ESPN College Football

Washington State junior Logan Mayes is on the spot because he's replacing four-year starter Travis Long at "buck" linebacker, the Cougars' top pass-rushing position.

The Pac-12 has published its official 2013 media guide, which means each team has provided its official tally of returning starters.

What is a "returning starter"? Typically, it means a player who started at least five games in 2012, though in some cases it might include a 2011 starter who missed last season due to injury.

As a conference, 187 total starters are back from a possible 288, including punters and kickers. That's an average of 15.6 per team, which is well above the 10-year average of 14.9 returning starters. Last year, 173 starters -- 14.4 per team -- were coming back.

Washington returns the most with 20 starters, followed by Colorado with 19. Utah returns the fewest, with 12.

Here are the numbers:



That's an average of 7.1 players on offense and 7.3 players on defense. Last year, the numbers were 6.3 for offense and 6.8 for defense. The numbers are slightly down for specialists (1.2 versus 1.3).

Of the returning starters, 12 were first-team All-Pac-12.

Of course, returning starters don't mean everything.

USC was widely celebrated for its 19 returning starters in 2012, which earned it the No. 1 ranking in the preseason Associated Press poll. Things didn't go so well thereafter. Meanwhile, Arizona State went a surprisingly sound 8-5 with just 10 returning starters, fewest in the conference in 2012.

Kyle Allen has cut his college list to five and he calls to discuss. Erik McKinney and Phil Murphy also talk UCLA recruiting the state of Arizona and Washington State’s newest addition.

The Pac-12 teams have been busy, with more than half of the squads adding at least one commit in the last two weeks. Here's where things stand.

Arizona

2014 verbal commitments: 4
Spotlight: Running back Jonathan Haden (Washington, D.C.) is the latest to commit after passing up offers from more than 10 schools, including Ohio State. Here's his highlight reel. (Some pretty good-looking runs).
ESPN 150 members: 1 (Athlete Cameron Denson, Tucson, Ariz.)

Arizona State

2014 verbal commitments: 3
Spotlight: Defensive end Korey Rush (Salt Lake City) gave his commitment earlier this month. He's an undersized defensive lineman with an explosive first step. That should sound familiar to Sun Devils fans.
ESPN 150 members: 0

California

2014 verbal commitments: 3
Spotlight: Running back Tre Watson (Corona, Calif.), who gave a verbal commitment last week, passed up offers from Washington State, Utah and BYU in favor of the Bears.
ESPN 150 members: 0

Colorado

2014 verbal commitments: 1
Spotlight: The Buffaloes got on the board last week with their first commit for the 2014 class -- offensive tackle Isaac Miller (Longmont, Colo.). Washington State also offered the 6-foot-7, 255-pounder, who has some room to grow.
ESPN 150 members: 0

Oregon

2014 verbal commitments: 3
Spotlight: No commits from the Ducks in the past couple of weeks, but dual-threat quarterback Morgan Mahalak (Kentfield, Calif.) is intriguing. He backed up Jared Goff while playing wide receiver.
ESPN 150 members: 0

Oregon State

2014 verbal commitments: 1
Spotlight: Quarterback Nick Mitchell (Snoqualmie, Wash.), is still the lone commit for the Beavers. Typical Mike Riley pro-style quarterback. Tall and accurate. Here's his scouting report.
ESPN 150 members: 0

Stanford

2014 verbal commitments: 3
Spotlight: No commits from Stanford since the last roundup, but safety Brandon Simmons (Arlington, Texas) returns punts and -- from his highlight reel -- has pretty good instincts reacting to the ball.
ESPN 150 members: 0

UCLA

2014 verbal commitments: 2
Spotlight: Wide receiver Dionte Sykes (Chandler Ariz.), who committed last week, is a good-sized target at 6-2 who could emerge as a solid possession and red zone target. Here's his highlight reel, with a pretty good catch at the 41-second mark.
ESPN 150 members: 0

USC

2014 verbal commitments: 5
Spotlight: Four-star defensive tackle Tashon Smallwood (Fresno, Calif.), sought after by the likes of Alabama and Oklahoma, is a space-eater with room to grow in his 6-foot, 290-pound frame. He looks like he could be a 3-4 nose, but you can see from his highlight reel that he's also got a good first step and pursues well.
ESPN 150 members: 0

