ESPN College Football

The Utah Utes spent this spring trying to define their offensive identity.

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.

Utah coach Kyle Whittingham talks about spring practices, fall concerns and the College Football Playoff.

There were five Pac-12 spring games last weekend and there are three scheduled for Saturday. If you so desire, you can watch them all in HD TV!

You can check out the schedule here.

And here's the slate ahead for the next two weekends.

April 20

• Utah: noon (1 p.m. MT)
• Washington State: 2 p.m. Game played in Joe Albi Stadium in Spokane, Wash.
• Washington: 4 p.m. Game played in Memorial Stadium in Seattle.

April 26

• Oregon State: 7 p.m.

April 27

• Oregon: 11 a.m.
• UCLA: 5 p.m.

Utah, Washington and Washington State all play spring games on Saturday, and the favorite to start at quarterback could make a significant statement that he won't be challenged for the starting job.

Every game counts. But some games count more. Or tell us more.

We're going through the Pac-12 and picking out one game that seems most important -- or potentially most revealing -- for each team from our vantage point today.

And then we'll let you vote from a list of potential options.

We're going in reverse alphabetical order.

Utah

Most important game: at BYU, Sept. 21

Why it's important: The Holy War has always been important to Utah and BYU. Since 1922, only World War II stood in the way of this football rivalry being contested. From 1922 until 2010, the two schools occupied the same conference, so there often were stakes beyond emotion, though emotion was typically enough to make this one fairly nasty.

Yet this Holy War is particularly meaningful compared to those that preceded it, and therefore supersedes whatever the Utes might do in Pac-12 play.

For one, there's the Pac-12 itself. When Utah was invited to join the conference in 2011 and BYU was not, the power structure of the rivalry reversed. While Utes fans might argue they were never "Little Brother," it's unquestionable that Pac-12 membership gave Utah superiority in terms of national stature, not to mention finances, even as BYU opted also to leave the Mountain West and become independent.

And that, for the lack of a better term, leaving behind brings us to the crux of the matter: After this meeting, the Holy War will take a two-year hiatus until 2016. That means the winner will get to gloat for about three years before the programs meet again.

If you are reading this, you are likely a college football fan and you likely really, really dislike at least one rival that you play annually. Just imagine, say, USC fans, if UCLA's 38-28 victory over your Trojans on Nov. 17 would stand until 2016.

You feeling me on this? Thought so.

Moreover, the reason for the hiatus -- 100 percent Utah's choice -- further burns BYU fans. The Utes opted to take a home-and-home with Michigan in 2014-15 instead of playing their rivals. That decision emerged from a new, mostly unspoken but strongly implied, line of Utah thinking: "We're big time now. You are not. Pfffffft."

Now some might counter, if that is so, the Utes need to advance their thinking and focus on the Pac-12's South Division. Perhaps, they would argue, home games against both UCLA and Arizona State, the preseason South favorites, are the key dates on the slate. Win one or both and Utah establishes its conference bona fides.

Neither Kevin nor I think Utah is going to win the South. Beating the Sun Devils or Bruins -- or Arizona or USC for that matter -- would be big wins. Just, we think, not as emotionally fulfilling.

You also could also point out that beating the Cougars would set up for at least a 3-1 start, perhaps 4-0 if Utah can best Oregon State at home on Sept. 14. With a tough schedule thereafter, a Holy War victory might be the difference in becoming bowl eligible in 2013 or not.

Utah has won three in a row in the series, including the last two as Pac-12 members. BYU really, really wants to win this game.

So should Utah. The payoff would be considerable.

With recruiting behind us and spring well underway, the Pac-12 blog thought it would be fun to examine each team's chances of winning its respective division.

This is not whether the team of the day can win the Pac-12. And we're not predicting any winners. Rather, this is our take on the team's chances of winning the North or South.

Buy or sell Utah winning the South?

Kevin Gemmell

Sell: Fighting for scraps in the Pac-12 South is already going to be tough enough if you aren't from Los Angeles or the great State of Arizona. But for a team like Utah, which welcomes Pac-12 North favorites Stanford and Oregon to the schedule for the first time since joining the league, it makes things exponentially tougher.

The once potent Utah defensive line has some remolding to do following the departures of Star Lotulelei and the Brothers Kruger. For as tough as things were for the Utes last season -- they were still outstanding against the run. No. 2 in the conference. So losing 75 percent of their strongest unit is going to be tough.

