ESPN College Football

The 2012 NFL draft provided few surprises -- for about the first 10 minutes. After that, it was a slew of slips and falls that left many Pac-12 coaches and fans with a serious case of dry, itchy scalp.

When your Pac-12 bloggers got together this week in Arizona and started brainstorming ideas for this week's Take 2, the NFL draft was an obvious choice. We both agreed that the biggest surprise was that Washington running back Chris Polk was not drafted. No debate, no Take 2. So instead this week we decided to just toss out our thoughts on two more players who went undrafted.

Ted Miller: It's an NFL tradition to underrate Oregon defensive backs, then hand them starting jobs -- see Jairus Byrd, T.J. Ward, Walter Thurmond, etc. So I am not shocked that former Ducks safety Eddie Pleasant didn't get drafted.

What will shock me is if he doesn't have an NFL career, whether that's with the Houston Texans, who signed him to a free agent contract, or not. I will admit that I vacillated between Pleasant and a more celebrated Pac-12 safety here: Stanford's Delano Howell. But I tapped Pleasant because I think he's a more consistent tackler and because, well, he played in the secondary at Oregon, which is an underrated NFL pipeline (and will continue to be so).

Pleasant is not huge -- 5-11, 211 pounds -- and he's not hugely fast -- 4.63 40. But the main gripe on him was his struggles in pass coverage in space. Part of that likely is him only converting from linebacker -- where he started in 2009 after being a top reserve as a redshirt freshman in 2008 -- two years ago. In 2010, a lot of his struggles seem to come because he didn't exactly know what he was doing -- or feel comfortable doing it. His improvement in 2011 was notable because it suggested more is ahead. Finally, Ducks defensive coordinator Nick Aliotti, despite having plenty of physically talented candidates, has spent the entire spring wringing his hands -- as only Aliotti can wring his hands -- over how difficult it will be to replace Pleasant. When Aliotti speaks, I listen. For edification as well as amusement. Pleasant is going to be playing football a lot longer than a lot of safeties who did get drafted. You can count on that.

Kevin Gemmell: The NFL is filled with stories of redemption. Sadly, my spidey senses tingle to the tune that Vontaze Burfict isn’t going to be one of them.

Still, I’m mildly surprised that no one decided to take a flyer on him in the later rounds. It wouldn’t have been the first time players with sketchy reputations/head cases/drug histories were admitted to the NFL fraternity via the draft. As one colleague said this week, NFL teams would draft an axe murderer if they thought he could help them.

After all, Warren Sapp took a little slide in the draft after he admitted to marijuana use pre-draft -- but still ended up in the first round. Luis Castillo was a first-rounder despite admitting to using androstenedione before the combine to recover from an elbow injury. Even Maurice Clarett found his way to Denver in the third round.

Sapp went on to have a very successful career, Castillo is still in the league with the team that drafted him and Clarett, well, he never played a down in the NFL. It goes to show that all it takes is one general manager to roll the dice.

The point is that Burfict must have been so unbelievably toxic that any potential he has as a linebacker was superseded by his shortcomings (pick one: physical, mental, emotional etc.)

Burfict’s reputation proceeded him before ASU's season began -- but he was perceived as such a talent that most had no problem projecting him as a first-round pick; then a second-rounder; then a third-day pick before most eventually predicted he wouldn't be drafted at all. Mob stoolies in cement shoes don’t sink that fast.

Maybe this is the wake-up call he needed. Burfict is an easy target for one-liners, but he’s also still in the infancy of his adult life. The Bengals signed him to a zero-risk, free-agent contract. Maybe a veteran will take him under his wing and show him how to start manning up, because right now Burfict is the biggest joke of the draft. But when you really peel back the layers of his downfall, it’s not all that funny.

TEMPE, Ariz. -- Amanda Pettas, daughter of former Washington offensive coordinator John Pettas, dashes into the middle of the Arizona State scrimmage. You wonder: Is she possessed by the ghost of former Sun Devils linebacker Vontaze Burfict, determined to do something completely nuts?

The whistle blows, and immediately Pettas raises a pair of flags -- maroon and gold, of course.

The reporter on the sideline, widely known for being phenomenally observant and preternaturally insightful, is given three ultimately futile guesses as to what the heck Pettas is doing.

Sports information director Mark Brand then explains that Pettas is charged with running to the ball and raising the flags so coaches, watching film later, can know for sure which players are running full-go until the whistle is blown and which, thinking they are away from the play and can relax, might slow down a second or two before the whistle.

New coach Todd Graham doesn't like that. To him, it's loafing. The Sun Devils over the past few seasons did a lot of that.

That phenomenally observant and preternaturally insightful reporter saw little loafing on Tuesday. Also, his ears are ringing. Graham has enlisted a crew of assistants who aren't shy about making a point colorfully.

"The first couple of weeks were a little rough," offensive tackle Evan Finkenberg said.

It's a seeming requisite when observing a new coaching staff for folks -- fans and media -- to paint a "There's a new sheriff in town!" picture. Everything the fired coach did becomes inferior and everything the new coach changes becomes brilliant and inspiring. These, naturally, are superficial judgments made before games are played.

But this is different. Everybody dresses the same -- there are no fashion statements at practice. Walking on the field is verboten. While former coach Dennis Erickson mostly observed practice, Graham is active at just about every moment. He barks, instructs and jokes with his players incessantly. And so do his assistants.

