizona State
LB - Chris Galippo, Sr., USC
CB - Desmond Trufant, Jr., Washington
CB - Trevin Wade, Sr., Arizona
S - TJ McDonald, Jr., USC
S - Robert Golden, Sr., Arizona
Special Teams
K - Erik Folk, Sr., Washington
P - Bryan Anger, Sr., California