ESPN College Football

You know, we always called each other good fellas. Like you said to, uh, somebody, "You're gonna like this guy. He's all right. He's a good fella. He's one of us." You understand? We were good fellas. Wiseguys.

• The men behind the Arizona Wildcats have bowl preparations, too.
• Arizona State gets another O-line commitment.
• Stanford's Toby Gerhart and Nebraska's Ndamukong Suh got to the Heisman Trophy ceremony the newfangled way: They earned it. Here's why Gerhart should win.
• Praise for the Las Vegas Bowl matchup.
• Oregon begins its Rose Bowl preparations -- and coach Chip Kelly picks up some more hardware.
• This UCLA recruit sounds like he's pretty good.
• The fifth and final transformative moment for USC.
• A look at bowl game gifts.

The latest ESPNU recruiting rankings are out and three Pac-10 teams rank in the top-20, though none are in the top-10.

USC ranks No. 11, Stanford 16th and UCLA 17th.

Every year teams lose stars a year early to the NFL draft.

Heck, sometimes they even lose middling players -- see California tight end Cameron Morrah leaping early last winter so he could catch one pass for three yards as a Seattle Seahawks seventh-round draft choice.

Some big Pac-10 names appear to be on the cusp of bolting early so they can get paid to play on Sundays.

The deadline to declare is Jan. 15.

Here are the candidates.

Arizona

TE Rob Gronkowski

Gronkowski figures to be torn. He's said he will return to Arizona if he's not a certain first-round draft pick. He's certainly got first-round talent. The issue will be whether NFL teams will be worried about the back injury that sidelined him the entire season. And Gronkowski surely has to look at the quarterback Nick Foles and the offensive firepower the Wildcats will welcome back in 2010 and know he could play his way into the top-half of the first round with a big showing next fall.

Should he return? Yes. Will he return? No.

California

RB Jahvid Best

Best is a first-round talent who might fall out of the first round for a variety of reasons, chief among them his durability. That also is a big reason the Best should take the leap. Running backs only have so many years in them.

Should he return? No. Will he return? No.

Oregon State

DT Stephen Paea

The first-team All-Pac-10 defensive tackle didn't put up huge numbers this year and he's still learning the game, but he is a powerhouse whose measurables would be impressive and he might star in the right scheme.

Should he return? Yes. Will he return? Yes.

WR James Rodgers

Rodgers has put together three consecutive strong seasons, each better than the last. He's not big, but he's a playmaker with diverse skills and will be one at the next level. Of course, he's poised to become a star next fall, which likely will be his last opportunity to play beside his brother, Jacquizz.

Should he return? Yes. Will he return? Yes.

Stanford

RB Toby Gerhart

He's gone. Good for him.

Should he return? No. Will he return? No.

UCLA

DT Brian Price

Price was the most dominant defensive player in the Pac-10 this year. He might be a first-round pick, though there are some big-time D-tackles who figure to get selected ahead of him. If he came back, he might be the first one taken in 2011.

Should he return? No. Will he return? No.

USC

WR Damian Williams

Williams was the best pure receiver in the Pac-10 this year and he also can return punts. He could be a late first-round pick. In fact, he might be the second receiver off the board behind Oklahoma State's Dez Bryant.

Should he return? No. Will he return? No.

DE Everson Griffen

Griffen is a great talent and he had a good year, though not a great one. NFL scouts will be impressed by his combination of size and speed and his ability to rush the passer off the edge. Of course, with the Trojans entire front seven returning next fall, he could put up huge numbers and play his way into the top-10 in 2011.

Should he return? Yes. Will he return? No.

Washington

QB Jake Locker

For some Washington observers, even great admirers of Locker, it seems slightly strange that Locker is widely projected as a top-10 pick, perhaps the second -- or even first -- quarterback taken this spring. Locker is an outstanding talent who eclipsed expectations with how quickly adapted to a pro-style scheme, but he's still a work in progress. The reason to return is fairly simple: At his present pace of development, Locker would go first overall in the 2011 draft.

