College football officially returns Thursday, as Utah, Arizona State and Washington State get the Pac-12 schedule under way. Monday, we took a look at the top 12 games of the 2014 season. Today, the top 14 Pac-12 players for 2014, in no particular order:

Marcus Mariota, QB, Oregon | 6-4, 215, junior

Mariota guided an Oregon offense that finished first in the Pac-12 in 2013 in both scoring offense (45.5 points per game) and total offense (565.0 yards per game). A Heisman favorite this season, he finished third in the Pac-12 in total offense (336.9 ypg), while leading the league in pass efficiency (167.7) a year ago. Mariota threw for 3,665 yards and 31 touchdowns last season – along with nine rushing scores – to only four interceptions. Listed by NFL draft guru Matt Miller as the best quarterback prospect in college, the Hawaii native can become first three-time All-Conference signal-caller in league history.

Sean Mannion, QB, Oregon State | 6-5, 220, senior

Mannion led the league in total offense (341.5 ypg) and passing (358.6 ypg) in 2013, setting the Pac-12 single-season record with 4,662 yards through the air. His 37 touchdowns last season also set the Beavers' single-season mark. Mannion, who will likely own every passing record in the Oregon State record books, is currently 10th on the Pac-12's all-time passing leaders list at 10,436 yards, needing just 1,892 yards to take the top spot.

Brett Hundley, QB, UCLA | 6-3, 227, junior

With Hundley at the helm, UCLA posted its first 10-win season since 2005 and has higher expectations this season. He led the Pac-12 in passing completion percentage (66.8) as a sophomore and finished fifth in the conference in total offense. He totaled 35 touchdowns (24 passing, 11 rushing) in 2013, combining for 3,819 yards through the air (3,071) and on the ground (748). Also a top Heisman candidate, Hundley ranks third in school history with 7,914 yards of total offense and 53 touchdown passes; his 6,811 passing yards is fourth.

Taylor Kelly, QB, Arizona State | 6-2, 211, senior

Kelly earned second team All-Pac-12 honors over the previous two QBs after totaling 4,243 yards (3,635 passing, 608 rushing) and 37 touchdowns (28 passing, nine rushing) in 2013. Behind 303.1 yards per game, Kelly led an Arizona State offense that finished second in the conference at 39.7 points per game. His 57 touchdown passes the last two seasons (27 starts) is the most by a Sun Devils quarterback over that stretch.

Nelson Agholor, WR/KR, USC | 6-1, 190, junior

With all do respect to first-round pick Marquis Lee (57 catches, 791 yards and four touchdowns), Agholar was arguably USC's best receiver last year. He grabbed 56 catches, averaging 16.4 yards per catch, for a team-high 918 yards and six touchdowns. Also a dangerous return man, his 19.1 yards per punt return was tops in the Pac-12, twice resulting in touchdowns. Agholar is a projected first-round pick in the 2015 NFL draft.

Ty Montgomery, WR/KR, Stanford | 6-2, 215, junior

Montgomery is the leader among returners in touchdown receptions from 2013, turning in 10 touchdowns on 61 catches to go with 958 yards. The second-team All-Pac-12 wideout was also earned first team honors as a return specialist, leading the nation with 30.3 yards per kick return. The junior is the league's leading returner for all-purpose yards after totaling 2,208 in 2013 (157.7/game). Montgomery, who rushed 13 times for 159 yards and a pair of scores last season, is also a projected first-round pick in next year's draft.

Jaelen Strong, WR, Arizona State | 6-3, 212, junior

Second among returning Pac-12 pass catchers, Strong hauled in 75 passes for 1,122 yards and seven touchdowns in 2013. Of his 75 catches, 47 went for first downs. The Philadelphia, Pa. native recorded five consecutive 100-plus yard games (seven total) in his first six starts as a sophomore, earning second-team All-Pac-12 honors.

Hroniss Grasu, C, Oregon | 6-3, 297, senior

A two-time, All-Pac-12 performer, Grasu anchors a line that allowed just 18 sacks in 405 pass attempts (1.38 per game) last season. The only remaining starter from the Ducks' 2012 Rose Bowl team, the senior was a Rimington Award finalist in 2013 and is again on the 2014 preseason award watch list. Grasu, 35-5 in three seasons in Eugene, is a consensus preseason All-American and first-round pick.

Andrus Peat, OT, Stanford | 6-7, 310, junior

A second-team All-Pac-12 performer as a sophomore, Peat has been compared by Stanford head coach David Shaw to NFL Hall of Famer Jonathon Ogden. While Peat's size is similar to the former Baltimore Ravens great, his head coach says he "moves like a tight end." The junior is on a number of preseason All-American lists and would be a first-round selection should he opt for the 2015 NFL draft.

Myles Jack, LB/RB, UCLA | 6-1, 232, sophomore

Jack, the Pac-12 Defensive Freshman of the Year and Offensive Freshman of the Year, played in all 13 games in his first season of college football, including 12 starts (11 at linebacker and one at running back). The true freshman posted 75 tackles (seven for a loss) and broke up a team-best 11 passes, grabbing a pair of interceptions on the season. Offensively, the "Runningbacker" carried the ball 38 times for 267 yards, scoring seven touchdowns for the Bruins.

Shaq Thompson, LB, Washington | 6-1, 228, junior

Thompson, who started his college career at nickel, finished second on the team in tackles last season with 78. Washington, which lost first team All-Pac-12 performer Bishop Sankey to the draft, has toyed with using Thompson as a ball carrier this season. The junior made Athlon's preseason All-America list.

Leonard Williams, DL, USC | 6-5, 300, junior

A a torn labrum in his right shoulder didn't stop Williams from earning All-American honors as a sophomore after recording 74 tackles, including a team-high 13.5 for a loss, and six sacks in 2013. A semifinalist for for Bednarik Award for the nation's best defensive player last season, the versatile Williams is regarded as the best defensive lineman in the country and a top-5 pick in next year's NFL draft.

Hau'oli Kikaha, DE/OLB, Washington | 6-3, 250, senior

Kikaha is the leading Pac-12 returner in sacks after finishing second in the conference last season with 13, which was second-most in school history. The second-team All-League performer also recorded 70 tackles in 2013, including 15.5 tackles for a loss. Kikaha, who tied for the national lead in combined quarterback hurries and knockdowns (45) at defensive end last season, is transitioning to outside linebacker for his final year in Seattle.

Ifo Ekpre-Olomu, CB, Oregon | 5-10, 195, senior

Olomu, a two-time, All-Pac-12 performer, finished second on the Ducks with 84 tackles, with a team-high 53 unassisted. The senior anchored an Oregon secondary that led the Pac-12 in pass defense (204.5 ypg) and pass defense efficiency (105.5). Tabbed as "clearly the top cornerback in the NCAA" by Phil Steele, the Ducks' leader on defense could end up a top-10 pick in the 2015 NFL draft.

-- Sean Meagher