Pac-12 Football Review: USC NSD Fail, Donte Williams, NFL Combine Invites

Pac-12 Football Review: USC NSD Fail, Donte Williams, NFL Combine Invites

USC’s Poor National Signing Day Highlights it’s Pac-12 Football Recruiting

Last Wednesday, National Signing Day came and left. While there wasn’t much Pac-12 football activity, Colorado kept its guy. That is to say, Ashaad Clayton signed with Colorado.

And all Buffaloes sighed.

Certainly, the four-star running back out of New Orleans is a great addition. With that signing, Colorado made a big move. It showed its school is doing the work.

However, the program that needed to make the biggest leap failed miserably.

So many Pac-12 football programs brought it this offseason. Utah and Arizona State made huge strides. Meanwhile, USC fell. Firstly, USC boasts (if that word can be used) just 13 three-five star recruits for 2020.

  • Two four-star recruits
  • 11 three-star recruits

In short, their 2020 recruiting is dismal.

When compared to Pac-12 football programs, USC’s 2020 class ranks 10th. Just above Washington State and Arizona. Overall, USC’s distressing 2020 class is outside of the top-50 in college football. Their 55th-ranked class is completely pitiful. Especially considering their 2019 feats:

  • 8 wins, 5 losses
  • 32.5 points per game
  • Holiday Bowl berth
  • Breakout true-freshman Kedon Slovis

This was a huge alarm for the Trojans. But thankfully, USC stole Donte Williams away from Oregon.

Pac-12 Top-Recruiter Donte Williams Heads to USC

Unfortunately, cornerbacks coach Donte Williams’ move to USC was not because of football. As seen from his Tweet, it’s a move to his “father’s aging/failing health”. Family first. Respect.

Though is move to USC is family-driven, Williams is still a gift for their program. Prior to this news, USC recruiting was in free-fall. They were 10th in the Pac-12. Barely ahead of Washington State. That’s not acceptable for their program. So, they need to treat Williams as best as they can. During his short time with Oregon, he’s ranked:

  • 5th-best recruiter in Pac-12 in 2019 class
    • 62nd-best in nation
  • Best recruiter in Pac-12 in 2020 class
    • 7th-best in nation

Understanding that, this move is incredible for USC. They needed him bad. With his recruiting, he’ll become instrumental in their success. Certainly, Williams will be missed in Oregon. But for USC, he’s their savior.

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2020 NFL Combine Pac-12 Football Participants

On Friday, the NFL released its full list of 2020 NFL Scouting Combine invites. Of the 337 prospects invited, here are the Pac-12 football players:

Arizona (1 invite)

  • J.J. Taylor, Running Back

Arizona State (4 invites)

  • Brandon Aiyuk, Wide Receiver
  • Eno Benjamin, Running Back
  • Cohl Cabral, Offensive Line
  • Michael Turk, Punter

Cal (3 invites)

  • Ashtyn Davis, Defensive Back
  • Jaylinn Hawkins, Defensive Back
  • Evan Weaver, Line Backer

Colorado (4 invites)

  • Tony Brown, Wide Receiver
  • Steven Montez, Quarterback
  • Laviska Shenault Jr., Wide Receiver
  • Davion Taylor, Line Backer

Oregon (7 invites)

  • Jacob Breeland, Tight End
  • Troy Dye, Line Backer
  • Jake Hanson, Offensive Line
  • Justin Herbert, Quarterback
  • Juwan Johnson, Wide Receiver
  • Shane Lemieux, Offensive Line
  • Calvin Throckmorton, Offensive Line

Oregon State (2 invites)

  • Isaiah Hodgins, Wide Receiver
  • Jake Luton, Quarterback

Stanford (2 invites)

  • Colby Parkinson, Tight End
  • Casey Toohill, Line Backer

UCLA (4 invites)

  • Devin Asiasi, Tight End
  • Darney Holmes, Defensive Back
  • Joshua Kelley, Running Back
  • JJ Molson, Kicker

USC (2 invites)

  • Austin Jackson, Offensive Line
  • Michael Pittman, Wide Receiver

Utah (9 invites)

  • Bradlee Anae, Defensive Line
  • Francis Bernard, Line Backer
  • Julian Blackmon, Defensive Back
  • Terrell Burgess, Defensive Back
  • Leki Fotu, Defensive Line
  • Javelin K. Guidry, Defensive Back
  • Jaylon Johnson, Defensive Back
  • Zack Moss, Running Back
  • John Penisini, Defensive Line

Washington (7 invites)

  • Trey Adams, Offensive Line
  • Salvon Ahmed, Running Back
  • Hunter Bryant, Tight End
  • Myles Bryant, Defensive Back
  • Jacob Eason, Quarterback
  • Aaron Fuller, Wide Receiver
  • Nick Harris, Offensive Line

Washington State (2 invites)

  • Anthony Gordon, Quarterback
  • Dezmon Patmon, Wide Receiver

Somehow, Utah leads the way in combine invites for Pac-12 football programs. As a result, their school gained instant respect. Their school-record nine combine invites is great for their program’s recruiting. But, it’s a tough task to replace.

“It is not hard to figure out why we were formidable on defense this past year and why we had statistically one of the best defenses we have ever had at Utah,” said head coach Kyle Whittingham. “It is going to be a big challenge replacing those guys.”

Deseret News

Apart from a lackluster finish, Utah played well in 2019. As a result, they nearly made the College Football Playoffs. Or, at least they were in the discussion. These nine combine invites were a large part of their winning. In other words, it’s a big loss to the program.

Nevertheless, Utah is upping their recruiting game by leading the Pac-12 in combine invites.

Colorado’s Mel Tucker Calms Anxious Fans

Last Tuesday, Mark Dantonio retired after 13 seasons as Michigan State’s head coach. It was reported that Cincinnati’s Luke Fickell and Colorado’s Mel Tucker were those interviewing.

Although it was Tucker’s first season ever as a head coach, no program wants to lose their H.C. Furthermore, no program wants to lose their coach after the coaching carousel already hired the most qualified candidates. Consequently, it’s not the best time to hire.

But, Tucker made sure to raise the spirits of the Colorado program, its players and its fans.

Arizona State Close to Adding Robert Rodriguez as D-Line Coach

Reportedly, the Arizona State Sundevils are reportedly close to signing Robert Rodriguez as defensive line coach. Because of Jamar Cain’s departure, Rodriguez is a big hire.

Rodriguez just completed his fifth year with the Vikings. During that time, he worked closely with Vikings defensive line coach Andre Patterson. They utilized aggressive schemes for playmakers Daniel Hunter and Everson Griffen. As a result of his NFL experience, Rodriguez is a sound hire. Above all, Rodriguez will be paid to bring defensive pressure.

Unfortunately, Cain left behind more than defensive coaching. Jamar Cain is considered one of the best recruiting coaches. Losing him hurt. But, Rodriguez coached for UTEP from 2008 to 2014. So, at least he does understand how collegiate coaching and recruiting works. Both as a player and a coach.

