ESPN College Football

Catching up on the scrimmages and spring games in the south division.

ARIZONA

The Wildcats quarterbacks combined for six passing touchdowns -- including four from Matt Scott, who completed 22 of 35 passes for 315 yards. Arizona threw 55 times and ran 43 times in addition to working through several different scenarios.

“I shouldn’t expect too much with the first year in the system, but with Matt Scott I’m going to expect a lot,” head coach Rich Rodriguez told the Tucson Citizen. “And I think Matt can deliver.”

Tyler Slavin caught three touchdowns and Richard Morrison caught a pair. Dan Buckner hauled in the sixth.

Safety Marquis Flowers brought in the lone interception of the day and linebacker Jake Fischer matched a team high with six tackles after missing all of 2011 with a knee injury.

The day was marred, however, by another knee injury. Safety Adam Hall tweeted Saturday night that he tore his ACL -- a similar tear to the one he had last spring that kept him out of all but one game in 2011.

ARIZONA STATE

The three-way quarterback competition isn't settled, but head coach Todd Graham said he'd like to see someone take the lead before the end of the spring session, writes Doug Haller of the Arizona Republic.

Michael Eubank threw three touchdowns -- a pair to Gary Chambers and a third to Rashad Ross. But he also threw a pair of interceptions.

Haller reports that Taylor Kelly looked effecient, throwing an 11-yard touchdown to tight end Max Smith and Mike Bercovici tossed three touchdowns -- all in the overtime session of the scrimmage.

Defensively, the Sun Devils forced a trio of turnovers and three times stopped the offense on fourth-and-1.

COLORADO

The Buffs ran a 42-play scrimmage with the emphasis on the offense. Head coach Jon Embree said he was happy with the performance of Connor Wood, who completed 7 of 10 passes for 137 yards and touchdowns to Jarrod Darden and Dustin Ebner.

"I thought No. 5 was sharp," Embree said. "He missed a couple of deep balls ... but I thought he played well."

Embree also said that running back Tony Jones separated himself from the rest of the pack and looked solid during the spring session. Jones carried four times for 23 yards on Saturday. Josh Ford, however, stood out with 141 yards and two touchdowns on eight carries -- though Colorado's defensive line has been patchwork.

Embree said that if Colorado wants to reach a bowl game in 2012, they are going to have to rely on some of the players coming in this fall.

"I still think it's achievable, but how far we go towards that goal and how we accomplish it, we're going to lean on some guys coming in," Embree said. "So how quickly -- and I told this to the seniors and the rest of the team -- how quickly you're able to help them assimilate, help them know how to practice, know how to work, will help us get to that goal.

"If you want to look at it as they're the bad guy because they coming here to compete for a job, then we'll all have the same fate -- we'll all be home for Christmas."

USC

The Trojans secondary picked up a pair of interceptions -- one from safety Drew McAllister off of Cody Kessler and the other from cornerback Brian Baucham off of Matt Barkley -- as the defense outshined the offense at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.

Barkley completed 23 of 39 passes for 212 yards with a touchdown -- a 1-yard pass to Marqise Lee. Kessler (3-of-6, 68 yards) picked up the majority of his passing yards on a 44-yard touchdown to fullback Soma Vainuku.

"It was definitely a learning experience," Kessler told USC's blog.

Linebacker Hayes Pullard and cornerback Anthony Brown each had six tackles, while linebacker Dion Bailey added five stops. Cornerback Isiah Wiley had five deflections to go with his four tackles. There were three sacks (by defensive ends Devon Kennard, Greg Townsend Jr. and Morgan Breslin).

"I think the young linebackers are playing really well," Lane Kiffin told Erik McKinney of WeAreSC. "Like I mentioned, the defensive backs have improved a lot. That was really critical, especially with a new coach back there."

UTAH

Quarterback Jordan Wynn completed 7 of 12 passes for 149 yards with a touchdown and zero interceptions as the Utes' offense continues to find its rhythm under new offensive coordinator Brian Johnson.

“Brian wants to take more shots downfield than we have recently and we can do that now because we have the speed in the wideouts to create separation and we have quarterbacks who can throw with accuracy,” head coach Kyle Whittingham said. “Our quarterback situation is the best it has been in years."

Dave Kruger, LT Filiaga and Trevor Reilly all recorded sacks for the defense and Terrell Reese returned an interception for 43 yards to go with a pair of tackles for a loss.

Luke Matthews and Kenneth Scott both had touchdown catches. DeVonte Christopher had two catches, but led the receivers with 70 yards.

Arizona linebacker Jake Fischer talks about the scrimmage Saturday, the Wildcats defense and coming back from a knee injury.

Happy Friday.

• LB Jake Fischer is back, and that makes the Arizona defense much better. And DT Justin Washington is the fifth Wildcat facing charges after a house-party brawl last weekend.
• Checking in with Arizona State RB Deantre Lewis.
• Former Colorado RB Rodney Stewart is trying to overcome size concerns from NFL scouts.
• Oregon State is running and getting ready for spring football.
• USC is thin at running back, but this guy will help in 2012.
• What happened at Washington's pro day?
• Across the state, Washington State also held its pro day.

Pac-12 spring preview: South Division

Spring practice is almost here. Here's a snapshot at what to expect from the Pac-12 South in the coming weeks.

