Our countdown of the Pac-10's top 25 players continues.

No. 10. Trevin Wade, CB, Arizona

2009 numbers: The 5-foot-11, 182-pound junior tied for second in the Pac-10 with five interceptions and also was second overall with 14 passes defended. He had 71 total tackles and a forced fumble.

Most recent ranking: Wade was ranked 27th in our final Pac-10 top-30 list last year.

Making the case for Wade: Simply put, Trevin Wade is the best returning cornerback in the conference. He earned second-team All-Pac-10 honors last year (the three other all-conference corners are gone). He's a ball hawk who, if he continues to improve, will follow previous Wildcats corners into the NFL. He needs three more picks to reach Arizona's all-time top-10 chart. Despite playing nickelback as a redshirt freshman in 2008, he tied for sixth in the conference with four interceptions. Wade also seems to play well in big games, turning in standout performances last year vs. Iowa, USC, Oregon State and Stanford. Phil Steele has rated Wade a preseason third-team All-American and first-team All-Pac-10.

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