Most of talent in the Pac-12 this season, as in the past, is thought to be on the offensive side of the ball. With the exception of Arizona State junior Vontaze Burfict, there aren’t any defensive players consistently projected near the top of their positions in next year’s draft, but the past has shown the conference typically has multiple defenders selected in the early rounds each year. If that trend is to continue, who will emerge this season?
The true senior is where the answer might be found. To become a fourth-year senior you need to be athletic and talented enough to make an impact as a true freshman, but not so gifted that you can declare for the draft after your junior season. The only real difference between them and red-shirt juniors is typically some inconsistent playing time during their first year on campus…and the reality