Pac-12: Joe Houston
Just five teams welcome back experienced kickers. The pickings is so slim in terms of quality that Phil Steele named Arizona's Alex Zendejas third-team All-Pac-10 in his preview magazine.
So how does this thin group stack up? Read on.
Great shape
Washington: Erik Folk was perfect on 33 PATs last year while also connecting on 13 of 20 field goals with a long of 54 yards. Most years, these numbers would rate as "good" rather than "great," but having the best returning kicker in the conference, even if his numbers aren't scintillating, is a significant boost.
Good shape
Oregon: Rob Beard made 10 of 13 field goals last year -- coach Chip Kelly doesn't like field goals -- and was 63 of 64 on PATs.
Arizona: Zendejas had some, er, notable issues -- we won't even bring up the PATs in the Arizona State game -- but he did make 14 of 19 field goals with a long of 47. His 73.7 percent field goal percentage ranked third in the Pac-10 in 2010, ahead, by the way, of UCLA's Kai Forbath.
Washington State: Washington State only attempted 11 field goals last year. It made seven of those, three from Andrew Furney, who tops the post-spring depth chart. He also was 18-of-18 on PATs.
California: Giorgio Tavecchio is probably not going to be a great kicker, but he's experienced. He made 11 of 16 kicks last year with a long of 53. He missed two of his 39 PATs.
We'll see
Stanford: Jordan Williamson and Eric Whitaker battled this spring to replace Whitaker's older brother, Nate, who was first-team All-Pac-10 in 2010. Williamson seemed to have a slight lead heading into the offseason, though Whitaker has more experience.
USC: True freshman Andre Heidari was the nation's top-rated prep kicker last year. It's unlikely he will do worse than last year's kicker, Joe Houston, who ranked last in the conference in field goal percentage, though he was perfect on 43 PATs.
UCLA: The post-spring depth chart included an "or" between junior Jeff Locke -- the Bruins' punter -- and redshirt freshman Kip Smith.
Oregon State: Trevor Romaine was ahead of Max Johnson after spring practices to replace Justin Kahut. Both missed two attempts in the spring game. Romaine showed a good foot on kickoffs.
Utah: Coleman Petersen beat out Nick Marsh, the Utes' kickoff specialist last year, this spring to replace Joe Phillips. He's never kicked in a game.
Arizona State: Thomas Weber is gone. His replacement looks like redshirt freshman Alex Garoutte, who wasn't consistent this spring.
Colorado: Justin Castor topped the depth chart this spring -- he wasn't terribly consistent -- but incoming freshman Will Oliver might give him some competition.
Osweiler, a sophomore from Kalispell, Mont., came off the bench when starter Steven Threet suffered a head injury in the first quarter and completed 27 of 38 passes for 380 yards with four touchdowns and no interceptions in Arizona State’s come-from-behind 55-34 win against UCLA. Osweiler also rushed six times for 35 yards, including a 15-yard TD run, and avoided being sacked.
Thomas, a junior from Marietta, Ga., recorded nine tackles, including 3.5 for loss and 2.5 sacks in the 38-0 win against Oregon State. He also forced a fumble and added a pass breakup, leading the Cardinal to its third shutout of the season. It’s the first time Stanford has had three shutouts in the same season since 1969.
Miles, a sophomore from Peoria, Ariz., returned a kickoff 99 yards for a touchdown in Arizona State’s win against UCLA. Miles became the third different Sun Devil player who has returned a kickoff for a touchdown in 2010. The three kickoff returns for touchdowns set an ASU school record -- and tied a Pac-10 record -- for the most in a single season.
Also nominated for offensive player of the week honors were quarterbacks Nick Foles of Arizona, Darron Thomas of Oregon, Andrew Luck of Stanford, Richard Brehaut of UCLA and running back Chris Polk of Washington. Also nominated on defense were safety Eddie Elder of Arizona State, linebacker Casey Matthews of Oregon, safety Tony Burnett of USC and linebacker Mason Foster of Washington. Also nominated on special teams were place kickers Nate Whitaker of Stanford, Kai Forbath of UCLA, Joe Houston of USC and punter Kiel Rasp of Washington.
Barkley, a sophomore from Newport Beach, Calif., completed 25 of 37 passes for 352 yards and a school-record-tying five touchdowns and no interceptions in a 48-14 win against California. He threw all five scoring strikes in the first half, leading USC to a 42-0 lead at the break. He helped USC’s offense to roll up 602 total yards against a Cal defense that led the Pac-10 in total (254.8) and pass (148.8) defense. Barkley also threw five TD passes at Hawaii. He currently is eighth nationally in passing efficiency (167.3). His 20 touchdown passes are second most in the nation.
