The most important cornerbacks to know in the 2023 Pac-12 season
As we continue our preview of the 2023 college football season in the Pac-12 conference, we are going to shift our focus from individual teams to individual positions. The last several weeks have been spent picking apart each school out west, finding where they improved the most over the offseason, and identifying what realistic expectations should be for them going forward.
You can see them all here: Arizona Wildcats — Arizona State Sun Devils — California Golden Bears — Colorado Buffaloes — Oregon State Beavers — Stanford Cardinal — UCLA Bruins — USC Trojans — Utah Utes — Washington Huskies — Washington State Cougars
Now, we’re going to look at position groups as a whole in the conference. Whether it’s a quarterback or a linebacker, a punter or a safety, there are dozens of highly talented players out west. We want to go through them all, position group by position group, and highlight some of the most important names that fans should know at each spot.
Quarterbacks — Wide Receivers — Running Backs — Tight Ends — Offensive Line — Defensive Line
It may not be the best season to be a corner in the Pac-12. The conference will display some of the elite quarterback play college football has to offer. The receivers in this league are also pretty good, so the cornerbacks are going to be put to the test week after week after week.
Why a corner would want to transfer into the Pac-12 in 2023 is a legitimate question. But for those players who want to make a name for themselves and want to be noticed as the guy who stifled a quarterback like Bo Nix or Caleb Williams, this league will provide the perfect opportunity for just that.
We profile those corners in the Pac-12 that will have their meddle tested in 2023.
Chau Smith-Wade — Washington State Cougars
2022 Stats: 43 tackles, 2.5 TFL, 2 INT
Career Stats: 68 tackles, 4 TFL, 3 INT
Analysis: Chau Smith-Wade is one of the best corners out there as he was a Second-Team All-Pac-12 preseason selection. 2022 was a career year for the Cougar and if WSU wants any chance to hold opposing quarterback down a bit, Smith-Wade will have to have an even better season this year.
Jabbar Muhammad — Washington Huskies
2022 Stats: (Oklahoma State) 48 tackles, 1 INT
Career Stats: (Oklahoma State) 71 tackles, 1 INT, 12 passes defended
Analysis: At just 5-foot-10 and 180 pounds, Muhammad might have his hands full in the Pac-12 and as we mentioned before, perhaps this wasn’t the best season for a corner to transfer into the conference. But he does have plenty of experience on his side coming from the Big XII.
Travis Hunter — Colorado Buffaloes
2022 Stats: (Jackson State) 19 tackles, 2 INT
Analysis: It’s unknown whether the former No. 1 recruit is going to play corner, receiver, or both for the Buffaloes. He played on both sides of the ball for Jackson State, but this isn’t the SWAC. Colorado might be better if it uses Hunter’s athleticism on the defensive side of the ball.
Ro Torrence — Arizona State Sun Devils
2022 Stats: 36 tackles, 1 INT
Career Stats: (Auburn, ASU) 41 tackles, 1 INT
Analysis: After playing one season at Auburn with limited playing time, Torrence got his chance in Tempe in 2022 and now figures to be a key piece to the Sun Devils defense this season. ASU returns just five starters on defense, so Kenny Dillingham will rely heavily on Torrence to be a playmaker.
Trikweze Bridges — Oregon Ducks
2022 Stats: 49 tackles, 3 INT
Career Stats: 74 tackles, 4 INT
Analysis: Bridges enters the 2023 season as one of the key defenders for the Ducks. He had a good season in 2022 and learned a ton from Christian Gonzalez. Oregon hopes Bridges puts what he learned from the first round draft pick to good use this season and becomes one of the top corners in the Pac-12, something he is very well capable of being.
Christian Roland-Wallace — USC Trojans
2022 Stats: (Arizona) 58 tackles, 6 passes defended
Career Stats: (Arizona) 169 tackles, 3.5 TFL, 2 INT
Analysis: As if getting Arizona’s best receiver Dorian Singer wasn’t enough, the Trojans also signed the Wildcats’ best corner for the double whammy. Opposing quarterbacks generally threw away from Roland-Wallace, but in Los Angeles, they shouldn’t have that luxury. It’s just an embarrassment of riches for USC and it’s why they are the overwhelming favorite to win the Pac-12 in its last season in the conference.
JaTravis Broughton — Utah Utes
2022 Stats: 46 tackles, 2 TFL
Career Stats: 89 tackles, 4.5 TFL, 1 INT
Analysis: Broughton played more last season than he did in the previous three seasons, but now he is tasked to replace Clark Phillips in a defense that is expected to be one of the top units in the conference and in the country.
Jordan Anderson — UCLA Bruins
2022 Stats: (Bowling Green) 47 tackles, 4.5 TFL, 1 INT
Career Stats: (Bowling Green) 180 tackles, 11 TFL, 5 INT
Analysis: After being one of the top corners in the pass-happy MAC, Anderson is going to try his hand in the Pac-12. UCLA is expected to have a good offense, so any kind of defense is going to help out immensely. This could be Chip’s best defense in Pasadena and Anderson should play a big part.
Jaden Robinson — Oregon State Beavers
2022 Stats: 13 tackles, 1 TFL
Career Stats: 18 tackles, 1 TFL, 1 sack
Analysis: The Beavers’ secondary is in a bit of a flux with a lot of unproven talent being thrown out there in key spots. Robinson was a backup last season and will now be a starter for the 2023 campaign. In a year where quarterbacks are expected to rule, it’s not exactly an ideal time to have a rebuilding back end of the defense.