Pac-12 Football Review: Oregon leads 2020 recruiting, BYU Games, KJ Costello

Pac-12 Football Review: Oregon leads 2020 recruiting, BYU Games, KJ Costello

Oregon Ducks Holding onto Pac-12 Football Recruiting Dominance

247Sports Composite Pac-12 Football Team Rankings

With just one day away from National Signing Day, the Oregon Ducks remain at the top of Pac-12 football. Their 2020 class is highlighted by three five-star recruits:

  • Justin Flowe, ILB
  • Noah Sewell, ILB
  • Dontae Manning, CB

With a 247 Composite score of 256.52, Oregon’s recruiting also ranks 12th in the nation. The Ducks are riding high in their ability to gain quality commits. Oregon is a force and consistently competes. Their staff does an excellent job at scouting, recruiting and developing players.

Not too far behind, Washington’s nine four-star recruits raise them to near-Oregon status. Although they don’t have the five-star recruits the Ducks have, they certainly bolstered their team with an impressive amount of talent.

USC Needs to Make Moves

But, we already know that Washington and Oregon are currently the programs to beat in recruiting power. The big surprise is USC. After ranking 3rd in Pac-12 football and 20th in the nation, they fell hard in 2020. Currently, USC ranks 10th in the Pac-12 Conference and 52nd nationally. If they want to build a team around Sophomore Kedon Slovis, they need to gain 2020 commits.

Stanford Adds Four Games to their BYU Football Series

https://twitter.com/BYUfootball/status/1222572467178237952
  • November 28th, 2026
  • November 25th, 2028
  • August 30th, 2031
  • September 1st, 2035

In the 2020’s, Stanford faces off against BYU six times. Surprisingly, they only have five games against Utah in the same decade. Yes, Utah is in-conference. However, this BYU series is extremely important to Stanford and the Pac-12.

With regard to the Pac-12 football conference, BYU adds a lot of value. Because they are an independent school, programs like Stanford can fill in gaps in the late season with a solid competitor. In the past 15 years, BYU has 13 winning seasons and only one losing season. Additionally, they ranked in the AP-25 polls 8 times, twice in the top-10. It’s a solid football program.

Because Pac-12 football routinely earns little respect from other conferences, regular matchups (and wins) against BYU will help this. Our conference desperately needs appreciation.

Stanford Graduate K.J. Costello Transfers Joins Mike Leach at Mississippi State

Even though Mike Leach departed the Pac-12, he managed to bring grad-transfer, K.J. Costello, with him. In three seasons and 29 games, Costello compiled:

  • 6,151 Passing Yards
  • 49 Touchdowns
  • 18 Interceptions
  • 143.8 Quarterback Rating
  • 62.6-Percent Completion Percentage

It’s a known quantity that Mike Leach’s Air Raid Offense is extremely quarterback friendly. Nabbing a veteran quarterback like Costello is an excellent transfer for Mississippi State’s depth.

Arizona State’s Defensive Line Coach Jamar Cain Departs for Oklahoma

Losing Jamar Cain is a big one for Arizona State. Cain, in just one season with Arizona State, improved them drastically. Most notably, Cain’s recruiting lifted the program higher. He is responsible for recruiting Daniyel Ngata, Elijhah Badger, and Omarr Norman-Lott.

Because of his abilities, he was considered the fifth-best recruiter in the Pac-12. Thankfully for ASU, they at least got one year out of him. But, Arizona State is going to miss him. Great signing for Oklahoma. Big loss for the Sun Devils.

Pac-12 Football Review: New Coaches, All-Americans, Shenault’s Agent

Pac-12 football news

Pac-12 Football doesn’t have an offseason

Although the Pac-12 football season is over, the offseason is just as important. Unafraidshow’s Pac-12 Football Review updates everyone on the biggest stories of each week of the Pac-12 football offseason.

Recruits, transfers, coaching changes and returning players drastically change next year’s landscape. Which players are leaving for the NFL draft? Who are the newest coaches or recruits? What news is the most important or compelling from each program?

The Biggest News Around the Pac-12, Program by Program

Arizona: The Wildcats hire Andy Buh as OLB coach

With 22 years of collegiate coaching experience, Andy Buh adds leadership and knowledge to the Wildcats defense. Most recently, Buh was defensive coordinator for Rutgers in 2019 and Maryland from 2016 to 2018. In his decades of coaching, he mainly spent time as defensive coordinator or linebackers coach. Pac-12 fans should remember him from his days with Jim Harbaugh at Stanford. The signing of Buh will round out a new Arizona coaching staff after Marcel Yates and Iona Uiagalelei were both fired.

Arizona State: Herm Edwards gets two-year extension

In his first two years as a Pac-12 football coach, Herm Edwards is 15 and 11 with two bowl game appearances. His collegiate success with Arizona State surprised many. While his 7 and 6 2018 season was a good start, he put his faith in freshman Jayden Daniels . Many coaches overlook 175lb freshman quarterbacks. But, Edwards displayed excellent coaching instincts and uncovered a Pac-12 Star. Daniels’ led the Sun Devils to a huge victory over the Oregon Ducks. If Arizona State and Edwards continue to find success in recruiting and personnel management, the Sun Devils will make a run for the title soon enough.

Cal: Golden Bears name Angus McClure Offensive Line Coach

Most recently, Angus McClure aided the Nevada Wolf Pack to back-to-back bowl games. His offensive lineman in 2018 allowed just 1.31 (18th in FBS) sacks per game. Adding McClure to the coaching staff should aid UCLA’s 64th-ranked offensive line.

With 28 years of experience, including a decade with UCLA, Angus McClure is also known for his excellent recruiting. He understands the west coast and the Pac-12. UCLA needs any help they can get and landed an excellent coaching piece.

Colorado: Laviska Shenault signs with Rich Paul and Klutch Sports Group

After a breakout 2018 season and lesser, but still explosive, 2019 campaign, Laviska Shenault is headed to the NFL Draft. On Wednesday, Shenault signed with Klutch Sports Group, founded by Rich Paul. Paul and Kultch Sports represent NBA stars LeBron James, Anthony Davis, Draymond Green, and many more. Currently, they only represent Alvin Kamara, Melvin Gordon and Jarvis Landry in the NFL. So, Shenault is joining impressive company. He joins Chase Young and Jeffrey Okudah as Klutch Sports’ potential draftees.

Oregon: The Ducks keep four more juniors

In excellent news for the Rose Bowl champs, four NFL Draft eligible juniors announced a 2020 return. Thomas Graham, Deommodore Lenior, Jordon Scott, and Austin Davis want one more season with the Ducks. This decision is huge for the Ducks’ 2020 defense. They finished the 2019 season ranked as No.6 in the nation, per footballoutsiders. Retaining these four junior cornerbacks and defensive lineman likely frustrated the Pac-12 competition.

Oregon State

In great luck for the Beavers, both Addison Gumbs and Jeromy Reichner were awarded an NCAA extension. Neither made an impression in the 2019 Pac-12 football season. Reichner missed all of 2019, while Gumbs played just a game and a half. with the adjustment, Gumbs will be a redshirt sophomore in 2020. With the extensions, Oregon State can bolster its 2020 defense and try for a better season.