Different, of course, guarantees only change, not success. And the players Graham inherited -- a roster with many questions -- might not be capable of winning more than six games next fall, as they did in 2011, even with a dramatic change in culture.

But six wins with fewer penalties, more consistent effort and a more disciplined, mature locker room likely would be embraced by the Sun Devils' frustrated fan base. And would bode well for the future.

Some observations:

• Quarterback competition? It's interesting because Mike Bercovici, Michael Eubank and Taylor Kelly are so different, something that won't be the case going forward when Graham and his staff recruit specifically for their offense. No question Bercovici is the best passer by a wide margin. Graham wants to throw downfield aggressively, and Bercovici -- big arm, quick release -- has the potential to do that as well as anyone in the conference. But Bercovici isn't a runner, and QB runs are a staple of Graham's offense. The general consensus is Eubank is the future. He's got a nice arm and his 6-foot-5, 242-pound frame makes him a physical, if not terribly speedy runner. On Tuesday, however, Eubank seemed reluctant to throw, even when guys were open. Kelly is likely in third place, but he can run and he also throws fairly well, though he seems to aim the ball in a way that defenses will be able to pick up.
• The Sun Devils are deep at running back, particularly if Deantre Lewis gets back up to speed after missing last year with a gun shot wound that left him with nerve damage in his upper leg. There's starter Cameron Marshall and James Morrison -- a couple of bangers -- touted incoming players, Marion Grice, a JC transfer, and freshman D.J. Foster, as well as hybrid WR/RB Kyle Middlebrooks and Jamal Miles.
• The offensive line has looked better than expected and the defensive line is solid, though it will be much better if suspended end Junior Onyeali gets reinstated.
• Areas of concern: linebacker, receiver and safety. There are intriguing players at each spot, but experience -- particularly at linebacker and wide receiver -- is an issue.
• Last year, the Sun Devils played an up-tempo, no-huddle, spread offense. They needed roughly 20 to 22 seconds between plays. Graham's goal is 16 to 18 seconds. That's really fast, perhaps not even doable on a consistent basis. But the effort to get there certainly increases the pace at practice.

Maybe California's Mychal Kendricks really is a better inside linebacker than Arizona State's Vontaze Burfict, even when you don't consider Burfict's baggage.

Kendricks, the Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year, was the top inside linebacker at the NFL combine on Monday in the 40-yard dash (4.47), vertical jump (39.5) and broad jump (10-7). He tied for fifth overall at the combine in both the vertical and broad jump. He also had a time of 4.19 in the 20-yard shuttle, the fifth fastest for linebackers.

And there's this from Scouts Inc.:

The surprise of the inside linebacker group was California's Mychal Kendricks (5-11 1/8, 239), who absolutely crushed his workout. Kendricks had the top 40 (4.47), vertical (39 1/4) and broad jump (10-7) in the group, and was in the top five in the short shuttle (4.19). He was also above-average on the bench with 24 reps.

Kendricks' explosiveness showed up during drills, when he stayed low to the ground, showed quick feet and was effective shaving the edge as a pass-rusher. He was under control at all times, and this performance combined with good things seen recently on film give him a realistic shot to come off the board late on Day 2.

Things went much worse for Arizona State ILB Vontaze Burfict (6-1 3/8, 248), whose 40 time (5.09) and broad jump (8-7) were well below the four-year averages. Burfict's 2011 film says he's a third-rounder, and when you add in those results along with character baggage and poor interviews his stock is beginning to plummet.

USC linebacker Chris Galippo also struggled a bit:

USC MLB Chris Galippo didn't do enough to show teams he's more than just a two-down linebacker who will come to the sideline on passing downs. Galippo almost lost his balance when asked to backpedal between bags, and he didn't show great burst out of breaks in coverage.

Another Pac-12 defensive standout was former USC end Nick Perry, who ran a blistering 4.64 40. That said, ESPN's Todd McShay is a bigger fan of Clemson's Andre Branch.

Clemson's Andre Branch (6-4 1/4, 259) and USC's Nick Perry (6-2 3/4, 271) are similar conversion/hybrid players and both rank on the edge of the first round. Perry has better workout numbers but Branch is more athletic and shows better bend as an edge rusher. Perry has more straight-line explosiveness, but Branch blows him out of the water in terms of change-of-direction skills and lateral quickness in space.

Another take on Perry:

USC DE Nick Perry had a strong day. There is some tightness in his hips, and it showed when he was asked to open up in space. But Perry moved well enough to give base 3-4 defenses something to think about as a possible outside linebacker. The 271-pounder is quick and gets to depth, and he showed that he can pluck the ball out of the air. His most natural fit is at defensive end, though. Perry showed above-average lateral mobility and quick hands during bag work.

There were a few Pac-12 defenders that didn't burn up the 40, though. Washington defensive tackle Alameda Ta'amu ran one of the slowest 40s at 5.37, but he injured his hamstring while doing so. For the defensive ends, Cal's Trevor Guyton (5.07) and Arizona State's Jamaar Jarrett (5,02) were among the slowest in their position group.

The truth can now be told.

It was the media's fault. It was an undersized receiver's fault. It was the officials' fault. And, of course, it was the Arizona State coaches' fault that linebacker Vontaze Burfict had a bad junior season before opting to enter the NFL draft, according to a report from the Arizona Republic at the NFL combine in Indianapolis.

