Pac-12 All-2010s team: Stanford leads the way with seven first-team selections

Some notes on selection. It was a combination of career achievement between 2010-2019. So what someone did in 2008 or 2009 doesn’t count. Also bonus points for being particularly great in one season and lastly a tiny bit of NFL career is factored in because I frequently think certain players might be overrated or underrated and what they do in the NFL can sway my opinion in one direction or the other.

1st Team

Offense

QB Marcus Mariota Oregon - One of the few no-brainer choices, even with Andrew Luck an option. A Heisman winner who played for a national championship and won the Pac-12 while putting up massive numbers.

RB Christian McCaffrey Stanford - he should have taken home a Heisman and was this decade’s Reggie Bush in the Pac-12. One of the best players to ever play in the conference and his prowess may have helped extend Stanford’s top-level conference elite status an extra year just on his own.

RB LaMichael James Oregon - His legacy got a tiny bit paved over the brilliance of Mariota, but he should be just as much the poster child for Oregon’s first half of the 2010s dominance. He led Oregon to Pac-12 championships in 2010 and 2011 and is a stats monster with more than 40 touchdowns in those years and more than 3,500 rushing yards with 7.3 per-carry in 2011.

WR Marqise Lee USC - He was as good as just about any Pac-12 receiver ever in 2012 with nearly 120 receptions, more than 1,700 yards and 17 TDs. He was great in 2011 as well, making up for a disappointing 2013.

WR Robert Woods USC - It’s insane that Woods and Lee played together, especially in 2011 when Woods had more than 110 receptions, nearly 1,300 yards and 15 touchdowns. He was great at getting into the end zone the rest of his career too.

TE Zach Ertz Stanford - He was as good as any Pac-12 tight end ever has been, especially in 2012 when he had nearly 700 receptions for 800 plus yards and six TDs, including the clutch catch to beat Oregon and give Stanford the Pac-12 title.

OL David DeCastro Stanford - Probably the best and most-dominant offensive linemen I’ve ever seen in the Pac-12. He should have won more awards and was a major catalyst in Stanford breaking out and changing their reputation under Jim Harbaugh.

OL Matt Kalil USC - Another all time great lineman, Kalil was an elite pass blocker and great run blocker for the Trojans before being a top five pick.

OL Jonathan Martin Stanford - Martin was really good for a really long time for Stanford and teamed with DeCastro to form a couple of the most-dominant offensive lines in Pac-12 history.

OL David Yankey Stanford - He carried the flag for the Stanford line after DeCastro and Martin, dominating the Pac-12 in 2013 and 2014.

OL Hroniss Grasu Oregon - A four-year starter during Oregon’s glory run, he earned massive honors throughout his career and was a key cog in Oregon’s 2014 run to the national championship game.

Defense

DL Will Sutton Arizona State - he gets lost sometime because Arizona State was never great when he was there and he was only a third round pick, but Sutton was DOMINANT and a two-time Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year. One of the best players I’ve ever seen at playing inside and on the edge on the line.

DL Leonard Williams USC - Speaking of versatile defensive linemen, this guy was unstoppable inside and outside. He was basically an NFL stud playing in the Pac-12 2012-14. One of the most-impressive defensive players I can ever remember watching in the conference.

DL DeForest Buckner Oregon - He was great early in his career, but it was coming back for his senior season that turned him into an all-time great. He was Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year in 2015 killing the conference throughout the season and going Top 10 in the Draft.

DL Star Lotulelei Utah - He had an amazing, long career that was outrageously dominant. One of the best run defenders the conference has ever seen.

LB Scooby Wright Arizona - He had one of the best seasons by a Pac-12 player at any position in 2014, ever. His stats are unreal and he racked up awards and honors including the Bednarik, Lombardi, Nagurski and Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year.

LB Anthony Barr UCLA - His seasons in 2012 and 2013 were two of the best I’ve ever seen from a Pac-12 player at any position. 24 sacks and more than 40 TFLs in those seasons, it was a no brainer he went on to be a Top 10 pick.

LB Trent Murphy Stanford - he was so dominant as a senior that I actually made him my overall Pac-12 Player of the Year as he led the Cardinal to a Pac-12 championship. he was also amazing throughout his career in the early 2010s.

DB Jordan Poyer Oregon State - Speaking of outrageous years, Poyer was incredible in 2012, finishing with seven interceptions after leading the Pac-12 in interceptions the year before. One of the best seasons ever put together by a Pac-12 DB.

DB Taylor Rapp Washington - It’s surprising Rapp never took home more honors. he never made a mistake in three years holding down the back of Washington’s defense and was regularly the best pass rusher on a team that went to three-straight NY6 bowls and a defense that dominated the Pac-12.

DB Ed Reynolds Stanford - The Cardinal had a lot of really good safeties in their run, Reynolds was the best of them. He peaked in 2012 with six interceptions and stepped up as a run defender in 2013.

DB Budda Baker Washington - A huge part of Washington’s rebirth under Chris Petersen, Baker was a star from the moment he started at Washington as a freshman. a weapon against the run and the pass.

Special Teams

K Matt Gay Utah - You’ll see a lot of Utah specialists on here. Gay was money as a kicker.

P Mitch Wishnowsky Utah - Can make a case he’s the best punter ever in the conference.

Second Team

Offense

QB Andrew Luck Stanford - Luck was so close to so many things in his career - Pac-12 championships, the Heisman, national championships, add the first team on this list.