Stanford: Paulson Adebo stays another year

Surprising to many, cornerback Paulson Adebo decided to stay another year. Walter Football had him ranked as the fourth-best cornerback headed into the NFL Draft. Additionally, per ProFootballFocus had him in their Top-11 Big Board. Adebo displayed great cornerback skills and was a sure-tackler for Stanford in 2018 and 2019. With a return to action in 2020, he’ll look to perfect his defensive abilities and move up the 2021 draft board.

UCLA: Vince Oghobaase is likely leaving

Although not finalized, Vince Oghobaase is expected to head to Boston College. But, that might not be the worst thing. Every college football fan knows that the 2019 UCLA defense was horrid. They let opponents roll up 34.8 points per game (116th in the nation). So, while losing a defensive line coach to another program sounds bad, it opens up the possibility for better recruiting and player development.

USC: Kedon Slovis named FWAA Freshman All-American

While the Pac-12 is losing many big-named quarterbacks to the 2020 NFL Draft, young stars like Kedon Slovis and Jayden Daniels are the future of the Pac-12 football. Slovis is the first freshman since Sam Darnold to be named FWAA Freshman All-American. However, Slovis earned that title as a true freshman. He is the first true freshman in USC history to gain that honor. His 3,505 passing yards, 30-to-9 touchdown-to-interception ratio and 71.9-percent completion percentage were outstanding. Slovis is primed for 2020.

Utah: Leki Fotu is getting noticed

There isn’t much news coming out of Utah right now. But at least Leki Fotu is getting draft love. Like Paulson Adebo, defensive lineman Leki Fotu made it on PFF’s 200 Top-100 Draft Board and is ranked 91st on drafttek’s 2020 NFL Draft list.. He is the 12th-best defensive tackle, per Walter Football, and is looking like a quality defensive lineman in the 2020 draft. Pac-12 football players getting drafted is always important for our programs.

Washington: Huskies hire Offensive Coordinator John Donovan

In a peculiar move, the Washington Huskies hired John Donovan as their new offensive coordinator. Donovan, spending his last four years as a Jacksonville Jaguars’ offensive quality control coach, hasn’t been an O.C. since 2014 for Penn State. Additionally, the year after Donovan was fired in Penn State, they went on to win the Big 10 Championship.

After the 2019 season, the Huskies had a huge coaching void. Chris Petersen stepped down and the Dawgs fired Bush Hamden and Jordan Paopao. So, with promoting defensive coordinator Jimmy Lake to head coach, it made it even more important for a quality offensive coordinator. They went with Donovan, who has a lot of question marks and concerns.

Washington State: Mike Leach leaves for Mississippi State

https://unafraidshow.com/mike-leach-heads-to-mississippi-state-what-does-it-mean-for-leach-and-wsu/

As noted by our own article, Mike Leach left the Pac-12 for the SEC. Read the above article for the full breakdown.

Las Vegas Bowl Preview: Chris Petersen will beat his former team

Pac-12 Power Rankings Week 12 Las Vegas Bowl

Chris Petersen faces off against former team in Las Vegas Bowl

Call it bittersweet, but Chris Petersen says goodbye to both of his collegiate teams in the Las Vegas Bowl. In his fourteen years as a head coach, Petersen split it between Boise State and Washington. Eight years for the Broncos. Six years for the Huskies. With both, he significantly raised their success and ceiling.

https://unafraidshow.com/chris-petersen-washington-huskies-passes-on-a-far-better-program/

To say the least, Petersen had an illustrious career with both programs. In his time with them, he’s responsible for the Broncos and Huskies best seasons of recent history. To each, he’s a coaching titan.

But now, after stepping down due to anxiety and quality of life, Petersen’s final game is match-up between the two teams he holds most dear. And the two programs that hold him most dear.

So, a question remains: Can coach Petersen shrug off his familial ties with the Broncos and lead the Huskies to a Las Vegas Bowl victory?

Las Vegas Bowl Match-up by the Numbers

Boise State

  • 12 wins, 1 loss
  • 0.39 (No. 29) DFEI, per footballoutsiders
  • 36.8 (No. 14) points-per-game
  • 20.6 (No. 24) points-against-per-game
  • -3.19 (No. 95) Strength of Schedule
  • 10.74 (No. 24) Simple Rating System, per sports-reference
  • 267 passing yards per game
  • 174 rushing yards per game
  • 33 pass attempts to 39 rush attempts per game
  • 234 passing yards-allowed-per-game
  • 34 pass attempts-allowed-per-game
  • 113 rush yards-allowed-per-game
  • 32 rush attempts-allowed-per-game
  • -0.3 in turnover battle

Washington

  • 7 wins, 5 losses
  • 0.49 (No. 20) DFEI, per footballoutsiders
  • 31.5 (No. 48) points-per-game
  • 20.4 (No. 23) points-against-per-game
  • -2.6 (No. 45) Strength of Schedule
  • 11.10 (No. 22) Simple Rating System, per sports-reference
  • 245 passing yards per game
  • 152 rushing yards per game
  • 31.5 pass attempts to 35 rush attempts per game
  • 225 passing yards-allowed-per-game
  • 35 pass attempts-allowed-per-game
  • 133 rush yards-allowed-per-game
  • 34 rush attempts-allowed-per-game
  • -0.4 in turnover battle

Boise State won’t go down easy

First off, it’s important to remember that Boise State nearly went undefeated heading into bowl season. They narrowly lost to BYU 25-28 in October. If not for that loss, the Broncos could be vying for a third undefeated season this century.

Keep in mind, Boise State’s road to the Las Vegas Bowl wasn’t simple. They started three different quarterbacks this season due to injuries. Yet, even with the bad luck, they still went 12-1 with 36.8 (No. 14 in FBS) points-per-game. Coach Bryan Harsin created an excellent offensive system with interchangeable pieces. Each and every year, Boise State proves that they can win on offense no matter what playmakers they have. It’s an outstanding program.

Because of this high-powered scoring, they are always a threat to score over 30 points and keep games competitive. The Huskies need to respect this offense and Jimmy Lake has his work cut out for him.

Washington’s has advantages in the Las Vegas Bowl

Strength of Schedule

Although Boise State’s 12-1 record is far above Washington’s 7-5 record, context must be added. According to Sports Reference, Boise State’s negative-3.19 Strength of Schedule ranks 95th in the FBS, while Washington’s negative-2.6 ranks 45th. Because of this, the Huskies 11.10 Simple Rating System ranks 22nd, just ahead of the Broncos’ 10.74 SRS (24th). Yes, Boise State almost went undefeated. But, opponents matter.

Explosive Offensive Plays

Opponents are the first advantage of Washington. Washington has been tested. Granted, they lost five games this season. But, going up against top Pac-12 defenses and still churning out 31.5 points-per-game is impressive. Now, instead of going against a Utah or Oregon defense, the Dawgs get Boise State in the Las Vegas Bowl. As shown in the Apple Cup, Washington is comfortable letting quarterback Jacob Eason let it fly.