Burfict talked to reporters for six minutes Sunday, and it was the first significant interview he's conducted in months. Here's why, according to Burfict:

For Burfict, however, it was one of the longer group interviews he's done in at least two years. He avoided interviews in college, he said, because "sometimes I did a written interview and the things I said didn't really come out as I said it. I just thought it was best for me not to do any interviews because people were putting words in my mouth and putting me as a bad guy."

I had one extended, sit-down with Burfict. I thought it went fairly well. In that interview, which he did with buddy and fellow Sun Devils linebacker Brandon Magee, Burfict called a Pac-12 quarterback a name that I can't type here, at which point Magee interrupted with an impressive filibuster to distract me (see if you can figure out which colorful Magee quote in that linked story is said filibuster). I chose not to use the insult. I also know other reporters who talked with Burfict tried to "work with him" in terms of giving him the benefit of the doubt when he said things that would make him look bad.

My point: Burfict's perception -- or spin -- here is inaccurate. I'd be eager to see if Burfict or his representatives can actually produce any interview where "people were putting words in my mouth and putting me as a bad guy." Just one.

What about all those inopportune personal fouls and unsportsmanlike conduct penalties?

On Sunday, Burfict blamed that on officials and his aggressiveness.

"I just love to hit," he said. "I hate to lose."

And what about the way he played this year, going from sure-thing All-American to not even earning honorable mention All-Pac-12? Well, it was the coaches fault.

The decisions of coaches also played a role in the lack of production, he said.

"I played average," he said. "I could've played better. That's what hurt me at times. The coaches kind of messed me up. I didn't know if I would start a game or be benched. It hurt me, but I tried to fight through it."

Then there was Burfict's preseason fight in the locker room with a teammate:

He did accept blame, sort of, for punching a teammate in the locker room, an incident that carried over from the practice field, he said.

"It started in seven-on-seven and he ran a route and hit me, and we're not supposed to hit each other in seven-on-seven," he said. "We had an argument, and we brought it into the locker room. We started chattering about it, he started rough-housing me. He pushed me, and my first instinct was to swing, and everyone thinks I'm the bad guy because my first instinct was to swing on the guy."

Burfict belted receiver Kevin Ozier. Burfict is 6-foot-3, 252 (though he admits he played at 260 pounds last season) and a superstar. Ozier is 6-foot, 200. He's a former walk-on. And Burfict's initial point of contention is getting bumped by a 200 pounder during a drill?

Really?

Yes, Vontaze, you seemed like a bad guy in that instance. And it didn't help that you didn't show up the next day and tell reporters, "Look, I let my temper get the best of me. It was a terrible mistake on my part. I'm supposed to be a leader in this locker room. I've already apologized to Kevin, who's just a hard-working guy trying to make his mark on this team. I'm apologizing now to him and my teammates and my coachces again, and I want to let all Sun Devils fans know this won't happen again."

Heck, I could have told Burfict how to best handle his combine interview in a quick telephone chat.

Q: Why didn't you do interviews in college?

A: I'm a football player who's never been comfortable talking to people. I get nervous, and sometimes I say stuff that embarrasses me and those I care about. I think my swagger helps me play linebacker. But it also makes it hard to filter my thoughts. I'm still learning. And I know it's something I need to get better at.

Q: Has the media been fair to you?

A: That's hard to answer. Probably. But it's hard to read bad stuff about yourself. Sometimes I thought stuff was unfair. There's an image out there of me in the media, and I don't think that's who I am. But I do know I am responsible for my image. I also know that blaming the media does me no good. I need to focus on what I need to do to get better in all areas of my life, and I know that working with the media is part of being an NFL player.

Q: Why did you get so many personal foul penalties and late flags?

A: Sometimes I let my emotions get the best of me. Sometimes I was just playing football and those things happen. And then you get a few for your reputation. But I realize the bottom line is not hurting my team. Again, I know this is something I need to get better with, and I want any team that drafts me to know that I will.

Q: Why did you take a step back this season?

A: I've thought about that a lot. For one, I was too big -- 260 pounds. I need to be leaner in the NFL so I can play fast. I think I might have been distracted, thinking about the NFL. I tried not to be, but I have to say it was a problem. There were a lot of things. It takes 100 percent focus to be a great football player, and I didn't have that this past season. But college is different. There's a lot of stuff going on there that's not about football. The NFL is my dream. Wherever I end up, that team will have a linebacker who is 100 percent focused on being the best player he can be -- in every practice, in the locker room and every Sunday.

I know: This is not Burfict's voice. But you'd give him talking points for all the obvious questions and let him learn how to express a satisfactory response in his own words.

And most of all: He'd take responsibility and not blame others. In. Every. Instance. Period.

Football is not a game of excuses. You either do or you don't. And that's doubly true in the Not For Long league, where you get good or get gone.

I love watching Burfict at his best. He's a powerhouse with great speed and instincts. If his everyday attitude becomes "What do I need to do to get better?" then he will become an All-Pro.

But I've chatted with a lot of people who know Burfict well. Let's just say if Burfict is fueled by doubters, he won't be running on empty his rookie season.

Stanford's recent success just about Andrew Luck? That's just silly talk.

If ESPN NFL draft guru Todd McShay is on target with his mock 2012 NFL draft, plenty of evidence to the contrary will be produced on draft day.
McShay projects that Luck will be the No. 1 overall pick, of course, but he also projects that Luck will be joined by three teammates in the first round.

How many other teams will produce that many first-round picks? One: National champion Alabama.

The Pac-12 has seven first-round picks in McShay's mock draft.