Utah

2014 verbal commitments: 5
Spotlight: Wide receiver Raelon Singleton (Crosby, Texas), who committed earlier this month, fits the mold of wide receiver Utah is going to want as it moves fully into the spread offense. Tall, can stretch the field and has tremendous upside.
ESPN 150 members: 0

Washington

2014 verbal commitments: 4
Spotlight: Cool fact about tight end Chase Blakley (Coeur D'Alene, Idaho) -- it's been more than 15 years since someone from his school has played at the Pac-12 level, per the Coeur D'Alene Press. You can see his highlight reel here.
ESPN 150 members: 0

Washington State

2014 verbal commitments: 5
Spotlight: The Cougars have picked up two commits in the past couple of weeks, including a verbal commitment Tuesday from wide receiver Zaire Andre (Inglewood, Calif.). He's a quick, elusive receiver who could fit in nicely as a slot receiver/kick returner. Had offers from Nebraska, Nevada and San Jose State.
ESPN 150 members: 0

All players are equal, but some players are more equal than others. That's the basis of our Most Important Player series.

First off, quarterbacks are excluded to make things more interesting. It goes without saying, for example, that Oregon's Marcus Mariota is the Ducks' most important player.

And most important doesn't necessarily have to be "best." An All-American's backup can be pretty darn good, too.

Our most important guys are players who could swing a win total one way or the other, based on their living up to expectations. Or their absence.

Washington State: S Deone Bucannon

2012 production: Had a team high 106 tackles with three tackles for a loss, one sack and he hauled in four interceptions while also forcing a fumble.

Why Bucannon is so important: As noted in Washington State's "One Good Thing" video, the Cougars are silly with wide receivers. And since that is their primary method of offense, finding just one among a corps of many is difficult simply because of the nature of the offense Washington State likes to run.

So trying to single out the most important player from the wide receivers would be tough.

Defensively, Logan Mayes takes over the buck linebacker position for the departed Travis Long -- and the extremely high expectations that come with it. I also think defensive tackle Ioane Gauta, who has cut about 20 pounds this off season, quietly had a very good season last year. There were some improvements on defense -- especially in the way of sacks and tackles for a loss -- so either of them could certainly qualify.

But Bucannon fills this space because, like most safeties, he'll be called upon to be the leader of the defense. He was the only Washington State player (not counting special teams) to earn all-league accolades above honorable mention, landing on the second-team defense. He was Washington State's first player since 2006 to have more than 100 tackles in a season and his 106 stops were fifth in the conference.

But maybe more importantly, he's grown up. After a late hit on an Eastern Washington receiver last year, he was tagged as a dirty player. Fair or not, he told me in March he's learned from his mistakes.

It's tough because you're trying to come with the aggressiveness you need as a defensive player, but you have to be conscious that you are playing within the rules. Things are moving fast and you don't have much time to decide where to hit someone. But it's something I learned.

That's an important step because the Cougars played a lot of youngsters last year (and probably will again this year) and they'll be looking to Bucannon for guidance and how to act on and off the field. As they move into Year 2 of Mike Breske's defense, veterans take on even greater importance.

On several occasions last year, head coach Mike Leach said what the Cougars did in practice during the week needed to translate onto the field on Saturdays. Bucannon was one of those players who listened. He's a hitter -- and his play can inspire a team that is looking for a little inspiration.

The Washington State wide receiving corps had a very strong spring.

Inspired by Florida's "#ComePlayWRFortheJoker" campaign, our recruiting writers looked at other ways schools can sell themselves on the trail. Here's a look at recruiting pitches for the Pac-12:

Arizona Wildcats
What they're selling: Rich Rodriguez's offensive system worked wonders at West Virginia and introduced the nation to Denard Robinson at Michigan. In 2012, the explosive offense scored at least 34 points in 10 of the Wildcats' 13 games.
What they're missing: The Wildcats don't have the Territorial Cup, which went to Arizona State following a 41-34 victory last season. If Arizona is going to climb the Pac-12 ranks, it'll need to win at home and lock up local talent over the Sun Devils.

