Over the next few weeks the Pac-12 blog will be doing position group rankings for the conference.
Up today: linebackers.
1. USC: The Trojans were untested along the defensive line at the start of the season, but they more than made up for those concerns over the course of the year with their linebackers. Cameron Smith built on his stellar freshman campaign with a team-leading 79 tackles, while Porter Gustin fortified the defensive line -- he often lined up in a three-point stance and led the team with 12 tackles for loss from defensive coordinator Clancy Pendergast's hybrid role.