The All-Pac-12 team honors are in before the start of the season as we project who should have the most dominant fall in the conference. Ahead of the 2022 college football season, Pro Football Network is proud to debut our All-Conference honors for each of the 10 conferences and the FBS Independents.
Detailing out our projected top players, units, and teams ahead of the action, PFN’s team of draft evaluators and national college football analysts looked at who they each thought would be the conference’s best in 2022. The results are in, and here is the cream of the crop heading into the fall.
Follow along with all of our All-Conference Awards this preseason: AAC | ACC | B1G | Big 12 | C-USA | MAC | Mountain West | SEC | Sun Belt | FBS Independent
Preseason All-Pac-12 football team honors for 2022
It’s important to note that these are awards and honors from Pro Football Network for each individual’s expected prowess on the field this season. This is in no way a projection of their NFL draft status nor a report on the specific conference awards given this preseason. These honors are from Pro Football Network, as judged by our team of college football analysts and draft evaluators projecting their success on the field in 2022.
- Pac-12 Player of the Year
Tavion Thomas, RB, Utah - Pac-12 Offensive Player of the Year
Tavion Thomas, RB, Utah - Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year
Noah Sewell, LB, Oregon - Pac-12 Newcomer of the Year
Caleb Williams, QB, USC
It was a difficult pick between backfield teammates in Salt Lake City. However, as great as Cam Rising is, Tavion Thomas may just be that little bit better. And well, simply put, he has enough juice to make some magic happen in 2022. Thomas put fumbling issues aside last year and dominated after returning to action in the early stages of the season. He’s back to once again dominate as he brings terrific balance through contact and equally as impressive open-field rushing ability.
The Oregon Ducks will be anchored again by a stout defense, and Noah Sewell is on the verge of becoming an all-time great at the position. Sewell is a terrific three-down linebacker with sideline-to-sideline ability. He patrols the middle of the field well and comes downhill violently.
As far as the top newcomer to the conference, the USC Trojans are full of them. If it’s not set to be reigning Biletnikoff Award winner Jordan Addison, it’ll be the man throwing him the football in Caleb Williams. A dynamic athlete, Williams saw great success last season with Lincoln Riley at the helm of the Oklahoma Sooners. With another year in the system, Williams is in for a breakout season in 2022.
Offensive All-Pac-12 team and player honors
- Pac-12 QB of the Year
Cam Rising, Utah - Pac-12 RB of the Year
Tavion Thomas, Utah - Pac-12 WR of the Year
Jordan Addison, USC - Pac-12 TE of the Year
Brant Kuithe, Utah - Pac-12 Offensive Line of the Year
Oregon State Beavers - Pac-12 Offensive Lineman of the Year
Brandon Kipper, G, Oregon State
It’s time for Rising to shine here as the athletic quarterback who doesn’t get enough love for his ability to move in the pocket earns the top QB spot. Rising documented his athletic ability in the Rose Bowl to close out the season, but he can make all the throws across the field. He’s joined by Thomas as they grabbed top QB and RB honors, respectively.
Addison is rightfully in his place as the best wide receiver as the Pitt transfer won the top national receiver award last season with the Panthers. With another future NFL signal-caller throwing the football to him in LA, Addison is primed for another dominant season before likely heading to the NFL himself.
Brant Kuithe is the top tight end as he presents a unique challenge for defenses to match up with. He’s freakishly strong but has an incredible elusiveness to him after the catch. Pairing with Dalton Kincaid once again, they are the No. 1 tight end duo across the country.
The Oregon State Beavers aren’t underrated here at Pro Football Network as the unit head coach Jonathan Smith and Co. have built earns the praise. Brandon Kipper kicks inside to guard after dominating at tackle over the past few seasons. Kipper is a big man with refined technique. He anchors well and has terrific strength going forward or retreating in pass protection.
Defensive All-Pac-12 team and player honors
- Pac-12 Defensive Line of the Year
Washington Huskies - Pac-12 DL of the Year
Ron Stone Jr., EDGE, Washington State - Pac-12 LB of the Year
Noah Sewell, Oregon - Pac-12 Secondary of the Year
Oregon State Beavers - Pac-12 CB of the Year
Clark Phillips III, Utah - Pac-12 S of the Year
Jaydon Grant, Oregon State
Known for their secondary play recently, the Washington Huskies flip the script and have the top defensive line this season. However, it’s Ron Stone Jr. who earns the top spot as the best individual lineman this preseason. Stone crashes off the edge with reckless abandon but calculated aggression.
Sewell is a star, we know it, and he should be on the shortlist for all the major individual defensive awards this fall. Oregon State earns the top spot for best secondary, narrowly edging out the USC Trojans here. Rejzohn Wright and Jaydon Grant pair to make one of the top CB-S combos in the country.
Clark Phillips III showcased what made him so special back in January when he made multiple plays on the ball as the team’s only healthy cornerback against Ohio State, C.J. Stroud, and Jaxon Smith-Njigba. He’s back to cement his place as a first-round pick this fall.
Special teams All-Pac-12 team and player honors
- Pac-12 K of the Year
Camden Lewis, Oregon - Pac-12 P of the Year
Kyle Ostendorp, Arizona - Pac-12 Specialist of the Year
Kazmeir Allen, KR/PR, UCLA