2015 Pacific Takes Pac-12 Player of the Year semi-finalists: 12 Pac-12 stars make the cut

We usually pick Players of the Year and other awards each year either in a roundtable voter format or chosen by a  specific editor and we are going to keep rolling with that this year.

This week, we will announce our 12 semi-finalists and next week we will announce our six finalists and then include our winner in our end of the season awards post.

Like anyone else, we are super swayed by what gets posted in the comments, so please, voice your opinions on our candidates.

Devontae Booker Sr. RB Utah - Booker is the rock on offense for  the Utes and at times seems like all they have on that side of the ball. He has more than 1,200 yards rushing this season and has ran for 11 touchdowns.

Luke Falk So. QB Washington State - Other quarterbacks have put up numbers for Mike Leach in Pullman, but none has done what Falk has been able to do - consistently lead his team to wins and come through in the clutch. Oh, but don't forget about the stats - Falk has already thrown for more than 4,000 yards and 35 touchdowns with just eight interceptions and a 70 percent completion ratio.

Royce Freeman So. RB Oregon - Freeman carried the Ducks when the rest of the offense struggled and help take them back to the next level when their offense started to fully come together. He leads the conference in rushing, rushing touchdowns and is one of the Pac-12's best receiving running backs as well.

Joshua Garnett Sr. G Stanford - Offensive linemen have a very hard time winning POY type awards, but Garnett is an All-American-level talent and maybe the best player on the conference's best team. His development into a star is a big part of why Stanford's offense has been so much better this season.

Jared Goff Jr. QB Cal - Goff has had his ups and down this season and so has his team but all in all he has passed for more than 3,000 yards and thrown 30 touchdowns while leading the Bears to their first bowl game in five years. That counts for a lot.

Kevin Hogan Sr. QB Stanford - Hogan seems like a sure-fire choice for most improved player, but  I think the also deserves attention for overall player of the year. His stat sheet won't blow you away, but his sudden evolution into a very good quarterback for the Cardinal is a big part of why they are the favorite to win the conference.

Cody Kessler Sr. QB USC - Kessler's season seemed to die right out the gate when the Trojans got off to a disastrous start, but  he has overall had a very good season. His team is now the leaders in the South and he is the highest-rated quarterback in the conference who has played in every game.

Gabe Marks Jr. WR Washington State - Marks has quietly arguably turned into the conference's best receiver. He leads the conference in receptions and receiving touchdowns and his return for the Cougars has been a big part of why they have turned  the corner.

Christian McCaffrey So. RB Stanford - McCaffrey burst out into the star offensive player the Cardinal needed this season as a big play threat that can stretch the field but also run between the tackles. He has more than 1,300 yards and seven touchdowns and is also the conference's  best receiving back.

Gionni Paul Sr. LB Utah - Paul is the only defensive player to make the cut in a light year for defensive stars in the conference. He has been the best player on Utah's excellent defense and is third in the conference in tackles, in the top five for tackles for-loss, has three sacks and three interceptions while also leading the conference in fumble recoveries.

Paul Perkins Jr. RB UCLA - Perkins has been banged up this season, but still been an underrated asset for the Bruins who has ran for more than 1,000 yards and 10 touchdowns.

Juju Smith-Schuster So. WR USC - Smith-Schuster is by far the conference's most-talented receiver and has used his skills to be one of the nation's most-prolific receivers. He is the conference's only receiver who has more than 1,000 yards receiving and has caught 10 touchdowns.

We also heavily considered these players, they could possibly have huge weeks to close out and sneak into the finalists.

Vernon Adams Sr. QB Oregon

Siasi Aiono Sr. C Utah

DeForest Buckner Sr. DE Oregon

Blake Martinez Sr. LB Stanford

Kyle Murphy Sr. T Stanford

Jared Norris Sr. LB Utah