Should he return? Yes. Will he return? No.

Stanford's Toby Gerhart won the Doak Walker Award, which honors the nation's best running back, on the the Home Depot ESPNU College Football Awards on Thursday night.

UCLA's Kai Forbath won the Lou Groza Award honoring the nation's best kicker.

Forbath made 26 of 29 field goals this season, including 23 of 23 inside 40 yards.

The junior won the award over finalists Leigh Tiffin of Alabama and Blair Walsh of Georgia.

Gerhart led the nation with 1,736 yards rushing and 26 touchdowns.

Gerhart had more yards rushing (1,736) and touchdowns (26) than any player in the country. He led Stanford (8-4) to a second-place finish in the Pac-10 and its first bowl bid in eight years.

Gerhart scored touchdowns in all but one game, topped 100 yards 10 times and 200 yards three times, and averaged at least 4.4 yards per carry in every game this season.

The other nominees were Alabama's Mark Ingram and Clemson's C.J. Spiller.

Three Pac-10 players were named first-team All-Americans by the Walter Camp Football Foundation on Thursday: Stanford running back Toby Gerhart, USC safety Taylor Mays and UCLA kicker Kai Forbath.

Mays became just the fourth Trojan to become a three-time All-American first teamer (joining linebacker Richard Wood in 1972-74, quarterback Matt Leinart in 2003-05 and offensive tackle Sam Baker in 2005-07).

Four others earned second-team honors: Oregon State running back Jacquizz Rodgers, UCLA defensive tackle Brian Price, UCLA safety Rahim Moore and Stanford kicker returner Chris Owusu.

Here's the complete team.

