This list doesn’t include any USC players. After reviewing their talent, we decided to give them their own top ten. Only three or four players on this list would have made their list, which should make people rethink whether this is the year anybody can knock the Trojans off the top of the PAC-10.

1. Jahvid Best 5′10″ 195 RB California Junior

Jeff Tedford knew he had something special from the moment Best stepped on campus. His freshman season, in which he averaged over 7 yards per carry, was just a preview for one of the most electrifying rushing seasons in PAC-10 history. As a sophomore, Best pounded opponents for 1,580 yards on the ground. He proved to NFL scouts that he could shoulder the load for an entire season and did so impressively. He can also catch the ball out of the backfield which gives him even greater value. His true 4.4 speed will impress at the combine, making him an early first round pick in 2010.

2. Rob Gronkowski 6′6″ 265 TE Arizona Junior

Gronkowski isn’t well known on the national scene but that will all change at the NFL Combine. At his size, he runs a 4.7 forty and has tremendous hands. The Wildcats have struggled to make a great impact in the PAC-10 but Gronkowski earned 1st team all-conference accolades to go along with 3rd team All-American awards. He’s also a powerful blocker. Don’t look for Gronkowski to be on this list next year, as he’s NFL ready and should take his talents to the next level in 2010.

3. Jake Locker 6′3″ 225 QB Washington Junior

Locker has been the lone bright spot the Huskies over the past two seasons. He was one of the best QBs in the nation as a freshman and was on track for another great season before he broke his thumb in the fourth game against Stanford. New coach Steve Sarkisian will turn Locker into an NFL-ready quarterback by the time Locker leaves Washington in 2011. He is the most athletic quarterback in the junior class which speaks volumes for his skill set. He will rise over the next few seasons and the NFL will be intriqued by his ability to lead a team out of the position Washington has found itself in.

4. Syd’Quan Thompson 5′9″ 190 CB California Senior

He might have a cool name but the reason college football announcers constantly talk about Thompson is because he is always around the ball and has a knack for big plays. Thompson also has added value because he’s a great punt returner. Thompson’s evaluators will have a tough time getting a read on his game skills this season as PAC-10 coaches will keep their distance. Like many corners, his combine will be the key to his draft status. Look for his status to improve.

5. Ed Dickson 6′4″ 245 TE Oregon Senior

Dickson is the second best tight end in the conference but also the second best tight end in the senior class. He’s the key to Oregon’s ability to stay in the top 10 this season and maintain its momentum from the end of last season. In the spread, where anything can happen behind you, Dickson is a key blocker and does a great job of making plays when he needs to. He would be the best tight end in most conferences and will be one of the first taken in the 2010 NFL Draft.

6. Brian Price 6′2″ 300 DT UCLA Junior

Price is a rising junior who will make an impact on the PAC-10 the way Haloti Ngata did at Oregon a few years ago. He is powerful off the snap and clogs holes better than any player in the league. If he continues his surge up draft boards and continues on the same track he’s been on, he could end up becoming an early first round draft pick in 2012.

7. LaGarrette Blount 6′1″ 240 RB Oregon Senior

During his first season for the Ducks, he shared carries with Jeremiah Johnson and both went over 1,000 yards. Blount has the keys to the car this season and will surely improve on his numbers and his draft stock. What’s not helping Blount is his attitude. He’s been suspended by the Oregon coaching staff but will be ready for the season opener. Big backs like Blount will always have a job in the NFL.

8. Chris McGaha 6′1″ 195 WR Arizona State Senior

McGaha combines a tremendous work ethic with sure hands and precise route running. He doesn’t have that burst of speed that some of the other great receivers have but nobody can argue about his production. He enters his senior year with 112 catches and has done so by flying under the radar. Expect big things out of McGaha this season and an NFL franchise is going to be thrilled to have him.

9. Jacquizz Rodgers 5′7″ 190 RB Oregon State Sophomore

It will be interesting to see how Rodgers bounces back from such a productive freshman season which was highlighted by a dominant performance against USC. There is definitely room in the NFL for small backs, but Rodgers is a lot more powerful than people realize. He also catches the ball well which will make him a perfect third down back. He still has two years to move up this list but we would imagine he’ll be near the top by the end of his career.

10. Toby Gerhart 6′1″ 240 RB Stanford Senior

Jim Harbaugh might be a quarterback at heart but he won’t hesitate to hand the ball off to Gerhart when he needs tough yards. Gerhart has enough speed to be a running back at the next level but is also powerful enough to play fullback. There hasn’t been a good white running back in the NFL in years and it will be interesting to see if Gerhart can fill the role. He has all the tools to do so (4.5 speed) and runs a lot like Ricky Williams.
Best of the Rest
Walter Thurmond III CB Oregon Sr
Rahim Moore CB UCLA So
Omar Bolden CB Arizona State Jr
Tyson Alualu DT California Sr
Alterraun Verner CB UCLA Sr
Dexter Davis LB Arizona State