Fansided

25 best Pac-12 football players of the last 25 years

By Nathaniel Reeves

Jan 12, 2015; Arlington, TX, USA; Oregon Ducks quarterback Marcus Mariota (8) warms up prior to the game against the Ohio State Buckeyes in the 2015 CFP National Championship at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 12, 2015; Arlington, TX, USA; Oregon Ducks quarterback Marcus Mariota (8) warms up prior to the game against the Ohio State Buckeyes in the 2015 CFP National Championship at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
3 of 26
Next
20 Nov 1999: Deltha O”Neal #8 of the Cal Golden Bears carries the ball during a game against the Stanford Cardinal at the Stanford Stadium in Palo Alto, California. The Cardinals defeated the Golden Bears 31-13. Mandatory Credit: Jed Jacobsohn /Allsport
20 Nov 1999: Deltha O”Neal #8 of the Cal Golden Bears carries the ball during a game against the Stanford Cardinal at the Stanford Stadium in Palo Alto, California. The Cardinals defeated the Golden Bears 31-13. Mandatory Credit: Jed Jacobsohn /Allsport /

24. Deltha O’Neal, RB/DB, California

One of the most versatile players in recent Pac-12 history, O’Neal made an impact in all three phases of the game for California between 1996 and 1999.

During his high school career at Milpitas in the Bay Area, O’Neal starred as a running back, defensive back and kick returner. Regarded as a blue-chip recruit with the potential to be one of the most explosive players in college football, O’Neal decided early in the recruiting process to stay near his hometown and play for Cal.

Injuries forced O’Neal into the Golden Bears’ running back rotation as a freshman, and he finished with a solid 86 plays from scrimmage, for 462 yards and a touchdown. O’Neal was even better on special teams with 22 kick returns for 461 yards, plus a 100-yard touchdown return in the Aloha Bowl.

Following another productive season on both offense and special teams, O’Neal was moved to a more prominent defensive back role in 1998. O’Neal responded by racking up 11 interceptions over the next two years, including a NCAA record four pick sixes in 1999.

That dominance as a defender plus punt and kick return averages that ranked near the top of the nation earned O’Neal first-team All-American status in 1999. O’Neal was selected in the first round of the 2000 NFL Draft by the Denver Broncos and enjoyed a strong NFL career that included 34 interceptions and one All-Pro nod.

Home/College Football