Downfield throws are a large part of the Huskies offense. If the Huskies can execute a similar scheme to the Apple Cup victory, they should do well. In that game, they:

  • Let Eason take deep shots
  • Utilized young talent
  • Mixed up pass-to-rush ratio
  • Went for it on fourth downs

They were aggressive and came to play. In order to beat Boise State, they’ll have to do the same. Thankfully, Boise State’s defense is nothing compared to some of the Pac-12 opponents Washington already faced this season. Yes, missing Hunter Bryant will hurt. He’s the team’s leading receiver. However, with rising play-makers like Terrell Bynum and Cade Otton, Eason should have a capable receiving corps to throw to.

Washington’s Defensive Prowess

Defensive coordinator Jimmy Lake (soon to be head coach), put together another strong Washington defense. Per Football Outsiders, the Huskies rank 20th in DFEI and allow just 20.4 (No. 23) points-per-game. Additionally, the Huskies are in the top-40 in yards-allowed-per-game and explosive plays allowed.

As shown in their deafening win against Washington State, Lake’s defense can make plays. Players like Joe Tryon are stepping up for the Huskies. His 8 sacks and 12.5 tackles for a loss display the Dawgs strength. If UW football wants to win the Las Vegas Bowl, they’ll have to make life difficult for the Broncos’ high-powered offense. Tryon needs to get to the quarterback and UW’s secondary needs to cover. They made it look easy against Washington State.

But, as said above, Boise State’s offense is their success. The Broncos will come to play. However, if Lake’s defense can keep Boise State under 25 points, the Huskies should win. That, based on their stats against Pac-12 competition, is completely doable.

Reigning Purple and Gold in Vegas

Although Chris Petersen’s UW tenure shows a struggle at the finish line, he now has his big moment. In his six seasons with the Huskies, he’s brought them to six consecutive bowls. However, so far, he’s lost four of five. This is his time to finish his coaching career on a brilliant note. Beat his former team, end his Washington career as a hero and ride off into the sunset.

Chris Petersen lifted the Huskies and now passes on a far better program

Chris Petersen Washington Huskies

Now that the dust has settled with Chris Petersen’s surprise step-down

It’s been almost two weeks since Chris Petersen announced his intention to step down. Washington Huskies football fans are still spinning in confusion and remorse. But, after reflecting, Petersen’s impact on UW football is massive and it will still reign purple and gold.

Chris Petersen’s brought championships to UW

From 2004 to 2008, the Huskies were in awful form. Their season records were as follows:

  • 2004: 1 and 10
  • 2005: 2 and 9
  • 2006: 5 and 7
  • 2007: 4 and 9
  • 2008: 0 and 12

After that, the Dawgs got Steve Sarkisian as a head coach and he led them back to being a good, not great team. Sarkisian ended the seven-year bowl-drought for UW and that was a huge accomplishment. While his 34 and 29 record wasn’t amazing, it was a step in the right direction.

Then, in 2014, the UW football program lucked out and stole Chris Petersen away from Boise State. He kept what Sarkisian started and added to it.

From 2016 to 2018, the Huskies were on another level.

  • Three straight seasons with at least ten wins
  • Two Pac-12 Championships
  • Three straight NY6 Bowls
  • One College Football Playoff berth

Additionally, he set a record for the most games won by UW football in a four-year stretch. From 2015-2018, they totaled 39 wins. However, if Chris Petersen’s Huskies get a Las Vegas Bowl victory, he will set the record again with 40 wins from 2016-2019.

With Petersen at the helm, the Huskies were Pac-12 Champions, routinely top-25 ranked and demanded respect. He rejuvenated the UW program and brought success. His leadership and coaching were instrumental to the purple and gold.

Perfect in Apple Cups

For true Dawgs, the Apple Cup is a huge priority. Friends, colleagues and even family are torn apart each year because of the UW-WSU rivalry. It’s serious business.

Conquering Washington State is always both a delight and a must. But, Chris Petersen did it with perfection. In his six Apple Cups, UW:

  • Won six out of six times
  • Scored 221 points (36.83-per-game)
  • Held WSU to 82 points (13.67-per-game)

Although Washington State might be glad that he’s stepping down, they unfortunately still have to face Jimmy Lake.

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Passes the Huskies torch to highly sought-after Jimmy Lake

After the Huskies lost the Rose Bowl last year to the Ohio State Buckeyes, it was a shock that Washington retained Jimmy Lake. Lake was a sought-after defensive coordinator for a head-coaching job. He certainly garnered attention.

However, with the news of Chris Petersen stepping down, it makes more sense. This step-down was a surprise to everyone outside of the UW program. But, it remains a mystery whether Peterson, Lake or other staff knew. Nonetheless, this is excellent news for Washington football. Lake’s defensive coaching is a large part of UW’s success in recent years. Though he’ll create his own culture at UW with the absence of Petersen, promoting Lake was a calculated move. It keeps the successful environment intact.

Washington Huskies Top Recruiter

As of today, Washington’s 2020’s recruiting class ranks 1st in the Pac-12 and 15th nationally.

247Sports Recruiting Profile

With the staff and culture Chris Petersen built, it set them up for top-recruiting. From 2018 to 2020, Washington’s ranked 16th, 15th and 15th nationally.

It’s no surprise either. Remember that the University of Washington is a historic program. Since 1889, they’ve won seventeen conference championships, seven Rose Bowls and two NCCA recognized national championships. Combining that history with Chris Petersen’s leadership and success is the perfect base for recruiting.

Additionally, Chris Petersen’s athletes are doing well in the NFL. Over the last five years, NFL teams drafted 24 Washington athletes and there are currently 33 Dawgs on NFL rosters. Petersen created a winning environment in Washington that also led to the NFL draft. What’s not to love?

But, with Petersen stepping down, there’s a large fear that his recruiting success leaves with him. However, recent signs show otherwise. As of this Wednesday, zero of their 21 commits de-committed. Additionally, it’s been Jimmy Lake’s already been involved in the recruiting process with Petersen. As a proper head coach does, they delegate. So, positional coaches and Jimmy Lake already have practice in the recruiting process.

Moreover, Jimmy Lake’s defensive brilliance will aid his recruiting of defensive talent. The “Jimmy Lake Defense” is a known quantity in Montlake and well-respected. Currently, there are eight defensive backs in the NFL that had Jimmy Lake as a coach. Also, the Huskies defense, in an off-year, still rank 24th-best in scoring. If Washington hires a promising offensive coordinator, their recruiting will continue their reign.

Wishing you the best of luck and healing Chris Petersen

Say what you want about stepping down during your prime, but Chris Petersen made a choice for his quality of life. His decision was praised by Seahawks coach, Pete Carroll. Carroll, who can empathize with coaching an elite, college program.

“The college thing is really, really demanding in terms of the constant recruiting pressure and strain,’’ Carroll said. “It’s really the strain of it. It just doesn’t go away. You’re on the next year always anyway. It’s just an ongoing process. That’s one part of it.”

Pete Carroll

With the way college football programs are set up now, it’s easy to see burnout in coaches. Petersen said it himself that he didn’t enjoy the Rose Bowl like he should have.