There is still plenty for Utah fans to be excited about. The rise of young quarterback Travis Wilson, who showed marked improvement over the final five games, is a great storyline to follow. There is intriguing depth at wide receiver, and Jake Murphy might be the most underrated tight end in the league. I'm also excited to finally see 325-pound behemoth Junior Salt in action on the offensive line. Whatever injection Dennis Erickson can give to the offense will also be fun to watch.

But there are still too many question marks to give this team a buy rating.

Kelvin York -- while showing potential -- still has to prove he can be as durable as John White was at running back. His career high is 13 carries, and he's only had double-digit carries three times. The passing offense was dead last in the league last season, and the Utes struggled to keep drives going, averaging less than 18 first downs per game and converting just 33.5 percent of third downs. With road trips to Arizona, USC, Oregon and Washington State -- it's tough finding a spot for the Utes among the South favorites. The Utes were 1-5 on the road last season.

Six wins are out there. And getting back to a bowl game would be a nice step forward. But Albuquerque seems more likely than fighting for a spot in Pasadena.

Ted Miller

Sell: This feels like an adjustment year for Utah. The Utes potentially could take a step back in Pac-12 play before taking a step forward.

Kevin touched on most of the issues. It starts with the fewest -- 12 -- returning starters in the conference from a 5-7 team that went 3-6 in Pac-12 play. Among the departed: White, the team's leading rusher, three defensive line starters, including top-10 NFL draft pick Lotulelei and the Utes' top four cornerbacks.

Further, the schedule ramps out. The Utes trade California and Washington for Oregon and Stanford, preseason top-five teams. While the schedule features seven home games, it also features four road dates in five games from Oct. 19 to Nov. 23, and the home date is with South front-runner Arizona State, which whipped the Utes 37-7 last season.

It will be interesting to see how both lines hold up. If holes are filled and guys stay healthy, this team could surprise some folks, particularly if Wilson takes a significant step forward in his second year as a starter.

But the legitimate goal here is winning six or seven games and getting back to the postseason after the program posted its first losing record since 2002.

Then, in 2014, with a nice core of returning talent, the Utes might be eyeballing something more.

Before 2011, it was one of the great theoretical questions in college football: What would happen if you plopped an elite non-automatic qualifying team into the middle of an AQ conference?

Utah provided us an answer the past two seasons, one in which neither the pro-AQ folks nor the pro-non-AQ folks can claim complete victory -- as in: "They'd get dominated!" versus "They'd be just the same!"

The Utes have been respectable if slightly south of mediocre in the Pac-12, going 7-11 in conference play the past two seasons, albeit without facing Oregon or Stanford. That's better than Big 12 transplant Colorado as well as Washington State, California and Arizona but worse than seven other conference teams.

The Utes certainly didn't get dominated. But they also weren't much of a threat to push into the top third of the conference, as they were annually in the Mountain West.

"We definitely know we are in a harder league now," Utah quarterback Travis Wilson said. "There are no bad teams in the Pac-12. Every game is a challenge. But that's something we can't hold onto or think about. We've got to go into every game believing we are the better team and we are going to win."

Of course, Wilson was a true freshman last year -- he took over the starting job in game six against UCLA -- so he never played in the Mountain West. And that's part of the story for Utah. The strapping 6-foot-6, 240 pounder is a big "maybe" as the Utes seek to advance in the pecking order of the Conference of Quarterbacks.

The Utes defense has been respectable in Pac-12 play. The offense? Not so much.

Now, the Pac-12 blog -- and more than a few Utah insiders -- would counter that if quarterback Jordan Wynn hadn't proven a magnet for shoulder injuries, things might have been different. Just ask California fans about the 2009 Poinsettia Bowl. But, well, football isn't much of a place for woulda-coulda-shoulda.

Wilson didn't blow anyone away last year. He passed for a Pac-12-low 109 yards per game with seven touchdowns and six interceptions, but it's worth noting that his efficiency rating was better than Washington State's Jeff Tuel and Connor Halliday and essentially equal to Washington's Keith Price.

And there were plenty of moments when Wilson did things that raised impressed eyebrows. He's got potential.

He's already gone corporate this spring, cutting off his notably long locks from 2012.

Not to read too much into a coiffure, but Wilson knows his role will expand this fall compared to last and he needs to look the part. He's no longer the wide-eyed-but-trying-to-play-it-cool youngster who was handed the ball at midseason, just a few months after high school graduation (Wilson participated in 2012 spring practices). He's a returning starting quarterback in the Pac-12.