ARIZONA

Spring practice starts: March 4

Spring game: April 14

What to watch:

• Hello, my name is ... Like the other two teams in the South Division with new head coaches (Arizona State and UCLA) much of Arizona's first few weeks will be Rich Rodriguez evaluating his personnel and getting to know what he has to work with. Likewise, the players are going to have to figure out what this new coaching staff is about. Everything from how they do pre-practice stretches to how they call the cadence is going to change.
• New scheme and a new scheme: A spread option on offense and a 3-3-5 on defense. That's a lot of new material to digest on both sides of the ball. Until Rodriguez can recruit the players he likes into his scheme, he's going to have to make it work with the players he has. Fortunately on the defensive side of the ball, Arizona has good depth in the secondary with Cortez Johnson, Marquis Flowers, Shaquille Richardson, Jourdon Grandon and Tra'Mayne Bondurant. The Wildcats should also get a boost with the return of injured players Jake Fischer (LB), Jonathan McKnight (CB) and Adam Hall (S).
• Perfect fit? Former starter Matt Scott, who was beaten out by Nick Folesin 2009, is expected to reprise his starting role under Rodriguez. He redshirted the 2011 season and -- magically -- Foles never got hurt last year despite taking 23 sacks and countless hits. Scott is considered the more versatile quarterback and should fit nicely into the new run-based spread attack.

ARIZONA STATE

Spring practice starts: March 13

Spring game: April 21

What to watch:

• QB competition: We know what kind of offense new coach Todd Graham is going to run; now it's a matter of figuring out who is going to run it. Graham has his choice of three players -- Mike Bercovici, Taylor Kelly or Michael Eubank -- to replace NFL-bound Brock Osweiler. Graham said earlier this month that there are no favorites heading into the competition and each one brings his own skill set to the table. Eubank has the size (6-foot-5, 235 pounds), Bercovici (6-1, 205) is a mechanic and Kelly (6-1, 202) is a little bit of everything.
• Get the locker room: By the end of the 2011 season, ASU's locker room wasn't just divided, it was completely splintered. Graham's task -- and that of his new coaching staff -- is to pick up the pieces, mend internal fences and find some chemistry on both sides of the ball. Linebacker Brandon Magee, long considered a great locker room leader, should help get the Sun Devils back on track as he returns from a season-ending Achilles injury.
• Hands competition: The Sun Devils lose three of their top four wide receivers from last season -- Gerell Robinson, Aaron Pflugrad and Mike Willie. Jamal Miles returns after finishing second on the team last season with 60 catches and six touchdowns. Rashad Ross figures to be the No. 2 guy, but establishing depth in that corps -- especially if Graham wants to be up-tempo -- is key.

COLORADO

Spring practice starts: March 10

Spring game: April 14

What to watch:

• Momentum, maybe? For as rough as 2011 was for the Buffs, they ended the year on a high note, winning two-of-three down the stretch -- including a 17-14 win over Utah in the season finale. But there is also the possibility that things might get worse before they get better. With just four returning starters on offense, spring in Boulder will likely be more about teaching and less about refining.
• Where to start (offense)? Well, quarterback might be a good place. In the court of public opinion, Connor Wood, a transfer from Texas, seems to be the favorite. Nick Hirschman appeared in five games last season, mostly in mop-up time when the game was already out of hand. It's also possible a starter could be named by the end of spring ball. Finding offensive weapons to surround the new quarterback will also be a challenge. Wide receiver Paul Richardson caught 39 balls last season, and running back Tony Jones showed a flare for catching the ball out of the backfield. He'll likely step in as the new workhorse back for the departed Rodney Stewart.
• Where to start (defense)? Last in this. Last in that. Last in almost every team statistic the Pac-12 has to offer. But there are some intriguing youngsters on the roster. Cornerback Greg Henderson was all-conference honorable mention as a freshman with a team-high nine passes broken up. Jered Bell also returns from injury after blowing out a knee last preseason. If healthy, he's expected to be a big contributor in the secondary. Linebacker Jon Majorreturns as the team's leading tackler, and if Doug Rippy is fully recovered from his knee injury, he'll look to build on what was a pretty good season last year before getting hurt.

UCLA

Spring practice starts: April 3

Spring game: May 5

What to watch:

• QB up for grabs: Like the majority of the conference, UCLA enters spring with a quarterback competition. New offensive coordinator Noel Mazzone said he doesn't care how much experience (or lack thereof) a player has -- if he can play, he wins the job. So don't be surprised if Brett Hundley passes Kevin Prince and Richard Brehautas the new man leading the Bruins. Fans have been clamoring for a change. Hundley might be it.
• Attitude adjustment: One of the first things new head coach Jim Mora did was slam the team for its tradition of going "over the wall," a time-honored senior ditch day, saying if they want to jump the wall, they should just keep on going. How's that for sending a message? UCLA has earned a reputation for being soft and underachieving despite good talent. Attitude and toughness is needed -- and so far, Mora appears to be hammering that point home.
• Speaking of toughness ... The defense has to get tougher. No two ways about it. It was weak against the run last season, allowing more than 190 yards per game on the ground; couldn't get to the quarterback; and couldn't get off the field almost 50 percent of the time on third down. It's time for potential all-conference players such as defensive end Datone Jones to start living up to the hype and the defense as a whole to stop getting pushed up and down the field. At 6-5, 275 pounds, Jones has the physical makeup to be a major force in the conference and catapult himself into the elite class of collegiate defensive players.

USC

Spring practice starts: March 6

Spring game: April 14

What to watch:

• Ignore the hype: Few teams ended last season hotter than USC and returning quarterback Matt Barkley. The Heisman talk has already started, the way-too-early rankings already have the Trojans as national championship contenders, and the public perception is that the offense is unstoppable. Nice to hear, but hype is a double-edged sword. Head coach Lane Kiffin has a knack for deflecting hype. This season will be his toughest test to date.
• Insurance? The Trojans are loaded on both sides of the ball with returning players. But after the starting 22, things start to get dicey. Developing depth and keeping the starters healthy is a top priority -- particularly on the offensive and defensive lines and at running back, where experience is thin outside of the starters. The entire back seven returns on defense -- headlined by hard-hitting safety T.J. McDonald. Stopping the pass has been a major priority for Kiffin, and if this group stays healthy it should see the pass-efficiency numbers improve even more.
• Other options: Along those same lines, wide receivers Robert Woods and Marqise Lee make up the most feared receiving duo in the conference -- maybe the country. But who are the Nos. 3 and 4 receivers behind them? George Farmer? Victor Blackwell? De'Von Flournoy? Don't overlook the tight end duo of Xavier Grimble and Randall Telfer, which should rival Stanford's Zach Ertz and Levine Toilolo as the best tight end tandem in the conference.