FIRST TEAM OFFENSE

WR Jordan Shipley, Texas Sr. 6-0 190 Burnet, TX

WR Golden Tate, Notre Dame Jr. 5-11 195 Hendersonville, TN

TE Dennis Pitta, BYU Sr. 6-5 247 Moorpark, CA

OL Russell Okung, Oklahoma State Sr. 6-5 300 Houston, TX

OL Mike Iupati, Idaho Sr. 6-6 330 Anaheim, CA

OL Mike Johnson, Alabama Sr. 6-6 305 Pensacola, FL

OL Trent Williams, Oklahoma Sr. 6-5 318 Longview, TX

C Maurkice Pouncey, Florida Sr. 6-5 320 Lakeland, FL

QB Colt McCoy, Texas# Sr. 6-2 210 Tuscola, TX

RB Toby Gerhart, Stanford Sr. 6-1 235 Norco, CA

RB Mark Ingram, Alabama Soph. 5-10 215 Flint, MI

PK Kai Forbath, UCLA Jr. 6-0 192 Pacific Palisades, CA

FIRST TEAM DEFENSE

DL Ndamukong Suh, Nebraska Sr. 6-4 300 Portland, OR

DL Jerry Hughes, TCU# Sr. 6-4 257 Sugar Land, TX

DL Terrence Cody, Alabama% Sr. 6-5 365 Fort Myers, FL

DL Gerald McCoy, Oklahoma Jr. 6-4 297 Oklahoma City, OK

LB Rolando McClain, Alabama Jr. 6-4 258 Decatur, AL

LB Eric Norwood, South Carolina Sr. 6-1 252 Acworth, GA

LB Brandon Spikes, Florida# Sr. 6-3 258 Shelby, NC

DB Eric Berry, Tennessee# Jr. 5-11 203 Fairburn, GA

DB Taylor Mays, USC# Sr. 6-3 230 Seattle, WA

DB Earl Thomas, Texas Soph. 5-10 197 Orange, TX

DB Joe Haden, Florida Jr. 5-11 190 Fort Washington, MD

P Drew Butler, Georgia Soph. 6-2 203 Duluth, GA

KR C.J. Spiller, Clemson Sr. 5-11 195 Lake Butler, FL

SECOND TEAM OFFENSE

WR Damario Alexander, Missouri Sr. 6-5 215 Marlin, TX

WR Freddie Barnes, Bowling Green Sr. 6-0 206 Chicago Heights, IL

TE Dorin Dickerson, Pittsburgh Sr. 6-2 230 Imperial, PA

OL Bryan Bulaga, Iowa Jr. 6-6 312 Crystal Lake, IL

OL Zane Beadles, Utah Sr. 6-4 305 Sandy, Utah

OL Anthony Davis, Rutgers Jr. 6-6 325 Piscataway, NJ

OL Ciron Black, LSU Sr. 6-5 322 Tyler, TX

C Matt Tennant, Boston College Sr. 6-4 291 Cincinnati, OH

QB Tim Tebow, Florida*% Sr. 6-3 245 Jacksonville, FL

QB Case Keenum, Houston Jr. 6-2 210 Abilene, TX

RB C.J. Spiller, Clemson Sr. 5-11 195 Lake Butler, FL

RB Jacquizz Rogers, Oregon State Soph. 5-7 191 Richmond, TX

PK Leigh Tiffin, Alabama Sr. 6-2 212 Muscle Shoals, AL

SECOND TEAM DEFENSE

DL Derrick Morgan, Georgia Tech Jr. 6-4 272 Coatesville, PA

DL Von Miller, Texas A&M Jr. 6-3 240 DeSoto, TX

DL Brandon Graham, Michigan Sr. 6-2 263 Detroit, MI

DL Brian Price, UCLA Jr. 6-2 300 South Central LA, CA

LB Greg Jones, Michigan State Jr. 6-1 228 Cincinnati, OH

LB Pat Angerer, Iowa Sr. 6-1 235 Bettendorf, IA

LB Sean Weatherspoon, Missouri% Sr. 6-2 245 Jasper, TX

DB Rahim Moore, UCLA Soph. 6-1 197 Los Angeles, CA

DB Kyle Wilson, Boise State Sr. 5-10 186 Piscataway, NJ

DB Javier Arenas, Alabama Sr. 5-9 198 Tampa, FL

P Zolton Mesko, Michigan Sr. 6-5 231 Twinsburg, OH

KR Chris Owusu, Stanford Soph. 6-2 201 Westlake Village, CA

Before listing my preseason All-Pac-10 team in August, I wrote this: "Perhaps this list will be much different by mid-December."

So take a look.


Some changes are obvious. Gronkowski, Best, Thurmond and O'Dowd were switched out because of injuries. That also applies in large part to Carter, who played with a sprained knee much of the season.

Some nagged at me a bit.

Safety: Nelson had a great season at safety, but Moore led the nation with nine picks. I know lots of you folks aren't impressed with the way Mays played this year, but most coaches and scouts don't share your opinion. He's still going to be a first-round pick.

Offensive line: Baxter and Lauvao did nothing wrong. Peat just had a very good season, while Alfred in some ways gets a tip of the cap for a great career playing in obscurity for a lousy team.

Defensive end: Davis and Tukuafu have had great careers, and it was hard to leave off Arizona's Ricky Elmore, who led the conference in sacks. Just how things go.

Quarterback: Masoli is preseason All-Pac-10, puts up great numbers, leads his team to the Rose Bowl and drops off the first team? Yeah, I winced at that, too. But Canfield had a great year and put up great numbers. And, yes, it matters that he is a senior and Masoli will be back next fall.

External heat and cold had little influence on Scrooge. No warmth could warm, no wintry weather chill him. No wind that blew was bitterer than he, no falling snow was more intent upon its purpose, no pelting rain less open to entreaty.

• Arizona coach Mike Stoops will match wits with Nebraska's Bo Pelini in the Holiday Bowl, but they are good buddies.
• Before California focuses on the postseason, it will focus on finals.
• Oregon coach Chip Kelly recruited Ohio State's Terrelle Pryor, but he's happy with his guy, Jeremiah Masoli. Kelly said he loves the Rose Bowl.
• Oregon State will have its hands full with Quarterback U. Paul Buker answers all of your -- and his -- pressing questions about the State of the Beavers.
• What did Toby Gerhart say about the Heisman Trophy and other things?
• A countdown of five moments that changed USC's season. Here's No. 3.
• A completely objective Jim Moore reiterates his strong belief that Washington quarterback Jake Locker should enter the NFL draft.
• It appears former Washington State great Ryan Leaf will get a plea bargain.

