I know, last week’s article was a bit large (this one will be much the same haha), but at this point in the process, there are some clear favorites but also plenty to like about many of the prospects entering the 2024 NFL Draft season. We are getting close to conference re-alignments, and the PAC 12 will look very different shortly but for today, here are the top names to keep an eye on this college season!
TOP PROSPECTS FROM THE PAC 12
Quarterbacks
| Jayden de Laura | Arizona |
| Drew Pyne | Arizona State |
| Sam Jackson | Cal |
| Shedeur Sanders | Colorado |
| Bo Nix | Oregon |
| Ty Thompson | Oregon |
| Caleb Williams | Southern Cal |
| Collin Schlee | UCLA |
| Ethan Garbers | UCLA |
| Cam Rising | Utah |
| Dylan Morris | Washington |
| Michael Penix Jr. | Washington |
| Cameron Ward | Washington State |
We have arguably the #1 overall pick in Caleb Williams, as well as a few names that could be in consideration for late day one, possible day two picks in Michael Penix, Bo Nix, and potentially one of either Cam Ward or Shedeur Sanders. The former need to have very strong seasons to push themselves into the conversation, though the spotlight will be on what Coach Prime’s doing in Colorado.Â
Nix is probably the most interesting story in the Pac-12, from a high-end prospect to having trouble, changing schools, to potentially bouncing back to day 1/2 NFL Draft is a really fun player to watch. I’ve enjoyed watching former NFL QB JT O’Sullivan’s “QB School” breakdowns, he does a great job of talking through everything from the footwork and throwing motions to just overall decision-making and play designs.Â
Running Backs
| Michael Wiley | Arizona |
| Cameron Skattebo | Arizona State |
| Byron Cardwell | Cal |
| Isaiah Ifanse | Cal |
| Alton McCaskill | Colorado |
| Kavosiey Smoke | Colorado |
| Bucky Irving | Oregon |
| Noah Whittington | Oregon |
| Austin Jones | Southern Cal |
| MarShawn Lloyd | Southern Cal |
| Casey Filkins | Stanford |
| EJ Smith | Stanford |
| Carson Steele | UCLA |
| Deshun Murrell | UCLA |
| Ja’Quinden Jackson | Utah |
| Micah Bernard | Utah |
| Daniyel Ngata | Washington |
| Dillon Johnson | Washington |
| Richard Newton | Washington |
| Nakia Watson | Washington State |
This group will be intriguing to watch throughout the season, I could make the case that some of the younger backs in the conference make a name for themselves OVER this group. Lloyd, Irving, and Wiley are the names I’m most interested in seeing but you could make a case for either Stanford or UCLA back pushing up the draft board this fall.
Wide Receivers
| Jacob Cowing | Arizona |
| Chad Johnson Jr. | Arizona State |
| Troy Omeire | Arizona State |
| Xavier Guillory | Arizona State |
| Jeremiah Hunter | Cal |
| Jimmy Horn | Colorado |
| Xavier Weaver | Colorado |
| Gary Bryant | Oregon |
| Kris Hutson | Oregon |
| Tez Johnson | Oregon |
| Traeshon Holden | Oregon |
| Troy Franklin | Oregon |
| Brenden Rice | Southern Cal |
| Dorian Singer | Southern Cal |
| Mario Williams | Southern Cal |
| Tahj Washington | Southern Cal |
| John Humphreys | Stanford |
| J. Michael Sturdivant | UCLA |
| Kam Brown | UCLA |
| Kyle Ford | UCLA |
| Mycah Pittman | Utah |
| Jalen McMillan | Washington |
| Rome Odunze | Washington |
This is an IMMENSELY talented group, with some players that will be drafted throughout the draft. Rome Odunze, Mario Williams, Jalen McMillan, Troy Franklin, Traeshon Holden, and Jacob Cowing are all going to be on the highlight reels with regularity. The first 2-3 names could be round 1/2 prospects, though Odunze is the name I most expect to hear called on night 1.Â
Tight Ends
| Tanner McLachlan | Arizona |
| Jalin Conyers | Arizona State |
| Messiah Swinson | Arizona State |
| Terrance Ferguson | Oregon |
| Jude Wolfe | Southern Cal |
| Benjamin Yurosek | Stanford |
| Lukas Ungar | Stanford |
| Mike Martinez | UCLA |
| Moliki Matavao | UCLA |
| Brant Kuithe | Utah |
| Thomas Yassmin | Utah |
| Devin Culp | Washington |
Kuithe and Yurosek are arguably the best of the bunch, and if Kuithe wasn’t injured in 2022, who knows how the draft would have fallen for Dalton Kincaid? Conyers had a solid year on a rough team and should look better this year in a more tight-end-friendly scheme. Ferguson in Oregon had similar numbers to Conyers and is a nice big target that could see a similar bump in production going into 2023.Â
Offensive Lineman
| Ben Coleman | Arizona State |
| Brian Driscoll | Cal |
| Matt Cindric | Cal |
| Landon Bebee | Colorado |
| Jackson Powers-Johnson | Oregon |
| Junior Angilau | Oregon |
| Jarrett Kingston | Southern Cal |
| Justin Dedich | Southern Cal |
| Levi Rogers | Stanford |
| Duke Clemens | UCLA |
| Keaton Bills | Utah |
| Sataoa Laumea | Utah |
| Geirean Hatchett | Washington |
| Troy Fautanu | Washington |
| Jordan Morgan | Arizona |
| Aaron Frost | Arizona State |
| Savion Washington | Colorado |
| AJ Cornelius | Oregon |
| Steven Jones | Oregon |
| Jonah Monheim | Southern Cal |
| Michael Tarquin | Southern Cal |
| Connor McLaughlin | Stanford |
| Raiqwon O’Neal | UCLA |
| Roger Rosengarten | Washington |
| Fa’alili Fa’amoe |
Washington State
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Powers-Johnson is the cream of the crop here, and I don’t know that anyone overtakes him during the season. Arizona’s Jordan Morgan wasn’t far behind in PFF ratings, so potentially that’s the next man up to keep an eye on. I watched USC’s 2022 offensive line film over the summer, and it was up and down, so who knows what to make of the 2023 version.
