SB Nation

Ranking 2015 Pac-12 defensive backfields: UCLA has best defensive backs in Pac-12

Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Ranking the Pac-12 defensive back units from top to bottom.

1. UCLA - CB Ishmael Adams (Jr.) CB Fabian Moreau (Sr.) S Jaleel Wadood (So.) S Tahaan Goodman (Jr.) CB Marcus Rios (Jr.)

Jim Mora's outstanding recruitment of DBs in the past few years is really paying off as the Bruins are loaded in the back of their defense. Adams and Moreau are the conference's best cornerbacks in my opinion and Wadood and Goodman are two of the Pac-12's best safeties.

2. Arizona State - S Jordan Simone (Sr.) CB Lloyd Carrington (Sr.) CB Kweishi Brown (Sr.) CB Armand Perry (So.) S James Johnson (So.)

This is an underrated group. Simone is a tackling machine and arguably the conference's best safety and Carrington and Brown are veteran corners that are amongst the best in the Pac-12.

3. USC - CB Adoree Jackson (So.) CB Kevon Seymour (Sr.) S John Plattenberg (So.) S Leon McQuay III (Jr.) CB Chris Hawkins (So.)

This unit gets hurt by All-American candidate Su'a Cravens moving up to linebacker full-time, but there is still a ton of talent here. Jackson is a star in the making, Seymour a stout veteran and Plattengerg and McQuay former big time recruits coming into their own.

4. Washington - CB Sidney Jones (So.) S Budda Baker (So.) CB Kevin King (Jr.) S Ezekiel Turner (So.) CB Naijiel Hale (So.)

Washington's defensive back unit was about as young as possible last year, but this talented group came of age very quickly and is now already one of the best in the Pac-12. Baker and Jones could easily be first-team All-Pac-12 in 2015.

5. Stanford - CB Ronnie Harris (Sr.) S Kodi Whitfield (Sr.) CB Terrence Alexander (So.) S Dallas Lloyd (Sr.)

This unit lost a ton from 2014, but so did just about every other unit in the Pac-12 below and was hurt even further when safety Zach Hoffpauir left to play baseball.

6. Oregon - S Reggie Daniels (Jr.) CB Charles Nelson (So.) CB Arrion Springs (So.) CB Chris Seisay (So.) S Tyree Robinson (So.)

This unit is rebuilding after losing three great starters including Ifo Ekpre-Olomu. Daniels is a solid starter, Nelson is super fast wide receiver who moved over and Springs has the physical tools to become a monster physical corner.

7. Arizona - S Will Parks (Sr.) CB Jarvis McCall (Jr.) CB Devin Holiday (Jr.) S Jamar Allan (Sr.) S Tellas Jones (Jr.)

Parks is the big highlight here. He is the rare kind of safety that can also make plays in the backfield.

8. Oregon State - CB Larry Scott (Sr.) CB Dashon Hunt (So.) S Cyril Noland-Lewis (Jr.) S Justin Strong (So.)

This unit lost a lot of talent and experience from 2014, but there is still some here. The Commissioner (Larry Scott) is a good veteran cornerback.

9. Colorado - CB Kenneth Crawley (Sr.) S Evan White (So.) CB John Walker (Jr.) S Ryan Moeller (So.)

The Buffs have really struggled on defense the past few years, but their pass defense has gotten better. Crawley is the best of the bunch and a guy who could be an All-Pac-12 player in 2015.

10. Utah - S Marcus Williams (So.) CB Dominique Hatfield (Jr.) S Justin Thomas (Jr.) CB Boobie Hobbs (So.)

This unit was gutted by graduation, but the Utes have done a great job of getting new starters to excel on defense in recent seasons and there is some good talent here.

11. Washington State - CB Marcellus Pippins (So.) CB Charleston White (So.) S Taylor Taliulu (Sr.) S Darius Lemora (Sr.)

This unit hasn't played well in recent seasons and seems to be a turnstile of players, but I think there is hope for this group moving forward. Pippins showed a lot of promise later in the year and Lemora and Taliulu are proven veterans.

12. Cal - S Stefan McClure (Sr.) CB Darius White (Sr.) CB Cedric Dozier (Jr.) S Cameron Walker (Jr.) CB Darius Allensworth (So.)

This group has been abysmal the past few years. There is talent here, but it really needs to improve.

In This Article

Teams
  • American
Players
  • James Johnson (S-Arizona St.)
  • Marcus Williams (DB-Utah)
  • Stefan McClure (DB-California)
  • Larry Scott (CB-Oregon St.)
  • Justin Thomas (DB-Utah)
  • Taylor Taliulu (S-Washington St.)
  • Reggie Daniels (DB-Oregon)
  • Zach Hoffpauir (SS-Stanford)
  • Kodi Whitfield (SS-Stanford)
  • Cyril Noland-Lewis (LB-Oregon St.)
  • Tellas Jones (S-Arizona)
  • Jordan Simone (DB-Arizona St.)
  • Cameron Walker (CB-California)
  • Ryan Moeller (DB-Colorado)
  • Tyree Robinson (DB-Oregon)
  • Justin Strong (S-Oregon St.)
  • Tahaan Goodman (DB-UCLA)
  • Leon McQuay III (CB-Southern Cal)
  • Darius Lemora (S-Washington St.)
  • Evan White (DB-Colorado)
  • Jaleel Wadood (DB-UCLA)
  • Budda Baker (DB-Washington)

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