UTAH

Spring practice starts: March 20

Spring game: April 21

What to watch:

• Youthful approach: Head coach Kyle Whittingham turned some heads by naming former Utah quarterback Brian Johnson as his offensive coordinator. Johnson, who recently turned 25, said he's not looking to make wholesale changes to the offense, though he wants to put his stamp on it and continue to build around running back John White IV, who had a breakout season in his first year of major college football. Having quarterback Jordan Wynn back healthy should also help as the team transitions to Johnson running the offense.
• Fixing the line: Who is going to protect Wynn (if he does indeed win back the starting job) and make holes for White? That's a major concern heading into spring as the Utes have to replace a pair of all-conference linemen in Tony Bergstrom and John Cullen. The Utes should be set at the interior but have to adjust to a new position coach, with Tim Davis leaving for Florida after just one season and Dan Finn -- a former Utah graduate assistant who was brought on to help Davis -- taking over the whole line following a one-year stint at San Diego State.
• Work the experience: The defensive line should be one of the best in the conference, especially with the return of Star Lotulelei, who won the Morris Trophy last season as the conference's best defensive lineman. With the Kruger brothers returning to the line -- Joe at defensive end and Dave at tackle -- Derrick Shelby is the lone starter who has to be replaced. There's also some pretty good depth in the secondary that was tops in the conference last season in pass-efficiency defense.

With the transfer of the nation's second leading tackler, Arizona's glaring need at linebacker just got a boost.

Akron linebacker Brian Wagner will enroll at Arizona this week and will be immediately eligible due to an NCAA rule that allows athletes pursuing graduate degrees not offered at the former school to play right away.

Wagner, 22, averaged 13.36 tackles per game in 2011, and considering top tackler Luke Kuechly of Boston College is off to the NFL, Wagner will be the top returning tackler in FBS football.

Wagner, who earned first-team All-MAC honors, is taking advantage of the same transfer rule that was used by Wisconsin quarterback Russell Wilson.

Why is this a big get for Arizona? Because its top two tacklers, Derek Earls and Paul Vassallo, are graduating, and the Wildcats' top two returning linebackers -- sophomores Hank Hobson and Rob Hankins -- combined for four starts and 18 tackles last season, in large part due to the Wildcats using a base nickel formation much of the season. But when you toss in 2010 starter Jake Fischer, who is coming back from an ACL injury, you have four experienced guys for three spots.

And, yes, you can essentially pencil Wagner, 6-foot, 235 pounds, into the starting lineup.

From the Tucson Citizen:

He played middle linebacker in a 4-3 scheme at Akron. Exactly where he fits into Arizona’s scheme is to be determined, Wagner said, with the Cats presumably running a 3-3-5, no matter who coach Rich Rodriguez eventually brings in as defensive coordinator.

As for that defensive coordinator, nothing yet -- I found this to be an interesting narrative on back-and-forth with West Virginia DC Jeff Casteel. Speculation that Penn State also might be a player with Casteel raised one of my eyebrows, though Casteel's 3-3-5 doesn't sound like a Penn State defense.

Whether the glass is half-empty (Arizona) or half-full (Oregon State), neither program is getting its thirst for success quenched.

Half-empty at Arizona? For one, the Wildcats are good on offense but terrible on defense, ranking among the worst in the nation in most categories. They can't stop the run or pass. And emotional, straight-talking coach Mike Stoops isn't one to sugarcoat his assessments.

"We're just not doing anything very well at this point," he said. "Our inability to be good anywhere right now is really ... tackling has been poor, pass rush has been poor, just haven't played very well in any capacity. Effort -- all of that has been poor."

We'd note that Stoops seems like he could use a hug, but such a gesture might be risky. So feel empathy from a distance.

Then there's always-upbeat Oregon State coach Mike Riley. Sure, his team is winless -- Stoops and the Wildcats at least opened with a victory over Northern Arizona -- but he still sees cheer in a handful of busts.

"I think there is a lot of disappointment but I am encouraged by the work ethic," Riley said. "And as important, the motivation, the enthusiasm for the work is good. We've got a lot of young guys and there is growth and I think they can feel that."

Riley's the sort who produces marshmallows and a slap on the back as you watch your house burn to the ground.

Arizona has lost nine consecutive games to FBS foes. Oregon State has lost six in a row. But one team will be forced, no matter how hard it tries to screw it up, to win Saturday in Corvallis. The other, of course, will start to earnestly feel the burning sensation of a season in flames. And both of these coaches, who seemed as secure as any in the Pac-12 in the preseason, could be forced to endure hot-seat talk.

There's no need to recite the numbers -- you can seek out exotic ways to flesh out these teams' shortcomings here -- but if one team has slightly more hope, it might be the Wildcats.

While the Beavers opened with a loss to FCS team Sacramento State and lost at home to UCLA, the Wildcats have lost to the Nos. 6 (Oklahoma State), 7 (Stanford) and 9 (Oregon) teams in the country before losing at 4-1 USC by seven points last weekend -- a 48-41 barnburner in which the Wildcats showed spine by coming back from a 34-12 third-quarter deficit.

The Wildcats also showed signs of a running game, rushing for 129 yards against the Trojans. If QB Nick Foles gets just a bit of help from a run threat keeping defenses honest, the Wildcats could outscore foes the rest of the season, while the schedule's degree of difficulty trends down.

And then defensive reinforcements arrive when safety Adam Hall and linebacker Jake Fischer return from preseason knee injuries over the next couple of weeks.

