As we approach the beginning of the 2023 college football season, we want to highlight some of the top players in each conference by announcing our SIS Preseason All-Conference teams. We used our all-encompassing player value stat, Total Points, along with other metrics and our scouting work as leading references in putting together our selections.

You can learn more about Total Points and the statistics referenced here.

Offense

One of the easiest choices on any all-conference team is reigning Heisman winner Caleb Williams who led the FBS in Total Points last season. Oregon’s Bucky Irving showed his elusiveness last season leading the Pac 12 in Broken Tackle +Missed Tackle% at 35%. Dorian Singer and Rome Odunze are each coming off 1,000-yard seasons and ranked 1st and 2nd respectively last season in Receiving Total Points in the Pac-12. Terrance Ferguson has an under-the-radar season, but led Pac-12 tight ends last season in Receiver Rating (minimum 25 targets). The final skill position spot was hotly contested, but Ball State transfer Carson Steele got the nod after leading the country in rushing yards after contact last season.

The offensive line is very balanced, representing 5 different schools. Both tackles, Roger Rosengarten and Taliese Fuaga, finished T-2nd among Pac-12 tackles last season in Blown Block Rate, coming in at 1.4%. Justin Dedich and Keaton Bills are 1st and 2nd respectively among returning Pac-12 guards in Blocking Total Points. Rounding out our offensive line is Duke Clemens who finished 3rd in the Pac-12 in Run Blocking Points above average last season.

In a league of explosive offenses, there were some tough decisions, and it’s worth mentioning a few players who just missed the cut, but could find themselves on the 1st team postseason. Troy Fautanu, Josh Baker, Jacob Cowing, and Brant Kuithe are all expected to have big seasons in 2023.

Defense

James Rawls and Junior Tafuna show great balance along the defensive line as they are the only 2 returning Pac-12 defensive tackles to earn at least 12 Pass Defense Total Points and at least 12 Run Defense Total Points last season. The Pac-12 leader in pressures returns in Laiatu Latu as does the 3rd-place finisher Bralen Trice. The linebacker core includes a pair of linebackers who find multiple ways to leave their mark in the passing game. Eric Gentry and Karene Reid were 2 of just 6 Pac-12 defenders last season to achieve a 22% or higher Pressure Rate (minimum 10 pressures, 50 pass rushes), while both linebackers also recorded an interception as well.

The secondary is littered with playmakers including the Top-2 returning Pac-12 defenders in Coverage Total Points in Chau Smith-Wade and Calen Bullock. Cole Bishop was one of the most effective safeties in the country last season, finishing 5th in the FBS in Total Points in the group. Kitan Oladapo finished 2nd among Pac-12 safeties (behind fellow 1st-teamer Bullock) in Pass Coverage Total Points last season. Lastly, UNLV transfer Nohl Williams allowed a QB Rating Against of just 35.3 when targeted last season.

A couple of noteworthy mentions are Casey Rogers and Christian Roland-Wallace, who were both strongly considered for the all-conference team.

Specialists

Joshua Karty went a perfect 18-for-18 on field goals last season, including 3-for-3 on 50+ yarders. Eddie Czaplicki had an impressive average of 45.9 yards per punt with a long of 75. Our last specialist spot goes to Anthony Gould who was 1 of 5 FBS players with multiple punt return touchdowns last season.