By Jack Follman, SuperWest Sports

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My annual All-Pac-12 Freshmen teams are a good indicator of up-and-coming stars. Most of the players on this list made a significant contribution to their teams in the shortened 2020 season, and should be a legitimate candidate for All-Conference honors next season.

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As always, if you disagree with my choices, I’m happy to debate them on Twitter at @JackFollman.

First-Team Offense

Quarterback: Dylan Morris, Washington – Graded out as the second-best QB in the Pac-12 and led Washington to a division title while being exceptionally efficient all the while.

 

Running Back: Ty Jordan, Utah – Pac-12 Offensive Freshman of the Year and one of the best running backs in the Conference overall. There are no words for the level of tragedy in losing this young superstar.

Running Back: DeaMonte Trayanum, Arizona State – The 5-foot-11, 230-pound newcomer came on big for the Sun Devils, scoring four touchdowns and running for nearly six yards per-carry.

 

Wide Receiver, Bru McCoy, USC – The five-star recruit started to come into his own this season, with more than 20 receptions, 200 yards and two touchdowns. He was best in the Pac-12 Championship Game.

Wide Receiver, Brenden Rice, Colorado – Jerry Rice’s son flashed as a freshman in Boulder. He had two touchdown catches and averaged 20 yards per-reception.

 

 

Tight End: Jake Overman, Oregon State – It was a very quiet year for freshmen tight ends, but Overman had a 19-yard grab and blocked well for the Beavers.

Offensive Lineman: Joshua Gray, Oregon State – Started at left tackle as a true freshman and earned All-Pac-12 honors.

 

 

Offensive Lineman: Sataoa Laumea, Utah – Emerged as maybe the best lineman on a veteran Utah offensive line.

Offensive Lineman: Branson Bragg, Stanford – He looked the part of a future all-Conference Stanford interior lineman like the ones we used to know.

Offensive Lineman: Myles Hinton, Stanford – Another talented young Stanford lineman who looks like he could be turning the corner to being a future standout.

 

Offensive Lineman: Ben Scott, Arizona State – One of just a few freshmen starting offensive linemen in the Conference.

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First-Team Defense

Defensive Lineman: Tuli Tuipulotu, USC – First-Team All-Pac-12 teammate Marlon’s younger brother also broke out in 2020, with more than 20 tackles and two sacks.

 

Defensive Lineman: Evan Bennett, Oregon State – Stepped in for the Beavers up front as a redshirt freshman and helped them improve their defense this year, cracking double-digit tackles.

Defensive Lineman: James Rawls, Oregon State – Another youngster who helped shore up the Beaver defense this year, and has a bright future. He also had double-digit tackles.

 

Defensive Lineman: Tennessee Pututau, Utah – Powerful and effective defensive linemen seem to grow on trees in Salt Lake City, and Pututau looked like another this year, grabbing nearly 10 tackles as a freshman.

Linebacker: Noah Sewell, Oregon – The only choice for Pac-12 Freshman Defensive Player of the Year. Penei’s younger brother looked ready to be a star in his own right from Day One, and he’s already one of the Conference’s best blitzing linebackers.

 

Linebacker: Levani Damuni, Stanford – Had an underrated huge freshman season with more than 40 tackles and an interception, really coming on late in the season.

Linebacker: Sav’ell Smalls, Washington – The five-star recruit didn’t load up the stat box, but he pressured quarterbacks a lot this season and a lot of times may have had sacks had Zion Tupuola-Fetui not gotten there first.

 

Defensive Back: Akili Arnold, Oregon State – The Beavers had a playmaking secondary this year, and Arnold was the best youngster of the group, finishing with 30 tackles.

Defensive Back: Clark Phillips III, Utah – One of the top recruits to ever sign with Utah lived up to his billing in his first season, holding down a starting spot and logging 25 tackles, a pick-six, a fumble recovery, and two passes defended.

 

Defensive Back: Alex Austin, Oregon State – The other standout freshman DB for the Beavers, he had almost 30 tackles and two passes defended in extensive action this season.

Defensive Back: Ayden Hector, Washington State – Hector was an instant impact in his three games for the Cougars, particularly against Oregon, where he recovered two fumbles and snagged an interception.

 

 

First-Team Special Teams

Kicker: Nicholas Barr-Mira, UCLA – Was one of the most accurate kickers in the conference this year.

Punter: Luke Akers, UCLA – Led Pac-12 freshmen in average yards per punt.

 

 

Returner: D.J. Taylor, Arizona State – The only Pac-12 kick returner to take one back for a touchdown this year.

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Second-Team Offense

Quarterback: Jayde de Laura, Washington State
Running Back: Damien Moore, Cal
Running Back: Daniyel Ngata, Arizona State
Wide Receiver: Zeriah Beason, Oregon State
Wide Receiver: La’Vontae Shenault, Colorado
Tight End: Jude Wolfe, USC
Offensive Lineman: Drake Nugent, Stanford
Offensive Lineman: Troy Fautanu, Washington
Offensive Lineman: Courtland Ford, USC
Offensive Lineman: Jonah Monheim, USC
Offensive Lineman: Brayden Rohme, Cal

Second-Team Defense

Defensive Lineman: Kristian Williams, Oregon
Defensive Lineman: Keyon Ware-Hudson, Oregon
Defensive Lineman: Anthonie Cooper, Arizona State
Defensive Lineman: Faatui Tuitele, Washington
Linebacker: Damian Sellers, UCLA
Linebacker: Stephen Herron, Stanford
Linebacker: Sione Fotu, Utah
Defensive Back: Nate Richie, Utah
Defensive Back: Max Williams, USC
Defensive Back: Christian Gonzalez, Colorado
Defensive Back: Craig Woodson, Cal

Second-Team Special Teams

Kicker: Parker Lewis, USC
Punter: Tyler Loop, Arizona
Returner: Gary Bryant Jr., USC