Pac-12 Breakfast Links: 06.22.2011

*Only four BCS schools have never been dinged for a major NCAA violation, Stanford being one of them.  In this day in age, that seems almost amazing.  [Wall Street Journal]

*Show me the Money! After Washington, Colorado was the second most profitable program in the Pac-12. Way to let the newbie show up the conference.  [The Ralphie Report]

*Speaking of that overused line from Jerry Maguire, there is a trail of red paint leading to the hands of those that run the Oregon program.  Like an AA member falling off the wagon, the NCAA has lost complete control. [Business Insider]

*Oregon State Head Coach Mike Riley is upbeat about a Beavers turnaround this season.  Take a picture because this might be the last time we see the coach so positive. [Mail Tribune]

*Andrew Luck is finally getting some 1st team All-American love. What took so long? [Lindy Sports]

*In case you miss the Pac-10, here is great stat rundown of how the 33 years played out.  It is kinda sad that Cal was the only team during that period not to make a BCS bowl.  [Tucson Citzen]

Oregon State Beavers Recruiting Round-Up

Recent Commits

Malik Gilmore, WR, 6-3/195 (****): he runs effortless with decent speed; size and arm length also allows him to catch practically every ball.

Trending on the Trail

Khalil Pettway, ILB, 6-4/205 (**):  a new offer from West Virginia tempts Pettway to head out East; he is still hesitant to name any true favorites though.

Top Commits for 2012

·         Dustin Stanton, TE, 6-6/212 (***): a lanky frame may force Dustin to play WR; Beavers are also interesting in using him as an “H” back.

·         Cleveland Wallace, CB, 6-1/170 (***): weight being his biggest issue, Wallace’s awareness in coverage, backpedal quickness, and speed in general provides him with decent potential.  




***Check out how the rest of the Pac-12 is doing on the recruiting trail here.  

Power Ranking the Pac-12's Head Coaches

This year’s list of Pac-12 head coaches is a very similar read to last year’s.

While the names may seem the same, the overall presence and outlying atmosphere created by these coaches has certainly changed.

The Pac-10 faithful will be introduced to three new head coaches this season, two experiencing their first year at helm.  How these coaches react to this backyard dog fight called “Pac-12 Conference Play” should be quite interesting.

Let's take a look at where each coach lands in my Pac-12's Coaches Preseason Power Rankings.    

Pac-12 Recruiting Roundup

Kevon Seymour could take his talents to Southern Cal

Welcome to the soap opera that sports fans like to call College Football Recruiting! 

For those that are not accustomed to the inner ways of college football recruiting, the easiest way to describe it would be teenage drama with a football twist. 

It is a process where senior high school football players are courted by the fairest hands of all the land like they are the next Peyton Manning.  These 18-year olds are then forced to choose a four-year path that could potentially make or break their football careers.

Think of it as picking a date to the prom, but then also having to marry her for the next four years. While there is always divorce (transferring schools), it comes with its price.

Since we are dealing with sometimes erratic teenagers, a school that they like one week may become fuax pas the next.  And, even after some players do make a commitment to one school, they have the audacity to change their minds before February rolls around.

It’s a fun roller coaster ride, but it can be hard to keep track of.  This round-up will do its best to give you the cliff notes version of this week’s Pac-12 recruiting rumblings.    

Pac-12 Breakfast Links: 06.10.2011

*The New Mexico Bowl couldn’t wait to get a piece of the Pac-12 pie.  I can’t blame them, it does look tasty.   [theMWC.com]

*Reggie Bush’s Heisman is taking a slight detour on its trip back to USC.  Apparently the little guy heard San Diego has some killer tacos.  [Inside USC]

*Not really sure who wants to read Marshall Lobbestael's diary.  It's like Hard Knocks... but the PBS version. [Cougfan.com]

*The State of Utah is dubbing July 1st "Utah Pac-12 Day".  If it comes with a day off, then I'm definitely an observer.  [Block U]          

*Colorado was picked to finish second to last in the South by the Sporting News and Utah was selected to take the division.  Guess they aren’t concerned about the Utes first full BCS schedule.  [Denver Post]

*Oregon State has a bevy of questions and Kerry Eggers has the credentials to get the answers.  Can the Beavers overcome the injury bug before the season starts?  [ESPN]

*Heated rivalries take time, especially forced ones.  Let’s hope Colorado smashes Utah’s division title chances on the last game of the season.  Now that could spark the fire.  [Salt Lake Tribune]

Ranking the Pac-12's Top Wide Receivers

Wide receivers are an integral part to any passing game and these guys will be moving the offensive gears for the Pac-12 in 2011.

