ESPN College Football

Danny Kanell counts down his top five running backs in college football, including Arizona's Ka'Deem Carey.

The Wildcats bolstered their depth on the offensive line this spring.

The Pac-12 has published its official 2013 media guide, which means each team has provided its official tally of returning starters.

What is a "returning starter"? Typically, it means a player who started at least five games in 2012, though in some cases it might include a 2011 starter who missed last season due to injury.

As a conference, 187 total starters are back from a possible 288, including punters and kickers. That's an average of 15.6 per team, which is well above the 10-year average of 14.9 returning starters. Last year, 173 starters -- 14.4 per team -- were coming back.

Washington returns the most with 20 starters, followed by Colorado with 19. Utah returns the fewest, with 12.

Here are the numbers:



That's an average of 7.1 players on offense and 7.3 players on defense. Last year, the numbers were 6.3 for offense and 6.8 for defense. The numbers are slightly down for specialists (1.2 versus 1.3).

Of the returning starters, 12 were first-team All-Pac-12.

Of course, returning starters don't mean everything.

USC was widely celebrated for its 19 returning starters in 2012, which earned it the No. 1 ranking in the preseason Associated Press poll. Things didn't go so well thereafter. Meanwhile, Arizona State went a surprisingly sound 8-5 with just 10 returning starters, fewest in the conference in 2012.

Kyle Allen has cut his college list to five and he calls to discuss. Erik McKinney and Phil Murphy also talk UCLA recruiting the state of Arizona and Washington State’s newest addition.

The Pac-12 teams have been busy, with more than half of the squads adding at least one commit in the last two weeks. Here's where things stand.

Arizona

2014 verbal commitments: 4
Spotlight: Running back Jonathan Haden (Washington, D.C.) is the latest to commit after passing up offers from more than 10 schools, including Ohio State. Here's his highlight reel. (Some pretty good-looking runs).
ESPN 150 members: 1 (Athlete Cameron Denson, Tucson, Ariz.)

Arizona State

2014 verbal commitments: 3
Spotlight: Defensive end Korey Rush (Salt Lake City) gave his commitment earlier this month. He's an undersized defensive lineman with an explosive first step. That should sound familiar to Sun Devils fans.
ESPN 150 members: 0

California

2014 verbal commitments: 3
Spotlight: Running back Tre Watson (Corona, Calif.), who gave a verbal commitment last week, passed up offers from Washington State, Utah and BYU in favor of the Bears.
ESPN 150 members: 0

Colorado

2014 verbal commitments: 1
Spotlight: The Buffaloes got on the board last week with their first commit for the 2014 class -- offensive tackle Isaac Miller (Longmont, Colo.). Washington State also offered the 6-foot-7, 255-pounder, who has some room to grow.
ESPN 150 members: 0

Oregon

2014 verbal commitments: 3
Spotlight: No commits from the Ducks in the past couple of weeks, but dual-threat quarterback Morgan Mahalak (Kentfield, Calif.) is intriguing. He backed up Jared Goff while playing wide receiver.
ESPN 150 members: 0

Oregon State

2014 verbal commitments: 1
Spotlight: Quarterback Nick Mitchell (Snoqualmie, Wash.), is still the lone commit for the Beavers. Typical Mike Riley pro-style quarterback. Tall and accurate. Here's his scouting report.
ESPN 150 members: 0

Stanford

2014 verbal commitments: 3
Spotlight: No commits from Stanford since the last roundup, but safety Brandon Simmons (Arlington, Texas) returns punts and -- from his highlight reel -- has pretty good instincts reacting to the ball.
ESPN 150 members: 0

UCLA

2014 verbal commitments: 2
Spotlight: Wide receiver Dionte Sykes (Chandler Ariz.), who committed last week, is a good-sized target at 6-2 who could emerge as a solid possession and red zone target. Here's his highlight reel, with a pretty good catch at the 41-second mark.
ESPN 150 members: 0

USC

2014 verbal commitments: 5
Spotlight: Four-star defensive tackle Tashon Smallwood (Fresno, Calif.), sought after by the likes of Alabama and Oklahoma, is a space-eater with room to grow in his 6-foot, 290-pound frame. He looks like he could be a 3-4 nose, but you can see from his highlight reel that he's also got a good first step and pursues well.
ESPN 150 members: 0

