Affiliate Disclosure This post may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase through them, we may earn a commission.
College Football Pac-12 Football 

Jack Follman’s 2023 Preseason Top 50 Pac-12 Players (20-11)

> This group features some of the really elite players in the Conference for the upcoming season
, 4 min read
Jacob Cowing's return to Arizona for 2023 gives the Wildcats one of the strongest receiving corps | Arizona Athletics


  By Jack Follman, SuperWest Sports

June 22, 2023


I’ll kick off this portion of the list by noting a mistake I made.

I had thought UCLA linebacker Darius Muasau had gone to the NFL so I didn’t have him in my rankings when I started this.

Since I have to slide him in, we have an extra player in this group so I’ll start with *No. 21.

Here are the next 10 in my list of the Top 50 Pac-12 players for the 2023 preseason.

21. Karene Reid, Junior, Linebacker, Utah
Utah LB Karene Reid | Utah Athletics
Possibly the best player on what should be a really good Utah defense, Reid is ultra reliable and can also make those explosive plays as well.

20. Kitan Oladapo, Senior, Safety, Oregon State
Beaver S Kitan Oladapo | Oregon State Athletics

The last holdover from Oregon State’s stellar 2022 secondary and a guy who could have tested the NFL. Oladapo’s range is unbelievable and he was especially great against Oregon last year, finishing with 17 tackles.

19. Brandon Dorlus, Senior, Defensive End, Oregon
Oregon DE Brandon Dorlus | Sean Meagher/The Oregonian
Dorlus could be in the Top 10 if he can get back to 2021 form. He’s still really good and a balanced force who has seven sacks in his career.

18. Bucky Irving, Junior, Running Back, Oregon
Oregon RB Bucky Irving | Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images
The only 1,000-yard rusher returning in the Conference. Irving possesses a deadly combination of sneaky power and elite quickness and speed.

17. Damien Martinez, Sophomore, Running Back, Oregon State
Beaver RB Damien Martinez | Amanda Loman/AP
Martinez was phenomenal as a freshman and should get the slight edge as the Pac-12’s best running back. He could rush for more than 1,500 yards this year.

16. Darius Muasau, Senior, Linebacker, UCLA
Bruin LB Darius Muasau | UCLA Athletics
Muasau was maybe the best linebacker in the Pac-12 last year and now he’s back for one more run. Almost 100 tackles last year and two interceptions along with All-Pac-12 honors.

15. Sataoa Laumea, Junior, Tackle, Utah
Utah OL Sataoa Laumea | Ric Tapia/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
A perennial All-Pac-12 player at this point. The best player on what should be a very good Utah offensive line and versatile enough to play inside and outside.

14. Troy Fautanu, Junior, Tackle, Washington
Washington OT Troy Fautanu | Kim Grinolds/Dawgman
The best lineman on a Washington offensive line who was lights out in 2022. Fautanu is big, powerful, versatile, fast, and still has room to grow.

13. Joshua Gray, Junior, Tackle, Oregon State
Beaver OT Joshua Gray | Brian Murphy/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Another perennial All-Conference lineman and the leader of the best offensive line in the conference. Gray is fantastic in run blocking and plenty skilled in pass protection as well.

12. Troy Franklin, Junior, Wide Receiver, Oregon
Oregon WR Troy Franklin | Oregon Athletics
Franklin had the lightest stats of the big five receivers coming back into the conference. He could easily push past that, though, as he’s fast, quick, a great route runner, and has excellent hands.

11. Jacob Cowing, Senior, Wide Receiver, Arizona
Arizona WR Jacob Cowing | Orlando Ramirez/USA TODAY Sports
Cowing had more than 1,000 yards receiving in his first year in the Pac-12. He should see even more targets with Dorian Singer off to USC with Tetraioa McMillan still around to test defenses next to him.

Jack Follman
Latest posts by Jack Follman (see all)