Ranking the 2017 Pac-12 offensive lines: Washington and Colorado have best lines in conference

Backfields

WRs/TEs

1. Washington (C Coleman Shelton Sr. T Trey Adams Jr. T Kaleb McGary Jr. G Nick Harris So. G Andrew Kirkland Sr.)

The Huskies have two first-team All-Pac-12-caliber players returning in Shelton and Adams and a second-teamer in McGary. Harris has major potential after starting as a true freshman and Kirkland is part of a group of experienced depth players in the Husky fold.

2. Colorado (T Jeromy Irwin Sr. G Gerrad Kough Sr. G Tim Lynott So. T Aaron Haigler Fr. G Jonathan Huckins Sr.)

The Buffs have built up a great offensive line loaded with experience and talent in 2017. Irwin is a first-team All-Pac-12 player and Kough and Lynott aren’t far behind.

3. Stanford (T Casey Tucker Sr. T A.T. Hall Sr. T David Bright Sr. C Jesse Burkett Sr. G Brandon Fanaika Sr. G Nate Herbig So.)

This unit was banged up and didn’t look like a usual Stanford offensive line last year. The tools to dominate again are here and there is tons of experience though.

4. Washington State (G Cody O’Connell Sr. T Cole Madison Sr. T Andre Dillard So. G Noah Osur-Myers So. G B.J. Salmonson Sr.)

The Cougars have quietly had great offensive lines in recent seasons and this year shouldn’t change that. O’Connell is a returning All-American and Madison is an underrated All-Pac-12-level player.

5. USC (G Viane Talamaivao Sr. C Toa Lobendahn Jr. T Chuma Edoga Jr. G Chris Brown Jr. G Nico Falah Sr.)

The Trojans literally lost a lot with Zach Banner, Chad Wheeler and Damien Mama moving on, but they have two of the conference’s best linemen in Talamaivao and Lobendahn if they can stay healthy. Watch for Edoga to quickly turn into a star as well.

6. Utah (G Salesi Uhatafe Sr. G Darrin Paulo So. T Jackson Barton Jr. T Lo Falemaka Sr. T Johnny Capra So.)

The Utes have a lot to replace with Garett Bolles, Sam Tevi, J.J. Dielman and Isaac Asiata gone. The good news is they have a lot of size and talent waiting in the wings and Kyle Whittingham has shown a track record of reloading on the offensive line.

7. UCLA (C Scott Quessenberry Sr. T Zach Bateman Sr. G Najee Toran Sr. T Andre James So. G Kenny Lacy Sr.)

UCLA has one of the most-talented offensive lines I can ever remember struggling the way they have in recent years. The potential is here to be a top Pac-12 offensive line, but they are going to have to take major steps forward.

8. Oregon (C Jake Hanson So. T Calvin Throckmorton So. T Tyrell Crosby Sr. G Shane Lemieux So. G Doug Brenner Sr.)

The Ducks started a lot of freshmen on the offensive line in 2016 and it was a tough growing year. The good thing is they have a ton of experience coming back now and a first-team All-Pac-12-level talent in Crosby coming back from injury.

9. Oregon State (G Gus Lavaka So. G Kammy Delp Jr. T Will Hopkins Sr. T Blake Brandel So. C Fred Lauina Sr.)

Lavaka is a standout in the making, but the rest of this group will have to fill in for departing starters. There is a nice amount of talent and experience here though.

10. Arizona State (G Zach Robertson So. T Quinn Bailey Jr. C A.J. McCollum Sr. T Cohl Cabral So. G Sam Jones Jr.)

The Sun Devils haven’t been very good on the offensive line in a long time and this group has to make a major progression for the Sun Devils to be able to control games up front on offense.

11. Arizona (G Jacob Alsadek Sr. T Gerhard DeBeer Sr. C Nathan Eldridge So. T Layth Friekh Sr. G Christian Boettcher Jr.)

This is an experienced group with players like Alsadek, DeBeer and Friekh, but it needs to step up its performance after a disaster of a 2016 season for the Wildcats.

12. Cal (G Patrick Mekari Jr. T Kamry Bennett Jr. C Addison Ooms Jr. T Semisi Uluave Jr. G Dwayne Wallace Sr.)

Getting the offensive line to improve will be one of Justin Wilcox’ first tasks in 2017, especially considering they will no longer run the Bear Raid.