Utah

2014 verbal commitments: 5
Spotlight: Wide receiver Raelon Singleton (Crosby, Texas), who committed earlier this month, fits the mold of wide receiver Utah is going to want as it moves fully into the spread offense. Tall, can stretch the field and has tremendous upside.
ESPN 150 members: 0

Washington

2014 verbal commitments: 4
Spotlight: Cool fact about tight end Chase Blakley (Coeur D'Alene, Idaho) -- it's been more than 15 years since someone from his school has played at the Pac-12 level, per the Coeur D'Alene Press. You can see his highlight reel here.
ESPN 150 members: 0

Washington State

2014 verbal commitments: 5
Spotlight: The Cougars have picked up two commits in the past couple of weeks, including a verbal commitment Tuesday from wide receiver Zaire Andre (Inglewood, Calif.). He's a quick, elusive receiver who could fit in nicely as a slot receiver/kick returner. Had offers from Nebraska, Nevada and San Jose State.
ESPN 150 members: 0

Jesse Scroggins is a guy who should be able to provide some insight into USC's high-profile quarterback competition. After all, he practiced with Cody Kessler and Max Wittek for a year. He's witnessed their strengths and weaknesses and their makeup and leadership skills.

So, what's his take? Does he like the scrappy Kessler or the big-armed Wittek?

"I don't know and I don't care," Scroggins said. "I'll know when I see them on the field. I got NAU first. I'm not really worried about that game."

Scroggins has his own QB battle to think about, only he's now in Tucson, not L.A. He wants to fill Matt Scott's shoes, not Matt Barkley's.

The USC parting wasn't completely amicable. Scroggins, one of the nation's top-rated prep quarterbacks in 2010, had some struggles with off-field distractions that hurt his academics, but he rallied in the classroom only to find out that, nonetheless, he was seen by coaches as the odd-man out due to USC trying to fit its roster under NCAA-mandated scholarship limitations. Essentially, he was pushed out the door.

"Certain things happened that shouldn't have happened but everything happens for the best," Scroggins said.

Scroggins went to El Camino College in Torrance, Calif., and put up middling numbers -- 1,148 yards passing, eight touchdowns and five interceptions in eight games -- and arrived at Arizona with a toe injury. That injury sidelined him for most of spring practices. When he made a surprise appearance in the spring game, his first pass was intercepted.

But then he completed 6 of 16 passes for 44 yards and two touchdowns, understandably showing plenty of rust but also flashing at times the ability that made him such a hot recruit. While senior B.J. Denker, who arrived at Arizona with no recruiting pedigree, emerged from spring leading the QB competition, it's far from over.

"I feel like it's all even from today until fall camp starts," Scroggins said. "It's going to be competition until the first game."

One thing is clear: No quarterback on the Wildcats' roster, including touted incoming freshman Anu Solomon, is Scroggins' equal when it comes to arm strength. The Wildcats thrived throwing the ball downfield last fall with the strong-armed Scott. Things wouldn't change with Scroggins behind center.

While coach Rich Rodriguez's offense is widely seen as a read-option that requires a speedy quarterback, which Scroggins isn't, the reality is Rodriguez adapts his play calling for his available talent. Sure, Scott was a good runner, but he led the Pac-12 in passing last fall with 301.7 yards per game. The Wildcats run-pass ratio was even (544 rush, 538 pass).

"Coach Rodriguez's offense goes around the quarterback, whatever your strengths are, that's the type of thing he's going to go with," Scroggins said. "I can run. I just would rather pass first."

Scroggins, a 6-foot-3, 210-pound junior, said his toe is about "90 percent" and that he's actively running. He expects to be full-go this summer for "voluntary" summer workouts with his teammates, a time when he can build relationships and inspire confidence in him within the locker room.

He's been around long enough to realize that Arizona's locker room is different than USC's.

"Everybody doesn't think they are the guy," Scroggins said. "Guys just want to play football here. It's not about five stars and four stars here. These aren't those type of guys. They have the ability and the skill but we just want to play football rather than talk about it."

Of course, there are folks on the USC end of things who would say the Scroggins of 2010 viewed himself as "the guy." Adversity may have humbled and matured Scroggins, who eagerly noted he's posted 3.0 GPAs his past two semesters.

He called leaving USC "discouraging," but "probably the best thing for me." After a year in junior college, he picked the Wildcats over Arkansas, Wisconsin, Auburn and U-Mass. He was won over by the Wildcats' wide-open scheme, the honest pitch from co-offensive coordinator Rod Smith and the more laid back environment in Tucson.