The two-hour Home Depot ESPNU College Football Awards on ESPN is tonight (7 p.m. ET), and two Pac-10 players are up for awards.

Here they are, along with the competition.

Lou Groza Award (best kicker)

Kai Forbath (UCLA), Leigh Tiffin (Alabama), Blair Walsh (Georgia)

Doak Walker Award (best running back)

Toby Gerhart (Stanford), Mark Ingram (Alabama), C.J. Spiller (Clemson)

It's been a heck of a first season for Oregon's Chip Kelly.

Already named the Pac-10 coach of the year, Kelly is one of seven finalists for the Eddie Robinson Coach of the Year Award.

The other six finalists are Texas' Mack Brown, Georgia Tech's Paul Johnson, Cincinnati's Brian Kelly, Alabama's Nick Saban, TCU's Gary Patterson and Boise State's Chris Petersen.

The award is voted on by the Football Writers Association of America and will be announced at a reception on Jan. 5 in Newport Beach, Calif.

ESPN.com's Mark Schlabach ranked this year's bowl games, and here's how the Pac-10 games fared:

3. Rose Bowl Game Presented by Citi
No. 8 Ohio State vs. No. 7 Oregon
4:30 p.m. ET, Jan. 1

7. MAACO Las Vegas Bowl
No. 18 Oregon State vs. No. 14 BYU
8 p.m. ET, Dec. 22

11. Pacific Life Holiday Bowl
No. 20 Arizona vs. No. 22 Nebraska
8 p.m. ET, Dec. 30

13. Brut Sun Bowl
No. 21 Stanford vs. Oklahoma
2 p.m. ET, Dec. 31

14. San Diego County Credit Union Poinsettia Bowl
No. 23 Utah vs. California
8 p.m. ET, Dec. 23

18. Emerald Bowl
Boston College vs. No. 25 Southern California
8 p.m. ET, Dec. 26

33. Eagle Bank Bowl
Army/UCLA vs. Temple
4:30 p.m. ET, Dec. 29

This seems mostly reasonable to me, though this is as subjective as you can get.

Besides the Rose Bowl, which I think is going to come down to the final minutes, I'm curious how Arizona will handle Nebraska defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh, who's an extraordinary player.

I'm also extremely curious to see how USC looks vs. Boston College. The talent disparity between the programs is gaping, but the Golden Eagles are going to come out swinging, hungry to prove themselves vs. a program that probably inspires a little awe in them.

Please note: I typed "program." BC won't be in awe once they watch game tape, particularly the Stanford game.

USC? We'll find out how much heart this team has.

Arizona took another step forward under coach Mike Stoops in 2009.

Last year, the Wildcats earned their first bowl berth since 1998. This year, the Wildcats, picked eighth in the preseason media poll, tied for second in the Pac-10, despite breaking in a new quarterback, and earned a berth in the Holiday Bowl.

They also beat rival Arizona State for a second-consecutive year and ended a seven-game losing streak to USC.

The key moment was the decision to change quarterbacks from Matt Scott to Nick Foles after the offense looked terrible at Iowa on Sept. 19. Foles almost immediately established himself as a budding star, and his precise passing and quick release were critical when running back Nic Grigsby suffered a shoulder injury that killed most of his season.

Offensive MVP -- Quarterback Nick Foles.

Foles, a sophomore, didn't make his first start until the season's fourth game but he made up for lost time, completing 66 percent of his passes and throwing for 2,420 yards with 19 touchdowns and eight interceptions.

Defensive MVP -- Defensive end Ricky Elmore.