Richardson, a freshman from Carson, Calif., started in place of injured junior cornerback Trevin Wade, a second team All-Pac-10 performer, and he grabbed two interceptions, broke up three other passes and registered seven total tackles – all solo – in the 24-7 win at Washington State. Richardson, picked off his second pass of the game in the endzone, ensuring a single-digit point total for the opponent. Arizona held an opponent to single digits for the fourth time this season. The overall effort improved UA’s defensive marks in several statistical categories. The Wildcats lead the Pac-10 in total defense (284.3 ypg, No. 10 nationally), scoring defense (13.3 ppg, No. 7 nationally) and rushing defense (89.7 ypg, No. 8 nationally).
Houston, a senior from Redondo Beach, Calif., hit a pair of 27-yard field goals, all six of his PATs and had a 26-yard pooch punt down to the California 8-yard line. A former walk-on now on scholarship, Houston is 28-of-28 on PATs in 2010 in his first year as USC’s kicker and now is 4-of-8 on field goals.
Also nominated for offensive player of the week honors were running backs Keola Antolin of Arizona and Jacquizz Rodgers of Oregon State, and quarterback Jake Locker of Washington. Also nominated on defense were linebackers Chris Galippo of USC and Mason Foster of Washington, and safety Deone Bucannon of Washington State.
Pac-10 lunch links: A surprise for Stanford
- Arizona QBs coach Frank Scelfo is getting used to the desert. Some Arizona notes.
- Arizona State is excited about frosh RB Deantre Lewis.
- Some networking helped California coach Jeff Tedford find his new defensive coordinator.
- Oregon feels good about its depth at LB, but it's still unclear who starts at one cornerback. Some notes.
- Former walk-on RB Jordan Jenkins has made a move at Oregon State. Opening against TCU has the Beavers focused.
- The "perfectly engineered football player" will go two ways for Stanford. Six-foot-8 redshirt freshman Levine Toilolo has won the starting job at TE over veterans Konrad Reuland and Coby Fleener.
- UCLA QB Kevin Prince says he's feeling better and will be ready to start at Kansas State. We'll see. Andrew Abbott has earned a scholarship.
- Aaron Corp is gone but not forgotten at USC. Checking in with Matt Barkley. Joe Houston won the kicking job and a scholarship.
- DE De'Shon Matthews has been solid for Washington in preseason camp.
- Some notes from Washington State. There's depth at running back.
- Which program has the most recruiting star power? And which conference?
The Pac-10 will feature two of the best kickers in the nation -- two Lou Groza Award winners, no less -- in 2010, but for a handful of schools, the position is questionable.
So, who stands where?
Great shape
- UCLA: Kai Forbath is the best kicker in the country. The first-team All-American and 2009 Groza Award winner is practically automatic, even outside 50 yards.
- Arizona State: Thomas Weber suffered through a lost 2009 season because of injuries, but when healthy the 2007 Groza Award winner is a potential All-American.
- Oregon State: Justin Kahut earned second-team All-Pac-10 honors in 2009 after converting 22 of 27 field goals with a long of 50 yards.
- Washington: Erik Folk bounced back from two injury-plagued years to connect on 18 of 21 field goals in 2009.
- Stanford: Nate Whitaker made 16 of 22 field goals last year, which is solid, but his 54-yarder against Wake Forest was the longest in the conference last season.
- Arizona: As a sophomore, Alex Zendejas was true on 17 of 22 field goals with a long of 47 yards.
- California: Cal used two kickers last season -- Giorgio Tavecchio and Vincenzo D'Amato -- but neither was consistent.
- Washington State: Nico Grasu was solid in 2008 -- booting the game-winner in the "Crapple" Cup against Washington -- but he faded in 2009, missing the final four games with a thigh injury.
- Oregon: The Ducks are replacing the reliable Morgan Flint. Rob Beard and incoming freshman Alejandro Maldonado are the top candidates for the spot.
- USC: Unproven seniors Joe Houston and Jacob Harfman are competing to replace Jordan Congdon, the seventh-best kicker in the conference in 2009.
Posted by ESPN.com's Ted Miller
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Ted Miller
Miller has been covering college football since 1997, starting with Auburn and then heading West to Washington and the Pac-12. His columns for the Seattle Post-Intelligencer won first place in the 2007 APSE Best Writing contest. The Atlanta native and University of Richmond graduate presently lives with his wife in Scottsdale, Ariz.
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Gemmell covered San Diego State and the Mountain West Conference for three years before joining ESPN.com. As a Santa Clara graduate, his hope is that the Broncos will one day re-institute football. Until then, he lives vicariously through his readers. Gemmell lives in California with his wife and son.
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