Taylor's Take: 8 Pac-12 football names to know in 2026

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Jul. 17—Want to impress your family, friends or bar buddies while watching Year 1 of the new Pac-12? Better start studying now.

Here is one name to know from each of the eight Pac-12 Conference football schools. This is by no means a ranking of the best players in the Pac-12 or even the best player on each program's 2026 roster, though many on this list are absolutely in the running for such consideration.

Rather, it's a collection of players who, in my opinion, you should know about.

Without further ado, here's the list.

Tony Freeman, WR/PR, Washington State

Tony Freeman might be the fastest player in the Pac-12. He certainly flashed his potential for such a title in 2025 when the 5-8, 175-pound wide receiver and punt returner racked up 415 yards on 24 punt returns. His regular season ended with a bang when he totaled a WSU-record 169 yards on six punt returns against Oregon State.

As a wide receiver, Freeman hauled in 54 passes for 590 yards last year.

WSU returns an experienced roster, particularly on the offensive side of the ball in Kirby Moore's first year as head coach.

Moore, most recently Missouri's offensive coordinator, figures to create a dynamic attack in which Freeman, returning running back Kirby Vorhees and UC Davis transfer quarterback Caden Pinnick, to name a few difference-makers, could thrive.

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Freeman's potential impact is unquestionable, but blink, and you might miss him.

Dylan Riley, RB, Boise State

Dylan Riley is back at Boise State for Year 3 of his career.

The 5-foot-10, 192-pound junior running back from Moreno Valley, Calif., had the benefit of belonging to a room with 2024 Heisman finalist Ashton Jeanty. While Jeanty had most of the backfield duties well taken care of, Riley carved out a role as a kickoff returner, racking up 237 total yards that season.

As a sophomore in 2025, Riley stepped up, starting 10 games and leading BSU with 1,125 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns.

Both Phil Steele and Athlon Sports tab Riley as an All-Pac-12 preseason first-team honoree. Both outlets also picked Boise State to win the league, giving Riley a big, bright stage to thrive on.

Elijah Mc-Cantos, S, Colorado State

Elijah Mc-Cantos, like a number of his teammates in Fort Collins, Colo., this year, is new to Colorado State. He has that in common with his coach, Jim Mora, the former NFL headman who was most recently UConn's football steward.

Mora brought several former Huskies with him to CSU, including Phil Steele's MWC preseason first-team tight end Juice Vereen, but the Ram who may end up intercepting your favorite quarterback is Mc-Cantos, the 6-foot, 190-pound safety from Little Haiti, Fla., who spent the last two years at Appalachian State.

At App State, Mc-Cantos made 56 tackles with two interceptions and two pass breakups in 2025.

While CSU may finish toward the bottom of the conference, look for Mc-Cantos to be a particularly bright spot.

Edward Fonua, LG, Fresno State

Edward Fonua, a 6-3, 315-pound left guard from Orange, Calif., was about the most confident component of a 9-4 Fresno State unit in 2025.

The now-senior didn't miss a game during his junior season, playing in all 13 contests and permitting just one sack.

Fonua found his way to Fresno State via Cerritos College in 2023. He stayed at the school through a coaching transition between '24 and '25 and has emerged as a vital feature of coach Matt Entz's '26 Bulldogs — a team that could very well contend for the Pac-12 title.

Aiden Sullivan, LB, Oregon State

Arriving in Corvallis, Ore., by way of Butte College in 2024, Aiden Sullivan cemented himself as a fixture of the Beaver dam defense in his second year on campus.

The 6-1, 229-pound linebacker from Twentynine Palms, Calif., broke out in 2025 with 72 tackles, seven tackles-for-loss, one sack, three forced fumbles, five quarterback hurries and a pass breakup.

In his two Pac-12 games against Washington State last season, Sullivan made 10 total tackles. His lone sack of the season came in OSU's 10-7 win over WSU on Nov. 1.

While a lot of things are new for the Beavers in 2026 with first-year coach JaMarcus Shephard at the helm, Sullivan offers reliable continuity at the heart of the defense as OSU seeks to rebound from a 2-10 season.

Tano Letuli, LB, San Diego State

The San Diego State defense was a stout unit that held five-of-six opponents to 10 points or fewer during a six-game winning streak last year.

While the Aztecs have lost some of the figures that made that a reality, they retain 6-2, 240-pound senior linebacker Tano Letuli.

The 2025 team captain recorded 30 tackles last season. In SDSU's meeting with WSU on Sept. 6 in Pullman, he tallied a career-best 11 tackles.

If SDSU can put its best foot forward in the new conference, Letuli may very well be leading the way.

Brad Jackson, QB, Texas State

From San Antonio, Bobcat quarterback Brad Jackson burst onto the scene in his first season as Texas State's starter.

Jackson, a 6-foot, 197-pound signal-caller, rode a 71% completion rate to a 3,224-yard season with 21 touchdowns to seven interceptions.

The Bobcats were 7-6 in their last season in the Sun Belt largely thanks to Jackson's arm.

Jackson eclipsed 200 yards passing in 9-of-13 starts, including a startling 444 yards passing in a 40-37 double overtime loss to Marshall on Oct. 18.

Texas State is the school that perhaps not enough people are talking about. A top-half finish in the Pac-12 would not be surprising, and if the Bobcats can do more, they'll likely have Jackson to thank for it.

Harrison Taggart, LB, Utah State

Harrison Taggart, a legacy Pac-12 player with Oregon and California, couldn't stay away from the conference for long, transferring to Utah State for the 2026 football season.

The 6-1, 230-pound linebacker logged 38 tackles, two tackles for loss and one pass breakup at Cal in 2025.

After making one ACC start, Taggart figures to feature prominently in the Aggies' plans.

Taylor can be reached at 208-848-2260, staylor@lmtribune.com, or on X or Instagram @Sam_C_Taylor.

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