"I want to make this my team," he said. "I want to lead all these people. I know they have faith in me to do it. I want to improve on being a vocal leader."

Wilson and his offensive teammates are adjusting to the arrival of Dennis Erickson, who is sharing coordinating duties with Brian Johnson, who held the post in a solo capacity a year ago. Erickson was hired to provide the Utes' offense an identity, but Johnson remains the QBs coach and Wilson's primary conduit to the 2013 scheme.

"It's good," Wilson said. "They are both excellent coaches. They feed off each other. They both help me in different ways. I'm glad with the situation we have right now. I think it was a good thing to do."

As with Wynn the previous two years, Wilson needs to come through because the depth chart behind him is pretty questionable: A sophomore walk-on and three freshmen.

Utah figures to face some challenges in 2013. It welcomes back just 12 starters and the schedule takes a major uptick with the addition of both Stanford and Oregon, top-five preseason teams. The Utes seem likely the fall in behind UCLA, Arizona State, USC and Arizona in the South Division pecking order, at least from a preseason perspective.

But Wilson provides a point A of hope. If he leads a solid passing attack, which Utah hasn't had as a Pac-12 team, and questions get answered on both lines, the Utes might surprise some folks.

It appears that the Pac-12 could produce two top-10 selections on Day 1 of the NFL draft on April 25. It's also a bit unusual that both play defense in a conference known for offense.

So who should be picked first: Oregon defensive end/outside linebacker Dion Jordan or Utah nose guard/defensive tackle Star Lotulelei?

Kevin Gemmell: There are two questions I get asked a lot in this business. 1) What's it like working with Ted Miller? 2) How would you build a football team from scratch?

The answer to No. 1 is: It's like being on a cruise ship that stops off weekly at the Isle of Perspicacious Wisdom.

The answer to No. 2: I would start by protecting my quarterback and getting to the other guy's quarterback. And since there are no offensive lineman from the Pac-12 this year that warrants a first-round selection, I'd go with Oregon defensive end/outside linebacker/fleet-footed/long-winged/ Dion Jordan.

At 6-foot-6, 248 pounds he fits the prototypical frame of an NFL speed rusher. And with a recorded 4.60 40 time at the NFL scouting combine, he has skyrocketed up most draft boards. Once considered "simply" a first-round pick, he's almost certain to be a top-10 selection. Probably top five. That would make him the highest drafted Duck since quarterback Joey Harrington went No. 3 in 2002.

Jordan's 2012 wasn't as notable because of a nagging shoulder injury and he missed some time, causing a decrease in his stats compared to some other comparable players in the league. Still he amassed 44 tackles with 10.5 for a loss and five sacks. He recently had surgery, which caused him to miss Oregon's Pro Day. But the once-touted tight end seems built for the NFL and draftniks don't seem to concerned with his shoulder.

He's obviously dangerous as a pass-rusher, but he also was called upon to drop into coverage and take out tight ends and running backs coming out of the backfield. He has a knack for getting to the ball and he also forced three fumbles last season.

If you're looking for just a run-stopper, then Jordan probably isn't your guy. That honor falls to Lotulelei, who is probably the best pure defensive lineman in the 2013 draft class.

But Jordan's versatility is what makes him such an attractive draft prospect. He's a do-all type of player who fits well as a hybrid in any formation -- be it an odd or even front. Having a player who can sack your quarterback one play and then pick off a pass to a tight end on an intermediate drag route the next is invaluable in the NFL -- really, any level for that matter. Jordan is that kind of player.

Ted Miller: What Kevin doesn't note is this is the Ted Miller cruise ship.

Jordan and Lotulelei have been going in different directions in most mock drafts, at least until Lotulelei recently received better news about the heart issue that spooked many when it was reported at the NFL combine.

Jordan is a great story and a good prospect. He has all the tools to be a future NFL All-Pro.

But if I were an NFL general manager making this tough decision, I'd pick Lotulelei first, and probably for the opposite reason many would think: durability.

Based on the reports I've read -- and, obviously, I'm no doctor and not privy to any inside information -- Lotulelei's heart won't be an issue holding him back from having a long NFL career. With that in mind, the 6-foot-3, 325 pounder is one of those rare physical specimens who can immediately transform a defense from good to great because he requires two linemen to neutralize him -- and even then there are no guarantees.