Thanks to the abundance of talent at quarterback in the Pac-12, the wide receivers of this conference will be presented with copious chances to prove their worth.

While there are a handful of names that are expected to shine in the national spotlight, there could be a few on this list that take the country by surprise.

Here are the Top 10 wide receivers in the Pac-12.

Daily Breakfast Links: 06.01.2011

*Oregon State lured the only female NFL fitness trainer back to Corvalis.  Congrats on the new position Ariko Iso [Post Gazette]

*Athlon Sports released its first Pac-12 magazine for next season, publishing a different cover for each region of the conference.  Eleven teams made the cut.  Guess which inept team apparently didn’t deserve a cover spot.  [WSU Football Blog]

*Jake Rodrigues gained a ton of love over the past few months from the Pac-12 after an impressive Nike camp.  However, after a trip to Eugene over the long weekend, it appears that his mind is made up.  [Examiner]

*UCLA fans, tell us how you really feel about USC’s failed sanctions appeal [Bruins Nation]

*Former Washington State quarterback Ryan Leaf underwent brain surgery over the weekend to remove a brain tumor.  Here’s to a speedy recovery! [Great Falls Tribune]

Oregon State Football: Who Will Carry the Torch Left by Jacquizz Rodgers?

It is never easy when a college football team prematurely loses its campus star to the NFL Draft. 

While most schools have stars waiting in the wings, the early departure of running back Jacquizz Rodgers felt like it shook the moorings of Oregon State's entire offensive identity.  

For the past two seasons, Rodgers has been a huge reason why Beavers’ fans liked their chances every Saturday.  The elusiveness and flash brought to the field by Rodgers commanded the attention of every player on defense. 

Rodgers will certainly be considered one of the greatest running backs in Oregon State’s history, but his deserving leap to the pros has forced the Beavers to desperately search for someone to step into this highly scrutinized, "star" role. 

Daily Breakfast Links: 05.18.2011

*First off, Congratulations to the Pac-10 inductees recently named to the College Football Hall of Fame.  Bill Enyart (Oregon State 1966-68) was a little before my time, but Rob Waldrop and Arizona’s Desert Swarm defense was some of my first memories of college football. Hats off to the entire 2011 class. [Orlando Sentinel]

*UCLA continues to dig into the junior college ranks to band-aid the holes on its offensive line.  Citrus College’s Albert Cid will be the latest to make the leap (as long as he passes his classes).  With the uncertainty still swirling around the starting quarterback role, the eventual winner will need these fresh faces to provide as much time as possible back there.  [Los Angeles Times]

*Although several offers from Pac-12 schools are on the table for three-star OL recruit Matt Cochrane, he seems to be waiting to get one from Stanford.  In a year where top tier OL are a plenty, the Cardinal apparently want to make sure they know what they are getting before they solidify a deal. [Scout]

*It seems like more and more people like Arizona State to either take the South Division or make a trip to the Pac-12 Championship Game by default (Thanks USC).  With more hype comes more television coverage (and scrutiny).  Arizona State already has several nationally televised games, but, there could be a few more broadcasting possibilities depending on how their season pans out. [House of Sparky] 

*USC is the favorite in my mind to win the South Division, but they won’t be able to do it looking like they did last season.  There are several must do’s on Lane Kiffin’s list in order to have a successful season.  But will he be able to check them off before the start of the season? [Bleacher Report]