"I wanted a family environment, something that reminded me of my family," he said.

As for his old "family," yes, Scroggins is excited about the prospect of sticking it to the Trojans in the Coliseum on Oct. 10.

"Definitely," he said.

Arizona coach Rich Rodriguez talks about the team's quarterback competition, Arizona's defense, and gives his thoughts on the College Football Playoff.

Inspired by Florida's "#ComePlayWRFortheJoker" campaign, our recruiting writers looked at other ways schools can sell themselves on the trail. Here's a look at recruiting pitches for the Pac-12:

Arizona Wildcats
What they're selling: Rich Rodriguez's offensive system worked wonders at West Virginia and introduced the nation to Denard Robinson at Michigan. In 2012, the explosive offense scored at least 34 points in 10 of the Wildcats' 13 games.
What they're missing: The Wildcats don't have the Territorial Cup, which went to Arizona State following a 41-34 victory last season. If Arizona is going to climb the Pac-12 ranks, it'll need to win at home and lock up local talent over the Sun Devils.

Arizona State Sun Devils
What they're selling: There's a new attitude at Arizona State, as Todd Graham took the Sun Devils from the most penalized team in the country to one of the least penalized in just one year. Installing that discipline and accountability has been a major selling point for recruits signing up to play with Graham.
What they're missing: The Sun Devils won their final three games of the season for the first time in more than three decades, but losses to UCLA and USC leave them looking up at the Pac-12 South leaders in the battle for national prominence.

California Golden Bears
What they're selling: One of the top public universities in the world, Cal will always be able to pitch its strong academics to recruiting. The new facilities and revamped California Memorial Stadium will help accentuate the package with a pretty bow.
What they're missing: Coach Sonny Dykes has recent Pac-12 experience, but his three years at Louisiana Tech took him completely out of the minds of West region recruits. In-state recruits, essential to Cal's recruiting success, are unfamiliar with what Dykes' systems look like in game action, although the Golden Bears will have a chance to make several statements this fall.

Colorado Buffaloes
What they're selling: The Buffaloes need playmakers at a multitude of position on both sides of the ball. Playing time and the ability to make an instant impact are certainly on the table for Colorado recruits.
What they're missing: Colorado was two points away from a winless season in 2012 and has very little on-field momentum heading into 2013. The Buffs have just four wins in two years in the Pac-12, and until that changes, it'll be difficult to win significant recruiting battles.

Oregon Ducks
What they're selling: The noisy uniforms and noisier Autzen Stadium provide the flash, but there is plenty of substance in the fast-paced offense the Ducks run. It's unlikely that will slow down under new coach Mark Helfrich.
What they're missing: Mostly obviously, they're missing Chip Kelly, which has left a slight cloud over how the program might change direction or continue unaltered under the new staff. But the possibility of looming NCAA sanctions means the Ducks can't sell completely smooth sailing to recruits in this class.

Oregon State Beavers
What they're selling: The Beavers can sell credibility, not just on the field, but with the coaching staff as well. Mike Riley and his staff have proven they can win in Corvallis and year after year, the Beavers' coach comes across as incredibly genuine to recruits.
What they're missing: In state, Oregon State is the decided underdog when it comes to flash and national appeal. The Beavers aren't often referred to as a "dream school" by recruits, so there is rarely a sure-fire commitment for coaches when they go out of state.

Stanford Cardinal
What they're selling: Arguably no school in the country has the combination of academics and athletics of Stanford. When you're recruiting student-athletes, that's a good place to start.
What they're missing: Despite the recent success, Stanford is never going to be able to put together the game-day atmosphere of some of its Pac-12 competition, including Oregon, UCLA, USC and Washington.

UCLA Bruins
What they're selling: Jim Mora's staff has Southern California buzzing about the new direction UCLA is headed. That's a good thing for the Bruins, who have climbed out of the shadow of USC.
What they're missing: The Bruins had a chance to completely pass USC, but dropped their final three games of the season. There is still a question about whether they've jumped the Trojans for good and until that is settled on the field this season, the Trojans will likely get the benefit of the doubt, regionally and nationally.