Lotulelei is the closest thing to Haloti Ngata in this year's draft. He's slightly smaller and less powerful, but he also is quicker and could even play end in a 3-4 in certain situations.

You put him in the middle of a defense, and he'll give you 10 years and a handful of Pro Bowls.

As for durability, it's one of the most underrated qualities when evaluating players. You might average a sack a game, but if you are only healthy for eight games, you're less valuable than a guy who averages 0.5 sacks per game because of the void you leave when you're watching your backup play.

Unlike Jordan, Lotulelei hasn't missed a game over the past three seasons. Durability, in fact, is one of his notable strengths. Jordan missed action each of the last three seasons, including three games in 2011. In 2012, he often tried to play through pain and didn't last into the second half -- see USC. As Kevin noted, he just had shoulder surgery.

It's possible once NFL trainers get a hold of Jordan, he'll get healthy and stay that way. But his injury issues are a concern.

You could say that Jordan has more upside, particularly in terms of production. But, to me, Lotulelei seems like a sure-thing.

ESPN's Todd McShay recently released his latest mock draft -- and there was a lot of movement involving the Pac-12 players projected to go in the first round.

And, for the first time, McShay taps into the second round. You can see the complete mock draft here .

One of the biggest movers was Oregon's Dion Jordan, whom McShay now projects to go second overall to the Jacksonville Jaguars. McShay had Jordan projected as the No. 6 overall pick last month.

Jordan is the top pass-rusher in this class, but that's not all he can do. His fluidity and range in coverage are rare for a DE/OLB prospect with his length. He wouldn't be a great fit in many 4-3 defenses, but his ability to get after the passer when turned loose upfield, as well as drop into coverage from a two- or three-point stance, is ideal for the scheme new head coach Gus Bradley and defensive coordinator Bob Babich are bringing to town.

The biggest drop was California wide receiver Keenan Allen -- who was No. 12 last month and checked in at No. 25 in the latest mock. McShay has him slated for the Minnesota Vikings.

Many of the players coming off the board in this area would make sense for the Vikings, who are in something of a sweet spot late in the first round. They can sit tight and be fairly certain of getting a player who addresses a need and is nearly top-10 quality but will cost far less. In Allen's case, that means a receiver with good body control and hands who could become a very good No. 2 receiver at the next level.

Another player dropping was Utah's Star Lotulelei, who went from No. 1 overall to No. 11. It's worth noting that McShay's projection came out before Monday's Salt Lake Tribune story that said after testing, Lotulelei's heart showed "no evidence of dysfunction." So expect his draft stock to trend up with this news.

Washington cornerback Desmond Trufant jumps from first-round maybe to No. 21 and the Cincinnati Bengals.

Corner is a top need for Cincinnati on the other side of the ball, and now that Trufant has verified his top-end speed his suddenness, balance and closing burst give him the look of a very good man-cover corner at the next level. Scouts I've talked to are also impressed with his professional demeanor, and the bottom line is that teams can never have enough good cover guys in today's pass-happy NFL.

Players projected for the second round include USC quarterback Matt Barkley, Stanford tight end Zach Ertz (potentially reuniting with Jim Harbaugh in San Francisco), Oregon guard Kyle Long and USC wide receiver Robert Woods.

Some teams want to hide their true depth charts. Some teams want to act like they are meaningless. But reporters and fans love depth charts.

One fun thing Utah does is update its depth chart frequently during spring and preseason practices. That's fun because it gives reporters sorts of things to write about and fans sorts of things to discuss, even if changes this week end up meaning little for the ultimate starting 24.

The Utes' latest depth chart reveals that only five starting spots are the same as the Nov. 19 -- last -- 2012 depth chart: QB Travis Wilson, receivers Kenneth Scott and Dres Anderson, TE Jake Murphy and safety Eric Rowe.

Some of this is due to injuries. Guys such as safety/LB Brian Blechen and defensive end/LB Trevor Reilly aren't presently listed but surely will be starting in the fall.

Still, it's interesting.

Start on the offensive line. While two starters return -- Jeremiah Poutasi and Vyncent Jones -- both are in different spots. Poutasi, a sophomore with good upside, has moved from right to left tackle, while Jones moves to center from left guard. Jeremiah Tofaeono, a senior, is back at left guard, where he started six games a year ago before getting hurt. On the right side, Junior Salt is the guard and Siaosi Alono is the tackle. Neither has started a college game.

At backup QB behind sophomore Travis Wilson, sophomore Adam Schultz and freshman Brandon Cox have an "Or" between them. Utes fans probably know as well as anybody how often one QB starts every game, so that's a key battle.

