The Pac-12 has been great at producing top flight DBs in recent years and that’s no different this year. It is a talented at the top group, which is super deep with really good players who don’t even make the top 12.

I really like this group and think a lot of the players at the top could shuffle around in these post-spring “Power Rankings” by the end of the season.

1. Trent McDuffie, Junior Cornerback, Washington

The speedy coverman has been a starter in Jimmy Lake’s offense the past two seasons and is one of the hardest players to pass against in the country.

He should be even better in 2021 as he puts it all together.

2. Chase Lucas, Senior Cornerback, Arizona State

The underrated Sun Devil corner should finally get his accolades in the extra senior year he’s taking.

He’s one of the best cover corners in the nation and should lead what could be a very good ASU defense.

He’s picked off six passes and knocked down 22 in his career.

3. Mykael Wright, Junior Cornerback, Oregon

Wright has some of the scariest speed in the conference and has put all his talent together to be one of the best DBs in the Pac-12.

He’s a great ballhawk but is also good against the run, racking up tackles on the corner.

4. Evan Fields, Senior Safety, Arizona State

The other Arizona State DB who is taking an extra senior year despite already being an All-Pac-12 player.

He has almost 200 tackles in his career and can make plays in the backfield as well.

5. Quentin Lake, Senior Safety, UCLA

Lake probably had his best season in 2020 and returns as one of the best safeties in the conference.

He can come up and defend the return, racking up tackles and is also a highly-graded pass defender.

6. Jaydon Grant, Senior Safety, Oregon State

The long and athletic DB was great making plays with the ball in the air in 2020.

He has had four interceptions in the past two seasons and can also come up and make tackles against the run.

7. Isaiah Pola-Mao, Senior Safety, USC

The veteran DB had another very good season in 2020 after a big 2019 where he picked off four passes.

He’s one of the best all-around DBs in the conference and will lead a USC defense which lost a lot of familiar faces from last year.

8. Jamal Hill, Junior Cornerback, Oregon

The star of the 2020 Pac-12 Championship Game is a big cover corner with great athleticism who is still coming into his own.

He has great size and is one of the most-interesting athletes in the Conference.

9. Qwuantrezz Knight, Senior Safety, UCLA

The former Kent State transfer is a great tackler and a senior leader who will be a huge boost in the Bruin defensive backfield.

He could rack up more than 50 tackles in 2021 and is no slouch in pass defense, either.

10. Brendan Radley-Hiles, Senior Cornerback, Washington

The Oklahoma grad transfer was a starter for the Sooners for several years and should make an instant impact in Seattle.

He’s a big hitter who likes to make big plays and should fit in with Washington’s secondary.

11. Isaiah Lewis, Junior Safety, Colorado

Lewis has been a tough defender for two-straight years now and should only get better in 2021.

He had 33 tackles and knocked down six passes in 2020.

12. Elijah Hicks, Senior Safety, Cal

The last remaining of a great group of Cal DBs under Justin Wilcox, Hicks now leads the unit after a very good 2020 campaign.

He’s especially great in pass coverage and has more than 30 starts in his career.

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—More from Jack Follman—

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