Our countdown of the Pac-12’s top 25 players from the 2013 season begins.
Well, it began Sunday night when the list was completed after a funereal conversation between your Pac-12 reporters in which we realized a lot of good players will be left out.
We have prepared for your outrage and charges of "No credibility!" by pouring 100 buckets of boiling oil on each others' heads.
You can review our 2013 preseason top 25 here.
And that this guy is No. 25 tells you how strong this list is.
No. 25: Myles Jack, LB/RB, UCLA
2013 numbers: On offense, Jack rushed for 267 yards on 38 carries, averaging 7.0 yards per carry and scoring seven touchdowns. On defense, Jack had 76 tackles, seven tackles for a loss, a sack, two interceptions, 11 pass breakups, two fumble recoveries and a forced fumble.
2013 preseason ranking: Unranked.
Making the case for Jack: Jack had one of the more spectacular true freshman debuts in Pac-12/10/8 history. He not only earned second-team All-Pac-12 honors as a linebacker, he also earned freshman offensive AND defensive player of the year. No, that has not been done before. Jack didn't play running back until Nov. 9 at Arizona, but he made a strong first impression when he rushed for 120 yards and a TD on six carries. He ended up as the Bruins' fourth-leading rusher and fourth-leading scorer with 48 points -- seven rushing touchdowns and an interception return for a TD. While his NFL future figures to be at linebacker, if he continues to see significant two-way action he could become a Heisman Trophy candidate in 2014.
