Pac-12 Football: Top 10 players heading into spring games

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Dec 29, 2015; Fort Worth, TX, USA; Air Force Falcons wide receiver Timothy McVey (33) cannot catch a pass while defended by California Golden Bears cornerback Darius Allensworth (2) in the second quarter at Amon G. Carter Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports /

Last year California was ranked 84th nationally in passing yards allowed, and the secondary gave up the eighth most touchdown passes in the country.

A large part of the defense’s inability to stop opponent’s aerial attacks was the hamstring injury that hampered Darius Allensworth for much of the year. His injury woes actually started in spring ball last year, and his absences from the defensive backfield set off a chain reaction as one cornerback after another succumbed to injury after being pressed into a more prominent role.

This year Allensworth looks healthy and ready to anchor one side of the field for the Golden Bears. He’ll likely be a preseason candidate for the Jim Thorpe Award for the top defensive back in the country, and new head coach Justin Wilcox will need Allensworth to break out and boost his NFL Draft stock for 2018 in order to reverse Cal’s fortunes against the pass as soon as possible. That all depends, however, on whether he can stay healthy this spring.

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