Arizona State Sun Devils
What they're selling: There's a new attitude at Arizona State, as Todd Graham took the Sun Devils from the most penalized team in the country to one of the least penalized in just one year. Installing that discipline and accountability has been a major selling point for recruits signing up to play with Graham.
What they're missing: The Sun Devils won their final three games of the season for the first time in more than three decades, but losses to UCLA and USC leave them looking up at the Pac-12 South leaders in the battle for national prominence.

California Golden Bears
What they're selling: One of the top public universities in the world, Cal will always be able to pitch its strong academics to recruiting. The new facilities and revamped California Memorial Stadium will help accentuate the package with a pretty bow.
What they're missing: Coach Sonny Dykes has recent Pac-12 experience, but his three years at Louisiana Tech took him completely out of the minds of West region recruits. In-state recruits, essential to Cal's recruiting success, are unfamiliar with what Dykes' systems look like in game action, although the Golden Bears will have a chance to make several statements this fall.

Colorado Buffaloes
What they're selling: The Buffaloes need playmakers at a multitude of position on both sides of the ball. Playing time and the ability to make an instant impact are certainly on the table for Colorado recruits.
What they're missing: Colorado was two points away from a winless season in 2012 and has very little on-field momentum heading into 2013. The Buffs have just four wins in two years in the Pac-12, and until that changes, it'll be difficult to win significant recruiting battles.

Oregon Ducks
What they're selling: The noisy uniforms and noisier Autzen Stadium provide the flash, but there is plenty of substance in the fast-paced offense the Ducks run. It's unlikely that will slow down under new coach Mark Helfrich.
What they're missing: Mostly obviously, they're missing Chip Kelly, which has left a slight cloud over how the program might change direction or continue unaltered under the new staff. But the possibility of looming NCAA sanctions means the Ducks can't sell completely smooth sailing to recruits in this class.

Oregon State Beavers
What they're selling: The Beavers can sell credibility, not just on the field, but with the coaching staff as well. Mike Riley and his staff have proven they can win in Corvallis and year after year, the Beavers' coach comes across as incredibly genuine to recruits.
What they're missing: In state, Oregon State is the decided underdog when it comes to flash and national appeal. The Beavers aren't often referred to as a "dream school" by recruits, so there is rarely a sure-fire commitment for coaches when they go out of state.

Stanford Cardinal
What they're selling: Arguably no school in the country has the combination of academics and athletics of Stanford. When you're recruiting student-athletes, that's a good place to start.
What they're missing: Despite the recent success, Stanford is never going to be able to put together the game-day atmosphere of some of its Pac-12 competition, including Oregon, UCLA, USC and Washington.

UCLA Bruins
What they're selling: Jim Mora's staff has Southern California buzzing about the new direction UCLA is headed. That's a good thing for the Bruins, who have climbed out of the shadow of USC.
What they're missing: The Bruins had a chance to completely pass USC, but dropped their final three games of the season. There is still a question about whether they've jumped the Trojans for good and until that is settled on the field this season, the Trojans will likely get the benefit of the doubt, regionally and nationally.

USC Trojans
What they're selling: No Pac-12 program can fall back on tradition like USC. And now with the John McKay Center, old school meets new school in a much-needed facility upgrade.
What they're missing: Rumblings about Lane Kiffin's job security began after a 10-point loss to UCLA, grew louder after a loss to Notre Dame and became deafening after a Sun Bowl loss to Georgia Tech. Despite athletic director Pat Haden throwing his full support behind the coach, recruits and their families are having difficulty believing Kiffin and his staff are there for the long haul.

Utah Utes
What they're selling: Offensively, there is plenty of intrigue as to how co-offensive coordinators Dennis Erickson and Brian Johnson direct the attack. Overall, there is still the memory of what Utah was able to accomplish as a BCS spoiler in 2008, and Kyle Whittingham hopes to spark some of that magic in the Pac-12.
What they're missing: In two years, the Utes are below .500 in the Pac-12 and missed out on a bowl game last season. At this point, it's still an uphill climb in terms of convincing recruits they can cause an upheaval in the conference standings.

Washington Huskies
What they're selling: It's tough to find a coaching staff with more energy on the field or recruiting trail, starting with head coach Steve Sarkisian and moving to every assistant coach on the staff. It's a young group that relates incredibly well to recruits.
What they're missing: The Huskies have yet to win eight games in Sarkisian's three years in Seattle, so hitting that number would be a big step toward proving there is some growing on-field momentum.