“You work your whole life to get to (the Rose Bowl),” he said, “and I didn’t really appreciate the week. I didn’t appreciate the game like I need to, you know, as a kid growing up looking at that game. I think that was one of the things that really hit me loud and clear. So, you know, you start to pay attention to that. Then you go and you put your heart and soul into what you’re doing.”

Chris Petersen Quote

So, with all that Chris Petersen has given the Huskies, let’s wish him the best. Football was his life. But, football also was the cause of constant stress, anxiety, missed expectations, demands, pressure, and exhaustion. It’s time for Petersen to take a break and recovery. Whether or not he ever coaches a football team again, he’s done enough with UW football to earn his status as a lifetime Husky.

The Best Pac-12 NFL Players: Week 14’s Performers from Each School

Pac-12 NFL Players

Zach Ertz and Marcus Peters show how clutch Pac-12 NFL athletes are

Unfortunately, Week 14 was not like last week’s edition of the Best Pac-12 NFL Players. We didn’t see the special teams and defensive touchdowns like we were afforded. Nonetheless, there was still great representation from our conference in Week 14.

The Big List of Pac-12 NFL Performers, College by College

Arizona

Will Parks – Denver Broncos

Down 38-24, with 23 seconds left, Will Parks picked off Deshaun Watson to seal the game. Granted, this was garbage time, but it was still a nice moment for Broncos fans.

Against the Texans, Parks and the Broncos defense played an exceptional game. They racked up three turnovers and helped get the Broncos a 38-3 lead. During this win, Parks totaled five tackles, one pass break-up and one interception.

Arizona State

Damarious Randall – Cleveland Browns

Thankfully, Damarious Randall and Freddie Kitchens are back on good terms. After staying home while the rest of the team went to Pittsburgh, Randall once again got the start.

In this game, his 100-percent snap-share displays that Kitchens and the team worked things out with Randall. On the season, Randall has 40 tackles, 4 pass break-ups, 2 sacks and owns a 70.0 PFF Grade. He’s a great defensive asset. 

With his five tackles and coverage play, Randall helped the Browns stay in the playoff hunt.

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Cal

Jared Goff – Los Angeles Rams

In the lights of Sunday Night, Jared Goff played well. Though he wasn’t perfect, throwing two interceptions (and one pick-six) to Quandre Diggs, Goff got that W.

Russell Wilson and the Seahawks were the favorite and led the division. However, Goff threw for 293 yards, while leading the Rams to four touchdowns. They protected Goff and he paid off with a modest, nonetheless critical, 95.2 Passer Rating.

Colorado

David Bakhtiari – Green Bay Packers

Yes, the Packers gave up four sacks against Washington and Rodgers only mustered 195 passing yards. However, David Bakhtiari and the Packers offensive line also blocked for 174 rushing yards.

Aaron Jones took 16 carries for a season-high 134 yards, while Jamaal Williams added 24 and Rodgers 16. Bakhtiari is a fan-favorite and he’s a staple of the Packers offense.

Oregon

Troy Hill – Los Angeles Rams

Currently, Troy Hill is in great form. His 77.9 PFF Grade displays his upside and why he was a smart extension by the Rams. He’s made big plays and helped the Rams win three of their last four games.

In their Sunday night win against the Seahawks, Troy Hill stepped up bigtime as a Pac-12 NFL athlete. He broke up two passes, totaled three tackles and came down with an interception. It was a great day to be a Rams fan. 

Oregon State

Jordan Poyer

If there’s one thing Jordan Poyer is, it’s a sure-tackler. Poyer takes players down. Even though the Bills lost to the Ravens, it was still a close game.

Poyer and the Bills defense held Lamar Jackson’s offense to just 24 points. Somehow, against the number one team in the league, the Bills lost by just one touchdown. It’s a statement to Buffalo’s defense right now.

Stanford

Zach Ertz – Philadelphia Eagles

Yes, it was against the 11 and 2 Giants. But still, Zach Ertz came up big. It’s why he earned a top-spot on Unafraidshow’s Pac-12 NFL list.

On a night where the Eagles were completely depleted at wide receiver, Ertz stepped up. He caught 9 of 13 targets for 91 yards and two critical touchdowns. 

However, we still can’t ignore this laughable moment from Zach Ertz.

UCLA

Kenny Clark – Green Bay Packers

Geez. Kenny Clark is an animal. So strong, powerful. An absolute force to be reckoned with.

At 6-foot-3, 314lbs, it’s impressive how much he can move. He threw Washington lineman aside like dolls and earned 1.5 sacks.

USC

Robert Woods – Los Angeles Rams

Back-to-back-to-back-to-back big weeks for Robert Woods. In his last four games, Woods has at least 6 receptions and 95 receiving yards. His four-week streak includes:

  • 33 Receptions
  • 462 Receiving Yards
  • 29 Rushing Yards
  • 23 First Downs
  • One well-deserved touchdown

Thank goodness Woods finally found the paydirt. And at the Coliseum, too! What better way to please the Pac-12 NFL fanatics than a USC-alumni touchdown at the Coliseum?

Robert Woods continues to stay hot as the Rams fight their way back to relevance.

Utah

Sam Tevi – Los Angeles Chargers

45 to 10. Dominant.

At Jacksonville, the Chargers completely controlled the game. During their big win, Sam Tevi played 90-percent of snaps. He was a big contributor to their 195 yards rushing and two rushing touchdowns. Additionally, they only let Jacksonville sack Rivers once. Tevi had himself a great game.

Washington

Marcus Peters – Baltimore Ravens

Big-time players make plays in clutch moments. That’s exactly who and what Marcus Peters is… Clutch.

Even though the Rams gave him away to the Ravens, he is playing elite football. Every Pac-12 NFL fan see his level of play. His 85.1 PFF Grade on the season and three pass break-ups against the Bills display this. Peters is right at home on the Ravens. Their secondary is the best in the league and the Rams management have to regret that trade.

Washington State

Gardner Minshew – Jacksonville Jaguars

In a blowout loss, Minshew threw for a humble (very humble) 162 yards and one touchdown. But, it certainly wasn’t enough to combat the Chargers’ offense and the Jaguars’ defensive woes.

Honestly, to those that watched the game, it felt like the Jaguars defense phoned this one in. The Chargers ran and passed all over the Jaguars. Jacksonville didn’t have their heart in the game.

Granted, that’s much easier to say coming from the comfort of my own home, while not actually playing football. And we know players like Gardner Minshew gave it their all. It’s just too much on Minshew’s shoulders. He’s shown excellent upside this season, but with injured pass-catchers and a porous defense, it’s too much.

Miss Week 13’s Top Pac-12 NFL Performances?

https://unafraidshow.com/best-pac-12-nfl-players-week-13-performers-2019/

The Best Pac-12 NFL Players: Week 13’s Performers from Each School

Defensive and Special Teams Touchdowns Highlight Pac-12 NFL Upside

In this week’s edition, we were graced with incredible play. Vita Vea impressed last week, but week 13 was a treat for football fans! Trick plays, blocked kicks, and unbelievable defensive plays highlight the Pac-12 NFL Players Week 13.