Daily Breakfast Links: 05.16.2011

*According to a poll run by ESPN, Utah was picked by an overwhelming majority to surprise the Pac-12 this season.  However, with the othe Pac-12 teams provided in the five-team poll, it wasn’t hard to pick the Utes.  [ESPN]

*After an impressive spring, Jeff Tedford finally selected Zach Maynard to be California’s starting quarterback on opening day against Fresno State.   Armed with an accurate cannon and speedy wheels, fans are definitely leaning on Maynard to turnaround the Bears’ offensive woes. [San Francisco Chronicle]

*Palo Alto hosted The Elite 11 regional camp this weekend where committed QBs like Travis Wilson (Utah) and Zach Kline (Cal) continued to impress, and undecided QB Jake Rodrigues drew even more interest from Pac-12 suitors.  [Rivals]  

*Oregon State defensive tackle Castro Masaniai was arrested on a slew of charges last Saturday after an altercation with his girlfriend.  I guess it isn’t a college football offseason without at least TWO arrest from the Beaver state. [Oregonian]

*Do you remember last season USC/California game?  Ya, me neither. It might not have landed as the most interesting game of the season for most Pac-12 fans, but Avinash (in the hopes of selling a few pdfs) does a very interesting job breaking the plays of this wishy-washy game.  [California Golden Blogs] 

Breakfast Links: 05.11.2011

*Get ready to mark your calendars. ESPN announced 16 Pac-12 Football telecasts in 2011. There are definitely some great conference and non-conference matchups in the batch.  USC tops all teams with six featured games this season [ESPN]

*Rivals.com listed five burning questions facing each conference this season. Their cracked staff throws in their two cents about Oregon, Stanford, UCLA, Washington, Arizona State, Colorado, and Utah.  Not a really exciting read, but good for those in need of a refresher. [Rivals]

*Oregon State’s AD Bob De Carolis signs a five-year contract worth $490K a year.  The Beavers have moved steadily under his command atop the chain and he should continue to shine.  In 2010, De Carolis was named Football Bowl Subdivision West Region Under Armour Athletic Director of the Year by his peers.  [Gazzete Times]

*USC could don black helmets in a game or two, next season.  I gotta say, they look pretty sharp [Inside USC]

*Oregon doubled its 2012 recruiting total over night, receiving commitments from brothers Eric and Stephen Amoako.  The twins (surprisingly?) play safety, are listed at 5’11”, 195 pounds, and were ranked as 3-star prospects by Scout.com.  Identical twins kinda freak me out.  Just in case you were wondering. [Sporting News]

Pac-12 Football Breakfast Links: 05.06.2011

*Oregon linebacker Kiko Alonso is suspended for a second straight season after his arrest on burglary and trespassing chargers. Perhaps Chip Kelly should cut his losses. This recruit from Los Gatos isn't going pan out as he expected. [Seattle Times]

*Speaking of the Seattle Times, Bob Condotta reminded us that the Pac-12 Bowl schedule pretty much blows.   Thanks Bob for ruining my Friday.  [Seattle Times]

*Colorado Coach Jon Embree talks about DE Forrest West's departure without really saying anything at all about what actually happened.  Great job coach.  [Denver Post]

* Steven Threet's decision to retire after a gnarly concussion last year could not have been easy.  He was a promising player and it just plain sucks that we wont get a chance to see him next year. [AZCentral.com]

*With its first real conference schedule staring them square in the face,  Utah's yearly rivalry game with BYU seems to be losing a bit of its luster.  Wait, did it have that much to begin with?  [Salt Lake Tribune]

Pac-12 Football: Oregon State Beavers Spring Game Report Card

Spring Game Type: Scrimmage with Situational Plays

Final Score:  N/A

Key injuries kept Oregon State’s spring scrimmage from holding that much weight.  The Beavers still have way too many unanswered questions entering the summer. 

Offense:

With the key parts to its first team offense sidelined with injuries, Oregon State chose to do a spring scrimmage instead of a tradition spring game. 

Tight end Connor Hamlett saw the most action for the Beavers, catching 11 balls for 153 yards. Standing tall at 6’7”, the redshirt freshman should become an excellent target for Ryan Katz once he returns. 

