All-Pac-12 rankings are an awards desired by all athletes within the conference. WSU has a real chance at getting multiple players these honors.

The 2022 football season will kick off for WSU in just under two weeks against Idaho, at 6:30 p.m. on Sept. 3 at Gesa Field. WSU football looks competitive, let’s go on a deep dive into who can become All-Pac-12.

The Locks:

Ron Stone Jr. defensive line– Out of every WSU football player there is no safer player to put on the locks list than Stone. In 2021, he was an All-Pac-12 first team selection. 

He had 64 total tackles, with 11 for a loss, five sacks, three passes defended, one forced fumble and a fumble recovery, according to ESPN.com. 

Stone could coast and repeat a season like this, look for him to improve his numbers and his draft stock as the true star of this WSU defense. Stone could even be in contention for the Pat Tillman Defensive Player of the Year, with him and Noah Sewell from Oregon being the top contenders.

Dean Janikowski, kicker – Janikowski is a solid kicker and could be considered the best kicker in the Pac-12.

In Janikowski’s first season starting he went 14/17 on field goals, with 42 extra points made. A total of 84 total points. He went 5-5 from 29 yards and in, 7-8 from 30-39 yards and 2-4 from 40-49 yards, according to ESPN.com.

Janikowski will repeat as the first team All-Pac-12 kicker.

Close to a Lock:

Cam Ward, quarterback– Ward tore it up last season in the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision playing for Incarnate Word where he threw for 4,648 yards, 47 touchdowns and just 10 interceptions, according to ESPN.com.

The transfer quarterback is looking to show his worth in the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision and the Pac-12. Following a season from former WSU quarterback Jayden de Laura who earned the Pac-12 Offensive Freshman of the Year, Ward should be hungry.

If Ward is able to match the success he had in the FCS he will be on the All-Pac-12 first team, but regression is bound to happen. The most likely scenario for Ward is that Caleb Williams from USC plays great and grabs the first team selection, so Ward gets the second team. It is possible Oregon QB Bo Nix could take his spot away, but I am confident in saying that he will earn at least second team honors.

A Little More Out There:

Lincoln Victor, wide receiver- Victor is about to have a breakout season. Being able to watch him develop as a player and a leader on the WSU football team has been quite the experience. He is the vocal leader on their offense. 

Victor only had 22 receptions for 296 yards and two touchdowns last season, according to ESPN.com. 

But with WSU’s top targets Calvin Jackson Jr. and Travell Harris graduating, Victor is looking to be the top target for Ward. Both Jackson Jr. and Harris were All-Pac-12 second team and I see Victor at least getting those honors.

If Ward is able to put up numbers close to what he did last season, Victor will highly benefit. Although, he is unknown to most Pac-12 fans, expect them to learn his name quickly.

Brennan Jackson, defensive line– Last season, Jackson was able to earn the honors of All-Pac-12 Honorable Mention, according to WSU Athletics.

He had 46 total tackles, five sacks, two passes defended, one fumble recovery and one interception, according to ESPN.com. 

Jackson will need to step it up in the run game to become an All-Pac-12 player. He will need to get at least 10-15 more tackles and maybe another sack or two.

With a competitive position at defensive line in the Pac-12, Jackson is less likely to grab a selection. Although, if he is able to boost his numbers, he could earn an All-Pac-12 second team selection.

With these players on the roster, WSU is looking to compete within the Pac-12. Look for them to win more games than last season’s 7-6 record provided the key players mentioned succeed.