USC Trojans
What they're selling: No Pac-12 program can fall back on tradition like USC. And now with the John McKay Center, old school meets new school in a much-needed facility upgrade.
What they're missing: Rumblings about Lane Kiffin's job security began after a 10-point loss to UCLA, grew louder after a loss to Notre Dame and became deafening after a Sun Bowl loss to Georgia Tech. Despite athletic director Pat Haden throwing his full support behind the coach, recruits and their families are having difficulty believing Kiffin and his staff are there for the long haul.

Utah Utes
What they're selling: Offensively, there is plenty of intrigue as to how co-offensive coordinators Dennis Erickson and Brian Johnson direct the attack. Overall, there is still the memory of what Utah was able to accomplish as a BCS spoiler in 2008, and Kyle Whittingham hopes to spark some of that magic in the Pac-12.
What they're missing: In two years, the Utes are below .500 in the Pac-12 and missed out on a bowl game last season. At this point, it's still an uphill climb in terms of convincing recruits they can cause an upheaval in the conference standings.

Washington Huskies
What they're selling: It's tough to find a coaching staff with more energy on the field or recruiting trail, starting with head coach Steve Sarkisian and moving to every assistant coach on the staff. It's a young group that relates incredibly well to recruits.
What they're missing: The Huskies have yet to win eight games in Sarkisian's three years in Seattle, so hitting that number would be a big step toward proving there is some growing on-field momentum.

Washington State Cougars
What they're selling: Mike Leach is still one of the most interesting personalities in college football, and despite some stumbles in his first year at Washington State, recruits are still interested to see what the Cougars can do this fall in his second year.
What they're missing: The Cougars need wins and they need them now. Washington State hasn't posted a winning record since 2003 and when it comes to on-field performance, it simply can't compete with a majority of Pac-12 teams.

1. Stanford: The Cardinal have no obvious holes. Unlike last season, Stanford is set at quarterback, and the defense looks as if it will be even better in 2013. It's always nice to have the nation's most talented offensive line.

2. Oregon: While Stanford and Oregon feel like 1A and 1B, you have to account for the uncertainty of the Ducks' changing coaches, particularly when it's one with as big a presence as Chip Kelly. The returning talent, including Heisman Trophy hopeful Marcus Mariota at quarterback, is strong on both sides of the ball.

3. Arizona State: The Sun Devils and UCLA feel like 3A and 3B as the South Division favorites, but the Sun Devils welcome back 16 starters compared with 13 for the Bruins. The biggest question is at receiver, where incoming players are being expected to immediately compete for starting spots.

4. UCLA: There's a lot to like on both sides of the ball, including quarterback Brett Hundley and outside linebacker Anthony Barr. There are questions at running back and in the secondary. Answer those, and get better play out of the offensive line, and the Bruins could be sniffing the top 15.

5. Washington: The Huskies welcome back 20 starters for the re-opening of a renovated Husky Stadium. It's fortuitous that this looks like coach Steve Sarkisian's best team. The biggest question was whether quarterback Keith Price would bounce back from a poor 2012 season. His strong spring, as well as improved play from the offensive line, hints that this could be a Top-25 team.

6. Oregon State: The Beavers are held back, at least in terms of perception, by two things: (1) Uncertainty at quarterback; (2) A worrisome crossing of the fingers at defensive tackle. Neither Cody Vaz nor Sean Mannion separated himself at quarterback, and the Beavers are counting on junior college transfers to fill their two voids at defensive tackle. Still, there's enough here to merit a preseason Top-25 ranking.

7. USC: This low power ranking has nothing to do with talent or potential. The Trojans have enough talent, if things come together, to play in the Rose Bowl. But coach Lane Kiffin sits on the hottest seat in the conference, the Trojans are adopting a new defense under Clancy Pendergast, and there are questions at quarterback and in the secondary. The Trojans might be the most volatile team in terms of predictions. They could win 10 games. Or six.

8. Arizona: Arizona's two main questions are about absence (replacing quarterback Matt Scott) and presence (essentially the entire two-deep returning from a bad defense). It's difficult to believe the Wildcats' quarterback play will be as good as it was last season, but it's also difficult to believe the defense won't be vastly improved. Off-field issues for running back Ka'Deem Carey seem as though they will be resolved, but there is no escaping receiver Austin Hill's knee injury.

9. Utah: The best news for the Utes this spring was improved play from the offensive line and the seeming maturation of quarterback Travis Wilson. There are, however, plenty of questions on defense at all three levels, and it will be interesting to see how Dennis Erickson operates as a co-offensive coordinator.

