1. Utah

Karene Reid, Levani Damuni, Lander Barton, Josh Calvert

This is easily the best group for me. It has stars, budding stars, depth, and a track record of being really really good under the current coaching staff.

2. USC

Mason Cobb, Shane Lee, Eric Gentry, Raesjon Davis

The Trojans have a nice new veteran leader here with Cobb transferring in from Oklahoma State and two proven veterans in Lee and Gentry.

They’ll be really strong if a new young player can step up.

3. UCLA

Darius Muasau, JonJon Vaughns, Oluwafemi Oladejo, Choe Brant-Strother

Muasau is the best linebacker in the Conference. Vaughns and Oladejo provide some of the Pac-12’s best depth.

4. Cal

Jackson Sirmon, Sergio Allen, Myles Jernigan, Nate Ruchena

Jackson Sirmon returns as the elder statesman of the Pac-12 and a multi-year all-conference player.

The rest of the group has some rebuilding to do but that’s been no problem under Justin Wilcox for the Bears.

5. Oregon

Jestin Jacobs, Jeffrey Bassa, Jamal Hill, Mase Funa

Bassa is super underrated and Hill could be a really interesting player moving from safety to linebacker. Iowa transfer Jacobs and how he comes in will make a big difference.

6. Washington

Edefuan Ulofoshio, Alphonzo Tuputala, Ralen Goforth, Carson Bruener

There’s a lot of potential in this group. Ulofoshio could be All-Pac-12 if healthy, Bruener was really good as a freshman, and Tuputala has a full year as a starter under his belt.

7. Arizona

Jacob Manu, Justin Flowe, Orin Patu, Daniel Heimuli

This group could really help Arizona’s defense step up. Manu was maybe the best freshman linebacker in the Conference last year and Flowe is a former Top 5 overall recruit in the nation.

8. Oregon State

Andrew Chatfield Jr., Easton Mascarenas–Arnold, John Miller, Cory Stover

The Beavers are basically reloading at linebacker. There’s experience in this group, though, and they should at least be solid.

9. Arizona State

Travion Brown, Juwan Mitchell, James Djonkam, Will Shaffer

The Sun Devils are hoping transfers can step up and keep this group going as it reloads from last year.

10. Washington State

Ahmad McCullough, Devin Richardson, Kyle Thornton, Hudson Cedarland

The Cougars don’t have much returning and have to have a lot of players step up. They aren’t stacking in the transfer portal either.

11. Colorado

LeVonta Bentley, Demouy Kennedy, Brendan Gant, Jeremiah Brown

Like a lot of units, the Buffs are hoping transfers are going to step up and push them up the hierarchy of the Pac-12.

12. Stanford

Gaethen Bernadel, Tristan Sinclair, Spencer Jorgensen, Ese Dubre

Stanford is going to have to try and get things done with new faces at linebacker in 2023.