While Malcom Marable rushed for over 100 yards and a touchdown in this spring scrimmage, Oregon State’s overall offense is still highly questionable without Jacquizz Rodgers.

Grade: C

Defense:

Oregon State’s defense played strong in the spring scrimmage, collecting eight total sacks and four interceptions, returning one for a touchdown.

Sophomore linebacker Michael Doctor patrolled the field with authority, leading the team with 10 tackles (1TFL) and reaching the quarterback once.

While this suspect success could be closely correlated with the inexperience of the offense, the Beavers defense is definitely improving, which is highly necessary if they want to stay in games against the hefty Pac-12.  

Grade: B-

Pac-12 College Football: Quarterback Spring Report Card

The success of most teams lie solely in the hands of the player taking the snaps.

While an excellent defense can certainly take teams to the glory land, the quarterback is the one player than can completely change the makeup of a team. 

The Pac-10 produced several outstanding quarterbacks during its existence and things should not be any different with the addition of Colorado and Utah.

With Andrew Luck returning for another season and several other gunslingers looking to make their mark in 2011, the quarterbacks of the Pac-12 will be as dangerous as ever.

Let’s hand out grades to the possible starting quarterback of the Pac-12.    

Andrew Luck, Stanford

Stanford fans should send the Carolina Panthers a Thank You note for helping Andrew Luck to decide to stay another year. 

Luck’s success last season was fun to watch and it is great that college football fans get to ride the experience one more time.

As a red shirt sophomore, Luck dazzled the nation.  Not only did he lead the Pac-10 in yards (3,332), completion percentage (70.7), and touchdowns (32), but he helped Stanford to its largest single season win total (12) and marched the Cardinal to its first ever BCS bowl victory.    

Although Stanford losses a chunk of his stout offensive line, Luck’s unbelievable talent should shine the brightest in the Pac-12.

Grade: A+

Darron Thomas, Oregon

Darron Thomas dazzled the Pac-10 last season, ranking 11th in the nation with 30 passing touchdowns and coming just shy of a National Championship.

Thomas’s explosive dual-threat ability makes him a dangerous weapon again in 2011.  Add LeMichael James to the equation and Thomas is primed for another outstanding season.

Grade: A

Matt Barkley, USC
Matt Barkley showed extreme improvement in his sophomore campaign, ranking third in the Pac-10 in passing touchdown (26), yards per game (232.6), and completion percentage (62.6).

USC’s offense will be fun to watch in 2011 with Barkley hounding the calls to his troops.  His talent is quickly falling in line with the many other successful USC quarterbacks. 

Grade: A

Nick Foles, Arizona

Despite his horrendous performance in the Alamo Bowl, Nick Foles should flash several signs of brilliance throughout his senior season. 

Foles seems to be on track early. He sparkled in Arizona’s spring game, connecting on 11 of 16 passes for 133 yards and a touchdown. 

Grade: B+

Brock Osweiler, Arizona State

Steven Threet’s unexpected departure from the sport due to post-concussion symptoms opened the gates wide open for Brock Osweiler to retake the starting job in 2011.

Oswieler didn’t waste any time getting the fans back on his side either.  In Arizona State’s spring game, he hammered home five touchdowns and collected 237 yards on 22 attempts.

If Arizona State wants to be a serious South Division title contender this season, they will need Oswieler to become one of the top passers in a conference with a gaggle of golden arms.

Grade: B+

Zach Maynard, California

With the departure of Kevin Riley, the Bears’ list of possible successors is widely uncertain. 

While the competition between Zach Maynard, Allen Bridgford, and Brock Mansion will stay tight throughout the summer, the money of most people around the Bay Area is on Maynard. 

Maynard has had an impressive spring, and with a new quarterback coach guiding him, this could be a surprising weapon in Jeff Tedford's shed.

Grade:  B-

Jordan Wynn, Utah

Shoulder surgery has sidelined Jordon Wynn this offseason.  After a stagnant spring game without him, it appears that Utah definitely needs Wynn to make a full recovery in order to stay competitive in the much deeper Pac-12.