10. California: Cal also is a volatile stock. A gander through the depth chart has a lot of "what if." As in: What if the Bears get good quarterback play in 2012? What if running back Brendan Bigelow stays healthy? What if the offensive line improves? What if the defense is as good as the recruiting stars suggest it should be? Answer those "what ifs" positively, and this is a bowl team.

11. Washington State: There is every reason to believe the Cougars will be better in Year 2 under Mike Leach, starting with the seasoning all those young players received the hard way in 2012. But it's difficult to see the Cougs eclipsing too many other teams in the conference pecking order. The No. 11 spot here could come with five wins.

12. Colorado: Colorado will be better in coach Mike MacIntyre's first season than it was in 2012, mostly because it can't get any worse. The Buffs were one of the nation's youngest teams last season, and it showed. They figure to be bigger, stronger and smarter this fall. But probably not so much as to escape the basement here.

1. Quarterback competitions (mostly) unresolved: Arizona, California, Colorado, Oregon State and USC entered spring with straight-up QB competitions, and none arrived at any clarity at the position, though some seemed to hint at a front-runner. B.J. Denker looked like the Wildcats' best healthy QB, while Cal's Zach Kline seemed to assert himself slightly for the Golden Bears. At Colorado, Connor Wood's case was helped by attrition. USC's and Oregon State's battles were too close to call.

Further, returning veteran starters with something to prove, including Washington's Keith Price, Washington State's Connor Halliday and Utah's Travis Wilson seemed to assert themselves to varying degrees, though Austin Apodaca could push Halliday in the fall.

2. New coaches, new ways: Sonny Dykes took over at California as did Mike MacIntyre at Colorado. Both, as could be expected, brought changes. Mark Helfrich replaced Chip Kelly at Oregon and, as could be expected, he changed almost nothing. The most obvious change at Cal was open practice, which former coach Jeff Tedford's abandonment of curiously coincided with the Bears gradual decline. The Bears will adopt a no-huddle, spread offense, replacing Tedford's pro-style scheme, and switch from a 3-4 to a 4-3 defense, a reverse of the overall Pac-12 trend. MacIntyre arrived preaching relentless optimism and a pistol offense, while defensive coordinator Kent Baer will retain a 4-3 scheme, but hopefully get better results with his version.

3. Defense, line play look strong: The Pac-12 heads into 2013 poised for a banner year. Oregon and Stanford look like national title contenders -- both are likely preseason top-five teams -- while as many as seven conference teams seem like top-25 candidates. Some of the reasons for the promise are typical: returning QBs and skill players. But what's potentially a bigger reason for improved national standing is the physical side of the game: Offensive line and defense. Nine teams have at least seven starters coming back on defense, while seven teams welcome back four starters on the offensive line. Only one team, Utah, doesn't have at least three starters back on the O-line. Further, there's as much, if not more, star power coming back on the lines and on defense than at the skill positions.

ARIZONA WILDCATS

2012 record: 8-5
2012 conference record: 4-5 (fourth in South Division)
Returning starters: Offense: 6; defense: 11; kicker/punter: 0

Top returners
RB Ka'Deem Carey, WR David Richards, LB Jake Fischer, LB Marquis Flowers, WR Terrence Miller, OL Fabbians Ebbele, OL Mickey Baucus.

Key losses
QB Matt Scott, WR Dan Buckner, C Kyle Quinn, DL Dominique Austin, OL Trace Biskin.

2012 statistical leaders (*returners)

Rushing: Ka'Deem Carey* (1,929 yards)
Passing: Matt Scott (3,620 yards)
Receiving: Austin Hill* (1,364, suffered ACL tear in spring, out indefinitely)
Tackles: Jake Fischer* (119)
Sacks: Marquis Flowers* (5.5)
Interceptions: Marquis Flowers* and Jonathan McKnight* (3)

Spring answers

1. Plenty of weapons: Yes, Austin Hill's injury is brutal. Yes, it's a big blow to the Wildcats. Is it a game-changer? Maybe, maybe not. It's not like the Cats are strapped for receiving options. Johnny Jackson, David Richards, Tyler Slavin and Garic Wharton still make up an awfully formidable receiving corps. If a couple emerge, Arizona will be OK. If they all do, the Wildcats might not miss a beat.

