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Pac-12 Football 2017 preview

By Brad Weiss

SANTA CLARA, CA - DECEMBER 02: Washington Huskies revel in the celebration during the Pac-12 Championship game between the Washington Huskies verses the Colorado Buffaloes on December 2, 2016 at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, CA (Photo by Douglas Stringer/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
SANTA CLARA, CA - DECEMBER 02: Washington Huskies revel in the celebration during the Pac-12 Championship game between the Washington Huskies verses the Colorado Buffaloes on December 2, 2016 at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, CA (Photo by Douglas Stringer/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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October 01, 2016: UCLA Bruins helmets during the game against the Arizona Wildcats at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, CA. (Photo by Adam Davis/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
October 01, 2016: UCLA Bruins helmets during the game against the Arizona Wildcats at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, CA. (Photo by Adam Davis/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

Freshman of the Year: DE Jaelan Phillips, UCLA

When the UCLA Bruins signed Jaelan Phillips, they were getting arguably the best player in high school football. A dominant defensive end, Phillips has already made his presence known at the collegiate level, and will be a true Freshman starter for the Bruins this season. He has an incredible skill set for a player who just turned 18-years old, and the sky is certainly the limit for him.

Phillips enrolled at UCLA early, and immediately started impressing the coaching staff. The No. 1 recruit and National Player of the Year by 247Sports, Phillips could be the kind of player who dominates college football from day one.

Kind of like Ed Oliver did last season for the Houston Cougars, the young defensive end should be a instant success for the Bruins in 2017.

It is no big secret that the Bruins lost a ton of talent on their defensive line, both in the middle, and on the outside. Eddie Vanderdoes was a third-round pick of the Oakland Raiders, and has shown during his short time with the team to be a future star at defensive tackle. Takkarist McKinley was one of the best pass rushers in the 2017 NFL Draft, and was a first round selection of the Atlanta Falcons.

The 2016 season was a rough one for UCLA, who lost star quarterback Josh Rosen early in the season to a shoulder injury. Rosen is back and healthy for his junior season, and will certainly be a playmaker on the Bruins offense. Phillips has the kind of talent to make him a playmaker on the other side of the ball, and he should be able to live up to the expectations.

Phillips is a physical freak, standing 6-foot-5, and weighing 255 pounds. He has linebacker quickness, and his physical attributes are matched by his willingness to spend the time watching tape. UCLA will be much improved this season, and Phillips is going to be a big reason why.