Our countdown of the Pac-12's top 25 players in 2012 continues.
Most of this looks back but, of course, there also is a good dose of projecting forward. A lot of good players, as it happens every year, won't make the preseason list. It is in their hands to make the postseason list.
You can review our 2011 postseason Top 25 here.
No. 23 Austin Seferian-Jenkins, TE, Washington
2011 numbers: Caught 41 passes for 538 yards with six touchdowns.
2011 postseason ranking: Unranked.
Making the case for Seferian-Jenkins: There are a lot of good tight ends in the Pac-12, but it's not difficult to project Seferian-Jenkins as the most likely guy to win first-team All-Pac-12 honors this season. He's got prototypical size -- if your prototype is freakish -- at 6-foot-6, 258 pounds, and that combines nicely with outstanding athleticism. But this isn't a pure forward projection. Seferian-Jenkins, a ballyhooed recruit, was outstanding last year as a true freshman. He led all conference tight ends in receptions, and his six TDs were tied for second among tight ends behind Stanford's Coby Fleener. His 538 yards receiving ranks second in school history for a true freshman and it was the third highest total for a tight end -- any class -- in school history. He earned honorable mention All-Pac-12. He could end up an All-American this fall. He's also on the John Mackey Award watch list, given annually to the nation's best tight end. His numbers also should get a boost due to an experienced QB.
No. 24: Isi Sofele, RB, California