Pac-12 Football: Preseason all-conference defense
Aug 30, 2014; Eugene, OR, USA; Oregon Ducks defensive lineman Alex Balducci (56), linebacker Torrodney Prevot (86) and defensive lineman DeForest Buckner (44) tackle South Dakota Coyotes running back Trevor Bouma (21) at Autzen Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jaime Valdez-USA TODAY Sports
Defensive End: DeForest Buckner, Oregon Ducks
Buckner is poised to have a monster year after leading his team in tackles for loss, 13, last season and making the All-Pac-12 Conference Second Team. Buckner, despite being a defensive lineman, was fourth on the team in tackles, 81, and had four sacks. More than that though, Buckner has shown that he is ready to explode this year. In the Pac-12 Championship game last year against the Arizona Wildcats, Buckner had eight tackles, two of them behind the line of scrimmage. He also had a sack in what was a dominating first half for the Ducks.
Given how well he played against top competition, there is room for growth for Buckner, which is amazing given how he is already performing. This is a guy who loves the spotlight, and being the defensive leader on a national championship contender bodes well for his continued ascendance into college football’s elite defensive players.
Defensive Tackle: Lowell Lotulelei, Utah Utes
The younger brother of now NFL star defensive tackle Star Lotulelei, playing for the Carolina Panthers, Lowell Lotulelei was named a freshman All American by USA Today after his first season with the Utah Utes. Lotulelei had 4.5 tackles for loss and four sacks to go along with 33 total tackles. LIke Buckner above, Lotulelei was at his best against top competition, sacking the Oregon Duck’s Heisman Trophy winning quarterback Marcus Mariota twice during PAC-12 play.
Being only a freshman last season, Lotulelei is sure to be an even bigger nightmare for conference coaches this season, leading the second best team in Total Defense in the PAC-12 in 2014. This guy is a monster inside, listed at 6’2″ tall and 302 pounds. He is an immovable object in the center of the Utah defense, daring teams to try to run inside against him.
Defensive End: Hunter Dimick, Utah Utes
Yes, another defensive lineman from Utah, a team that was abysmal on offense last season yet still finished in the AP top 25. Hunter Dimick was a big reason, racking up 10 sacks and 14.5 tackles for loss. Teamed up with tackle Lowell Lotulelei, and it is easy to see why Dimick can actually improve on those numbers from 2014. Look for the senior defensive end to lead the conference in sacks and tackles for loss before bolting for the NFL.
In some of the bigger games of the year, like his fellow Saturday Blitz All-PAC-12 Defense members, Dimick shined. Against Arizona State, in what would become a 19-16 OT loss, he tallied two sacks and seven tackles. Against UCLA, he sacked NFL bound Brett Hundley two and a half times and had five total tackles. Overall Dimick had an excellent season and is looking forward to proving to NFL scouts that he belongs high on their draft boards.
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