Yes, Arizona fans, it stinks that Elmore didn't earn All-Pac-10 honors. He would have been second-team for the Pac-10 blog if the Pac-10 blog had a second-team. Elmore basically came out of nowhere to lead the Wildcats -- and the Pac-10 -- with 10.5 sacks, and he was particularly important because Brooks Reed battled a sprained ankle much of the season.

Turning point -- The obvious turning point is the decision to go with Foles over Scott, who started the first three games. But, really, the the story of the Wildcats season was perseverance. Multiple times they suffered dispiriting losses -- at Iowa, at Washington, at California and in double-overtime against Oregon -- but in each case they bounced back and didn't suffer a hangover. That is the sign of a maturing program, which in itself is a turning point.

What's next -- The Wildcats figure to be in the thick of the Pac-10 race next year, particularly if tight end Rob Gronkowski opts to return after missing the entire 2009 campaign with a back problem. The defense will take a few significant hits -- safety Cam Nelson, cornerback Devin Ross, tackle Earl Mitchell and all three linebackers -- but that shouldn't be insurmountable, particularly with Reed and Elmore back. Of course, the biggest hit might be defensive coordinator Mark Stoops getting hired away.

Arizona State was a lopsided team this year -- good defense, bad offense. And the good wasn't good enough to cover for the bad.

The Sun Devils ranked first or second in the conference in just about every defensive category, while they ranked eighth or worse in just about every offensive category.

Senior quarterback Danny Sullivan fought hard to make things work, but there wasn't enough talent around him to make up for his shortcomings. ASU was a play or two away from winning much of the year, see four losses by five or fewer points.

The end-result was a season ruined for a second year in a row by a six-game losing streak, not to mention a second-consecutive losing season for the program for the first time since 1946-47.

That landed coach Dennis Erickson on the hot seat by season's end, which is probably the reason he fired longtime coaching pal Rich Olson, the beleaguered offensive coordinator.

Offensive MVP -- Receiver Kyle Williams.

Williams caught 57 passes for 815 yards with eight touchdowns. His 48 points led the Sun Devils.

Defensive MVP --Linebacker Mike Nixon.

Nixon not only was the leading tackler for the stout Sun Devils defense, he also was a mature, stabilizing leader on a unit that sometimes showed too much youthful energy (hello, Vontaze Burfict). Nixon finished with 73 tackles. He also had six tackles for a loss, three interceptions, three forced fumbles and a blocked kick.

Turning point -- Arizona State was fighting all season to find its rhythm, but the game that seemed to ensure it wouldn't be found was the 23-21 loss to California on a last-second field goal on Oct. 31. That was the second and most heartbreaking loss of a six-game losing streak to end the season -- at least until the finale vs. Arizona.

What's next -- The Sun Devils need to get better on offense -- duh -- and that starts on the offensive line and then moves on to what figures to be a spirited quarterback competition this spring between Brock Osweiler, Samson Szakacsy and Michigan transfer Steven Threet, who may be the frontrunner. Erickson figures to start next season on the hot seat, so the Sun Devils may need to get to a bowl game to keep him secure.

It was a strange football season in Berkeley.

California began 2009 touted as the team most likely to knock off USC, and the Bears were dominant in their first three nonconference games.

Then the Bears went to Oregon. Splat.

Then USC visited Berkeley. Mush.

Yet, just when it seemed reasonable to write them off, the Bears won five of six, including a surprisingly convincing effort in the Big Game against rival Stanford. At that point, a nine-win regular season and perhaps a Holiday Bowl berth were possible.

Then Cal went to Washington and got stomped 42-10.

Like we said, a strange football season.

Offensive MVP -- Running back Jahvid Best

Perhaps Best should share this award with backup Shane Vereen, who filled in admirably when Best went down against Oregon State on Nov. 7, but Best was the Bears leading rusher with 867 yards and 12 touchdowns. He averaged 6.1 yards per carry.

Defensive MVP -- Linebacker Mike Mohamed

Mohamed led the Pac-10 with 105 tackles. He also had seven tackles for a loss with three picks and a forced fumble.

