Cal featured on ESPN.com, picked to win Pac-10

Marshawn Lynch has returned to the front page of ESPN’s College Football index, with caption “Marshawn Lynch and Cal are focused on a run at the Pac-10 title” and subtitle “Is this the year USC gets knocked off the Pac-10 throne? Will Marshawn Lynch lead a Cal coronation?” This is the lead-in for ESPN’s release of the Blue Ribbon Preview for the Pac-10 (subscription only). The article is VERY positive, picking Cal to win the Pac-10. Their summary:

Blue Ribbon Preview – California:
The defense should be potent, led by perhaps the most complete collection of linemen and linebackers west of the Mississippi. The pass rush should be more than enough to bypass potential growing pains by the safeties.

And then there’s Lynch, who along with USC receiver Dwayne Jarrett should bring the Pac-10 any national attention some might fear departed with Reggie Bush and Matt Leinart. Lynch is a legitimate Heisman Trophy candidate and here’s guessing Cal produces a 2,000-yard rusher for the second time in three seasons (J.J. Arrington did so in 2004).

In the end, we see Cal as a lock for double-digit wins and at worst, third-place in the Pac-10. Best-case scenario, though — one of the quarterbacks takes to the spread offense and the Bears unseat USC, the three-time defending Pac-10 champs, and earn a coveted BCS bid that many thought they deserved two seasons ago.

They project Lynch as the Pac-10’s Offensive Player of the Year and Daymeion Hughes as the Defensive Player of the Year. Lynch and Hughes (DB) also make their All-Pac-10 Team along with Brandon Mebane (DL), Desmond Bishop (LB), and Tim Mixon (PR).

One player I believe they overlooked is DeSean Jackson (WR), a contender for a monster season. ESPN’s Bruce Feldman reports that Jackson has spent the offseason weight training instead of playing baseball. He’s already put on 10 pounds of bulk.