Washington State Cougars
What they're selling: Mike Leach is still one of the most interesting personalities in college football, and despite some stumbles in his first year at Washington State, recruits are still interested to see what the Cougars can do this fall in his second year.
What they're missing: The Cougars need wins and they need them now. Washington State hasn't posted a winning record since 2003 and when it comes to on-field performance, it simply can't compete with a majority of Pac-12 teams.

1. Stanford: The Cardinal have no obvious holes. Unlike last season, Stanford is set at quarterback, and the defense looks as if it will be even better in 2013. It's always nice to have the nation's most talented offensive line.

2. Oregon: While Stanford and Oregon feel like 1A and 1B, you have to account for the uncertainty of the Ducks' changing coaches, particularly when it's one with as big a presence as Chip Kelly. The returning talent, including Heisman Trophy hopeful Marcus Mariota at quarterback, is strong on both sides of the ball.

3. Arizona State: The Sun Devils and UCLA feel like 3A and 3B as the South Division favorites, but the Sun Devils welcome back 16 starters compared with 13 for the Bruins. The biggest question is at receiver, where incoming players are being expected to immediately compete for starting spots.

4. UCLA: There's a lot to like on both sides of the ball, including quarterback Brett Hundley and outside linebacker Anthony Barr. There are questions at running back and in the secondary. Answer those, and get better play out of the offensive line, and the Bruins could be sniffing the top 15.

5. Washington: The Huskies welcome back 20 starters for the re-opening of a renovated Husky Stadium. It's fortuitous that this looks like coach Steve Sarkisian's best team. The biggest question was whether quarterback Keith Price would bounce back from a poor 2012 season. His strong spring, as well as improved play from the offensive line, hints that this could be a Top-25 team.

6. Oregon State: The Beavers are held back, at least in terms of perception, by two things: (1) Uncertainty at quarterback; (2) A worrisome crossing of the fingers at defensive tackle. Neither Cody Vaz nor Sean Mannion separated himself at quarterback, and the Beavers are counting on junior college transfers to fill their two voids at defensive tackle. Still, there's enough here to merit a preseason Top-25 ranking.

7. USC: This low power ranking has nothing to do with talent or potential. The Trojans have enough talent, if things come together, to play in the Rose Bowl. But coach Lane Kiffin sits on the hottest seat in the conference, the Trojans are adopting a new defense under Clancy Pendergast, and there are questions at quarterback and in the secondary. The Trojans might be the most volatile team in terms of predictions. They could win 10 games. Or six.

8. Arizona: Arizona's two main questions are about absence (replacing quarterback Matt Scott) and presence (essentially the entire two-deep returning from a bad defense). It's difficult to believe the Wildcats' quarterback play will be as good as it was last season, but it's also difficult to believe the defense won't be vastly improved. Off-field issues for running back Ka'Deem Carey seem as though they will be resolved, but there is no escaping receiver Austin Hill's knee injury.

9. Utah: The best news for the Utes this spring was improved play from the offensive line and the seeming maturation of quarterback Travis Wilson. There are, however, plenty of questions on defense at all three levels, and it will be interesting to see how Dennis Erickson operates as a co-offensive coordinator.

10. California: Cal also is a volatile stock. A gander through the depth chart has a lot of "what if." As in: What if the Bears get good quarterback play in 2012? What if running back Brendan Bigelow stays healthy? What if the offensive line improves? What if the defense is as good as the recruiting stars suggest it should be? Answer those "what ifs" positively, and this is a bowl team.

11. Washington State: There is every reason to believe the Cougars will be better in Year 2 under Mike Leach, starting with the seasoning all those young players received the hard way in 2012. But it's difficult to see the Cougs eclipsing too many other teams in the conference pecking order. The No. 11 spot here could come with five wins.

12. Colorado: Colorado will be better in coach Mike MacIntyre's first season than it was in 2012, mostly because it can't get any worse. The Buffs were one of the nation's youngest teams last season, and it showed. They figure to be bigger, stronger and smarter this fall. But probably not so much as to escape the basement here.

