With the college football season officially kicking off this weekend, one of the great parts about that is the college football world is soon to be introduced to many new household names. Whether it’s a small school stud like Bailey Zappe putting up video game numbers, or a feel good story like Stetson Bennett leading Georgia to the national title, college football’s greatest asset is a constant flow of new talent and stories coming in and out every season.
Let’s take a look at which Pac-12 players will be household names by the end of this season.
Arizona — Tetairoa McMillan WR (Fresh.)
After an active offseason, the Arizona Wildcats enter this season with an influx of new talent to add to a once abysmal roster. Of these many new additions, none look more poised to make an immediate impact than highly-touted freshman receiver Tetairoa McMillan.
McMillan is the University of Arizona’s highest-rated recruit of all time, and it shouldn’t take much time to see why. With McMillan set to start alongside proven transfer Jacob Cowing, there should be plenty of opportunities for the 6-foot-5 receiver to see an early share of targets. While it’s never easy for freshman wideouts to go up against Pac-12 corners, McMillan is a dominant enough athlete to feel confident about as a day one starter.
Arizona State — Ro Torrence CB (RS Soph.)
Arizona State lost more talent than it gained this offseason, however, JUCO transfer Roterius “Ro” Torrence could prove to be a bright spot on an inexperienced Sun Devils roster.
Torrence was the 2020 NJCAA Defensive Player of the Year and spent the 2021-22 season playing for Auburn before transferring to Arizona State. He has quickly risen to the CB1 spot at ASU and has proven to be a quality player with opportunity. He’s worth keeping an eye on in 2022.
Cal — Jermaine Terry II TE (Soph.)
The California Golden Bears will be relying on young talent to fuel their offense this season, and among them, second-year TE Jermaine Terry II could be in line for the biggest contributions.
Terry was highly sought after in the class of 2021, as he was ranked as the No. 6 tight end in the nation by 247Sports Composite. Terry was kept under wraps by the Cal coaching staff as a freshman, only recording a lone reception as well as contributing on special teams. The 6-foot-4, 255-pound tight end won Cal’s offensive scout team player of the year award and is reportedly building upon his dominant athletic frame. Terry is listed as Cal’s TE1 and could be a central figure in the offense.
Colorado — J.T. Shrout QB (Soph.)
The Buffs were one of the worst offensive teams in the country last season, and an immediate turnover doesn’t seem in the cards for them. However, a change at quarterback should certainly spark something in their offense.
Tennessee transfer J.T. Shrout missed last season with a knee injury, however it’s looking as though he’ll have a strong chance of starting over incumbent starter Brendon Lewis. Shrout showed flashes of promise on some poor Tennessee rosters, but we have yet to see him play any real meaningful snaps. Shrout is an upgrade for the Buffs as a passer and could help them avoid being the worst team in the conference.
Oregon — Byron Cardwell RB (Soph.)
Oregon lost long-time contributor Travis Dye to USC via the transfer portal, but his departure, as well as CJ Verdell’s, could prove to be a net positive with sophomore back Byron Cardwell expected to see an increased workload.
The 2021 four-star prep had a strong freshman season, recording 417 rushing yards and a team-leading 6.8 yards per carry. Cardwell looks as explosive as any back Oregon has had in recent years, with legit 4.4 speed and improving footwork. With nothing coming in the way of his expected touches next season, Cardwell is one of the most obvious breakout picks in the Pac-12.
Oregon State — Omar Speights LB (Jr.)
While many within the Pac-12 community may already be familiar with Omar Speights, a rise to NFL draft status would by all means qualify as a breakout for him.
Speights has consistently improved for the Beavers as their starting inside linebacker over the past three seasons, finishing 2021 with 89 tackles and two interceptions. Speights has work to do in coverage, but his run defense and pass rushing is certainly NFL-caliber. If any linebacker in the Pac-12 were to have a Devin Lloyd-esque breakout in 2022, Speights certainly meets most criterias.