The Beavers also have hope, though glancing at the schedule might not inspire it. They showed some pluck at Arizona State, and redshirt freshman QB Sean Mannion has flashed ability. Further, the Beavers won at Arizona last year.

Bottom line: Somebody will walk away smiling on Saturday.

Well, it's not certain that Stoops will smile if he wins, or that Riley won't even if he loses. But you know what we mean.

The desert hasn't been good to defensive backs of late.

Arizona lost starting cornerback Jonathan McKnight for the season after it was announced he tore his ACL during Wednesday's practice. The true sophomore, brother to former USC tailback Joe McKnight, has a redshirt year available.

That's not a total disaster because McKnight was one of three good cornerbacks, but his injury makes Shaquille Richardson and Trevin Wade the starters with little margin for error, and bumps true freshman Cortez Johnson up the depth chart. Redshirt freshman Jourdon Grandon becomes the nickelback.

McKnight is the third member of the Wildcats' defense to suffer a knee injury this offseason: Safety Adam Hall and linebacker Jake Fischer were hurt in the spring. Hall and Fischer could return to action in October.

Up I-10 in Tempe, Arizona State also has struggled with injuries, most notably cornerback Omar Bolden and linebacker Brandon Magee.

You know, that big rotten gap between who I am, and who I want to be, never does quit hurtin' to stare across.

• Arizona's Nick Foles begins his senior season set to become the best QB in program history. Safety Adam Hall and LB Jake Fischer are ahead of schedule with their knee injury rehab, which is good news for Arizona. A practice report.
• Arizona State is mixing and matching on the O-line. A practice report.
• Previewing California's linebackers, who have a chance to be pretty darn good. And here's a handy-dandy fall camp preview.
• Colorado will build a sense of team by living together. And they are going to get up early.
• A look at Oregon's D-line, which looks good despite attrition. The offensive line also is on fairly solid ground.
• A look at the Oregon State defensive line.
• No second thoughts about the NFL for Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck. The Cardinal secondary has become a strength.
• UCLA's three biggest strengths. And three biggest concerns.
• Marc Tyler's suspension means opportunity for Dillon Baxter and other USC running backs. A couple of newcomers to watch.
• Utah is in a new conference, but the Utes -- and steady coach Kyle Whittingham -- will use the same approach.
• Is Washington the sleeper team in the Pac-12? The fifth most important Husky.
• Washington State's preseason practice schedule. As for the game schedule, the Cougs will need to win on the road in 2011.

Pac-12 media day is July 26 in Los Angeles, and in advance of that event the conference has published its media guide.

You can check it out here.

One thing the media guide does is make "official" the returning starters for each team, though obviously injuries are still at issue.

Here's the list:

Arizona State 19 (10 offense, 9 defense, 0 PK/P)
Colorado 18 (9 offense, 8 defense, 1 PK/P)
Washington 17 (7 offense, 8 defense 2 PK/P)
Washington State 17 (9 offense, 8 defense, 0 PK/P)
UCLA 16 (7 offense, 8 defense, 1 PK/P)
California 15 (7 offense, 6 defense 2 PK/P)
Oregon 15 (7 offense, 6 defense, 2 PK/P)
Arizona 13 (5 offense, 7 defense, 1 PK/P)
Utah 13 (7 offense, 5 defense, 1 PK/P)
USC 13 (6 offense, 7 defense 0 PK/P)
Stanford 12 (5 offense, 6 defense, 1 PK/P)
Oregon State 12 (7 offense, 4 defense, 1 PK/P)

Of course these numbers sometimes are a bit fudged. Arizona State, for example, doesn't include Kerry Taylor as a departed starter. He led the Sun Devils in receptions and receiving yards last season. And offseason injuries are not accounted for: Safety Adam Hall and linebacker Jake Fischer are included as returning starters for Arizona, but it's unclear how much they will play this fall after suffering knee injuries this spring.

For Cal, defensive end Ernest Owusu is considered a returning starter because he started nine games, while Trevor Guyton is not after starting just four (five is the threshold for a "returning starter"). But Guyton had 29 tackles with 8.5 coming for a loss and Owusu had 14 with 2.5 coming for a loss. For Colorado, center Mike Iltis is included, but he retired this offseason. Oregon -- fairly -- gives Darrion Weems credit for being a starter, even though that means the Ducks officially had six starting offensive linemen in 2010. Receiver James Rodgers is not listed as a returning starter for Oregon State, nor is UCLA center Kai Maiava or Stanford receiver Chris Owusu. All three were starters in 2009. Receiver is always a difficult position to rate a starter and nonstarter. Utah lists two returning starters at the position (Luke Matthews and DeVonte Christopher) as well as two departed starters (Jereme Brooks and Shaky Smithson).

As it is, the conference welcomes back 180 starters of a possible 288, and the per-team average of 15.0 is slightly above the 14.9 average over the past decade. The offensive numbers are better: An average of 7.2 offensive starters are back compared to 6.8 on defense. Most notable: Nine of 12 starting quarterbacks are back.

Eight punters are back, but just four kickers.

Of the 180 returning starters, 10 were first-team All-Pac-10 in 2010 and 12 were second team, including a pair of Heisman Trophy finalists: Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck and Oregon running back LaMichael James.

The question: What is the biggest impact game in the Pac-12 South?

The answer: Arizona at Arizona State on Nov. 19.

Picking an "impact game" in the South Division is nowhere near as easy as in the North Division, which features a pair of preseason top-10 teams in Oregon and Stanford.

So what are the criteria? First, you have to pick a South Division front-runner. For us, that's Arizona State. So then, who might be the Sun Devils' biggest potential foil?

Our first choice would be USC. The Trojans seem like a team that if things fall into place, they could win the division. But USC isn't eligible for the postseason, so a head-to-head defeat to the Trojans won't carry as much weight as a head-to-head loss to ... whom?

