By Jack Follman, SuperWest Sports
June 22, 2021
We’re rolling through the 50-best Pac-12 players going into 2021, and we’re getting to the point where we’re starting to hit some household names and superstars.
These 10 are almost all proven veterans who are leading the way for their teams in their final seasons of college football, but there’s also a budding young superstar in there.
The group is anchored by a huge contingent of really good linebackers who are neck-and-neck with each other, and some of the best players in the country at their position.
30. Evan Fields, Senior Safety, Arizona State
Fields was one of the best safeties in the nation in 2020 and came back for one more season to be part of what should be an excellent Sun Devil secondary.
He does everything really well and is one of the best tacklers in the Conference.
29. Avery Roberts, Senior Linebacker, Oregon State
Roberts is a tackling machine that has become the backbone of the Beaver defense that continues to get better and better.
He’s one of the best reliable and balanced linebackers you will find anywhere in the nation.
28. Kuony Deng, Senior Linebacker, Cal
The scary huge Deng is a monster who is going to terrorize Pac-12 offenses for an extra year.
At 6-foot-6, he’s one of the scariest big athletes in recent Pac-12 history at the linebacker position.
27. Noah Sewell, Freshman Linebacker, Oregon
The sky is the limit for Sewell, and I expect a good jump for him from 2020 to 2021.
He’s already one of the Conference’s best at making plays in the backfield, and he could be the Pac-12’s best linebacker by the end of the season.
26. Cameron Goode, Senior Linebacker, Cal
Speaking of linebackers making plays in the backfield, Goode might actually be the Pac-12’s best pass rushers the past couple of years.
Getting him back for another run is huge for Cal’s defense.
25. Mitchell Agude, Senior Linebacker, UCLA
Agude was one of the highest-graded edge players and linebackers in the Conference in 2020.
He’s a versatile player with great size on the edge who can hold steady against the run and rush the passer.
Expect big things in 2021 after a great 2020.
24. Caleb Johnson, Senior Linebacker, UCLA
Johnson quietly broke out in 2020 as a nasty pass rusher and run stuffer.
I think he’s going to be a breakout star in the Pac-12 in 2021 and make a ton of plays in the backfield.
23. Brant Kuithe, Senior Tight End, Utah
Kuithe had a quiet COVID season but I expect to get back to prolific 2019 form in 2021.
He’s one of the Pac-12’s most unique players as a big, dangerous playmaker who is kind of a mix between a fullback and a tight end.
22. Jermayne Lole, Senior Defensive Tackle, Arizona State
The Conference’s best DT coming back in 2021 has been an underrated, All-Pac-12 stud the past two seasons.
He’s big and powerful and can stuff the run but also rush the passer and play on the edge.
21. Nate Landman, Senior Linebacker, Colorado
Landman has just made so many plays the past three years.
He has more than 250 tackles, 10 sacks, and three interceptions in the past three seasons.
—Other Players in the Top 50 Countdown—
Players 40-31
Players 50-41
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