Top 10 Pac-10 Players

SI Staff | Aug 24, 2009

Top 10 Pac-10 Players /

Top 10 Pac-10 Players

Walter Thurmond

With defensive backs Patrick Chung and Jairus Byrd gone to the NFL, Thurmond takes over as Oregon's defensive leader. Thurmond's great athletic ability and competitiveness make him a difference-maker in the secondary, but he contributes greatly on special teams as well, where he served as Oregon's primary kick returner in 2008.

Jacquizz Rodgers

Rodgers exploded onto the scene in 2008, becoming the first true freshman to win Pac-10 offensive player of the year honors. His true coming out party came in an upset win against USC, in which he rushed for 186 yards and two scores. The 5-foot-7 spark plug darts through gaps with ease and possesses the strength to get the tough yards on short downs.

LeGarrette Blount

The juco transfer set a single-season Ducks record by notching 17 rushing TDs last season. The powerful rusher should see his numbers swell further now that he's the featured back.

Jake Locker

Locker's powerful running ability has earned him the moniker "Tim Tebow of the West." He needs to improve his passing accuracy, but his value is indisputable -- the Huskies failed to win a game last season while he was sidelined with injuries.

Dexter Davis

The underrated pass-rusher has notched at least 10 sacks each of the past two seasons. In addition to wreaking havoc from the outside, Davis has been a consistent defensive presence, starting all 38 games of his Sun Devils career.

Jeremiah Masoli

Masoli entered 2008 as Oregon's fifth-string QB. The dual-threat talent enters 2009 as a Heisman candidate. A capable passer and powerful runner, Masoli excels in Oregon's spread-option attack.

Brian Price

Few clog the middle as well as Price, the anchor of UCLA's strong defensive line. He led Pac-10 interior linemen with 14 tackles for loss in 2008 and is exceedingly difficult for opposing linemen to block.

Rob Gronkowski

Gronkowski missed three games last season and still finished with 47 catches for 672 yards and 10 TDs. After averaging a touchdown per every 4.7 catches, the 6-foot-6, 265-pounder will be the focal point of Arizona's offense in 2009. An excellent blocker, he contributes on non-passing downs, too.

Jahvid Best

The explosive Best ranked second nationally last season with 187.3 all-purpose yards per game. A threat to go the distance whenever he touches the ball, Best is a legitimate Heisman contender and the kind of gamebreaker opposing defenses must plan around.

Taylor Mays

Mays doesn't put up eye-popping stats like fellow All-America safety Eric Berry, but he possesses unparalleled speed and delivers bone-jarring hits. His lethal combination of size (6-foot-3, 235 pounds) and quickness (he's been credited with running a sub-4.3 40) make him arguably the most intimidating defensive presence in the game.

Published Aug 24, 2009

SI STAFF