That falls to our No. 3 team in the South: Arizona. While the Wildcats are rebuilding their offensive line, have suffered a number of key offseason injuries -- notably knee injuries to safety Adam Hall and linebacker Jake Fischer -- and are still waiting on the status of receiver Juron Criner, who is dealing with a non-injury medical condition that brings into question his availability this fall, they still seem like a slightly better option than Utah as potential division winner.

Why? Mostly because we don't know what we'll get with the Utes in their first year of Pac-12 play.

And the Wildcats, whatever their issues, still have a potentially high-powered offense with quarterback Nick Foles and a deep crew of receivers that could handle the loss of Criner and still be elite.

Further, there's something to be said for this being a bitter rivalry. Imagine if the division is at stake in Tempe. Or if the Wildcats have a chance to ruin the Sun Devils' special season.

That certainly would be high impact in the state, as well as the South Division.

While there is no on-the-record clarity on the situation, it's fair to say that Arizona's All-Pac-10 receiver Juron Criner's season is at-risk due to an "undisclosed personal issue," which a source told the Pac-12 blog was a "non-injury, medical issue."

Arizona is not commenting because of student privacy guidelines. A source inside the football office texted the Pac-12 blog that his hope was Criner "will be ready for the season."

Criner, a second-team All-American, led the Wildcats with 82 receptions for 1,233 yards and 11 touchdowns last season. Arizona starts fall camp Aug. 3.

What does this mean for the Wildcats? Well, nothing yet. This is obviously a serious situation, but the endgame won't reveal itself until Criner's status is made official.

But it does force us to speculate what the Wildcats offense might be without Criner. The short answer is "probably OK."

While no team wants to lose an All-American, the Wildcats have one of the deepest and experienced crews of receivers in the conference and the nation. Sure, the 6-foot-4, 210-pound Criner was the headliner, a guy who could tax a defense in a variety of ways and who always seemed to be the go-to guy when the screws tightened.

But, as we noted with our review of Pac-12 receiving corps, the Wildcats should be better than OK, even without Criner. To quote ourselves:

"David Douglas, David Roberts, Terrence Miller and Richard Morrison -- each caught between 19 and 52 passes a season ago. Oh, and there's also Texas transfer Dan Buckner, Austin Hill, Garic Wharton and Tyler Slavin. There's size, speed, depth and experience."

What this does mean is that Buckner needs to live up to the high expectations we've been hearing for months, and at least one of the speedy youngsters needs to step up as a deep threat.

Still, the Wildcats and quarterback Nick Foles will be able to line up in a four- and even five-receiver set without resorting to a scrub as the last option.

Criner made the Wildcats receivers looking like a great unit. But even -- potentially -- without him, they should be very good.

More on the Criner situation here. And here.

Of course, Wildcats fans already might be thinking about "what-might-have-been" before the 2011 season begins. Criner is potentially the third projected starter lost since the end of last season. Safety Adam Hall and linebacker Jake Fischer suffered knee injuries this spring, as did backup running back Greg Nwoko and backup defensive tackle Willie Mobley.

ESPN.com's Bruce Feldman has ranked the top-10 "impact true freshmen," and USC receiver George Farmer ranks third. Here's what Feldman wrote about Farmer:

3. George Farmer, WR, USC Trojans:

If, as many Trojans insiders insist, Farmer is even more talented than his buddy Robert Woods, Matt Barkley is going to have a startling array of firepower to work with (don't forget about former blue-chip WR Kyle Prater, who redshirted in 2010). Farmer has blazing speed, and at 6-foot-2, 205 he has a very strong, sturdy frame to go with it. With him in the lineup, defenses will be seriously tested, having to cope with Farmer's speed and Woods' explosiveness at the same time.

Woods was dominant this spring, but many expect Farmer to be Woods' equal this fall. We'll see. If so, Barkley and the Trojans might not need much of a running game with their patchwork offensive line. What about the other 11 Pac-12 teams? Who is the most likely impact freshman for each? Because of our "heck yeah!" attitude, we've decided to take a stab at this query. Understand that it's not just about highly rated, it's about who might help immediately.

Arizona: The Wildcats signed three touted linebackers, but we're tapping Rob Hankins as the one who will make the most impact -- and by impact, we mean start. While Hankins is a pure inside linebacker, the Wildcats need immediate help on the outside due to Jake Fischer's knee injury.

Arizona State: With so many returning starters, the Sun Devils won't need a true freshman to start immediately. But after the knee injury to Omar Bolden, cornerback went from a position of strength to a questionable one -- at least in terms of depth. So the best guess is Rashad Wadood will get an early opportunity to work his way into the rotation.

California: The Bears reeled in an outstanding class, particularly on defense. A number of those guys are going to play. But a need area next fall for Cal is running back, where 5-foot-7, 188-pound junior Isi Sofele is atop the depth chart. So we're tapping running back Brendon Bigelow as the impact freshman, with the caveat that he is coming back from a knee injury. If not Bigelow, then perhaps it will be Daniel Lasco.

Colorado: The Buffaloes lost two starting corners to the NFL and struggled against the pass in 2010. They need help in the secondary, and Sherrard Harrington looks like the best bet, either at cornerback or perhaps at safety.

Oregon: Colt Lyerla is going to play for Oregon next fall, likely as a hybrid tight end/H-back sort. But the Ducks are solid at tight end. They need either Devon Blackmon or Tacoi Sumler to step up as an outside receiver. We're going with Sumler who has special speed and is more polished as receiver.

Oregon State: Rusty Fernando was penciled in as a starting defensive end at the beginning of spring practices, and it appears it will remain that way. But he's a junior college transfer. So, in the interest of focusing on incoming freshmen, we're going with Terron Ward, a grayshirt freshman running back who flashed ability this spring. At least one of the three true freshmen running backs figures to get touches.

Stanford: Linebacker James Vaughters is a beast. His film will give you goose bumps. He's going to play. But in terms of need, receiver is a far more questionable position for the Cardinal this fall. So watch out for Ty Montgomery.