Kelvin York is the odds-on favorite to start at tailback, though he's battling a toe injury. There's an "Or" between his backups, junior Lucky Radley and sophomore James Poole. Another critical competition.

And, yes, it was extremely difficult not to go all Atticus Finch/Joe Btfsplk on Lucky Radley's name.

The Utes, by the way, no longer list an H-back with Dennis Erickson running the offense.

On defense, the D-line is completely different from 2012, while the LBs will mostly be the same, even if guys switch positions. With Reilly and Nate Orchard out, senior Thretton Palamo and redshirt freshman Hunter Dimick are the starting ends. Tenny Palepoi and LT Tuipulotu "Or" Viliseni Fauonuku are the No. 1 tackles.

Daniel Nielson, a 325-pound sophomore, has moved from the offensive line to DT. He's presently third behind Tuipulotu and Fauonuku.

V.J. Fehoko is the middle linebacker, with Jared Norris at "stud" LB and Jacoby Hale at rover LB. Reilly and Blechen also could see action at linebacker. Jason Whittingham, a part-time starter at LB last fall, is out with an injury but the plan is to move him to defensive end in the fall.

The cornerbacks will be new in 2013 after the departures of Reggie Topps, Ryan Lacy and Moe Lee. Freshman Justin Thomas and senior Keith McGill are first team at the corners, while there's an "Or" at nickel back between Joseph Smith and Michael Walker. Tyron Morris-Edwards, a former walk-on, is ahead of veteran Quade Chappuis at strong safety, where Blechen is the likely starter.

Utah is replacing both specialists. Sophomore Tom Hackett is No. 1 at punter, while there's an "Or" between Jamie Sutcliffe and Andy Phillips at kicker.

The Utes will have an open scrimmage on Friday from 4-6 p.m. MT at Rice-Eccles Stadium.

We've been talking a lot about the battleground that will be the Pac-12 South in 2013. With four teams boasting legitimate claims to win the division -- Arizona, Arizona State, UCLA and USC -- the South is going to be a lot of fun to watch play out.

Part of that is because of the increased difficulty in schedule for a few of the teams. ESPN Insider/contributor Phil Steele recently looked at five teams in college football that have significantly tougher schedules next season -- and three of the teams he mentions hail from the Pac-12 South: ASU, UCLA and Utah.

With one of the stoutest defensive lines in the league -- maybe the country -- the Sun Devils figure to be right in the mix. But a challenging nonconference schedule will test them early. Here's Steele's take on the Sun Devils:

Last season, despite being one of the most inexperienced teams in the country (just eight returning starters), the Sun Devils took advantage of facing four backup quarterbacks in their first four weeks, leading to an eight-win season. But now things are much more difficult.

It starts with one of the tougher nonconference slates in the entire country. In 2012, the Sun Devils played Illinois and Missouri, which combined to go 7-17. This season, they pick up Wisconsin and Notre Dame, two teams that went a combined 20-7 in 2012.

The Bruins, the defending division champs, won't give up the crown without a fight. But adding Washington and Oregon to the equation -- plus some tough road trips -- will make repeating challenging. Here's Steele's take:

In nonconference play, the Bruins will travel to Lincoln to play Nebraska. As far as Pac-12 opponents, Washington State and Oregon State are off the schedule, but they're replaced by their much tougher in-state counterparts, Washington and Oregon. In the Pac-12's uneven nine-game conference schedule last season, UCLA played five home games (four away), but in 2013 it plays four home games (five away). UCLA also has arguably the toughest back-to-back road games of any team in the country this season, playing at Oregon and Stanford in consecutive weeks. Finally, the Bruins will have to play at crosstown rival USC, who is still smarting from last season's loss.

The Utes are still a bit of a question mark with holes to fill on the defensive line and plenty of question marks on offense. It's not going to get any easier as they welcome Stanford and Oregon for the first time since joining the conference. Writes Steele:

In 2013, the Utes have to play the Ducks, Cardinal and also have key games in Pac-12 South play against USC and Arizona on the road. In terms of nonconference play, the final game in the Holy War rivalry (for now) against BYU will also be played on the road. Overall, the Utes go from playing just two top-25 teams in 2012 to playing two possible top-five teams this upcoming season, along with an additional seven teams that won seven or more games in 2012.

Star Lotulelei works out at Utah's pro day less than a month after an abnomal test result forced him to miss the NFL combine.

