Washington's Jaxson Kirkland leads the best offensive line in the Pac-12
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Article by WestCoastCFB
1. Jaxson Kirkland (Washington)
After a dominant 2020 season, Kirkland has begun receiving 1st Round NFL Draft hype. The outstanding Left Tackle was a 1st Team All-Pac-12 selection this past season and has a chiseled 6-7 frame. Jaxson's father, Dean, was a 3 year starter for the Huskies from 1988-1990 and was a 1990 All Pac-10 1st Team selection. PFF gave Kirkland an 86.2 pass blocking grade which was the better than every Pac-12 OT, including Alijah Vera-Tucker who was selected in the 1st Round this past April.
2. Abe Lucas (WSU)
Abraham Lucas was an unheralded recruit when he chose WSU out of High School but quickly became an impact player while earning Freshman All-American honors in 2018. The WSU star is now a 3x All-Pac-12 selection and enters his final season in 2021 with a great chance of being chosen in the 1st Round of the 2022 NFL Draft.
3. Dohnovan West (ASU)
Dohnovan West impressed as a Freshman in 2019 while starting every game at guard for the Sun Devils and then followed that campaign with an even more dominant 2020, where he earned 1st Team All-Pac-12 honors. PFF graded West as the top guard in the conference last season.
4. Kellen Diesch (ASU)
Kellen Diesch is now a savvy veteran after playing 4 seasons at Texas AM and then transferring to the Sun Devils in 2020. The 6-7 OT was PFF's 2nd highest graded Tackle in the Pac-12 last season.
5. Sean Rhyan (UCLA)
Sean Rhyan came to the Bruins as a 4 star recruit and started 12 games for UCLA as a Freshman in 2019. With Rhyan starting at Left Tackle in 2020, the Bruins offense was explosive and ranked 2nd in the Pac-12 in rushing yards per game. Rhyan is projected as a 2nd Team All-Pac-12 selection in 2021 by Athlon.
6. Nick Ford (Utah)
Ford enters 2021 with a ton of experience after starting 26 games from 2018-2020. The Utes moved Ford from Right Guard to Center last season and he excelled while earning 1st Team All-Pac-12 honors.
7. Nathan Eldridge (OSU)
It feels like Nathan Eldridge has been in the Pac-12 forever after playing for the Wildcats from 2016-2018, before joining the Beavers. Eldridge is a talented Center who was named to the Pac-12 1st Team in 2020. Expect more of the same in 2021.
8. Joshua Gray (OSU)
Joshua Gray was a standout for the Beavers last season, earning 2nd Team All-Conference honors as a Freshman. Jermar Jefferson ran all over Pac-12 defenses last Fall and you have to give credit to Gray for helping lead the way. Athlon projects Gray to land on the All-Pac-12 2nd Team once again in 2021.
9. Walter Rouse (Stanford)
Rouse looks to be the next great Stanford offensive lineman after starting 6 games at Left Tackle for the Cardinal in 2020. The 6-6 Tackle still needs some development but has the talent to be drafted. Athlon projects Rouse as a 3rd Team All-Conference pick in 2021.
10. Alec Anderson (UCLA)
Anderson and Rhyan formed an outstanding OT combo in 2020 while helping the Bruins rank 2nd in the Pac-12 in Total Offense. PFF graded Anderson as the 6th best OT in the conference last season and 5th best in pass blocking.
11. Henry Bainivalu (UW)
Bainivalu is a mountain of a man at 6-6 340 and was excellent in 2020 while earning PFF 1st Team All-Pac-12 honors and also being selected to the AP All-Pac-12 2nd Team.
12. Alex Forsyth (Oregon)
Mario Cristobal is one of the best developers of Offensive Linemen in the country and Forsyth is the next Duck star on the OL. Pac-12 Coaches named the former 4 star recruit to the 2nd Team All-Pac-12 squad in 2020 and Athlon projects the Oregon Center to land on the 2nd Team once again in 2021.
13. Andrew Vorhees (USC)
Vorhees is one of the most experienced OL in the conference with 25 starts under his belt. Athlon projects the USC Guard to be a 3rd Team All-Conference selection in 2021.
14. Victor Curne (UW)
Washington had the best OL in the conference last season while allowing just 2.5 TFL's per game and Curne played a major role in that dominance. PFF Graded Curne as the 4th best Tackle in the Conference but his play went under the radar nationally. Coaches and scouts should begin to take notice in 2021.
15. Malaesala Aumavae-Laulu (Oregon)
Aumavae-Laulu has immense potential and came to the Ducks as the #1 JUCO Offensive Tackle in 2019. The 6-6 325lb 4 star recruit chose Oregon over offers from Alabama, Florida, Florida State, USC and other top programs. Aumavae-Laulu is a dark horse for 1st Team All-Pac-12 in 2021.
16. Sataoa Laumea (Utah)
Laumea looks to be a budding star in the Conference after coming to the Utes as a 4 star recruit and then earning All-Pac-12 2nd Team honors as a Redshirt Freshman.
17. Michael Saffell (Cal)
The Pac-12 is loaded with talented Centers this season and Saffell is one of the very best. The veteran has started 23 games for the Golden Bears. PFF graded Saffell as the best pass blocking Center in the Conference last season.
18. Frank Fillip (Colorado)
Fillip has amazing potential entering 2021 and has ideal NFL size at 6-7 295. Fillip ranked 10th among Pac-12 Offensive Tackles in 2020 according to PFF and should continue to develop into a more dominant player in 2021.
19. Luke Wattenberg (Washington)
Wattenberg came to the Huskies as a 4 star recruit and has started 36 games for the Huskies over the years. The 6-5 Center enters his final season of eligibility and will look to help pave the way for the Huskies to make a run at a conference title.
20. Ryan Walk (Oregon)
Ryan Walk had a breakout season for the Ducks in 2020 when he was named AP 1st Team All-Pac-12.