Our countdown of the Pac-10's top 25 players continues.
No. 4. Andrew Luck, QB, Stanford
2009 numbers: The 6-foot-4, 235-pound sophomore led the Pac-10 in passing efficiency, completing 56 percent of his throws for 2,575 yards with 13 TDs and four interceptions. He also rushed for 354 yards and two touchdowns.
Most recent ranking: Luck was ranked 23rd in our final Pac-10 top-30 list last year.
Making the case for Luck: Well, Todd McShay made a case. He's projecting that Luck will be the top overall pick in the 2011 NFL draft this spring as a third-year sophomore. Writes McShay, "Luck has prototypical size (6-foot-4, 235 pounds) and is an underrated athlete. More importantly, he has a smooth over-the-top delivery, a strong arm and great touch as a passer." Luck -- the son of a former NFL quarterback Oliver Luck -- is smart, polished and can move outside the pocket. The only hole in his game is experience. But there's also this caveat: Having running back Toby Gerhart carrying the predominant offensive load in 2009 made things much easier for him as a first-year starter -- lots of single coverage on the perimeter. This year, he will be the centerpiece of the offense and he will be expected to lead and play accordingly. Of course, few folks believe he won't be up to the task. It will be very interesting at season's end to see who earns first-team All-Pac-10 quarterback.
No. 5. Stephen Paea, DT, Oregon State
No. 6. James Rodgers, WR, Oregon State
No. 7. Rahim Moore, S, UCLA
No. 8. Akeem Ayers, LB, UCLA
No. 9. Mike Mohamed, LB, California
No. 10. Trevin Wade, CB, Arizona
No. 11. Mason Foster, LB, Washington
No. 12. Ricky Elmore, DE, Arizona
No. 13. Kenny Rowe, DE, Oregon
No. 14. Jurrell Casey, DT, USC
No. 15. Cameron Jordan, DE, California
No. 16. Nick Foles, QB, Arizona
No. 17. Vontaze Burfict, LB, Arizona State
No. 18: Colin Baxter, C, Arizona
No. 19: Chase Beeler, C, Stanford
No. 20. Lawrence Guy, DT, Arizona State
No. 21. Matt Barkley, QB, USC
No. 22. Owen Marecic, LB/FB, Stanford
No. 23. Kristofer O'Dowd, C, USC
No. 24: Casey Matthews, LB, Oregon
No. 25 Kai Forbath, K, UCLA