Defensive Lineman
| Kyon Barrs | Arizona |
| Brett Johnson | Cal |
| Leonard Payne, Jr. | Colorado |
| Shane Cokes | Colorado |
| Brandon Dorlus | Oregon |
| Popo Aumavae | Oregon |
| Taki Taimani | Oregon |
| Jamar Sekona | Southern Cal |
| Korey Foreman | Southern Cal |
| Tobin Phillips | Stanford |
| Tyler Manoa | UCLA |
| Junior Tafuna | Utah |
| Simote Pepa | Utah |
| Jacob Bandes | Washington |
| Tuli Letuligasenoa | Washington |
| Ulumoo Ale | Washington |
| Jason Harris | Arizona |
| Clayton Smith | Arizona State |
| Xavier Carlton | Cal |
| Sav’ell Smalls | Colorado |
| Taijh Alston | Colorado |
| Taylor Upshaw | Colorado |
| Jordan Burch | Oregon |
| Gabriel Murphy | UCLA |
| Grayson Murphy | UCLA |
| Laiatu Latu | UCLA |
| Jonah Elliss | Utah |
| Van Fillinger | Utah |
| Bralen Trice | Washington |
| Zion Tupuola-Fetui | Washington |
| Brennan Jackson | Washington State |
| Ron Stone | Washington State |
Korey Foreman, the highly rated prospect coming out of high school, has a chance to make a name for himself with a strong showing but my favorites from the conference are easily Tupuola-Fetui and Bralen Trice. Both edge rushers could see their name called early in the NFL Draft, as they have some strong traits that teams will fall in love with this fall.
Linebackers
| Justin Flowe | Arizona |
| Prince Dorbah | Arizona State |
| Jackson Sirmon | Cal |
| Sergio Allen | Cal |
| Demouy Kennedy | Colorado |
| LaVonta Bentley | Colorado |
| Jeffrey Bassa | Oregon |
| Jestin Jacobs | Oregon |
| Mase Funa | Oregon |
| Eric Gentry | Southern Cal |
| Mason Cobb | Southern Cal |
| Shane Lee | Southern Cal |
| Bo Calvert | UCLA |
| Carl Jones | UCLA |
| Damian Sellers | UCLA |
| Darius Muasau | UCLA |
| JonJon Vaughns | UCLA |
| Karene Reid | Utah |
| Levani Damuni | Utah |
| Alphonzo Tuputala | Washington |
| Carson Bruener | Washington |
| Edefuan Ulofoshio | Washington |
| Ralen Goforth | Washington |
This is an interesting group of linebackers, as you don’t always think of the Pac-12 and think of dominant defensive prospects. I think USC with Cobb and Arizona with Flowe have the best chance for drafted prospects in 2024 but I wouldn’t count out Oregon, as Bassa leads what could be a sneaky-good linebacker room.
Safeties
| Chris Edmonds | Arizona State |
| D.J. Taylor | Arizona State |
| Jordan Clark | Arizona State |
| Xavion Alford | Arizona State |
| Craig Woodson | Cal |
| Patrick McMorris | Cal |
| Myles Slusher | Colorado |
| Evan Williams | Oregon |
| Jamal Hill | Oregon |
| Jared Greenfield | Oregon |
| Calen Bullock | Southern Cal |
| Chris Thompson Jr. | Southern Cal |
| Jacobe Covington | Southern Cal |
| Jordan Anderson | UCLA |
| Cole Bishop | Utah |
| Jaden Hicks | Washington State |
Cole Bishop is probably my favorite safety from the Pac-12 today, Bullock from USC would be the next player I’m keeping an eye on. The two highlight different strengths, Bishop is more of a tackle machine whereas Bullock shows some nice ball-hawking abilities as well.
Cornerbacks
| Ro Torrence | Arizona State |
| Jahquez Robinson | Colorado |
| Dontae Manning | Oregon |
| Khyree Jackson | Oregon |
| Nikko Reed | Oregon |
| Trikweze Bridges | Oregon |
| Ceyair Wright | Southern Cal |
| Christian Roland-Wallace | Southern Cal |
| Max Williams | Southern Cal |
| Devin Kirkwood | UCLA |
| JaTravis Broughton | Utah |
| Miles Battle | Utah |
| Zemaiah Vaughn | Utah |
| Dominique Hampton | Washington |
| Jabbar Muhammad | Washington |
| Chau Smith-Wade | Washington State |
Roland-Wallace and Smith-Wade are probably the names to watch from this group as it stands right now. With cornerbacks, do you want big and physical Seattle-style corners or smaller, speedy ball-hawking-type corners? Depending on how you answer that, some of the other names, such as Torrence and Kirkwood could be intriguing players to watch this fall.
If you’ve gotten this far, I thank you! Feel free to hit me up on Twitter, as I am always looking for new opportunities to write and join new teams, and make new friends! Check out the Mock Drafts we will be dropping throughout the year, and feel free to check out the NFL odds.
Take care!