Stanford — E.J. Smith RB (Jr.)
If there’s one thing Stanford hasn’t been afraid to do under David Shaw, it’s been establishing the run.
Stanford has consistently gotten production out of its backs, and the son of NFL legend Emmitt Smith is poised to be next in line. The Cardinal lost their two leading rushers over the past two seasons, Austin Jones and Nathaniel Peat, to the transfer portal, opening the door for E.J. Smith to field a high volume of touches. Smith recorded 14 broken tackles on 26 carries last season and has the patience it takes to be one of the best running backs in the country. Watch out for Smith as a sleeper to lead the Pac-12 in rushing.
UCLA — Devin Kirkwood CB (Soph.)
With a fairly experienced team relative to the rest of the Pac-12, UCLA isn’t expected to see too much production from underclassmen, but sophomore corner Devin Kirkwood could end up changing those expectations.
Kirkwood looks to build off a strong freshman season, where he recorded 23 tackles and an interception, flashing his elite length at 6-foot-3 and 194 pounds. Kirkwood is slated as a starter for the Bruins and should add an extra dimension to both their pass defense and run support. Don’t be shocked to hear Kirkwood in draft conversations when he becomes eligible in 2024.
USC – Eric Gentry LB (Soph.)
USC added an abundance of talent in the transfer portal, most of which has been heavily publicized. However, the acquisition of sophomore linebacker Eric Gentry from Arizona State has gone under the radar to this point.
At 6-foot-6 and 200 pounds, Gentry is a freak of nature for an inside linebacker. The way he moves from sideline to sideline while still being able to drop back into coverage is unprecedented from a player of his frame, and it helped lead him to a Freshman All-American nod. Gentry was PFF’s third highest-rated linebacker in the conference. Slotted to start at MIKE for the Trojans, he has top 10 linebacker potential next season if all goes well.
Utah — Devaughn Vele WR (Soph.)
Despite plenty of offseason moves, Utah still enters the 2022 season as a favorite to repeat in the Pac-12, and an abundance of returning talent certainly doesn’t hurt.
Fourth-year WR Devaughn Vele has the size and athleticism to be an x-factor for the Utes offense. At 6-foot-5 and 205 pounds, Vele has flashed signs of dominance, but hasn’t yet put everything together. Vele could be the ideal contested catch complement to the Utes’ strong short passing game. With consistent quarterback play finally in play, watch out for Vele to be a big contributor to Utah’s offense.
Washington — Rome Odunze WR (Soph.)
Washington has lacked much of a passing attack over the last three years, but with new head coach Kalen DeBoer and transfer QB Michael Penix Jr., the Huskies hope to return to form through the air. A large benefactor of this plan could be third-year WR Rome Odunze.
The 2020 four-star recruit has flashed field stretching ability for the Huskies, but between poor quarterback play and injuries, he hasn’t been able to put together the full package. If Odunze can clean up his seven drops last season and build upon his 245 yards after the catch, he could be a premiere deep threat on the West Coast.
Washington State — De’Zhaun Stribling WR (Soph.)
Washington State has high expectations on the offensive side of the ball, and aside from transfer QB Cameron Ward, no player holds more expectations than second-year WR De’Zhaun Stribling.
Stribling had a great true freshman season, recording 471 yards and five touchdowns on 44 catches. He’s bound to take a huge leap with a new quarterback and offensive coaching staff. If Stribling can become more efficient on a snap-by-snap basis, he’ll not only be one of the biggest breakouts in the Pac-12, but in the entire country.
About the author
Proud California Golden Bears fan and aspiring football mind. I specialize in Pac-12 and NFL Draft coverage. My past experiences in journalism include covering the San Francisco 49ers, as well as creating film breakdowns on my own blog. I love the X’s and O’s just as much as anyone else, but also see value in numbers. My favorite CFB game ever was the 2007 Fiesta Bowl between Oklahoma and Boise State.