RB Royce Freeman Oregon - 5,600 career yards and 60 touchdowns, he’s a Pac-12 all-time great and he was key on Oregon’s 2014 run to the national title game.

RB Ka’Deem Carey Arizona - He tested 2,000 yards twice and rushed for more than 40 TDs in those years while winning Pac-12 Offensive Player of the Year in 2013.

WR JuJu Smith-Schuster USC - The powerful Trojan took over where Lee and Woods left off. He was especially deadly scoring touchdowns, totaling 20 in his sophomore and junior seasons.

WR Brandin Cooks Oregon State - Speed, speed, speed, Cooks killed it as a Beaver. He was best as a junior with nearly 130 receptions, more than 1,700 yards and 18 total TDs.

TE Austin Seferian-Jenkins Washington - one of the most-prolific tight ends to ever play in the Pac-12, he was a machine in his three years at Washington finishing with more than 140 receptions, 1,800 yards and catching 21 touchdowns.

OL Mitchell Schwartz Cal - I was tempted to put Schwartz on first team, but he only played in 2010 and 2011 in this decade, where he was excellent before starting an impressive NFL career.

OL Xavier Su’a-Filo UCLA - He put together to excellent years as a guard in 2012 and 2013 and it’s no surprise he’s had a solid NFL career as he was a lights out stud for the Bruins, especially when blocking for Johnathan Franklin.

OL Khaled Holmes USC - A three-year starter for USC when they were good and eventual rock at center, he was also a major leader for the Trojans early in the decade.

OL Kyle Murphy Stanford - The flag carrier for a next generation of Stanford offensive line greats, he was instrumental in keeping the Cardinal reign alive.

OL Kaleb McGary Washington - A four-year starter who blocked for a ton of Myles Gaskin yards, touchdowns and NY6 bowl berths, he capped off his career by being a first round pick.

Defense

DL Jurrel Casey USC - One of those players who was so good in one year (2010) that he slides up over some more lifetime achievement type players.

DL Vita Vea Washington - He was underrated in 2016 and showed his talent in the Peach Bowl, almost keeping Washington in the game with Alabama by himself before having one of the best years ever for a defensive linemen in the Pac-12 in 2017, winning Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year before becoming a Top 10 pick.

DL Harrison Phillips Stanford - He’s a unique combination of great overall career and one amazing year in 2017 when he practically was Stanford’s entire defense.

DL Greg Gaines Washington - Another underrated player, Gaines was a four-year starter and unbelievable run stuffer who was one of the toughest players in the conference to block for almost half the decade.

LB Shayne Skov Stanford - A career star for Stanford, a huge part of their defense stepping up in 2012 and 2013.

LB Chase Thomas Stanford - The first Stanford linebacker to give them their tough as nails reputation and a versatile stud for them in run defense and pass rush.

LB Mychal Kendricks Cal - he should be first team, but the competition was just way too hard and he only played two years in the decade.

DB TJ McDonald USC - Another career guy, he was so good for USC for so long. One of the best recent players to play safety in the Pac-12.

DB Deone Bucannon Washington State - An interception machine who was also scary good in run defense, one of the best defensive players ever at WSU.

DB Sidney Jones Washington - A pure three-year starter who rarely even got thrown at. All you need to know is he was almost a first round pick with a torn achilles.

DB Byron Murphy Washington - One of the biggest hitting corners and best ballhawks the conference has ever seen. he led the Huskies to a Pac-12 championship as a sophomore.

Special Teams

K Andy Phillips Utah - Could have easily made first team if Matt Gay wasn’t around.

P Tom Hackett Utah - Same goes for this other Utah special teams standout.

Third Team

Offense

QB Sam Darnold USC

RB Myles Gaskin Washington

RB Bryce Love Stanford

WR Gabe Marks Washington State

WR John Ross Washington

TE Coby Fleener Stanford

OL Andrus Peat Stanford

OL Trey Adams Washington

OL Jake Fisher Oregon

OL Chad Wheeler USC

OL Penei Sewell Oregon

Defense

DL Stephen Paea Oregon State

DL Scott Crichton Oregon State

DL Cameron Jordan Cal

DL Hau’oli Kikaha Washington

LB Evan Weaver Cal

LB Ben Burr-Kirven Washington

LB Su’a Cravens USC

DB Rahim Moore UCLA

DB Chidobe Awuzie Colorado

DB Nickell Robey USC

DB Marcus Williams Utah

Special Teams

K Zane Gonzalez Arizona State

P Jeff Locke UCLA

Honorable Mention

Offense

QB Darron Thomas Oregon

RB Johnathan Franklin UCLA

RB Phillip Lindsay Colorado

WR Juron Criner Arizona

WR N’Keal Harry Arizona State

TE Joseph Fauria UCLA

OL Joshua Garnett Stanford

OL Cameron Fleming Stanford

OL Tyler Johnstone Oregon

OL David Bakhtiari Colorado

OL Chase Beeler Stanford

Defense

DL Hercules Mata’afa Washington State

DL Kenny Clark UCLA

DL Brooks Reed Arizona

DL Nate Orchard Utah

LB Shaq Thompson Washington

LB Myles Jack UCLA

LB Cameron Smith USC

DB Ifo Ekpre-Olomu Oregon

DB Justin Reid Stanford

DB Desmond Trufant Washington

DB Jordan Richards Stanford

Special Teams

K Aidan Schneider Oregon

P Bryan Anger Cal