Jack Follman’s 2021 Top 50 Pac-12 Football Players: 20-11

This group includes some true stars and others on the verge of breaking out

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Posted on June 23, 2021


  By Jack Follman, SuperWest Sports

We’re almost to the Top 10 of our countdown of the Pac-12’s best players going into 2021.

Now we start to get into some true stars in the Conference, and players who are on the verge of truly breaking out, but haven’t quite exploded yet.

Looking at this section of the rankings, the Pac-12 has a deep pool of players who aren’t Heisman candidates, but are very good proven players in the Conference.

20. Rachaad White, Junior Running Back, Arizona State

White emerged as the next great running back to play in Tempe in 2020.

He’s a powerful and fast runner who could be the Pac-12’s best true running back by the end of the season.

A lot of potential here: Almost like a scarier Eno Benjamin.

19. CJ Verdell, Senior Running Back, Oregon

Verdell had a tough 2020 and seemed to struggle with injuries, but he’s easily the Conference’s most-proven running back, having racked up a ton of stats as a freshman and sophomore.

I think he bounces back well in 2021 as he splits carries with a couple of other backs.

18. Travis Dye, Senior Running Back, Oregon

I’ve been beating the drum of Dye all off-season, even though he’s not a big time NFL Draft prospect with crazy measurables.

He’s just a really good, reliable college running back, and he specifically made almost all the big plays for Oregon’s offense in 2020 when they really needed them.

A huge gamer.

17. Nick Ford, Senior Tackle, Utah

Experience has paid off for Ford, who has been starting for the Utes for years.

He’s grown into one of the Conference’s best lineman and a first-team All-Pac-12 player who can play all over the line.

16. Dohnovan West, Junior Center, Arizona State

West has quickly emerged as one of the Pac-12’s best linemen, and he is moving to center, where I think he immediately becomes the best player at the position in the Conference.

He’s an athletic mover who could be the Pac-12’s best overall OL by the end of the season.

15. Jarek Broussard, Junior Running Back, Colorado

Colorado’s Jarek Broussard had a phenomenal season, including a 301-yard game vs. Arizona. | cubuffs.com

Broussard was a breakout star of the COVID season, putting up huge numbers in the limited year.

He’s easily the most-productive returning running back in the Pac-12 from the 2020 season, and could become the next great CU running back in 2021, if he can follow it up with the same level of production.

14. Drake Jackson, Junior Linebacker, USC

I thought Jackson was going to be the next Leonard Williams-level DL when was the best Freshman in the Pac-12 in 2019, but then he moved full-time to linebacker in 2020 and was just alright.

I expect him to bounce back in 2021 and turn back into a star.

13. Chase Lucas, Senior Cornerback, Arizona State