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Pac-12 Football: Every team’s most important newcomers for 2021

By Dante Pryor

Dec 18, 2020; Los Angeles, California, USA; Oregon Ducks players pose with trophy after the Pac-12 Championship against the Southern California Trojans at United Airlines Field at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Oregon defeated USC 31-24. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 18, 2020; Los Angeles, California, USA; Oregon Ducks players pose with trophy after the Pac-12 Championship against the Southern California Trojans at United Airlines Field at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Oregon defeated USC 31-24. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports /
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Oregon Ducks linebacker Noah Sewell (1) celebrates a tackle in the first quarter of the Ducks Pac12 game against Stanford University on Nov. 7, 2020, in Eugene, Oregon.Oregon Vs. Stanford Football 027
Oregon Ducks linebacker Noah Sewell (1) celebrates a tackle in the first quarter of the Ducks Pac12 game against Stanford University on Nov. 7, 2020, in Eugene, Oregon.Oregon Vs. Stanford Football 027 /

Oregon

The Oregon Ducks are the prohibitive favorites in the Pac-12 this fall. Head coach Mario Cristobal has put his stamp on the program by recruiting everyone else in the conference. The defense looks to be tops in the league again this fall, and the offense should be better.

Cristobal and his staff have identified one of the roster’s weaknesses (wide receiver) and have improved the recruiting in that area. Three of their top receiver prospects are over 6-foot-2 (two are 6-foot-4).

  • Kingsley Suamataia, OT: Despite losing Penei Sewell to an opt-out year and then the NFL, the Oregon offensive line is going to be just fine. Coach Cristobal, a former lineman himself, knows how to recruit the trenches and blue-chipper Kingsley Suamataia looks like the next great tackle. It is hard to believe that the Orem High School product won’t see the field this fall. There are experienced veterans for the Ducks this season, but Suamataia’s upside is undeniable. Expect the Utah native to vie for a starting job, even if the Ducks kick him inside to guard.
  • Troy Franklin, WR: Franklin is the highest-rated receiver in the Ducks’ 2021 recruiting class. Franklin, an early enrollee, has been impressive since coming to campus in January. Like Suamataia, Franklin has to evade veterans for snaps this fall, but his upside is also undeniable. Oregon has never had a wide receiver this ready to play this soon in recent memory, if ever. Franklin is long and athletic with soft reliable hands. In addition to the freakish athleticism, he is polished as a route runner. If Franklin continues to impress, he might send a vet to the transfer portal.

Next. Way-too-early preseason Top 25 projections for 2021. dark

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