Pac-12 opponents vote Xavier Su’a-Filo top offensive lineman

If you ask those who play against him, Xavier Su’a-Filo is the best offensive lineman in the Pac-12. The UCLA junior won the Morris Trophy Thursday, an award voted on by opposing defensive lineman — and an honor that pushes him out of the shadow of another conference guard.

Stanford’s David Yankey has been widely regarded as the position’s standard bearer this season, not only in the league but arguably across all of college football. With a year of eligibility left, the 6-foot-5, 313-pounder earned unanimous All-American honors this year — the eighth player in Cardinal history to do so.

Su’a-Filo was a second-team AP All-American, but was forced to move from left guard to left tackle to help patch a battered Bruins’ line. He has not yet decided whether or not to declare for the 2014 NFL draft.

Arizona State tackle Will Sutton won the defensive Morris Trophy, as voted on by opposing offensive lineman.

Injury update: Tailback Jordon James closer to full health


— Running back Jordon James is also expected to play after missing five of UCLA’s last six games. Coach Jim Mora admitted that he should not have let James play against Colorado, a game in which the junior tweaked his ankle after six carries.

“That’s on me,” he said. “He wanted to play, but sometimes the coach’s job is to protect him from himself. … But he’s really been good this week.

“Last week, when he was going to his left and trying to catch a swing pass, he couldn’t put his right foot in the ground and burst off of it. This week, I haven’t seen anything. I haven’t seen him limp, I haven’t seen him favor it at all on any of the cuts.”

Senior Malcolm Jones has also been cleared to play after taking a blow to the head on Friday. Continue reading “Injury update: Tailback Jordon James closer to full health” »

Pac-12 links: Oregon’s new football facility is as shiny as you’d expect



» On one hand, it’s not surprising that Oregon’s new football facility is nicer than that of most NFL teams. On the other, a barbershop!

» Oregon State’s already mediocre basketball program suspended forwards Eric Moreland and Devon Collier indefinitely for an undisclosed violation of team rules. The pair averaged a combined 22 points per game last season.

» Juventus’ Andrea Pirlo and Leonardo Bonucci “tried out” for the Stanford football team. Continue reading “Pac-12 links: Oregon’s new football facility is as shiny as you’d expect” »

Pac-12’s Top 25 Players, Part V

Picking up from Parts I, II, III and IV, here are the final five in our top 25 countdown.

5. De’Anthony Thomas, Oregon

Thomas claims track and field season made him even faster — a frightening prospect given that he already threatened to score whenever he touched the ball. The 5-foot-9, 176-pound back is about 20 pounds lighter than All-American predecessors Kenjon Barner and LaMichael James, but is more versatile as a receiver and returner. He’s also responsible for the best tweets in the Pac-12. Continue reading “Pac-12’s Top 25 Players, Part V” »