Here's how McShay sees things, with some comments included.

1. Andrew Luck, QB Stanford (Indianapolis Colts)

2. Matt Kalil, OT, USC (St. Louis Rams)

13. David DeCastro, OG, Stanford (Arizona Cardinals)
This might seem a bit high for a guard, but DeCastro was the most dominant interior offensive lineman in the nation in 2011 and has a chance to develop into one of the elite NFL players at his position. Offensive tackle is also a need area, but DeCastro is a much better overall player than the top available tackle. Cornerback could also be a consideration, but both Janoris Jenkins (North Alabama) and Dre Kirkpatrick (Alabama) carry off-field baggage.

18. Jonathan Martin, OT, Stanford (San Diego Chargers)

20. Nick Perry, DE, USC (Tennessee Titans)
The Titans have three defensive ends set to become free agents and need a dynamic pass-rusher to complement Derrick Morgan. While Perry is raw, he has good initial burst and natural pass-rush skills. Cornerback, safety and offensive line are also need areas, but Perry makes the most sense in this situation.

26. Coby Fleener, TE, Stanford (Houston Texans)
The Texans would rather get a wideout here to complement Andre Johnson, but Rutgers' Mohamed Sanu and South Carolina's Alshon Jeffery would be reaches at this point. A difference-maker at tight end would help, though, and Fleener is a reliable target with toughness, a competitive nature and underrated speed/athleticism. He could draw some attention to the middle away from Johnson, and with a deep wideout class Houston could find a quality receiver in the next couple of rounds.

29. Vontaze Burfict, LB, Arizona State (Baltimore Ravens)
Burfict is a physical freak with tremendous athleticism and explosive power. He's a top-20 talent, but questions about his discipline on and off the field are hurting his stock. However, Burfict could contribute immediately and would benefit greatly from the leadership and guidance of Ravens middle linebacker Ray Lewis. And you have to wonder whether the Ravens would press their luck and take another player with character flags after bringing cornerback Jimmy Smith into the fold last year.

Here's McShay's player rankings.

Here's Kiper's Big Board.

And here's Kiper's top-five by position, which is chock full of Pac-12 players.

Most interesting: Kiper ranks former Arizona State's Brock Osweiler No. 3 among the quarterbacks, ahead of former Arizona's Nick Foles, who is fifth. Luck, of course, is No. 1 and Heisman Trophy winner Robert Griffin III is No. 2.

If Osweiler ends up getting picked on the first day -- first two rounds -- it certainly will validate his surprising decision to enter the NFL draft.

As expected, Oregon junior running back LaMichael James will enter the NFL draft.

James' decision was first reported by The Oregonian on Dec. 15.

James, a 2010 Heisman Trophy finalist and Doak Walker Award winner, will finish his career as the best player in Oregon history and one of the best running backs in Pac-12 history. His 5,082 career yards rushing and 53 TDs rank second all-time in the conference. He was the first running back to eclipse 1,500 yards rushing three consecutive years.

His obvious replacement would be talented junior backup Kenjon Barner, but Barner also is considering entering the NFL draft.

The deadline to declare is Jan. 15.

Here is the list of Pac-12 players who have opted to enter the NFL draft a year early.

Vontaze Burfict, LB, ASU
David DeCastro, OG, Stanford
Matt Kalil, LT, USC
Andrew Luck, QB, Stanford
Jonathan Martin, OT, Stanford
Nick Perry, DE, USC
Chris Polk, RB, Washington
LaMichael James, RB, Oregon

Arizona State QB Brock Osweiler is expected to shortly announce that he also will enter the draft.

The Pac-12 bowl season kicks off Thursday night in Vegas, as Arizona State tries to save face after a late-season collapse when it takes on Boise State.

Here's a quick preview of the matchup:

WHO TO WATCH: The quarterbacks. This is Kellen Moore's final game for Boise State after one of the best careers in college football history. To hear the skeptics who question his NFL potential, this might be the last start of his football career. He had another brilliant season, but -- not unlike his team -- fell off the national radar after a loss to TCU. A remarkably consistent performer, it's hard to imagine he wouldn't go out strong. Meanwhile, the Sun Devils' offense flows through Brock Osweiler. He'll need to be at his best against a sound, statistically impressive defense.

WHAT TO WATCH: Both teams' fire. Arizona State lost its final four games and its coach, Dennis Erickson, was let go. Boise State was expecting a berth in a BCS bowl, not one before Christmas against a .500 team that fired its coach. The general expectation is a disciplined, businesslike Broncos team will do its usual thing while the Sun Devils won't be able to stay focused and intense after their ruined season. But it's possible the opposite will happen, right, with Boise State playing without interest and the Sun Devils trying to prove the pundits wrong?

WHY TO WATCH: Moore, for one. He's enough of a reason. And there has to be some curiosity about whether Arizona State will show up, not to mention whether linebacker Vontaze Burfict will play -- and, if so, how well and with how much discipline. Further, it's a Boise State matchup with an AQ-conference team. That always raises an eyebrow.

PREDICTION: Boise State 41, Arizona State 24. It's possible that the Sun Devils might try to win one for Erickson on his way out. Or that they might adopt an "us against the world" mentality and play with fire we haven't seen since October. But even at their best, the Sun Devils would be underdogs. Hard to imagine they'll be at their best after losing four in a row to end the regular season, blowing the South Division title and getting their coach fired.