UCLA: A lot of UCLA fans would say quarterback Brett Hundley. He finished No. 3 on the depth chart after spring practices and, while he's the quarterback of the future, it likely would be better to redshirt him, if possible. But Kevin Prince's inability to stay healthy and Richard Brehaut's inability to be consistent might make that impossible. And the Bruins recruiting class doesn't include any other obvious impact guys for this fall.

Utah: This one is easy -- running back Harvey Langi was No. 2 on the post-spring depth chart behind John White, and that competition is ongoing. Langi is going to get plenty of carries.

Washington: Another easy one -- Austin Seferian-Jenkins finished spring as a push with Michael Hartvigson as the Huskies starting tight end. Nothing suggested that he won't live up to the considerable hype he received during recruiting.

Washington State: Outside linebacker Logan Mayes has great Cougar bloodlines; he's the son of former Washington State All-American running back Rueben Mayes. He has the athletic ability and football smarts to work his way into the mix immediately, mostly likely at strong side linebacker.

Vacation created a backlog in the mailbag, so I'm going to hit it twice this week.

Follow me on Twitter.

To the notes.

Frank from Dallas writes: U$C is the biggest cheating school in college football and everyone knows that besides you. Your article was ignorant. U$C got what it deserved. It knew Bush was getting money. He was driving around in a souped up car. U$C is a repeat violator, which you should know is why they got such hard penalties. This was one of the worst cases in NCAA history. You're an idiot.

Ted Miller: May I whine for a moment? I am weary of this subject. This might be the last time I reply to a note about USC, Reggie Bush and the NCAA.

Part of my exhaustion is this: USC critics who celebrate the NCAA's harsh penalties almost uniformly don't know what they are talking about. They don't know the facts of the case. They don't know what is and isn't relevant to the case. They haven't read the relevant documents.

Let's just take one of Frank's assertions: Bush was driving around in a "souped up car."

Wrong. Bush was driving around in a 1996 Impala. The car didn't get dudded up until after Bush declared that he would enter the 2006 NFL draft a year early. Here's the often, er, mis-remembered photo. Note the date. Of course, you can't blame Frank and others. The NCAA infractions committee struggled to keep its facts straight, too.

Look, I know many of you hate USC. I know there are USC-hating blogs out there that have blistered me over my belief the NCAA treated USC unfairly, even though that is a widely held perception among sports writers who actually know the details of the Bush case. I don't mind getting blistered. Just get the details right.

My position on USC and the Reggie Bush case has not changed and is entirely based on my perception of fairness, not some sort of pro-USC bias: USC deserved significant sanctions for major violations, and those penalties should have fallen under the penalties Alabama received in 2002.

There is no conceivable way -- and I'd be glad debate anyone at the NCAA over the matter -- to insist that the widespread, booster pay-for-play scheme uncovered at Alabama shouldn't be considered a worse case than USC-Bush. Just read the USA Today article on the Alabama case.

This is when someone throws out "repeat violator" as a rationale for USC getting worse sanctions. Er, so was Alabama.

(Alabama fans: I am not picking on you. It's just the most relevant, recent case to compare to USC).

Some have suggested that the NCAA wanted to make an example out of USC by handing out game-changing penalties that might act as a deterrent for others. Sorry, I didn't get the memo on that one. If that is, indeed, the case -- that the NCAA took unprecedented measures against one program without formally announcing a policy change -- well, that my friends would be the definition of unfair.

And, by the way, more than a few schools should be worried if that's the case.

As for USC being a big "cheating" school, well, let's just put it this way: List the major football violations the NCAA's four-year investigation uncovered other than Bush getting extra benefits.

Yes, you hear crickets.

"One of the worst cases in NCAA history"? Well, you compare.

I believe USC was treated unfairly by the NCAA. I have yet to read a reasoned account -- from the media or from the NCAA -- that makes a convincing argument otherwise.

Spencer from San Francisco writes: I'm hearing a lot of concern about Cal's chemistry on the offensive line. Shouldn't the return Jim Michalzckzyckyikxzixkxik ease some of these doubts?

Ted Miller: You, of course, mean Jim Michalczik, who shortened his name when he moved from the old country of Port Angeles, Wash.

Cal's offensive line has been disappointing since Michalczik left for Washington (briefly) and then the Oakland Raiders. The first place to point, logically, would be talent. The second, Michalczik's absence. I've consistently heard from people that he's one of the best offensive line coaches out there.

So, yes, I think it's fair for you to ease some doubts about the Bears O-line due to his return.

Andrew from Seattle writes: With the resignation of Jim Tressel, do you think that Mike Bellotti would consider taking a job at Ohio State? Would they be a good fit?

Ted Miller: Bellotti was a serious candidate for the Ohio State job in 2001, when Tressel was hired. Ohio State certainly could do worse than Bellotti. It could make for an interesting Rose Bowl if the Ducks and Buckeyes met again.

But Bellotti turns 61 in December, and keep in mind this is a pending hire for the 2012 season. Ohio State probably wouldn't want a coach at that age who'd have to learn the Big Ten and Big Ten recruiting on the fly. And I doubt Bellotti would want a job that came with significant NCAA sanctions.

So, no, it doesn't seem like a good fit.

If Bellotti is going to coach again -- he's done an outstanding job as an ESPN color guy since leaving Oregon -- it almost certainly would be at West Coast school. Don't be surprised if his name comes up as some Pac-12 hot seats get hotter during the fall.

Joey from Chicago writes: What does Arizona's depth chart look like on offense and defense with all the injuries? Can you name the starters if the season started today?

Ted Miller: Arizona has lost two starters and two backups to ACL injuries since the end of last season: safety Adam Hall and linebacker Jake Fischer are the starters, and running back Greg Nwoko and defensive tackle Willie Mobley are the backups.