Turning point -- The Bears ranked sixth in the country and looked like national title contenders when they visited Oregon on Sept. 26. They lost 42-3. Things didn't feel the same thereafter.

What's next -- California won't have to worry about being a Pac-10 frontrunner in 2010, but there are a good deal of starters returning, particularly on offense, even if Best, as expected, enters the NFL draft a year early. Quarterback Kevin Riley and the offensive line will need to take another step forward, while the defense will need to replace a couple of key starters.

It didn't start out like it was going to be one of the greatest seasons in Oregon football history, but every coach will tell you it's not where you start, it's where you finish.

And Oregon finished atop the Pac-10 and is headed to the Rose Bowl to play Ohio State.

It's testimony to good leadership from first-year coach Chip Kelly and a solid locker room that the Ducks held together after being embarrassed at Boise State, both by the performance during the game and by LeGarrette Blount's performance afterward.

But the Ducks won seven in a row after that, including a 47-20 beatdown of USC. And when they slipped at Stanford, they immediately bounced back with wins at Arizona and against rival Oregon State to win the conference title.

Offensive MVP -- Quarterback Jeremiah Masoli

It's understandable why so many Oregon fans are bent about Masoli not being first-team All-Pac-10. He's about more than his numbers running the Ducks' spread-option offense. Masoli completed 59 percent of his passes for 2,066 yards with 15 touchdowns and he rushed for 659 yards and 12 touchdowns.

Defensive MVP -- Defensive end Kenny Rowe

This was a tough one because Oregon played great team defense this season. Still, Rowe's numbers stood out. He led the Ducks with 8.5 sacks and 11 tackles for a loss. He also forced three fumbles.

Turning point -- Oregon bounced back from its terrible performance at Boise State with wins over Purdue and Utah, but the Ducks truly broke through when they whipped No. 6 California 42-3 on Sept. 26.

What's next -- The Ducks should start the 2010 season ranked in the preseason top five, particularly if they beat Ohio State in the Rose Bowl. Nearly the entire two-deep returns, topped by Masoli and LaMichael James -- both of whom figure to make a number of preseason Heisman Trophy lists. A Sept. 11 visit to Tennessee should be intriguing.

It was deja vu all over again for Oregon State.

The Beavers started slowly -- 2-2 instead of the 2-3 start of the previous three seasons -- and finished fast.

And, for the second consecutive season, a loss to Oregon in the Civil War cost them the Rose Bowl.

Still, it would be fair to say that a fourth consecutive finish in the top-third of the Pac-10 has established the Beavers as a conference power instead of that cute little overachieving team in Corvallis. (We may have said that last year, too, but it won't be an issue in 2010.)

The key in 2009 was the play of quarterback Sean Canfield and the gradual development of a defense that replaced eight starters from 2008.

Canfield went from Lyle Moevao's backup in 2008 to first-team All-Pac-10 quarterback, while the defense overcame a mediocre pass rush and questionable secondary.

Offensive MVP -- Running back Jacquizz Rodgers

Rodgers not only rushed for 1,377 yards and 20 touchdown, he also caught 74 passes for 509 yards and a score.

Defensive MVP -- Linebacker Keaton Kristick

The first-team All-Pac linebacker led the Beavers with 87 total tackles and 7.5 tackles for a loss. He also grabbed two interceptions and forced a fumble.

Turning point -- The Beavers got off to their usual slow start, opening 2-2. They played fairly well in a victory at Arizona State on Oct. 3 but what turned out to be the season's crucial win was when they jumped all over Stanford the following weekend -- they led by 24 points at halftime -- and coasted to a 38-28 victory.

What's next -- The Beavers should again be in the thick of the Pac-10 race in 2010. The biggest offseason question is replacing Canfield, with sophomore Ryan Katz and Virginia transfer Peter Lalich the top candidates. The defense takes a couple of hits, most particularly Kristick, but it for the first time in three seasons will welcome back a strong core of experienced starters.