Is the Arizona State team that whipped USC 43-22 still somewhere inside the Arizona State team that lost 31-27 to Arizona? That Sun Devils squad that lost four in a row to finish the season -- cumulative record of foes: 21-28 -- can't possibly transform back into the hard-nosed, opportunistic unit that won 35-14 at Utah, can it?

Other than Illinois, which beat Arizona State during a 6-0 start but lost its final six games, no other team in the country captures that whole Jekyll-and-Hyde thing quite like the Sun Devils.

They started 6-2, earned a national ranking and were almost certain to win the Pac-12 South Division title. Then they completely collapsed. It's still difficult to figure out exactly what happened.

"It's not one thing you can put your finger on," senior linebacker Colin Parker said. "It was a combination of things. Every game was different. Sometimes our problems were on special teams. Sometimes our problems were on defense. Sometimes our problems were on offense. It was never the same."

The current problem the Sun Devils have is Boise State in the MAACO Las Vegas Bowl. Boise State went 11-1. It is ranked eighth. It is unhappy to be in Las Vegas -- again -- instead of the BCS bowl game it deserved, but the Broncos are not the sort of program that mopes and whines and turns in a flat performance. In fact, when the Broncos see an AQ-conference team on the opposite side of the field, they go all Bruce Banner-to-Incredible Hulk.

They last lost to one on Sept. 8, 2007 -- Washington, of all teams.

Meanwhile, it's reasonable to ask if the Sun Devils, a 14-point underdog, will show up. We already know that defensive end Junior Onyeali won't. He's been suspended. And we don't know what will happen with linebacker Vontaze Burfict, whose been running with the second team since he got benched against California in the season finale for a pair of personal foul penalties.

And, of course, this will be Dennis Erickson's last game as Sun Devils coach before Todd Graham takes over. Players might want to win one for Erickson, or they might not care because he's out the door.

Parker says the Sun Devils will be motivated.

"It's about sending the seniors out and especially the coaching staff out," Parker said. "Everybody here has only played for Coach Erickson and his staff. We've grown close together and none of us want to see him go. But it is what it is."

Parker said the time off away from the field has helped the team heal mentally and refocus.

"We've cleared our minds a little bit," he said. "We know what we are capable of. We've just got to go out and play like we did our first six games. We feel like we can play with anybody in the country."

The team that started 6-2 certainly could go nose-to-nose with Boise State. The team that went 0-4 in November, however, doesn't stand a chance.

So who shows up?

Four Pac-12 players are ranked identically on ESPN draft guru Todd McShay's and Mel Kiper's NFL draft boards, but Arizona State linebacker Vontaze Burfict's stock is plummeting.

Both have Stanford QB Andrew Luck No. 1, USC offensive tackle Matt Kalil No. 2, USC QB Matt Barkley No. 6 and Stanford offensive tackle Jonathan Martin No. 7.

You can see McShay's rankings here. And Kiper's "Big Board" here.

Two Pac-12 players moved around, though.

Kiper has come around on Stanford offensive guard David DeCastro. McShay has ranked DeCastro much of the year, and he has him at 18th. Kiper brought him aboard at 20th. Writes Kiper:

Extremely consistent, and both athletic and powerful in the run game. The rare guard who could get some looks in the first round.

Both McShay and Kiper have been dropping Arizona State linebacker Vontaze Burfict. He fell from 15th to 21st with McShay, who writes:

Questions about Burfict's on-field maturity and mental makeup have hurt his stock, but he's a physically gifted player with the tools of a top-10 prospect. He has the power to deliver heavy blows and solid range and awareness in underneath coverage.

The Pac-12 blog suspects Burfict's play as well as off-field concerns might drop him from the first round entirely.

Burfict has a big problem: He played for a coaching staff that just got fired. Many members of that staff are not fans of his. And because those coaches don't have to be accountable to Burfict, his teammates or the program going forward, they will provide unvarnished takes on Burfict to NFL personnel men. Some won't say nice things.

Put this way: Burfict was benched in what is likely his last game as a Sun Devil. When his coaches asked him to return to the game, he reportedly refused, according to the Arizona Republic.

That is not in the "How to Win Friends and Influence GMs" guide to the NFL draft.

Then there's this from former Arizona State QB Danny White when he appeared on Brad Cesmat's radio show on XTRA Sports 910 AM in Phoenix on Nov. 29. Cesmat, according to the Arizona Republic, "mentioned that he thought ASU junior linebacker Vontaze Burfict was a microcosm of the [Dennis] Erickson era."

Replied White:

"I agree 100 percent," White said. "He was also the reason Dennis Erickson got fired. When your best football player is a guy like that, he's what I call a coach killer. He's such a great athlete, you have to have him on the field. But by the same token, the negatives outweigh the positives with him. As great a player as he is, you can' t have that. And then what happens, when if you don't take extreme measures with it, then it becomes a cancer on the team. And I started seeing other guys on the defense starting to act like that and I think it became infectious. No matter how good a player is, when he's got that kind of attitude on the field, when he hurts you like Vontaze hurt the team, you got to get rid of him. As hard as that is, and it's a hard thing to do, especially when he's your best player, you just can't have it or it does become a cancer, and I think he did."

Burfict probably could benefit from another year in college. For one, he didn't play well this year, so he could return to the form that made him a consensus preseason All-American. And he desperately needs to grow up, something that won't happen with folks around him coddling him and telling him the way he behaves is OK.

But it's doubtful he wants to return for his senior season, and it's also questionable whether or not the next coach would want to take a risk on him.