The Big List of Pac-12 NFL Performers, College by College

Arizona

Dane Cruikshank – Tennessee Titans

With 5 minutes remaining in a tied game, the Indianapolis Colts lined up to take the lead. That field goal would give them a 20-17 lead over the Titans. However, Dane Cruikshank thwarted their plans.

Although Cruikshank is primarily a special teams player, he’s made his mark. Players dream of blocking a single kick, let alone two in one season. For his special teams efforts, he climbs to the top of Arizona’s Pac-12 NFL bests.

Arizona State

Matt Haack – Miami Dolphins

Obviously, this wasn’t the best play in NFL history. But, it made for an insane highlight and contributed to a huge upset. How are these Miami Dolphins 3-and-9 and beating teams like the Philadelphia Eagles?

With this touchdown pass, Matt Haack and Jason Sanders etched their names in the record books. This was the first time in NFL history that a pure punter completed a touchdown pass to a kicker. Unbelievable!

Cal

Cameron Jordan – New Orleans Saints

Cameron Jordan is a wrecking ball. His four sacks against the Atlanta Falcons tied a Saints record for sacks in a game. Wayne Martin, in 1997, was the last Saints player to accomplish this feat.

After this monster performance, Jordan set his career-best in sacks (13.5). His 87.3 PFF grade is creeping up to elite once again. If he continues his dominance, he’ll decisively be Cal’s 2019 best Pac-12 NFL player.

Colorado

Jimmy Smith – Baltimore Ravens

Against the San Francisco 49ers, Jimmy Smith allowed just 3 receptions for 38 scoreless yards on 6 targets. It was another shut-down game for him.

Since returning from injury, Smith is playing at an exceptional level. His plus-33.7 Coverage Rating and 52-percent Catch Rate Allowed are exactly what the Ravens needed. Combined with the current form of Marcus Peters and you’ve got a Super Bowl secondary.

Oregon

DeForest Buckner – San Francisco 49ers

In a potential Super Bowl preview, DeForest Buckner and the 49ers held Lamar Jackson’s Ravens to just 20 points. In the game, Buckner played 83-percent of snaps and totaled six tackles. 

Also, Buckner got the credit for one sack against Lamar Jackson. As everyone is aware, Jackson is the most elusive quarterback in the league. Getting him down is always worth recognition. Great performance by this Pac-12 NFL player.

Oregon State

Jordan Poyer – Buffalo Bills

On Thanksgiving Day, the Buffalo Bills feasted on the Dallas Cowboys. Their defense held the Cowboys to just 15 points. Although he ended up compiling 355 yards and two touchdowns, he did so on 49 attempts. In addition, the Bills sacked Prescott four times and intercepted him once.

At AT&T Stadium, Jordan Poyer did his regular thing. He totaled five tackles, including stuffing one run. His 73.0 PFF grade displays his contribution to pass and run defense.

Stanford

Richard Sherman – San Francisco 49ers

Right now, Richard Sherman is playing incredible football. At age 31, his form is perfect as he and the San Francisco 49ers vie for the NFC West.

Against Baltimore Ravens, Sherman not only locked down coverage but tallied seven tackles. His tackling will always be an underrated aspect of his game. Even though Richard Sherman is credited with 20 receptions allowed, he only let receivers gain 105 yards. Unreal. His close-down ability and tackling is most impressive.

Also, of note is Richard Sherman’s off-the-field work.

UCLA

Fabian Moreau – Washington Redskins

Since Josh Norman’s injury, Fabian Moreau has played exceptionally. Moving him from the slot corner to outside corner was a great move. 

In his last two games, Moreau has three interceptions. He’s exactly the type of developmental player Washington needs for their future.

USC

Robert Woods – Los Angeles Rams

After starting off the season slow, Robert Woods is heating up during the Rams playoff push. His last three games include:

  • 7 receptions for 95 yards
  • 6 receptions for 97 yards
  • 13 receptions for 172 yards

Against Arizona, Woods torched the coverage. He now has 835 yards and looks to surpass 1,000 yards for the second time in his career.

Utah

Marcus Williams – New Orleans Saints

Although Star Lotolelei got his first career interception, Marcus Williams still remains the best Pac-12 NFL player out of Utah. On the season, he’s allowed just 9 receptions on 17 targets, while also intercepting four passes. 

Additionally, Williams is a sure-tackler. He managed seven tackles against the Atlanta Falcons. His 91.0 PFF grade displays an elite safety and the Saints are lucky to have him.

Washington

Taylor Rapp – Los Angeles Rams

He could. Go. All. The. Way!

Welcome to the big leagues Taylor Rapp! In a dominant win against Arizona, Rapp earned his first career interception and touchdown. He now totals 47 tackles, 7 pass break-ups, 4 stuffed runs, and one pick-six. Rapp has a bright future ahead of him.

Washington State

Gardner Minshew – Jacksonville Jaguars

The mustache is back! In everyone’s best interest, Gardner Minshew is once again the starting quarterback of the Jaguars. After Nick Foles committed his third turnover in three drives, the crowd chanted “We want Minshew.”

While Minshew couldn’t lift the Jaguars to a victory against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, he’ll look to beat the Los Angeles Chargers this weekend.

Miss Week 12’s Top Pac-12 NFL Performances?

https://unafraidshow.com/the-best-pac-12-nfl-players-week-12s-performers-from-each-school/

True-Freshman Jayden Daniels is the Future of Pac-12 Football

Arizona State University Recruits Jayden Daniels

On December 13th, 2018, Arizona State’s Christmas present came early. Jayden Daniels, ASU’s highest-rated recruit in 247sports history, committed. The four-star recruit out of San Bernardino was their future.

But, this August, Daniels didn’t wait to impress. As a true freshman, he won the starting job. Herm Edwards put his confidence in Daniels and he hasn’t disappointed. Jayden Daniels is impressive.

Jayden Daniels’ Dual-Threat Ability

After committing to ASU, fans quickly realized that Jayden Daniels was dangerous. In his senior year at Cajon High School, Daniels averaged:

  • 322.5 passing yards-per-game
  • 4.3 passing touchdowns-per-game
  • 109.7 rushing yards-per-game
  • 1.14 rushing touchdowns-per-game

Once he hit the Pac-12, he quickly displayed his elusive abilities. Right away, he was dodging collegiate defenders and taking the ball himself.

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https://twitter.com/YotesGlendale/status/1201005289165639680

As every NFL fan knows, Lamar Jackson is the NFL-MVP front-runner. Due to his elite rushing ability, he’s on a historic run. Intelligently, John Harbaugh and the Ravens leaned into Jackson’s dual-threat ability. Which is so smart. It maximized their chance to win. If Daniels continues to progress, he can hope for a Jackson-like career arch.

