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 /
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December 06, 2008 USC (58) Rey Maualuga during a NCAA college football game between the USC Trojans and the UCLA Bruins played at the Rose Bowl Stadium in Pasadena California. (Photo by Dustin Snipes/Icon SMI/Icon Sport Media via Getty Images)
December 06, 2008 USC (58) Rey Maualuga during a NCAA college football game between the USC Trojans and the UCLA Bruins played at the Rose Bowl Stadium in Pasadena California. (Photo by Dustin Snipes/Icon SMI/Icon Sport Media via Getty Images) /

21. Rey Maualuga, LB, USC

USC was a factory of linebacker talent throughout much of the BCS era, with Maualuga standing out as one of the top players at the position in recent Pac-12 history.

Following a terrific career at Eureka High School that included a 146-tackle campaign as a junior, Maualuga became one of the top recruits in the nation. Maualuga decided to join Carroll and USC, which was coming off of an undefeated season and looked to make another title run in 2005.

Despite joining a roster already loaded with talent, Maualuga was a valuable piece to the Trojans right away and earned first-team freshman All-American honors. Maualuga got his first chance at starting in 2006 and piled up 79 tackles with a Butkus Award nomination.

Alongside fellow talented linebackers Brian Cushing and Clay Matthews, Maualuga finished the 2007 season with 10.5 tackles for loss and six sacks and was named the defensive player of the game in USC’s Rose Bowl blowout of Illinois. Maualuga had a chance to be a top selection in the 2008 NFL Draft but returned for his senior season to win the 2008 Pac-10 Defensive Player of the Year Award and consensus All-American honors.

The Cincinnati Bengals picked Maualuga in the second round and he is still a productive member of the defense eight years later.

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