Andrew Luck, Oregon, the return of USC and coaching hot seats that melted were the big stories for the Pac-12 in 2011.

Luck was a big story because he's the best college football player in the nation. Despite being the certain No. 1 overall pick in the 2011 NFL draft, he opted to return for his redshirt junior year. While he fell short of winning the conference title, and may fall short in the Heisman Trophy race, he led the Cardinal to a second consecutive BCS bowl game -- the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl opposite No. 3 Oklahoma State. Not too shabby.

Luck didn't get everything he wanted in large part because of those pesky Ducks, who won their third consecutive conference title and will play Wisconsin in the Rose Bowl. Oregon opened with a loss to LSU, but that defeat became less of an issue as the season went on and everyone learned just how good LSU was.

USC -- quietly, then loudly -- returned to the top five with a 10-2 finish. The Trojans weren't terribly impressive early but their 38-35 victory at Oregon on Nov. 19 forced the nation to take notice.

Finally, four coaches were fired. Arizona's Mike Stoops went down first at midseason; he's already been replaced by former Michigan and West Virginia coach Rich Rodriguez. Then UCLA's Rick Neuheisel, Arizona State's Dennis Erickson and Washington State's Paul Wulff were dumped. The Cougars generated positive national publicity when they quickly scooped up former Texas Tech coach Mike Leach.

UCLA and Arizona State? Their coaching searches seem to be struggling to find a mutual fit.

As for the conference in general, things were top-heavy. Oregon, Stanford and USC gave the Pac-12 three top-10 teams. But no other team even sniffed the rankings by season's end. The nine other teams had at least five losses. Seven had six or more defeats.

It was another big year for offense, with six of the nation's top 36 offenses residing in the conference. And not a great one for defense, with just three defenses ranking in the top 50.

As for the new elements of being a 12-team league, the conference championship game was ruined by USC's ineligibility due to NCAA sanctions. Instead of a top-10 matchup, the conference was stuck with 6-6 UCLA as the South Division "champion." The Bruins, of course, had just fired Neuheisel.

Utah, after a slow start, mostly played well, despite losing its starting quarterback. The Utes are headed to the Sun Bowl, a better bowl than any their former conference, the Mountain West, has to offer.

Colorado finished 3-10. Obviously, the Buffs have a way to go.

There were some good things and bad things about the Pac-12 in 2011. The good news going forward is the new $3 billion conference TV contract that clicks in next year, as will the debuts of the Pac-12 Networks. The influx of money is one reason a school like Washington State can increase what it pays its head coach from $600,000 to $2.25 million.

Does the future look bright? Well, it certainly looks green.

Offensive MVP: It was an extremely difficult decision. but our choice is Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck. He just nips USC QB Matt Barkley. Barkley has more passing yards, touchdowns and fewer interceptions, but here's why the choice is Luck: Stanford had a better offense than USC with less talent, particularly at receiver. The Cardinal averaged more yards (481 vs. 457) and points (43.6 vs. 35.8) per game. And that superiority can be directly traced to Luck as the manager of the Cardinal offense, a role that gave him more responsibility in terms of play choice than any college QB has had in years.

Defensive MVP: Stanford linebacker Chase Thomas. Thomas led the Pac-12 in tackles for a loss with 17.5 and was second with 8.5 sacks. He also forced five fumbles, second-most in the conference, had four quarterback hurries and finished with 51 total tackles. He's not the most physically talented player in the conference, but he might have the best motor.

Newcomer of the Year: Oregon WR De'Anthony Thomas was a do-everything performer in 2011. He rushed 53 times for 440 yards with five touchdowns. He led the Ducks with 42 receptions for 571 yards and nine TDs. He ranked 13th in the nation in kick returns, returning two for TDs. That's 16 total TDs. He ranked 17th in the nation in all-purpose yards.

Coach of the Year: While it might be difficult for some folks to wrap their minds around it, the 2011 season made clear that USC's Lane Kiffin can coach. It's not just that he led his Trojans to a top-five ranking and 10-2 final record. It's not just that he did so while the Trojans were yoked with unfair NCAA sanctions that prevented them from getting a postseason reward, which means he kept a team motivated when it would have been easy for his players not to be. No, it's about the fact that the Trojans went from looking like a mediocre young team over the first half of the season to one that could play with anyone in the nation by season's end. USC improved, and that can only be attributed to coaching.

Biggest surprise: At the start of the season, there were plenty of Pac-12 coaches on the hot seat, but Arizona's Stoops didn't look like one of them. Yet on Oct. 9, after an embarrassing loss to Oregon State dropped the Wildcats to 1-5, he was fired.

Biggest disappointment: Arizona State and Sun Devils linebacker Vontaze Burfict share this dubious distinction. The Sun Devils were disappointing because they started 6-2, climbed into the national rankings and looked like a sure-thing South Division champion. But then they collapsed and Erickson was fired. Burfict was a preseason All-America who didn't even make honorable mention All-Pac-12. He's an incredible talent who simply didn't play well this year, for whatever reason.

Best game: Stanford's 56-48 triple-overtime win at USC was not only the best game in the Pac-12, it might have been the best game anywhere all season. The game featured brilliance from both Barkley and Luck -- both tossed three touchdown passes; Luck rushed for a fourth -- but it truly was a thrilling, exhausting, physical battle of attrition.

Arizona State's collapse is complete after losing 47-38 to California in a sparsely populated Sun Devil Stadium, and that feels like the end for coach Dennis Erickson.