2. The whole defense returns: Great -- except that the defense struggled last season. Having a ton of starters back is a good thing -- but only if they get better. A second year in the 3-3-5 should naturally lend itself to less thinking and more playing. And it's not just the starting 11. There are 20 defensive players who notched at least one start last season -- so there is depth to go with the experience.

3. O-line rising: It's no easy task replacing center Kyle Quinn. But the good thing about Arizona's line is that its members are versatile and can play multiple positions. Mickey Baucus (LT) and Fabbians Ebbele (RT) started every game last year and Chris Putton started multiple games at both guard spots and can also play center. The five isn't set -- but there is room and depth to mix and match.

Fall questions

1. QB roulette? Unlike with some other Pac-12 teams with quarterback competitions, Arizona coach Rich Rodriguez doesn't want to name his starter and then stand by his man. He could name a different starter the next day. And then a different one the day after that. Rodriguez said he could have three different quarterbacks start the first three weeks of the season. Many feel B.J. Denker had the strongest spring with Jesse Scroggins slowed by injury. Stay tuned.

2. Ready to lead? Did Matt Scott make Ka'Deem Carey look good? Or did Carey make Scott look good? Most think it was a bit of both. With Scott gone and Carey now a national name, the target will be squarely on the chest of last season's national leader in rushing. Carey isn't going to surprise anyone. Can he duplicate 2012's production with the increased attention and a new quarterback at the helm?

3. Injuries stink: That's not so much a fall question as a statement on the olfactory unpleasantness of injuries. The Wildcats had as many as 20 injuries this spring, meaning a lot of players who might not start in the fall got to start in the spring. That's great for depth, but it leaves a lot of holes and a lot of questions still be to be answered when the bulk of those injured players return in the fall.

Optimism is an important part of the sporting experience. From fans to coaches to players, the vast majority espouse great hopes in advance of every season, even when bad things happen that seem to poleax those hopes.

A player or coach is never going to say, "We're doomed," when a star player gets hurt. It's "Next man in." As it should be. No one likes a whiner.

And woe to the sportswriter who, armed with a laptop, acts as the killjoy.

Take Arizona. It already was searching for a replacement for highly productive quarterback Matt Scott when, on the last week of spring practices, star receiver Austin Hill went down with a knee injury.

No worries, said fellow receiver David Richards.

"We have a lot of other weapons," Richards said. "I don't think we'll really lose a step. I don't think it will hurt us that bad even though he was a great receiver."

Richards added he plans to step up his game and help fill the void. That's good because he's now the Wildcats leading returning wide receiver after catching 29 passes for 298 yards with three TDs last year.

That, of course, is long way from the 81 passes for 1,364 yards with 11 scores Hill contributed as a sophomore. But we are not here to party poop. We are here to offer hope.

Hill's injury and the departure of second-leading receiver Dan Buckner leave a void without a doubt. Whoever wins the quarterback job won't have an obvious go-to option. On the positive side, he also won't be fixated on one guy, as, say, USC was last year with Marqise Lee.

The Wildcats have solid experience coming back at receiver. Richards is the leader of four wide outs who caught at least 19 passes last year, a crew that includes Tyler Slavin, Johnny Jackson and Garic Wharton. The imposing Terrence Miller also returns after receiving a medical hardship year from the NCAA. The 6-foot-4, 234 pounder had 13 receptions in the first four games before he got hurt.

Finally, there's a trio of promising redshirt freshmen -- Trey Griffey, Clive Georges and Jarrell Bennett -- who hinted this spring they are ready to help.

Let's just say there are plenty of teams in the country and even the Pac-12 that would trade their receivers for Arizona's, including rival Arizona State, which is essentially crossing its fingers over incoming players being ready to take over leading roles.

Hill's injury was a hit, but it didn't change the preeminent questions for the Wildcats: Quarterback and defense. Arizona has no idea who will be behind center, while the defensive question hangs on how much better 11 returning starters and some redshirt freshmen and newcomers can be compared to the overmatched group from 2012.

Richards, following the lead of his coaches, didn't reveal much about the QB competition, though B.J. Denker seemed to have the best spring, with USC transfer Jesse Scroggins sitting out and touted true freshman Anu Solomon arriving this summer.

"All the quarterbacks pretty much had a good spring," Richards said. "I think it will be a good camp with them all competing. The person that works the hardest and proves he wants to be the leader of this team will be the quarterback."

That same could be said of who will become that QB's top target.

