Jack Follman’s Best NFL Pac-12 Alumni Players for 2020-21

The top former Conference players currently playing, two teams deep

Posted on January 29, 2021


  By Jack Follman, SuperWest Sports

Each year, I like to take a look at who are the best Pac-12 alums playing in the NFL. We’re at the end of another season, and some of the familiar faces are starting to evolve from the Conference, with some veterans who were staples retiring and fading away, and some new blood coming in.


 

So let’s see who were the best former Pac-12 players playing in the NFL in 2020-21.

Note: These teams are chosen based on yearly performances as a pro, rather than how good the player is overall, with injuries factored in. Case in point, this explains why someone like former Stanford  player Christian McCaffrey isn’t on the team this year, even though he’s easily the best running back from the Conference.

You’ll find a break down of players by Pac-12 program for both the First and Second Teams in the table at the bottom of the page.


First-Team Offense

Quarterback, Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay (Cal)

The former Bear had one of the greatest NFL renaissance years of all-time. He has gone back to being an MVP-caliber QB again, and the kind of QB who can lead a team to a Super Bowl championship.

Running Back, Ronald Jones, Tampa Bay (USC)

The veteran running backs who had been carrying the flag of the Pac-12 for a long time have started to age or retire. Jones is the best of the bunch who is still playing a lot. He ran for almost 1,000 yards in the regular season and was strong in the Playoffs.

Running Back, Myles Gaskin, Miami (Washington)

The undrafted free agent broke out in his second year in the league as Miami’s number one back. He ran for more than 500 yards and was especially valuable as a receiver, with nearly 400 yards and two touchdowns.

Wide Receiver, Brandin Cooks, Houston (Oregon State)

Had a great bounce-back season in his first year with the Texans, finishing with more than 1,100 yards receiving. Still remains a good big play threat.

Wide Receiver, Keenan Allen, Chargers (Cal)

Allen was a big target for Justin Herbert in his first year and got to 100 receptions yet again. He almost cracked 1,000 yards, too, and had his best touchdown year with eight, the most since his rookie season.

Tight End, Rob Gronkowski, Tampa Bay (Arizona)

Not a huge year for Pac-12 tight ends. Gronk’s return was the best of any of the group as he was a little bit better than he was in his last year with the Patriots, finishing with more than 40 catches for more than 600 yards and seven touchdowns.

Offensive Lineman, David Bakhtiari, Green Bay (Colorado)

Just another First-Team All-Pro year for the former Buffalo. Helped lead the Packers to the best record in the NFC.

Offensive Lineman, Garett Bolles, Denver (Utah)

Bolles might have had his best season as a pro, earning Second-Team All-Pro honors from the AP and first team from other publications. He’s developed into one of the best tackles in the league.

Offensive Lineman, David DeCastro, Pittsburgh (Stanford)

He’s not at All-Pro level anymore but still one of the best guards in the league for one of the best teams in the league.

Offensive Lineman, Andrus Peat, New Orleans (Stanford)

Just another very good year for one of the league’s best offensive lines with Peat as one of the best players in the unit. A great veteran for the Saints.

Offensive Lineman, Kolton Miller, Las Vegas (UCLA)

He has continued to improve and is on the verge of possibly becoming one of the better young tackles in the league.

 



First-Team Defense

Defensive Lineman, DeForest Buckner, Indianapolis (Oregon)

The former Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year is now one of the best defensive players in the NFL. One of the cornerstone defensive players in the league.

Defensive Lineman, Leonard Williams, Giants (USC)

He hasn’t quite turned into the perennial Pro Bowler it seemed he might. Still one of the best up front Pac-12 alums in the league though.

Defensive Lineman, Cam Jordan, New Orleans (Cal)

Another great year for the Cal vet who just won’t quit as a key piece of another really good Saints team. He had 7.5 sacks.

Defensive Lineman, Everson Griffen, Detroit (USC)

Another veteran who just keeps playing and playing. He had six sacks this season.

Linebacker, Eric Kendricks, Minnesota (UCLA)

Over 100 tackles yet again for Kendricks. He continues to be one of the best inside linebackers in the league year-after-year.

Linebacker, Myles Jack, Jacksonville (UCLA)

Jack just continues to get better and may have had his best year as a pro in 2020. He had more than 100 tackles and had an impact in pass defense while also making plays in the backfield.

Linebacker, Blake Martinez, Giants (Stanford)

Martinez moved teams and did more of the same as one of the league’s more underrated linebackers. He finished with more than 150 tackles.

Defensive Back, Budda Baker, Arizona (Washington)

Baker quickly turned into one of the best DBs in the league and remains just that. He’s one of the most-relentless defenders in all of the NFL and looks like a perennial All-Pro.

Defensive Back, Jordan Poyer, Buffalo (Oregon State)

He might have had the best year of his career as he helped the Bills to the AFC Championship game. He’s solidified himself as one of the best Pac-12 DBs in the league after some of the veterans have started to retire and wind down.

Defensive Back, Marcus Williams, New Orleans (Utah)

Like Baker and Poyer, he’s turning into one of the better Pac-12 alum DBs in the league as some of the mainstays move on. He’s a key part of a good Saints defense.

Defensive Back, Marcus Peters, Baltimore (Washington)

One of those veterans who’s still playing at a very high level in the league. He’s still one of the scariest cornerbacks to throw against in the NFL at times.



First-Team Special Teams

Kicker, Mason Crosby, Green Bay (Colorado)

The veteran just keeps on kicking and kicking and kicking in the league.

 

Punter, Jake Bailey, New England (Stanford)

Broke out this year and made the first-team All-Pro team.


Second-Team Offense

Quarterback, Justin Herbert, Chargers (Oregon)
Running Back, Phillip Lindsay, Denver (Colorado)
Running Back, Zack Moss, Buffalo (Utah)
Wide Receiver, Robert Woods, Rams (USC)
Wide Receiver, Marvin Jones Jr., Detroit (Cal)
Tight End, Dalton Schultz, Dallas (Stanford)
Offensive Lineman, Scott Quessenberry, Tennessee (UCLA)
Offensive Lineman, Mike Remmers, Kansas City (Oregon State)
Offensive Lineman, Nate Herbig, Philadelphia (Stanford)
Offensive Lineman, Isaac Seumalo, Philadelphia (Oregon State)
Offensive Lineman, Kaleb McGary, Atlanta (Washington)


Second-Team Defense

Defensive Lineman, Arik Armstead, San Francisco (Oregon)
Defensive Lineman, Kenny Clark, Green Bay (UCLA)
Defensive Lineman, Lawrence Guy, New England (Arizona State)
Defensive Lineman, Vita Vea, Tampa Bay (Washington)
Linebacker, Shaq Thompson, Carolina (Washington)
Linebacker, Cory Littleton, Las Vegas (Washington)
Linebacker, Uchenna Nwosu, Chargers (USC)
Defensive Back, Troy Hill, Rams (Oregon)
Defensive Back, Steven Nelson, Pittsburgh (Oregon State)
Defensive Back, Terrance Mitchell, Cleveland (Oregon)
Defensive Back, Eric Rowe, Miami (Utah)


Second-Team Special Teams

Kicker, Nick Folk, New England (Arizona)
Punter, Mitch Wishnowsky, San Francisco (Utah)

Follman’s NFL Selections by Pac-12 Program

ProgramCount
Washington7
Stanford6
Oregon5
OSU5
UCLA5
USC5
Utah5
Cal4
Colorado3
Arizona2
ASU1
WSU0




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