Our countdown of the top 25 players in the 2012 season continues.
You can see the preseason top 25 here.
No. 5: Ka'Deem Carey, RB, Arizona
2012 numbers: Carey rushed for 1,929 yards and 23 touchdowns. He also caught 36 balls for 303 yards and a touchdown.
Preseason ranking: Unranked.
Making the case for Carey: The consensus All-American, who averaged 6.4 yards every time he carried the ball, led the nation in rushing and seemed to get stronger as the season went on. He went for at least 100 yards in 10 of Arizona's 13 games; he ran for more than 150 five times and broke 200 yards twice -- including his record-setting jaunt against Colorado where he rushed for 366 yards. He also rushed for 204 yards against Utah -- which boasted the No. 2 rushing defense in the conference. Few players closed out the season stronger. He averaged 228.5 yards on the ground in his final four games with 11 touchdowns -- including 172 rushing yards and three touchdowns in Arizona's come-from-behind win over Nevada in the New Mexico Bowl. In conjunction with quarterback Matt Scott, Carey was one half of a terrifying backfield that made Rich Rodriguez's first season at Arizona a smashing offensive success. Assuming he keeps his off-the-field problems in check, expect him to get a great deal of Heisman buzz in 2013. And with Arizona's quarterback situation pending next year, he might be called upon for more than his 303 carries, which was the second highest total in the league.
No. 6: Kenjon Barner, RB, Oregon
No. 7: Johnathan Franklin, RB, UCLA
No. 8: Stepfan Taylor, RB, Stanford
No. 9: Star Lotulelei, DT, Utah
No. 10: Markus Wheaton, WR, Oregon State
No. 11: Anthony Barr, LB, UCLA
No. 12: Jordan Poyer, CB, Oregon State
No. 13: Zach Ertz, TE, Stanford
No. 14: Matt Barkley, QB, USC
No. 15: Brett Hundley, QB, UCLA
No. 16: Trent Murphy, OLB, Stanford
No. 17: Chase Thomas, OLB, Stanford
No. 18: Ifo Ekpre-Olomu, CB, Oregon
No. 19: David Yankey, OL, Stanford
No. 20: Dion Jordan, DE/OLB, Oregon
No. 21: Scott Crichton, DE, Oregon State
No. 22: Ed Reynolds, S, Stanford
No. 23: Michael Clay, LB, Oregon
No. 24: Taylor Kelly, QB, Arizona State
No. 25: Reggie Dunn, KR, Utah