The Sun Devils, once 6-2, nationally ranked and firmly in control of the Pac-12 South Division, have now lost four in a row -- and five of six -- and yielded the division to UCLA.

The Bears improved to 7-5 overall and 4-5 in the conference. Beating Sun Devils (6-6, 4-5) likely bolsters their bowl chances -- from, at best, Alamo Bowl to, at worst, Sun Bowl.

Both teams piled up yards, but the Bears made fewer mistakes. The Sun Devils lost the turnover battle 4-1, including two in the fourth quarter. They also had 11 penalties for 121 yards, including two personal-foul penalties on a single third-quarter drive from linebacker Vontaze Burfict, who was thereafter benched.

Cal piled up 484 yards, including 247 yards rushing against the beleaguered Sun Devils defense. Running back Isi Sofele had 145 rushing on 21 carries with a touchdown.

Arizona State will play in a bowl game, but the question is whether Erickson will be around to coach it.

Tracking the offensive, defensive and coach of the year races in the Pac-12.

For a more thorough look at offense, re-read our Heisman Watch update.

Offensive player of the year

1. Andrew Luck, QB, Stanford: Luck ranks fifth in the nation in passing efficiency. He's completing 71 percent of his throws with 29 touchdowns and seven interceptions.

2. LaMichael James, RB, Oregon: James ranks first in the nation with 150.88 yards rushing per game and averages 7.89 yards per rush, which is the best among the top-23 rushers. He's also scored 12 touchdowns.

3. Matt Barkley, QB, USC: Barkley leads the Pac-12 with 29 touchdown passes and has six interceptions. His 278 yards passing per game ranks third in the conference. He ranks fourth in the conference in passing efficiency.

Defensive player of the year

1. Chase Thomas, LB, Stanford: Thomas is second the conference in sacks (6.5) and first in tackles for a loss (14.5). He's also forced four fumbles, which is tied for the conference lead.

2. Nick Perry, DE, USC: Perry, after recording 2.5 sacks against Washington, leads the conference with 7.5 sacks and is second in tackles for a loss with 11. He's also defended two passes and forced two fumbles, recovering one.

3. Vontaze Burfict, LB, Arizona State: Burfict ranks second on the Sun Devils with 56 tackles, with 7.0 tackles for loss and 5.0 sacks. He also has an interception, four passes defended and a fumble recovery.

Coach of the year

1. Chip Kelly, Oregon: He's on track to win his third consecutive conference title in three years as Ducks head coach. And he's a huge fan of Styx.

2. David Shaw, Stanford: If Oregon were to lose -- even if it still wins the conference -- Shaw might get the nod if he goes 11-1 in his first year after replacing Jim Harbaugh and earns an at-large berth in a BCS bowl.

3. Lane Kiffin, USC: He becomes a serious candidate if his Trojans upset Oregon on Saturday.

Issues to consider heading into the 11th week of games.

Luck & James: We've said -- and typed -- this before and we will say -- and type -- it again: Big-time players make big-time plays in big-time games. Stanford QB Andrew Luck and Oregon running back LaMichael James are big-time players. They were both Heisman Trophy finalists in 2010. Luck finished second; James won the Doak Walker Award as the nation's best running back. Luck is the overwhelming Heisman favorite at present. James leads the nation in rushing. Who makes more big-time plays on Saturday? The one who does likely will play for the winning team, and he might end up hoisting the bronze stiff arm trophy.

Barkley makes Sarkisian seem brilliant: Washington coach Steve Sarkisian made headlines this week when he said he'd pick Trojans QB Matt Barkley over Stanford QB Andrew Luck. Maybe he was hoping Barkley would be so flattered that he'd take it easy on a Huskies pass defense that yields 283 yards per game? Don't count on it. In fact, expect Barkley to eclipse 30 TD passes this season -- he enters the game with 28 -- and perhaps move within sniffing distance of Matt Leinart's conference record of 38 with two games to play.

Chow down? It seems like Utah offensive coordinator Norm Chow plays one of his former teams every other week, but this time it's different. He was UCLA's offensive coordinator the previous three seasons, so he knows the Bruins personnel on both sides of the ball extremely well. That could be invaluable, particularly with two teams that are limited offensively.

For the defense? Arizona and Colorado own the two worst defenses in the conference. You'd think that Arizona then would have an advantage because it has a much better offense -- Colorado ranks last in the conference in scoring and 11th in total offense. But the Buffaloes are healthier than they've been in weeks, and two cornerbacks return from suspension (Parker Orms and Paul Vigo). Plus there has to be a sense of urgency and desperation at the thought of going winless in their first year of Pac-12 play, while the Wildcats seemed to take a step back last weekend at Utah. While Nick Foles against the Colorado defense seems like a bad matchup, and two poor performances in a row for Foles seem doubtful, don't be surprised if the Buffs come out playing with as much fire as they have in their final home game.

Good Bears or Bad Bears? In terms of matchups, you have to like California's defense against Oregon State, as well as the Bears ability to run and stop the run while playing at home. But it's difficult to focus on X's and O's with the Bears, because it seems like so much goes on -- right and wrong -- in their collective heads. They won three in a row to start the season. Then lost three in a row. They won a game, looking great against Utah. Then lost a game, looking terrible against UCLA. They then looked good again while pounding Washington State last weekend. So does that mean it's time for the Bad Bears to reappear? Cal should beat the Beavers. It's more talented and playing at home. But you never know which team will show up.

