The Pac-12 sent Heisman Trophy winner Marcus Mariota and several other talented players to the NFL, but there no shortage on returning talent. Here is the preseason All-Pac-12 team:
Offense
QB: Cody Kessler, USC, senior
Kessler is in the thick of the Heisman conversation after he broke USC single-season records for completions (315), completion percentage (69.7) and passing efficiency (167.1) and tied the record for touchdown passes (39).
RB: Devontae Booker, Utah, senior
In Booker’s first season at the FBS level, he rushed for 1,512 yards and 10 touchdowns despite being eased into the offense over the first few games.
RB: Royce Freeman, Oregon, sophomore
Freeman set the Pac-12 true freshman record with 1,365 yards rushing and led the conference in touchdowns (18).
WR: Cayleb Jones, Arizona, junior
An All-Pac-12 honorable mention selection last year, Jones caught 73 passes for 1,019 yards and nine touchdowns.
WR: Nelson Spruce, Colorado, senior
As a junior, Spruce finished tied for fourth in the country with 106 catches and was named second-team All-Pac-12.
TE: Austin Hooper, Stanford, sophomore
A second-team All-Pac-12 selection as a sophomore, Hooper might be the key piece of the Stanford offense as it tries to get back to in conference-championship form.
OT: Joe Dahl, Washington State, senior
The left tackle for an experienced WSU offensive line, Dahl allowed one just one sack and was named All-Pac-12 honorable mention as a junior.
OT: Kyle Murphy, Stanford, senior
Murphy, second-team All-Pac-12 as a junior, will shift from right to left tackle, his more natural position, in the wake of Andrus Peat’s early departure for the NFL.
OG: Josh Garnett, Stanford, senior
A strong NFL prospect, Garnett is especially dangerous when the Cardinal dials up its staple power-run plays.
OG: Christian Westerman, Arizona State, senior
The one-time Auburn guard was a key piece on the Sun Devils’ offensive line, which functioned as one of the conference’s best units.
C: Max Tuerk, USC, senior
A potential All-Ameican, Tuerk found a home at center last year, replacing Marcus Martin, and was a first-team All-Pac-12 selection.
Defense
DL: Kenny Clark, UCLA, junior
One of the top defensive line prospects in the country, Clark was a second-team All-Pac-12 selection last year when he finished with 58 tackles (5.5 for loss).
DL DeForest Buckner, Oregon, senior
A potential first-round pick, Buckner finished his junior year with 81 tackles (13 for loss) and four sacks.
DL: Hunter Dimick, Utah, junior
Nate Orchard garnered most of the attention, but Dimick quietly put together an outstanding sophomore year, finishing with 52 tackles, 14.5 tackles for loss and 10 sacks.
LB: Scooby Wright III, Arizona, junior
Wright has a valid claim as the nation's best defensive player after recording 163 tackles, 29 tackles for loss, 14 tackles and six forced fumbles in 2014.
LB: Myles Jack, UCLA, junior
A second-team All-Pac-12 selection last season, Jack has been one of the nation's marquee names since his freshman year.
LB: Su'a Cravens, USC, junior
Cravens pulled off the rare double by leading the Trojans in tackles for loss (17) and interceptions (3) on his way to first-team All-Pac-12 honors a year ago.
LB: Jared Norris, Utah, senior
Norris finished third in the conference in tackles per game (8.9) on his was to 116 total tackles, along with 13 tackles for loss and four sacks.
DB: Adoree' Jackson, USC, sophomore
Arguably the top cover corner in the conference, Jackson can affect the game in many ways and could potentially affect the Heisman race.
DB: Ishmael Adams, UCLA, junior
Adams was a first-team All-Pac-12 selection as a sophomore, when he finished the season with 41 tackles and four pass break ups.
DB: Budda Baker, Washington, sophomore
Baker was named All-Pac-12 honorable mention after finishing the season with 80 tackles, two forced fumbles and an interception as a true freshman.
DB: Fabian Moreau, UCLA, senior
Moreau has started 25 games over the past two seasons and was a second-team All-Pac-12 pick as a junior.
Special teams
Kicker: Andy Phillips, Utah, junior
Phillips was a first-team All-Pac-12 selection after converting a school-record 23 field goals from 28 attempts, including a 12-of-15 mark from 40 yards or deeper.
Punter: Tom Hackett, Utah, senior
Hackett, a native of Australia, won the Ray Guy Award, given to the nation's best punter, and was a consensus All-American.
Returner: Trevor Davis, Cal, senior
Davis ranked second in the country with a kickoff return average of 32.6 yards, and returned two kickoffs for scores -- both in the third quarter of a game against WSU.