1. Quarterback competitions (mostly) unresolved: Arizona, California, Colorado, Oregon State and USC entered spring with straight-up QB competitions, and none arrived at any clarity at the position, though some seemed to hint at a front-runner. B.J. Denker looked like the Wildcats' best healthy QB, while Cal's Zach Kline seemed to assert himself slightly for the Golden Bears. At Colorado, Connor Wood's case was helped by attrition. USC's and Oregon State's battles were too close to call.

Further, returning veteran starters with something to prove, including Washington's Keith Price, Washington State's Connor Halliday and Utah's Travis Wilson seemed to assert themselves to varying degrees, though Austin Apodaca could push Halliday in the fall.

2. New coaches, new ways: Sonny Dykes took over at California as did Mike MacIntyre at Colorado. Both, as could be expected, brought changes. Mark Helfrich replaced Chip Kelly at Oregon and, as could be expected, he changed almost nothing. The most obvious change at Cal was open practice, which former coach Jeff Tedford's abandonment of curiously coincided with the Bears gradual decline. The Bears will adopt a no-huddle, spread offense, replacing Tedford's pro-style scheme, and switch from a 3-4 to a 4-3 defense, a reverse of the overall Pac-12 trend. MacIntyre arrived preaching relentless optimism and a pistol offense, while defensive coordinator Kent Baer will retain a 4-3 scheme, but hopefully get better results with his version.

3. Defense, line play look strong: The Pac-12 heads into 2013 poised for a banner year. Oregon and Stanford look like national title contenders -- both are likely preseason top-five teams -- while as many as seven conference teams seem like top-25 candidates. Some of the reasons for the promise are typical: returning QBs and skill players. But what's potentially a bigger reason for improved national standing is the physical side of the game: Offensive line and defense. Nine teams have at least seven starters coming back on defense, while seven teams welcome back four starters on the offensive line. Only one team, Utah, doesn't have at least three starters back on the O-line. Further, there's as much, if not more, star power coming back on the lines and on defense than at the skill positions.

2012 record: 3-9

2012 conference record: 1-8 (last in North Division)

Returning starters

Offense: 9; defense: 9; kicker/punter: 2

Top returners

QB Connor Halliday, WR Gabe Marks, S Deone Bucannon, K Andrew Furney

Key losses

QB Jeff Tuel, OLB Travis Long, OT Wade Jacobson, WR Marquess Wilson

2012 statistical leaders (*returners)

Rushing: Carl Winson (280 yards)
Passing: Jeff Tuel (2,087 yards)
Receiving: Marquess Wilson (813 yards)
Tackles: Deone Bucannon* (106)
Sacks: Travis Long (9.5)
Interceptions: Deone Bucannon* (4)

Spring answers

1. Better on the O-line: The Cougars surrendered 4.75 sacks per game last year, which ranked last in the nation. So the only way to go on the line is up, and that appeared to happen this spring. The biggest improvement was just bodies -- there were enough guys for two full units and plenty of competition. Veteran players with starting experience won't necessarily hold onto their jobs. And that's a good thing.

2. Breakthrough potential at receiver: Five of the top six receivers from 2012 are back. Sophomore Gabe Marks leads a young but deep crew, with 12 players listed on the depth chart, most of whom can contribute. Junior college transfer Vince Mayle arrives this summer and he'll also be in the mix. And new coach David Yost, Missouri's former offensive coordinator, adds an elite offensive mind to coaching this position.

3. Comfort with Leach: Year one with coach Mike Leach didn't go smoothly, as high hopes for immediate returns evaporated and the Cougs struggled with Leach's demanding ways. Leach was no less demanding this spring, but his players better understood what he wanted. Players showed better commitment and dedication, and Leach smiled more.

Fall questions

1. Is Halliday Leach's guy? While the odds still favor veteran Connor Halliday winning the starting nod at QB, Leach went out of his way to praise redshirt freshman Austin Apodaca, who had a better spring game than Halliday. Leach is pushing Halliday, who still needs to improve his accuracy and decision-making.

2. Secondary concerns: The Cougars ranked 11th in the Pac-12 in pass efficiency defense in 2012. Most of the depth chart is returning, and there seemed to be improvement this spring. Still, other than Deone Bucannon at strong safety, there are unresolved competitions here.

