The Hotlineβs preseason all-conference team features two glaring omissions, both related to injury.
We did not select Washington edge rusher Zion Tupuola-Fetui or Colorado linebacker Nate Landman, who were first-team all-conference picks (by the coaches) last season.
Tupuola-Fetuiβs exclusion was a fairly easy call, because the Huskies have not indicated when heβll return from a torn Achilles, only that he is expected to play at some point.
Landmanβs case isnβt as clear. He, too, suffered a ruptured Achilles. But unlike Tupuola-Fetui, who was injured in the spring, Landmanβs setback occurred in the regular-season finale eight months ago. Heβs practicing with the Buffaloes and expected to play in the season opener.
And yet, we remain slightly skeptical of Landman returning to form quickly enough to make an impact great enough to produce an all-conference season.
Also, the competition is fierce: The linebacker position has as much quality depth as any on defense.
Unsure of Landmanβs ability to regain his pre-injury form and given the presence of so many established, healthy players, we excluded him.
Itβs one of many all-conference decisions we quickly could come to regret.
Notes on the following:
Our picks for the Pac-12 offensive and defensive Players of the Year are USC receiver Drake London and Oregon defensive end Kayvon Thibodeaux.
We selected three receivers, five defensive backs and an edge rusher to reflect the personnel groupings used most often.
One position per player.
We defined the All-Purpose player (AP) narrowly β someone who impacts the offense in a variety of ways. Contributions on special teams were assigned to the Return Specialist (RS) selections.
Offense
First team
QB: Arizona Stateβs Jayden Daniels
TB: Coloradoβs Jarek Broussard
TB: Washington Stateβs Max Borghi
WR: USCβs Drake London (OPOY)
WR: Utahβs Britain Covey
WR: Oregonβs Johnny Johnson
TE: Washingtonβs Cade Otton
OL: Washington Stateβs Abraham Lucas
OL: Utahβs Nick Ford
OL: Washingtonβs Jaxson Kirkland
OL: Arizona Stateβs Dohnovan West
OL: Oregon Stateβs Nathan Eldridge
AP: Arizona Stateβs Rachaad White
Second team
QB: USCβs Kedon Slovis
TB: Stanfordβs Austin Jones
TB: UCLAβs Zach Charbonnet
WR: Arizona Stateβs Bryan Thompson
WR: Washington Stateβs Travell Harris
WR: UCLAβs Kyle Phillips
TE: Utahβs Brant Kuithe
OL: Stanfordβs Walter Rouse
OL: Washingtonβs Henry Bainivalu
OL: Arizona Stateβs Kellen Riesch
OL: Oregonβs Alex Forsyth
OL: Washingtonβs Luke Wattenberg
AP: Oregonβs Travis Dye
Defense
First team
DL: Oregonβs Kayvon Thibodeaux (DPOY)
DL: Stanfordβs Thomas Booker
DL: Utahβs Mika Tafua
DL: Arizona Stateβs Jermayne Lole
Edge: USCβs Drake Jackson
LB: Utahβs Devin Lloyd
LB: Oregon Stateβs Avery Roberts
LB: Calβs Cameron Goode
DB: Arizona Stateβs Chase Lucas
DB: Oregonβs Mykeal Wright
DB: Washingtonβs Trent McDuffie
DB: USCβs Chris Steele
DB: Coloradoβs Isaiah Lewis
Second team
DL: USCβs Nick Figueroa
DL: Arizona Stateβs Tyler Johnson
DL: Calβs Luc Bequette
DL: Utahβs Viane Moala
Edge: UCLAβs Mitchell Agude
LB: Washingtonβs Edefuan Ulofoshio
LB: Coloradoβs Carson Wells
LB: Calβs Kuony Deng
DB: Oregonβs Verone McKinley
DB: UCLAβs Quentin Lake
DB: Utahβs Clark Phillips III
DB: Arizona Stateβs Evan Fields
DB: USCβs Isaiah Pola-Mao
Special Teams
First team
K: Utahβs Jadon Redding
P: USCβs Ben Griffiths
RS: Arizona Stateβs D.J. Taylor
Second team
K: Arizonaβs Lucas Havrisik
P: Stanfordβs Ryan Sanborn
RS: Calβs Nikko Remigio