You might have noticed a theme this week. We kicked off the "Biggest Shoes" series and had two polls (North and South) on replacing departed players. So that means it's now time for your Pac-12 bloggers to weigh in on which two players we believe leave the biggest holes. Given our penchant for quarterbacks, you might find our two choices surprising. Read on.

Ted Miller: I do not know what size 6-foot-3, 320-pound Utah defensive tackle Star Lotulelei's shoes are, but I'd bet they are among the biggest in the Pac-12 -- in more ways than one.

The thing about replacing a dominant interior defensive lineman is that it's difficult to measure what you're losing. An All-America receiver or running back or even cornerback leaves, and you feel fairly comfortable quantifying what is lost and must be replaced. Lotulelei, however, was more than the sum of his stats -- 42 tackles, 10 tackles for a loss, five sacks, four fumble recoveries, three forced fumbles and a very important blocked kick.

Lotulelei changed what an offense could do. He changed blocking schemes. He demanded specific attention from an offensive coordinator and a line coach. He made sure the interior of the opposing offensive line -- even if the offense was winning the overall battle -- wanted to ask for its check.

He was a unique presence. An anomaly. A college center could start 48 games in his career and face a guy like him just once. That's why Lotulelei will be a first-round NFL draft pick, even with a heart condition. He could get picked in the top five if a team deems him healthy.

But his shoes are even bigger because Utah, after a disappointing defensive campaign in 2012, is replacing three of four defensive linemen. Moreover, the Utes were unhappy with their linebacker play last fall, even with all the protection Lotulelei provided. Opposing offensive lines, unencumbered by the need to double-team Lotulelei every play, will get a lot more hats on those linebackers in 2013. Not what coach Kyle Whittingham wants.

The cupboard isn't empty. The Utes are high on Tenny Palepoi, a 305-pound senior who played well as the backup to defensive tackle Dave Kruger last season. And there are other big bodies: LT Tuipulotu, Stevie Tu'ikolovatu, a 320-pound redshirt freshman, and Viliseni Fauonuku will be in the mix.

Yet the Utes defensive coaches won't even pretend one of those guys will fill Lotulelei's shoes. They are just too big.

Kevin Gemmell: This is a tough one. I've been going through a bunch of players all week long trying to come to a conclusion on which one I wanted to write about (and Lotulelei was already taken). All of them are important -- Matt Barkley, Khaled Holmes, Robert Woods, Jordan Poyer, Travis Long, Markus Wheaton, Brandon Magee, Desmond Trufant, Stepfan Taylor, Johnathan Franklin, Zach Ertz, Dion Jordan and … (insert name I unintentionally omitted and now you feel wildly offended).

There really is no wrong answer here. Each player is a major contributor to his team in his own way. But the one name that kept coming back to me is Stanford center Sam Schwartzstein. I know, not as exciting as Kenjon Barner or glamorous as Matt Scott. But in terms of sheer contributions to the team that will be tough to replace, Schwartzstein has to be in the conversation.

In 2011, he was regarded as having the second-best football mind on the team -- behind only Andrew Luck. And he didn't lose any of that in 2012.

After the quarterback, there is no more important position on Stanford's offense than the center. He makes all of the scheme and protection calls at the line of scrimmage. He even calls plays in the huddle when the Cardinal go into the Wildcat.

Schwartzstein started every game since taking over for All-American Chase Beeler, and twice he blocked for a 1,000-yard rusher in Taylor. The Cardinal played 14 games in 2012 and allowed just 20 sacks. In the 12-game regular season, they had allowed a conference-best 17. The year before that? Just 11 in 13 games. I know for a fact that there were zero quarterback-center exchange fumbles in 2011. And none comes to mind in 2012.

Khalil Wilkes, who started almost every game last year at left guard (one start at left tackle) moves over to compete with Conor McFadden for the gig. Maybe the transition from Schwartzstein to one of those guys will go as smoothly as the handoff from Beeler to Schwartzstein. After all, the new center will have one bona-fide All-American at his side and potentially a couple more on the line.

But they won't be the ones making the calls. That falls on the center -- and Schwartzstein was outstanding at it. He was second-team all-conference and honored with the school's leadership award. Not Taylor, not Ertz. Not Shayne Skov nor Ryan Hewitt nor the aforementioned All-American David Yankey. The center … the most crucial position in Stanford's offense that you never hear about.

Tough shoes to fill, indeed.