3. Replacing Long's production: Travis Long had 9.5 sacks to lead the Cougars in 2012. No other defender had more than three sacks. The secondary will improve against the pass if the defense gets more pressure without resorting to jailhouse blitzes. Logan Mayes, likely to replace Long at "Buck" LB, is the most obvious candidate. It didn't help that the defensive line was banged up this spring.

Washington State coach Mike Leach talks about spring practices, his quarterbacks and the new College Football Playoff.

Darryl Monroe represents grounds for hope for Washington State, hope that the beleaguered program will trend up in 2013.

It's not only that he played well last fall as a redshirt freshman starting at middle linebacker in the Pac-12, which is pretty rare. It's his makeup. When coach Mike Leach griped about the focus, work habits and mental toughness of his team last year, he wasn't talking about Monroe.

"Definitely an impressive guy," Leach said. "A good individual to build a defense around."

Want to know why Leach calls Monroe "impressive" and why we're pulling out the word "makeup," one of those vague, football scout-type terms, as one of his positive qualities?

How about this: Monroe was asked about the Cougars' dramatic 18-point fourth-quarter comeback and overtime victory over the archrival Washington Huskies.

"It will be one of the games I'll remember for the rest of my life," he said. "We played that game for Travis Long. He was holding back tears because he couldn't play. We got him an Apple Cup before we were out of here. That's what it meant to me: Getting that win for Travis."

That is a good answer in so many ways. Yet perhaps there's not enough Husky hate from the Orlando, Fla., native, who admits to not knowing much about the rivalry before he arrived in Pullman?

"We bleed crimson and we don't like Washington," he said.

Other than the Apple Cup, the 2012 season was tough on the Cougars. The great hope inspired by Leach's hiring quickly spiraled into the muck of a 3-9 finish and another campaign -- no winning seasons since 2003 -- spent looking up from the bottom of the Pac-12. It became clear there would be no quick fix, and Leach repeatedly promised an escalation in the intensity of his demands.

Monroe described the offseason work as "brutal ... and it's not even over." But that's not the important part of his thinking.

"The struggle is something you've got to embrace," he said. "It's what's going to make you better in the long run."

As we said: Makeup.

Know that Monroe isn't just a smooth talker. The 6-foot-1, 215 pounder earned All-Pac-12 honorable mention, finishing second on the team with 80 tackles. His 8.5 tackles for a loss, including three sacks, ranked third on the team.

Another aspect of his makeup: He didn't bail out on the program.

Monroe picked the Cougars over Cincinnati and South Florida because of his relationship with Chris Ball, the defensive coordinator under Paul Wulff. His true freshman season ended with a torn Achilles, which was a bummer. When Wulff was fired, Monroe seriously considered leaving so he could start over somewhere else.

Pullman, after all, is a long way from home, both literally and figuratively. Orlando doesn't have too many days when the temperature is in the single digits, for one.

"It was a stressful time, period," he said. "It was pretty tough. It was a time of uncertainty for me, whether I would still be a Cougar or not."

But his parents pretty much advised him to suck it up. So he did. By midseason, he became one of the Cougars' best leaders, earning game captain honors three times, including for the Apple Cup.

He's not the conference's biggest or fastest linebacker. He makes up for that, though, with his brain.

Said Leach, "He really plays well from the neck up. He's a really smart guy."

Coaches often talk about "attention to detail," and Monroe uses that phrase three times in a 15 minute interview. When asked about what aspect of his game he's working on, he talks about reading his keys and leadership.

He sounds very "coachy." It's not difficult to imagine Leach nodding with approval after his every answer.

For Cougars fans looking for grounds for hopes, Monroe is a good place to start.

There were five Pac-12 spring games last weekend and there are three scheduled for Saturday. If you so desire, you can watch them all in HD TV!

You can check out the schedule here.

And here's the slate ahead for the next two weekends.

April 20

• Utah: noon (1 p.m. MT)
• Washington State: 2 p.m. Game played in Joe Albi Stadium in Spokane, Wash.
• Washington: 4 p.m. Game played in Memorial Stadium in Seattle.

April 26

• Oregon State: 7 p.m.

April 27

• Oregon: 11 a.m.
• UCLA: 5 p.m.

Utah, Washington and Washington State all play spring games on Saturday, and the favorite to start at quarterback could make a significant statement that he won't be challenged for the starting job.