Willingness to Throw Downfield

Remember, Jayden Daniels is a true-freshman. Even so, Daniels is playing aggressive and confident football. His 8.9 Yards-Per-Attempt ranks 13th in the nation. Stunningly, his 9.7 Adjusted-Yards-Per-Attempt ranks 10th. The only Pac-12 quarterback to best him in both is Tyler Huntley, who is still playing like the best quarterback in the conference.

https://twitter.com/YotesGlendale/status/1198439302343979010

Protecting the Football

In the 2019 season, Jayden Daniels threw the ball 310 times. Though he’s been aggressive, Daniels only has two interceptions this season. He’s taken care of the ball. How many young quarterbacks can’t say the same? His 153.5 (No. 19 in the nation) Passing Efficiency Rating displays his secure, yet effective passing style.

Jayden Daniels Upsets Oregon to Show Ceiling

Somehow, against the No.6-ranked Oregon Ducks, Jayden Daniels led the Sun Devils to a win. He threw for 408 yards and 3 touchdowns. In the fourth quarter, he hit Brandon Aiyuk for an 81-yard bomb to seal the victory.

Against Oregon, Daniels showed up in a big way. And Oregon’s defense is great. His Sun Devils put up 31 points. Additionally, Daniels didn’t throw a single interception. Oregon also only sacked him twice. His 206.8 Passing Efficiency Rating against Oregon shows Daniels’ massive upside. Not only did he beat Oregon, he destroyed their playoff hopes. That dagger to Aiyuk was fantastic for him. But, it was devastating to the Ducks.

As an 18-year-old, he’s already proved himself. Very few players bring his raw talent. In future years, get ready for an explosive campaign from Daniels.

2019 Apple Cup Full Breakdown: WSU Fizzles and UW Dominates

WSU Started Out Hot

Even though the Apple Cup was in Seattle, the Washington State Cougars began with a bang. They took the ball 81 yards down the field on a patient, 13-play drive. Capping the drive off with a Max Borghi one-yard touchdown, WSU looked great.

Then, the Cougars defense sacked Jacob Eason on his first offensive play. They held strong and forced the Huskies to a three-and-out on their first possession. Ball goes back to the Cougs and they’re already leading 7-0.

The stage was set for a WSU upset in the Apple Cup. Anthony Gordon looked comfortable, patient and was willing to take what the defense gave him. Mike Leach schemed up open looks and it was perfect weather for the Air Raid offense. 41 degrees, sunny and no wind.

But, everything changed after that.

Anthony Gordon’s Dreadful Apple Cup Performance

Although Gordon’s 103.0 Passing Efficiency Rating against Utah in Week 5 was poor, that was at least against an elite defense and the Pac-12’s best team. But, even though the Washington Huskies played exceptionally well, they are no Utah. Somehow, the Huskies held Gordon to 308 yards and zero touchdowns on 62 attempts, while intercepting two of his passes. So why did Gordon struggle so much in this Apple Cup?

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Offensive Line Issues

Up until the Apple Cup, Washington State ranked first in the FBS in Sack Rate, per footballoutsiders. Their 2.1-percent Sack Rate was phenomenal. Keeping Anthony Gordon upright was standard procedure. Just 13 sacks on 585 attempts. Their line was top-notch.

However, against the Huskies, they fell apart. Washington consistently pressured Gordon and sacked him five times. In just one game, they accounted for 28-percent of all sacks against WSU this season. Joe Tryon, Edeguan Ulofoshio and Ryan Bowman took Gordon down for negative-45 yards and a forced fumble on their five sacks.

Even more impressive, they delivered back-to-back sacks on the Cougars fourth drive. After starting out leading 7-0 and playing with a lead, Gordon’s fourth drive was a nightmare. Down 10-14, sacked twice in a row and throwing from his own end zone on 3rd-and-27. The Huskies manhandled WSU’s line time and time again.

UW’s Secondary

Even after a poor Apple Cup showing, Anthony Gordon still leads the FBS in passing yards (5,228) and touchdowns (45). In fact, his 5,228 passing yards is almost 1,000 yards better than Joe Burrow’s second-ranked 4,366 yards. Yet, against UW, he couldn’t get anything going after their opening drive.

Check-Down King

Call it preparation, home-field advantage or the Chris Petersen edge. Whatever it is, the Cougars consistently fail in the Apple Cup. In Peterson’s own words. the Cougars “run the same offense every week.” Because of this, preparation was simple and all the Huskies needed to do was execute their game-plan.

In their game plan, they often dropped eight into coverage and only rushed three. UW’s secondary gave up nothing deep and forced Gordon to check passes down. It was a rare occasion to see even an attempt, let alone a reception downfield. Instead, Max Borghi led the team with 12 receptions. Then, when Gordon actually tried to make something happen, he threw into a sea of defenders.

Offensively, the Cougars came into the Apple Cup with all the counting stats. But, UW matched up in perfection. They covered downfield, gave their defensive line time to get to Gordon, forced everything short and kept Gordon fearful of taking shots.

Jacob Eason Let’s it Fly in the Apple Cup

Unlike Anthony Gordon, Jacob Eason and the Huskies were willing to take chances downfield. And it paid off in spectacular fashion.

Though Jacob Eason started off the game with a sack, a deep incompletion and a three-and-out, he kept his gunslinger attitude. He took advantage of Terrell Bynum’s speed and hit him for 57-yards on their first touchdown drive.

More importantly, Eason and the Huskies maintained their confidence, even with more issues. Remember that Eason started off the game with a three-and-out, missing on a deep shot. Then, in the second quarter, he overthrew a wide-open Hunter Bryant and was then bailed out on a deep overthrow because of a penalty. Aside from his earlier 57-yard connection with Bynum, it appeared that Eason’s inaccuracy was hurting the Huskies. But, they continued to put faith in Eason and their receivers.

Again and again, it paid dividends. While the Cougars lacked downfield threats or ability, the Huskies took advantage of their Apple Cup matchup. Not only that, but UW finally utilized their talent properly. Hunter Bryant led the team in receptions and yards, which completely makes sense given his talent.

But, unlike prior games where Aaron Fuller and Chico McClatcher took up targets and space, sophomores Terrell Bynum and Cade Otton got involved. Their combined 6 receptions for 123 yards and one touchdown were huge. They made play after play, getting first downs, yards after the catch, or making difficult catches.

The Huskies Won the Apple Cup by Sticking with Their Gunslinger

It took Anthony Gordon 62 attempts to reach 308 passing yards. On the opposite sideline, Eason threw just 22 times, but compiled 244 yards and led his team to four touchdowns. The Huskies leaned into Eason’s gunslinging style and schemed up ways to get his receivers one-on-one matchups downfield. Even though Eason missed some throws and Bryant and Bynum dropped passes, they stuck with it.

Unlike this, the Cougars collapsed and failed to adjust. Gordon was afraid to throw it deep and continued to dump it off to his safety valves. His passes routinely traveled to the short-middle or the flats.

If Mike Leach ever wants to win an Apple Cup, he needs to make adjustments and have a backup plan. It was clear that he didn’t have that on Friday.