Sun Devils should be hot under the collar: Arizona State blew a special season at UCLA. That should bother them. As should tweaks from fans and the media. But they can still win the South Division, go to a good bowl game and have a good season. Nine or 10 wins isn't out of the question. So they need to bring their best focus and intensity to Pullman to face a desperate Washington State team. It's going to be a bit chilly. It may snow. But QB Brock Osweiler and linebacker Vontaze Burfict need to make sure that the locker room is in a frenzy and ready to make a statement against the Cougars.

Red zone, turnovers, third down: Stanford is a perfect 52-of-52 in the red zone this year (with a stunning 41 TDs). It also is No. 1 in the Pac-12 in red zone defense. The Cardinal is No. 2 in the conference in turnover margin, and has given the ball away just seven times this season. Finally, Stanford is No. 1 in the Pac-12 in third-down conversions and second in third-down defense. Oregon is strong by these three measures also. Whoever is better in two of three categories on Saturday is probably going to end up smiling when the clock strikes zero.

The Price of playing defense: Last year, lots of folks were down on USC defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin, and for good reason. The Trojans, so long a dominant defensive team, played soft and tentative and put up bad numbers. But, without a lot of fanfare, USC has significantly improved on D. For one, it's held six of nine foes to 17 or fewer points. The Trojans rank fourth in the conference in total defense. Still, they aren't great against the pass. They give up 271 yards passing per game and rank sixth in pass-efficiency defense, with foes completing 63 percent of their throws. Washington QB Keith Price started the season hot, but has cooled off of late, tossing six interceptions in his past three games after throwing four in his first six. The Trojans have been tough to run against, so Price won't be able to just lean on running back Chris Polk. He's going to have to make plays in the passing game. Like he did in the first six games.

Tracking the offensive, defensive and coach of the year races in the Pac-12.

For a more thorough look at offense, re-read our Heisman Watch update.

Offensive player of the year

1. Andrew Luck, QB, Stanford: Luck ranks fifth in the nation in passing efficiency. He's completing 71 percent of his throws with 26 touchdowns and five interceptions.

2. LaMichael James, RB, Oregon: James ranks first in the nation with 151.57 yards rushing per game and averages 7.98 yards per rush. He has nine rushing TDs.

3. Matt Barkley, QB, USC: Barkley leads the Pac-12 with 28 TD passes after throwing six against Colorado. He ranks fourth in the conference in passing efficiency.

4. Chris Polk, RB, Washington: Polk ranks seventh in the nation and second in the conference with 121.8 yards rushing per game. He has nine rushing TDs.

5. Robert Woods, WR, USC: Woods ranks No. 4 in the nation with 124.56 receiving yards per game. He's caught 11 TD passes.

Defensive player of the year

1. Chase Thomas, LB, Stanford: Thomas leads the conference in sacks (6.5) and tackles for loss (12.5). He's also forced four fumbles, which is tied for the conference lead.

2. Vontaze Burfict, LB, Arizona State: Burfict ranks second on the Sun Devils with 51 tackles, with 7.0 tackles for loss and 5.0 sacks. He also has an interception and four passes defended.

Coach of the year

1. David Shaw, Stanford: Shaw remains unbeaten as a head coach. If he's still unbeaten on Dec. 3, he's the Coach of the Year.

2. Chip Kelly, Oregon: How could Kelly not be Coach of the Year if he wins a third consecutive Pac-12 title?

Tracking the offensive, defensive and coach of the year races in the Pac-12.

For a more thorough look at offense, re-read our Heisman Watch update.

Offensive player of the year

1. Andrew Luck, QB, Stanford: He ranks fifth in the nation in passing efficiency. He's completing 72 percent of his throws with 23 touchdowns and four interceptions.

2. Chris Polk, RB, Washington: Polk ranks second in the Pac-12 and fifth in the nation with 127 yards rushing per game. His nine rushing touchdowns rank second in the conference.

3. LaMichael James, RB, Oregon: James returned to action against Washington State after missing two games. He had 53 yards rushing on 13 carries in the Ducks' win. He ranks second in the nation with 150.8 yards rushing per game.

4. Robert Woods, WR, USC: Woods caught nine passes for 89 yards and a touchdown in the triple-overtime loss to Stanford. He ranks No. 5 in the nation with 123.9 receiving yards per game.

Defensive player of the year

1. Chase Thomas, LB, Stanford: Thomas leads the conference in sacks (5.5) and tackles for loss (11.5). He's also forced three fumbles.

2. Vontaze Burfict, LB, Arizona State: Burfict ranks second on the Sun Devils with 45 tackles, with 6.0 tackles for loss and four sacks. He also has an interception and four passes defended.

3. Mychal Kendricks, LB, California: Kendricks is fifth in the conference with 7.4 tackles per game. He also has 6.5 tackles for loss.

Coach of the year

1. Dennis Erickson, Arizona State: If the Sun Devils win out and win the South Division, Erickson is a good bet for coach of the year -- unless these other guys do something really special. Like play for a national title.

2. David Shaw, Stanford: Shaw remains unbeaten as a head coach. If he's still unbeaten on Dec. 3, he's the Coach of the Year.

3. Chip Kelly, Oregon: How could Kelly not be Coach of the Year if he wins a third consecutive Pac-12 title?

4. Steve Sarkisian, Washington: Sark's candidacy needs a win on Saturday against Kelly.