Jack Follman’s Pac-12 DB Unit Ranking for 2022

After Utah and OSU, the rest are big question marks with some getting the benefit of the doubt

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Posted on June 25, 2022


  By Jack Follman, SuperWest Sports

Like a lot of Pac-12 position groups, the DB units have a ton of turnover coming out of 2021.

After the first couple of teams, the rest are big question marks, and some programs, such as Oregon, Utah, and Washington, are going to have to get some benefit of the doubt.

It will be interesting to see how these units develop this year.

Cole Bishop | Scott G Winterton/Deseret News

1. Utah

Clark Phillips III is the far and away best DB in the Pac-12 and Cole Bishop is a future star at safety. Oh, and don’t forget about standout JaTravis Broughton.

Jaydon Grant | Karl Maasdam/Oregon State Athletics

2. Oregon State

The Beavers are stacked and experienced at DB. Jaydon Grant, Alton Julian, Rezjohn Wright, Victor Oladapo—this quietly might be one of the best groups in the nation.

3. Cal

Daniel Scott is an underrated really elite safety and Lu-Magia Hearns is a stud in the making at cornerback. The Bears have also been great at developing DBs in recent years.

Kyu Blu Kelly | Getty Images via 247Sports

4. Stanford

Veteran star Kyu Blu Kelly at cornerback is the headliner here. Don’t sleep on safety Kendall Williamson though.

5. Washington State

The Cougars have a strong group, led by standout cornerback Armani Marsh. Cornerbacks Derrick Langford and Sam Lockett are also big-time players in their secondary.

Christian Gonzalez | Scott Boodt/Ducks Digest

6. Oregon

The Ducks have a lot to replace. Colorado transfer Christian Gonzalez and veteran Bennett Williams put them in the top half of the Conference.

Keep an eye on former blue chip recruit Dontae Manning.

7. Arizona State

The Sun Devils have reloaded at safety with two grad transfers. Hawaii’s Khoury Bethey should be one of the Conference’s best safeties and Samford transfer Chris Edmonds will help as well.

8. USC

There’s talent here, it’s just young. Colorado standout grad transfer Mekhi Blackmon should really help out at cornerback.

9. Washington

The Huskies secondary is down the line for the first time in so long as they lose a ton of experience and talent. It’s a new coaching regime, too, so there’s not telling how the Husky DBs will end up.

10. UCLA

The Bruins have plenty of familiar faces in their secondary. Not stars, but players who have a good amount of reps and should be solid in 2022.

Christian Young | Ralph Freso/Getty Images

11. Arizona

Don’t sleep on this group. There’s potential here and players who have gotten plenty of reps. An interesting unit to keep an eye on as the season goes.

12. Colorado

T[/ads_dropcap]he Buffs took big in-conference hits, losing Gonzalez and Blackmon. They have the pieces to have a solid secondary though, particularly at safety.

—More from Jack Follman—