The Best Pac-12 NFL Players: Week 12’s Performers From Each School

Pac-12 NFL Players

Vita Vea displayed versatility to headline Pac-12 NFL standouts

This week in football, Pac-12 NFL fans were treated to a rare gem: a 347-pound player scoring an offensive touchdown. Everyone loves it when defensive players catch touchdown passes. Who else joined Vita Vea with top Pac-12 NFL Week 12 performances?

The Big List of Pac-12 NFL Performers, College by College

Arizona

Nick Foles – Jacksonville Jaguars

Honestly, it’s a tough year for Arizona. Each and every week, it’s a difficult school to find Pac-12 NFL talent. This week, Foles was alright. Not great. But not horrible. He completed 66.7-percent of his passes for 272 yards, zero touchdowns and zero interceptions. It’s weeks like this that make fans wish the Jags would have stuck with Gardner Minshew.

However, there aren’t any significant Arizona options in the NFL right now. Therefore, it’s Nick Foles beating a low bell-curve. 

Arizona State

N’Keal Harry – New England Patriots

Now, we’re not going to try and paint N’Keal Harry a Pro-Bowler. But, he reached a big milestone this Sunday. In the first quarter, N’Keal Harry caught the game’s lone touchdown. It was his very first touchdown and hopefully there will be many more. 

In college, N’Keal Harry’s 43.9-percent (89th-percentile) College Dominator and 18.7 (95th-percentile) Breakout Age were collegiate elite. Combine that with a 134.5 (98th-percentile) SPARK-x Score and first-round draft pedigree. All to go along with playing snaps for the New England Patriots dynasty. N’Keal Harry’s stock will only go up from here.

Cal

Mychal Kendricks – Seattle Seahawks

11 solo tackles. Against the Philadelphia Eagles, Mychal Kendricks was a sure-tackler. He locked up the middle of the field and helped keep the Eagles to just 9 points. 

Kendricks also made one tackle for a loss. It wasn’t a pretty win for the Seahawks. But, it was a win nonetheless. And, the defense held up well to a receiver-less Eagles offense. Kendricks double-digit tackle total was a large part of that win.

Colorado

Jimmy Smith – Baltimore Ravens

Earlier this season, the Baltimore Ravens secondary was exploitable. Now, with the addition of Marcus Peters and a healthy Jimmy Smith, the Ravens are once again difficult to face. On Monday night, the Ravens dominated the Rams.

In their easy win, Jimmy Smith made big plays. Not only did he sack quarterback Jared Goff, but he intercepted the ball to seal the game. Jimmy Smith is a great Pac-12 NFL representative. 

Oregon

Arik Armstead – San Francisco 49ers

Oh my. All quarterbacks should fear Arik Armstead. Incredibly, Armstead hit quarterback Aaron Rodgers four times and sacked him twice. His defensive pressure is a great asset for the San Francisco 49ers.

On the season, Armstead now has:

  • 10 Sacks
  • 13 Quarterback Hits
  • 38 Tackles
  • 10 Tackles for a Loss
  • 2 Forced Fumbles
  • One Fumble Recovery
  • 88.8 PFF Grade

Oregon State

Steven Nelson – Pittsburgh Steelers

https://twitter.com/Nelson_Island/status/1199001228581253125

This year, Steven Nelson is low-key having a great season. He’s top-24 in Player Profiler’s Coverage Rating, Receptions Allowed, Catch Rate Allowed and Yards Allowed. Additionally, Nelson owns a 77.2 PFF grade.

It’s a great year for him. Against 42 targets, he’s allowed just 20 receptions. He’s an underrated corner climbing to the top of his game. Sitting at six and five, the Steelers are on the hunt for a playoff spot. They need Nelson to keep churning out solid games.

Stanford

Christian McCaffrey – Carolina Panthers

It’s just not fair. No one can tackle Christian McCaffrey one-on-one. Even against a stout defense with a backup quarterback, McCaffrey finds a way to score. Although the Saints held him to just 64 yards on 22 carries, he still added 9 receptions for 69 yards a touchdown.

Almost every week, McCaffrey climbs to the top of Pac-12 NFL performers. He’s such a unique talent at the position. His combination of power, agility and pass-catching keep him at the top of running back lists.

UCLA

Fabian Moreau – Washington Redskins

Up until this game, Fabian Moreau played mostly slot-corner in the NFL. However, moved to outside cornerback against the Lions, he was finally able to show off his skillset. On the day, Moreau racked up six tackles and two pass break-ups. 

But, his biggest plays came on his two interceptions. Moreau displayed an ability to jump routes and track the deep-ball. Moreover, he did what many corners can’t. He held onto the ball and earned his team possession. Well done Mr. Moreau.

USC

Sam Darnold – New York Jets

It’s been an up and down season for the Jets. But, just like last season, Sam Darnold is closing out the season well. This time, he torched the Oakland Raiders and didn’t let off the gas. 

Darnold accumulated:

  • 315 Passing Yards
  • 2 Passing Touchdowns
  • 16 Rushing Yards
  • One Rushing Touchdown

His 83.5 QBR and 127.8 Passer Rating were both season highs. Darnold and the Jets are now on a three-game win streak. Also, keep in mind that Darnold is still only 22 years old. We still have years to go with this young, Pac-12 NFL quarterback. Provided he doesn’t get Mono again next season, New York has it’s quarterback.

Utah

Star Lotulelei – Buffalo Bills

Although his stat line from Week 11 was more impressive, Star Lotulelei had another impactful game in Week 12. Against the Denver Broncos, Lotulelei recorded another solo sack. Back-to-back weeks with a full sack. In his seven-year career, Lotulelei’s career-best is four sacks in 2016. 

It would be nice to see him beat that total by closing out the year with a streak. Granted, his sacks came against Miami and Denver. So, it’s highly unlikely that he’ll be able to continue this fun. However, in the final quarter of the NFL season, why not root for an underdog?

Washington

Vita Vea – Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Everyone loves it when the big guy scores. And Vita Vea is one large, athletic specimen. Standing at 6-foot-4 and weighing in at 347lbs, Vea is a monster of a man. 

In their win against Atlanta, Vea caught a one-yard pass from Jameis Winston for the touchdown. That puts his career catch percentage at 100-percent. Of course it’s just one target. But, it’s reminiscent of Mike Vrable’s receiving.

Additionally, Vita Vea managed to record two tackles, two pass break-ups and one sack. It was an excellent game for the big guy and a highlight Pac-12 NFL fans will be talking about all season.

Washington State

Deone Bucannon – New York Giants

Unfortunately, Deone Bucannon injured his ankle in Week 12’s loss to the Chicago Bears. However, before he left the game, Bucannon recorded five tackles. One of which was an impressive defensive stop against Tarik Cohen. If he didn’t make the stop, Cohen would have likely run for more than just a first down.

In 2019, this was Bucannon’s first game with more than one tackle. During weeks 9, 10 and 12, Bucannon played 36 to 39-percent of defensive snaps. His move from special teams to defense for the New York Giants, along with his five tackles, are a bright spot for Cougar fans.

Miss Week 11’s Top Pac-12 NFL Performances? Read them here:

https://unafraidshow.com/the-best-pac-12-nfl-players-week-11-top-performers-from-each-school/