That's certainly not good, but it doesn't exactly send Arizona into disarray. Hall and Fischer are big losses. Hall is a budding star, and Fischer's loss is worrisome because the Wildcats are thin at linebacker. The depth in the secondary is pretty good: Robert Golden moves from cornerback to safety beside Marquis Flowers, which doesn't hurt badly because Trevin Wade, Jonathan McKnight and Shaquille Richardson are three quality corners.

Linebacker is a bit more tricky. Two backups from 2010, R.J. Young and Trevor Erno, quit the team before spring practices. Redshirt freshman Kyle Benson is listed as Fischer's backup on the spring depth chart, while walk-on Bilal Muhammed is listed as the backup at the other two spots. It's almost certain that at least one of the touted incoming freshmen -- Rob Hankins, Hank Hobson and Dominique Petties -- will be immediately in the mix.

Vince from Scottsdale writes: Ted, You forgot to mention that ASU is @22 in Phil Steele's top 30 rankings..... that scorches the butthole Ted.

Ted Miller: Or, just maybe, when I included the link, Phil Steele had only reached No. 17 on his count-up.

You'll note Steele has Stanford at No. 16.

Cody from Okinawa, Japan writes: Just wanted to point out what some Beaver football players and other athletes are up to. Going to Macedonia to build a house for others.

Ted Miller: Good show. Here's the link to a short video on "Beavers Without Borders."

What's the post-spring pecking order? See below.

(For comparison, you can consider the January power rankings).

1. Oregon: The Ducks, the two-time defending champions, are No. 1 until somebody knocks them off. The defense outplayed the offense much of spring, which might mean the rebuilding offensive line is questionable. Or that the rebuilding defense is solid.

2. Stanford: It starts with quarterback Andrew Luck, which means the Cardinal have the best starting point in all of college football. But it's not all him. Stanford is stacked at running back, tight end and linebacker and looks solid on the offensive line and in the secondary. Big question is the defensive line.

3. Arizona State: It hurt losing two starters, All-Pac-10 cornerback Omar Bolden and receiver T.J. Simpson, to knee injuries this spring, but the Sun Devils still look like the top team for the South Division.

4. USC: Spring wasn't terribly revealing because so many players were hurt. But quarterback Matt Barkley and receiver Robert Woods looked very good, while the defense looked improved. If the Trojans get their post-season eligibility back from the NCAA, watch out. This could be a dangerous team.

5. Arizona: Safety Adam Hall and linebacker Jake Fischer suffered knee injuries, which isn't good for the defense. The offensive line, which is replacing five starters, struggled at times. But quarterback Nick Foles and the conference's deepest crew of receivers make the Wildcats a threat to anyone.

6. Washington: Keith Price asserted himself in the quarterback competition with Nick Montana, and the defense looks improved. The Huskies may actually take a step forward post-Jake Locker instead of a step back.

7. Utah: Hard to evaluate the offense with new coordinator Norm Chow because quarterback Jordan Wynn was out with a shoulder injury. But questions at running back and in the secondary don't seem as worrisome after spring practices compared to before.

8. UCLA: UCLA didn't answer its questions at quarterback, and the offensive line has injury questions, but the Bruins defense looks like it might take a significant step forward in 2011.

9. Oregon State: The Beavers have a lot of questions, which injury issues didn't help. Chief among them are both offensive and defensive lines and running back. Hearing at some point this offseason that WR James Rodgers is running again -- and fast -- will ease many concerns.

10. California: The Bears still have questions at quarterback, running back and the offensive line. Practices were closed, so all the touted young talent on defense is mostly based on conjecture. The Bears may take a step forward in 2011, but it's hard to say at this point exactly why.

11. Colorado: The Buffaloes were mostly competitive last season in the Big 12, and it helps that they have an experienced quarterback in Tyler Hansen and a returning 1,300-yard rusher in Rodney Stewart. Still, it seems that new coach Jon Embree has inherited a team that needs to be rebuilt, particularly in terms of speed at receiver and in the secondary.

12. Washington State: Everything suggests the Cougars will be much improved in 2011, starting with what should be a potent passing game with quarterback Jeff Tuel. But two conference victories in three previous seasons forces us to act all Missouri on this one: The Cougs have got to show us.

Welcome to the weekend that ends spring football and sends us -- officially -- into the offseason.

I know: Yikes!

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To the notes!

Brian from Portland writes: Ted, can you please compare and contrast Jake Locker with Marques Tuiasosopo? I recall Tuiasosopo putting up impressive numbers at UW, including a 300/200 passing/rushing game, yet he was drafted late in the second round. What did Locker show scouts that Tuiasosopo didn't?

Ted Miller: Interesting question. My first response is Locker and Tuiasosopo are fairly similar, only Locker is slightly better -- bigger, stronger, faster -- by most physical measures. Oh, and their supporting casts at Washington were a bit different.

Tuiasosopo was not a great "pure" quarterback. But he was something more important: He was a winner, a guy who was at his best when the pressure was on. Yet while he finished eighth in the Heisman Trophy voting in 2000 -- the Huskies finished ranked No. 3 in the nation after winning the Rose Bowl -- his numbers were fairly pedestrian. He ranked 66th in the nation in passing efficiency, completing just 52.6 percent of his throws for 2,146 yards with 14 touchdowns and 11 picks. He also rushed for 394 yards and six scores.

This past season, Locker had a higher efficiency rating -- 124.2 versus 115.9 -- but ranked 73rd in the nation. He competed 55.4 percent of his passes for 2,265 yards with 17 touchdowns and nine interceptions. He also rushed for 385 yards and six touchdowns.

Note: Locker's official stats include 13 games, compared to just 11 for Tuiasosopo (bowls didn't count in 2000; including the Rose Bowl, Tuiasosopo passed for 2,284 yards, competed 53.9 percent of his passes with 15 touchdowns and 11 INTs and rushed for 469 yards and seven touchdowns ).