All players are equal, but some players are more equal than others. That's the basis of our Most Important Player series.

First off, quarterbacks are excluded to make things more interesting. It goes without saying, for example, that Oregon's Marcus Mariota is the Ducks' most important player.

And most important doesn't necessarily have to be "best." An All-American's backup can be pretty darn good, too.

Our most important guys are players who could swing a win total one way or the other, based on their living up to expectations. Or their absence.

Arizona: RB Ka'Deem Carey

2012 production: Carey rushed for 1,929 yards and 23 touchdowns. He also caught 36 balls for 303 yards and a touchdown.

Why Carey is so important: The Wildcats had three A-list offensive players last year: Carey, QB Matt Scott and WR Austin Hill. Scott is off to the NFL and Hill suffered a knee injury this spring that will, at least, keep him sidelined for a significant portion of the 2013 season.

Carey, of course, was the consensus All-American and the nation's leading rusher in 2012. He ranked fifth on our list of the top-25 Pac-12 players. He might be the best running back in the nation this fall, and that would almost automatically make him a leading Heisman Trophy candidate.

Carey is an obvious choice here, of course, because he's certain to be the first offensive option for a team breaking in a new quarterback -- who is still to be determined -- that also has a suspect defense. Carey needs to be even more of a force this season, and he also needs to be a leadership force.

But his importance has been magnified for two reasons: 1. Hill's injury; 2. Carey's own poor offseason.

Carey needs to do everything he can to resolve some embarrassing off-field issues, including a July 12 court date concerning misdemeanor assault and disorderly conduct charges from a domestic dispute with his pregnant ex-girlfriend, and get back in the good graces of his coaches and team.

Learning some humility along the way would also help.

The pressure and scrutiny on Carey, who hasn't given interviews this spring, will be significant this fall, due to his fame and newfound infamy. He likely will find road games particularly taxing, as he will be singled out for abuse.

He needs to step up and deal with it without flinching or making excuses. This team needs Carey -- a productive and mature one.

One of the main selling points for Arizona's sneaky potential in 2013 was receiver Austin Hill. With the return of Hill and running back Ka'Deem Carey, the Wildcats had probably the best catch-run combo in the Pac-12. That figured to provide a considerable boon to whomever won the starting job at quarterback.

But now Hill is likely lost for the season with a torn ACL. What does that mean for the Wildcats?

It ain't good.

At the beginning of spring practices, you could say that the Wildcats were deep at receiver. Seven of the eight receivers on the bowl game depth chart were slated to return. But, really, a lot of that was Hill, second-team All-Pac-12, leading a group of promising young players.

Not to be Debbie Downer on this, but consider the situation now.

Hill and his 81 receptions for 1,364 yards and school-record-tying 11 TDs are gone, as are the 61 catches for 773 yards and five TDs from departed senior Dan Buckner.

Carey was the Wildcats' third-leading receiver. No. 4 was David Richards, with just 29 receptions for 298 yards and three TDs. No other returning receiver had more than two TDs in 2012.

Now, the situation isn't desperate. Far from it. There are a number of Pac-12 teams that would switch receivers with the Wildcats, even without Hill. And if Notre Dame transfer Davonte' Neal wins his appeal with the NCAA and is ruled immediately eligible, he could become a premier playmaker.

Further, there's plenty of intriguing talent with a mixture of size, speed and experience, a list topped by 6-foot-4 Terrence Miller, who won a year back due to a medical waiver from the NCAA, junior Tyler Slavin and junior Garic Wharton. The redshirt freshmen had solid springs, including Trey Griffey, Clive Georges and Jarrell Bennett. Further, as many as six incoming signees could end up as receivers.

Again, not desperate.

But Hill was a game-changer. He wasn't a burner, but his hands were as good as any player in the conference. He bailed out quarterback Matt Scott many times last year, and any ball he could get a finger on was likely to be caught.

Hill, a redshirt junior, could rush through his rehab and return sometime next fall. His plan likely was to enter the 2014 NFL draft. Now he has the option of coming back in 2014 as a senior, perhaps to buoy his NFL stock and overcome injury concerns.

But that's a future issue for Hill and the Wildcats.

The present problem for Arizona is a perceived strength now has become a question mark. The Wildcats have now become a team looking for a go-to target in the passing game.

Of course, a present Arizona receiver might see that as an opportunity, not a problem.