Wynn threw 17 touchdowns and 2,334 yards in the WAC last year.  With the increase of talented defenses slated for this season, it might be difficult for him to improve on these numbers. 

Grade: B-

Keith Price, Washington

Although Keith Price will have to fight off the son of a quarterback legend to be Washington’s starting quarterback, he definitely made a convincing case of his worthiness in this spring.  In the annual game, he aired out three passing touchdowns and used his mobility to collect another one on the ground.  

Nick Montana also showed off signs of promise in the game, making sure this stays a competition until the end.

However, Steve Sarkisian contends that the quarterback position will be a group effort between the two to start off the season.   

Grade: B-

Tyler Hansen, Colorado

Tyler Hansen dazzled onlookers in Colorado’s spring game, looking very fluent in Jon Embree’s new offense.

This was Colorado’s first glimpse of the senior since he was knocked out for the season in late October, and he certainly provided fans with a glimmer of hope. 

Unless something dramatic occurs from now until August, expect to see Hansen calling signals at least to start off the season.     

Grade: C+

Jeff Tuel, Washington State

In an off-season that Coach Paul Wulff is calling the best he has seen since he took over in 2008, Jeff Tuel will be the key to truly changing the tide for Washington State.

Tuel looked sharp in the Cougar’s spring game, connecting on 11 of 16 passes with a touchdown.  His continued consistency this spring has given him a decent edge over junior Marshall Lobbestael, making him a favorite to start on opening day.

Last year, Tuel ranked fourth in the Pac-10 in passing yards per game (231.7), but threw the second most interceptions (12).

Grade: C+

Ryan Katz, Oregon State

Wrist surgery in January is keeping Ryan Katz from seeing that much field time this spring.

Katz experienced a turbulent season in 2010 and things will not get any easier this year with Jacquizz Rodgers making the leap to the pros. 

While Oregon State searches for an identity, Katz will be an easy scapegoat if things go awry fast.

Grade: C

Kevin Prince, UCLA

UCLA’s problems at quarterback have yet to be answered and expect this trend to continue through the fall.

As the incumbent, Kevin Prince has a slight edge in the starting quarterback race. However, Rick Neuheisel insists that he has not been impressed by any of the candidates and that the competition is wide open.

Although Prince is still recovering from a knee injury, expect him to rise to the top by the time opening day comes around.    

Grade: C-

One Outrageous Prediction for Each Pac-12 Football Team

In the off season, it is always fun to take a far look ahead and try to make predictions.  Even though the makeup of some teams might completely change from now until the spring, let’s make one outlandish predictions about every team in the Pac-12.

Arizona: Nick Foles and Juron Criner will combine for more touchdown passes than any other quarterback/wide receiver.

Arizona State: The Sun Devils manage to survive South Division play with only one loss, take the first division title.

California: Because of the competition nipping at his heels, Brock Mansion finally transforms into the talented quarterback that scouts saw in him five years ago.

 

Colorado:  Running back Rodney Stewart makes a name for himself and the Buffaloes, rushes for 1,500 yards and 15 touchdowns.

Oregon: The Ducks lose three or more games in 2011 because their defense struggles to hold the leads provided by LaMichael James and Darron Thomas.

Oregon State: The Beavers will post back-to-back losing season for the first time since 1997-1998.

Stanford: Corner Back Delano Howell will lead the conference in interceptions and linebacker Shayne Skov will win Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year.

UCLA:  Mere minutes after losing to USC in the final game of the 2011 season, Rick Neuheisel will get fired walking to his car in the parking lot.

USC:  The Trojans’ defense finally “gets” what they are supposed to do when they are on the field, helps USC to a 10-win season.

Utah: The Utes will win five or less Pac-12 conference games in 2011.

Washington: Running back Chris Polk blazes the trail for the Huskies the entire year, finishes the season as the Pac-12’s leading rusher.

Washington State:  The Cougars win two Conference games this season…hey, it could happen!