So these numbers are comparable, practically a push.

Tuiasosopo was 6-foot-1, 220. Locker is 6-3, 230. Both were good, physical runners, but Locker is more of a weapon -- faster, more elusive. Recall that Locker rushed for 986 yards in 2007. He runs as well as a running back.

They also are very similar in "makeup." Both came from great families. Both are humble, team-first, high-character guys who were the unquestioned leader in the locker room.

So what's the biggest difference? Well, for one, they played in different eras of the Pac-10 and of Huskies football. Washington was a national power in 2000. At that point, the program hadn't suffered a losing season since 1976. Tuiasosopo played behind a far better offensive line (though you could make a case Locker had better skill players surrounding him, at least this past season).

But the thing that separates them in the eyes of NFL scouts is simple: Upside. Locker has a better arm and better physical skills than Tuiasosopo.

Tuiasosopo played in the NFL from 2001-08, but he never really got to showcase his chief attribute: Finding ways to win. He only passed for 554 yards and two touchdowns in six seasons. I always wondered what might have been if he'd landed in the right situation.

I honestly have no idea what Locker will do in the NFL. While more than a few folks have made me out to be some sort of booster for Locker, I was fairly shocked when the "top pick in the draft" talk started in 2009 after the upset of USC. Obviously, folks who know a lot more about football than me think he'll do pretty well, starting with the Tennessee Titans.

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Duber1 from Junction City, Ore., writes: congrats on getting jake locker drafted 8th,,,,,, dont mean you were not an ass about the flat world comment. I know i have been an ass,,,,,,,, & it doesnt mean i wont continuously call you out on your husky crap,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, have a nice day,,,,,,,,,,,,, sincerely comma guy.

Ted Miller: The comma guy!

I had little to do with Locker getting drafted eighth, though it would be great if he'd send a check, believing I did.

As for the "flat world" line, I've never understood why it so fired up a couple of folks, such as the ubiquitous Mr. "Duber." My point was always this: A. Just about every football expert thought highly of Locker heading into the 2010 season; I was merely reporting what they were saying. B. The most vocal Locker doubters, those who constantly ranted about Locker on the blog, had a single common characteristic: They were big Oregon fans.

My feeling was that none of the "Locker stinks!", "Locker is overrated!" noise that was being sent my way emerged from an objective, unemotional position of "Here's what I think...." It was all, "Huskies stink!" So it didn't feel valid.

It's just like Washington fans taking shots at Joey Harrington. Harrington was a great guy and a great college quarterback and most of us were surprised he never broke through in the NFL. But if a Washington fan had gone nuts railing about Harrington being terrible back in 2001, I also would have identified that as a "the world is flat" opinion.

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Aaron from Pacific City, Ore., writes: I enjoy you blog but what's the deal?? You have had a ton of coverage of spring football on almost every team in the Pac-12 not named Oregon State. Are you even going to make it up here this spring, we only have one more practice/scrimmage?

Ted Miller: I visited eight Pac-12 schools this spring but didn't go to the Northwest. ESPN.com's Ivan Maisel, you may have noticed, is making a Northwest swing, which resulted in stories on Washington, Oregon State and an upcoming one on Oregon.

Hopefully, I will be able to get to the Northwest during preseason practices.

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Rob from Phoenix writes: Ted, A. Is Arizona headed into underrated/sleeper status going into this year?B. Do you think that the schlerotic playcalling will improve on offense? They put up a ton of yards when Foles was able to decide who to throw to, but they had just as many ineffective drives that led to punts where they ran the ball poorly or proscribed Foles, generally excellent, decision making by throwing an innumerable number of WR screens or quick outs. Our offense was in the big money or the poor house and rarely in between.

Ted Miller: "Schlerotic playcalling"? Did you mean schlieric, which would be an interesting way of saying "streaky." Or sclerotic, which means "hardened"?

As for the Wildcats being sleepers: Maybe. But most will project Arizona in the middle of the Pac-12 South Division until we get a look at how the five new starters on the offensive line look. And it doesn't help that the Wildcats lost two defensive starters -- linebacker Jake Fischer and free safety Adam Hall -- to knee injuries this spring.

As for the play calling, coach Mike Stoops told me this: "We were trying to mix and match too much last year. We got discombobulated, I think. We got exposed late in the year on some things. [Offensive coordinator Seth Littrell] has to grow into this position and have total control with Nick. We need to all be on the same page."

It sounds like there were some discussions between Stoops and Littrell about play calling, and Littrell said as much to me, his operative word being "simplify."

My guess is the Wildcats are going to look a bit like old-school Texas Tech under pass-happy Mike Leach this fall, with Foles passing for over 4,000 yards. Will that put them in the thick of the South race? It might, but my present position is wait and see.

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Jeremy from Salem, Ore., writes: I remember when this whole conference realignment thing was going on there was talk about moving the annual Utah-Colorado game to the beginning of the year so that Utah could play BYU and Colorado could play Colorado State at the end of the year. Then I haven't heard anything else about it since then. Did that fall through or something? Do you know anything else about it?

Ted Miller: One problem with that plan: Colorado and Colorado State have already scheduled early-season games through 2015. Further, there's a bit of a back-and-forth going on between Utah and BYU over their rivalry. It's only contracted through 2012.

The odds of BYU and Utah ending their annual game, one of the nation's great rivalries, seems remote, particularly with BYU now afforded the scheduling flexibility of an independent team. But there are a lot of moving parts to scheduling, so the scenario you write about may take a while to put in place -- or if the parties involved will even try to work it out that way.

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Paul from Eugene, Ore., writes: hey ted i just wanted to share this story with you because it isnt a hugely publicized story on a few of oregon's players.

Ted Miller: Duly noted.

Most Pac-12 teams do a lot more in the community than they are given credit for. Good job, Cliff Harris, Darron Thomas and Dion Jordan.