By Jack Follman, SuperWest Sports
January 21, 2022
The final early entries for the 2022 NFL Draft have almost all been made and the coaching carousel seems to be over.
Due to the strange intricacies, the extra free COVID year, and the wide opening of the transfer portal have made, it’s never been harder to project who the preseason all-conference selections will be.
But I want to give an early look at how my first and second teams will probably look come August.
Not surprisingly, Utah and Oregon lead the way.
First Team Offense
QB Cameron Rising, Junior, Utah – It’s a shame Rising got hurt in the Rose Bowl, but either way he showed star potential as the Utes QB and is the easy choice here.
RB Tavion Thomas, Junior, Utah – I was surprised Thomas came back. He was the Pac-12’s best running back last year.
RB Travis Dye, Senior, USC – The Trojans captured lightning in a bottle from the transfer portal. Dye had been Oregon’s most-valuable offensive player since Justin Herbert left, and the Pac-12’s most productive all-purpose back.
WR Gary Bryant Jr., Sophomore, USC – It’s a brand new start basically for Pac-12 receivers as most of the Top 20ish receivers aren’t returning. Bryant has the most production of one who does.
WR Ricky Pearsall, Senior, Arizona State – Quietly had a productive 2021, especially in the Las Vegas Bowl.
TE Brant Kuithe, Senior, Utah – Another big surprise return. He’s been the conference’s best tight end for years now and a huge weapon for Utah.
OL Braeden Daniels, Junior, Utah – A First-Team all-Pac-12-level player coming back for another season.
OL T.J. Bass, Senior, Oregon – Will be in the conversation for best overall offensive lineman returning in 2022.
OL Joshua Gray, Sophomore, Oregon State – A three-year starter and three-year All-Conference-level player.
OL Sataoa Laumea, Sophomore, Utah – Another young three-year starter and three-year All-Conference guy and one of the best interior offensive linemen in the conference.
OL LaDarius Henderson, Junior, Arizona State – Was a great player in 2021 and should be ASU’s best offensive lineman in 2022.
First Team Defense
DL Brandon Dorlus, Junior, Oregon – I would argue Dorlus was Oregon’s most valuable defensive lineman in 2021, and getting him back is huge for the Ducks in 2022.
DL Popo Aumavae, Senior, Oregon – He came into his own in 2021 and became an excellent run defender and rock for the Ducks in the middle.
DL Junior Tafuna, Sophomore, Utah – 2021 Pac-12 Defensive Freshman of the Year and the next great Utah DT.
DL Tuli Tuipulotu, Sophomore, USC – He’s been a stud the past two seasons and is still coming into his own.
LB Noah Sewell, Sophomore, Oregon – Crazy to think that Sewell is technically only a sophomore. The frontrunner for 2022 Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year.
LB Edefuan Ulofoshio, Junior, Washington – He was injured and missed half the season in 2021, but should come back healthy and get back to being All-Pac-12-level.
LB Omar Speights, Junior, Oregon State – Like at WR, there isn’t much depth at linebacker. Speights should keep progressing into being a standout for the Beavers.
DB Clark Phillips III, Sophomore, Utah – He showed up big in the Rose Bowl and should be a major contender for 2022 Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year.
DB Kyu Blu Kelly, Senior, Stanford – A rangy CB who I thought might leave for the NFL but is back for another run.
DB Jaydon Grant, Senior, Oregon State – A multi-year starter for the Beavers who has always hovered around All-Pac-12 status.
DB Cole Bishop, Sophomore, Utah – Another future star for the Utes on D. He should progress even more in his second year of college.
First Team Special Teams
K Tyler Loop, Sophomore, Arizona – Had the best field goal percentage in the Conference as a freshman.
P Kyle Ostendorp, Junior, Arizona – Had the best punt average in the Conference in 2021.
Second Team Offense
QB Jayden Daniels, Junior, Arizona State
RB Zach Charbonnet, Junior, UCLA
RB CJ Verdell, Senior, Oregon
WR De’Zhaun Stribling, Sophomore, Washington State
WR Elijah Higgins, Senior, Stanford
TE Benjamin Yurosek, Junior, Stanford
OL Brett Neilson, Senior, USC
OL Andrew Voorhees, Senior, USC
OL Brandon Kipper, Senior, Oregon State
OL Jake Levengood, Junior, Oregon State
OL Alex Forstyth, Senior, Oregon
Second Team Defense
DL Jermayne Lole, Senior, Arizona State
DL Zion Tupuola-Fetui, Senior, Washington
DL Brennan Jackson, Senior, Washington State
DL Ron Stone Jr., Senior, Washington State
LB Levani Damuni, Senior, Stanford
LB Carson Bruener, Sophomore, Washington
LB Mitchell Agude, Senior, UCLA
DB Rezjohn Wright, Senior, Oregon State
DB Alton Julian, Junior, Oregon State
DB Lu-Magia Hearns III, Sophomore, Cal
DB Christian Gonzalez, Sophomore, Oregon
Second Team Special Teams
K Dean Janikowski, Junior, Washington State
P Josh Watts, Senior, Colorado
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