RSSBot
News Junkie
By Ted Miller
Our countdown of the Pac-12's top 25 players continues.
You can see the final post-2010 top 25 here. It doesn't, however, include players from Colorado or Utah.
20. Jeff Tuel, QB, Washington State
2010 numbers: Tuel passed for 2,780 yards, completing 60 percent of his passes, with 18 touchdowns with 12 interceptions. He also rushed for 204 yards and a touchdown .
2010 ranking: Unranked.
Making the case for Tuel: There probably will be two reactions to Tuel's ranking. One group will go "really?" Those folks won't have seen Tuel play. Others might think he's too low based on what the junior has done in two seasons as a starter for one of the most woeful teams in FBS football. If you are wondering why there's hope in Pullman this fall, it starts with Tuel. The dude can fling it and he is tough as nails, which you have to be when you get sacked 51 times, second most in the country. Go outside and fall down 51 times. See how that feels. Then invite Vontaze Burfict over to help you fall. Heck, Tuel, an athletic 6-foot-3, 217 pounds, actually rushed for 459 yards, but he had to give 255 back due to sacks. Tuel ranked fourth in the Pac-10 in passing yards per game last season at 231.7, less than a yard behind USC's Matt Barkley, and sixth in passing efficiency, well ahead of Washington's Jake Locker. He put up his numbers with the support of a rushing attack that ranked 117th in the nation -- in other words, he didn't have anything keeping opposing defenses honest. Further, he turned in gritty, impressive performances in the Cougars final two games, beating Oregon State and accounting for four touchdowns -- three passing -- in a nail-biting loss to rival Washington. Don't be surprised if Tuel passes for 3,000 yards and 25 touchdowns in 2011.
21. http://espn.go.com/blog/pac12/post/_/id/23693/pac-12-top-25-for-2011-no-21Robert Woods, WR, USC
22. http://espn.go.com/blog/pac12/post/_/id/23677/pac-12-top-25-for-2011-no-22Johnathan Franklin, RB, UCLA
23. http://espn.go.com/blog/pac12/post/_/id/23623/pac-12-top-25-for-2011-no-23David Paulson, TE, Oregon
24. David DeCastro, OG, Stanford
25. http://espn.go.com/blog/pac12/post/_/id/23454/pac-12-top-25-for-2011-no-25http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/player/profile?playerId=504845http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/player/profile?playerId=504845Marquess Wilson, WR, Washington State
Originally posted by ESPN.com - Pac-10 Blog
Click here to view the article.
Our countdown of the Pac-12's top 25 players continues.You can see the final post-2010 top 25 here. It doesn't, however, include players from Colorado or Utah.
20. Jeff Tuel, QB, Washington State
2010 numbers: Tuel passed for 2,780 yards, completing 60 percent of his passes, with 18 touchdowns with 12 interceptions. He also rushed for 204 yards and a touchdown .
2010 ranking: Unranked.
Making the case for Tuel: There probably will be two reactions to Tuel's ranking. One group will go "really?" Those folks won't have seen Tuel play. Others might think he's too low based on what the junior has done in two seasons as a starter for one of the most woeful teams in FBS football. If you are wondering why there's hope in Pullman this fall, it starts with Tuel. The dude can fling it and he is tough as nails, which you have to be when you get sacked 51 times, second most in the country. Go outside and fall down 51 times. See how that feels. Then invite Vontaze Burfict over to help you fall. Heck, Tuel, an athletic 6-foot-3, 217 pounds, actually rushed for 459 yards, but he had to give 255 back due to sacks. Tuel ranked fourth in the Pac-10 in passing yards per game last season at 231.7, less than a yard behind USC's Matt Barkley, and sixth in passing efficiency, well ahead of Washington's Jake Locker. He put up his numbers with the support of a rushing attack that ranked 117th in the nation -- in other words, he didn't have anything keeping opposing defenses honest. Further, he turned in gritty, impressive performances in the Cougars final two games, beating Oregon State and accounting for four touchdowns -- three passing -- in a nail-biting loss to rival Washington. Don't be surprised if Tuel passes for 3,000 yards and 25 touchdowns in 2011.
21. http://espn.go.com/blog/pac12/post/_/id/23693/pac-12-top-25-for-2011-no-21Robert Woods, WR, USC
22. http://espn.go.com/blog/pac12/post/_/id/23677/pac-12-top-25-for-2011-no-22Johnathan Franklin, RB, UCLA
23. http://espn.go.com/blog/pac12/post/_/id/23623/pac-12-top-25-for-2011-no-23David Paulson, TE, Oregon
24. David DeCastro, OG, Stanford
25. http://espn.go.com/blog/pac12/post/_/id/23454/pac-12-top-25-for-2011-no-25http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/player/profile?playerId=504845http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/player/profile?playerId=504845Marquess Wilson, WR, Washington State
Originally posted by ESPN.com - Pac-10 Blog
Click here to view the article.