The 2023 Pac-12 football season is right around the corner, with kickoff a little over two months away.

Before things get going on the gridiron, Pac-12.com will be highlighting some of the Conference's top student-athletes at each position according to their Pro Football Focus grades. 

The series continues with offensive linemen.  

Note: Players recognized needed at least 100 snaps to qualify.

Jackson Powers-Johnson, Oregon

• 2022 PFF rating: 84.1 (No. 13 OL in nation)

No matter where he lined up last season, Powers-Johnson was effective for the Ducks, posting high marks in both pass protection and run blocking. He only allowed two pressures in 181 pass-blocking opportunities. Powers-Johnson spent 350 of his 400 snaps at right guard, but also 44 at center, five at right tackle and one at left guard. Now a junior, he will also provide some much-needed experience for a revamped Ducks offensive line that has to replace four starters.

Jordan Morgan, Arizona

• 2022 PFF rating: 83.1 (No. 17 OL in nation)

Had it not been for a late-season injury against UCLA, Jordan Morgan could have heard his name called in the 2023 NFL Draft. Nevertheless, the left tackle decided to return to Tucson for another season. 

Morgan, an Arizona native, has prototypical size for a quarterback’s blindside at 6-foot-6, 300-plus pounds. He anchors very well in pass protections and has the strength to dominate in the run game as well. According to PFF, Morgan ranked among the top 35 of all tackles in both pass and run blocking grades. 

Jonah Monheim, USC

• 2022 PFF rating: 82.0 (No. 25 OL in nation)

The Trojan right tackle returns after a top-notch season. Monheim started all 14 games in his first year as a full-time starter. His stability on the right side was part of the reason USC was a semifinalist for the Joe Moore award, presented to college football's most outstanding offensive line unit. 

Monheim’s 85.1 pass blocking grade via PFF is the best of all returning Pac-12 tackles. The entire USC offensive line’s goal of keeping Caleb Williams upright translates to the big plays we saw last season. 

Taliese Fuaga, Oregon State

• 2022 PFF rating: 80.4 (T-No. 35 OL in nation)

Another right tackle makes the list. Fuaga is a brawler, especially in the run game. The All-Pac-12 Second Team honoree was a big part of Damien Martinez’s big freshman season. Fuaga was very good at setting the edge of the right side, allowing the shifty Martinez to get to the second level and pick up large chunks of yards. 

Fuaga was very solid as a pass blocker as well. He’ll be an influence on how the Oregon State passing attack improves this upcoming season. 

Roger Rosengarten, Washington

• 2022 PFF rating: 79.6 (T-No. 39 OL in nation)

Unlike most right tackles on this list, Rosengarten is actually responsible for his quarterback’s blindside. In his first year as a full-time starter, Rosengarten was tasked with ensuring lefty Michael Penix Jr. had enough time in the pocket. He clearly did a good job as Penix finished second in the nation with 4.461 yards. 

Rosengarten, listed as a sophomore, will have plenty of time to grow after starting all of last season. The former four-star recruit lived up to his hype and was a huge part in the Washington offense that looks to repeat its top 10 scoring output this season. 

Joshua Gray, Oregon State

• 2022 PFF rating: 79.4 (No. 43 OL in nation)

Gray was part of the Beaver offensive line that helped power the program to its first 10-win season since 2006. The Oregon State left tackle graded as the 21st-best tackle by PFF last year. 

He was proficient as both a pass and run blocker. The grading system saw him as the 23rd-best run blocker at the position. Whomever starts at quarterback for the Beavers should feel secure with a veteran presence behind them as Gray has already started 33 games in his career. 

DAMien Martinez 😤@damienfor6 | 📺 Pac-12 Network pic.twitter.com/cAGwIJjOPG

— Oregon State Football (@BeaverFootball) October 23, 2022

Jake Levengood, Oregon State

• 2022 PFF grade: 79.2 (No. 46 OL in nation)

Speaking of the quarterback battle in Corvallis, Levengood will be the starter’s best friend. The conference’s top-rated returning center will guide the offense for Oregon State as he enters his sixth season with nearly 30 starts. 

Levengood was PFF’s No. 11 center in 2022. Similar to Fuaga and Gray, Levengood made his money in the run game. His 80.1 run blocking grade was 10th among all centers in the country as he opened holes in the middle for Martinez to burst through. 

Justin Dedich, USC

• 2022 PFF grade: 79.1 (No. 47 in nation)

Dedich was an integral piece of the Trojan offensive line that expects to have three new starters this season. He primarily played right guard last season, earning PFF’s 12th-best grade at the position. However, he has played every interior position, which will help this season. 

The expectation is that Dedich will play center this year after Brett Neilon’s graduation. Dedich was an excellent pass blocker according to PFF, as his 90.0 grade was second among all guards.

Coming back to lead the Trojans from the center. ✌🏼#FightOn #Trojanfamily #USC #CollegeFootball #Football #NCAA #Oline @USCFB@USC_athletics pic.twitter.com/yCKkYEXtNc

— Justin Dedich (@Justin_BigDaddy) January 15, 2023

Troy Fautanu, Washington

• 2022 PFF grade: 77.9 (T-No. 61 in nation)

The other Washington tackle also makes this list. Fautanu started nearly every game as the Huskies left tackle last season. Despite not being Penix’s blindside, Fautanu still typically went against the opposing teams’ best pass rusher and he continued to succeed with a high pass-blocking PFF grade of 79.2. 

There are plenty of highlights of last season in which Penix had all the time in the world to find an open receiver. Fautanu had a lot to do with it. 

Jarrett Kingston, USC

• 2022 PFF grade (via Washington State): 76.9 (T-No. 73 in nation)

Who will fill in USC’s right guard spot as Dedich moves over to center? Based on the spring game and practices, it will be Jarrett Kingston. The former Washington State left tackle seemingly will make the transition but it’s not a totally new one. He started 12 games for the Cougars at left guard back in 2021. 

Kingston had the fourth-highest PFF pass blocking grade (80.9) of all Pac-12 tackles last season. Clearly USC is prioritizing protecting Caleb Williams — and for good reason.

Honorable mention: Ajani Cornelius, Oregon

• 2022 PFF rating (at Rhode Island): 90.1

Oregon landed one of the top FCS linemen through the transfer portal. Ajani Cornelius has started 22 games the past two seasons at Rhode Island and should slide into the right tackle spot vacated by the drafted Malaesala Aumavae-Laulu.  

Cornelius is great in space, creating problems for smaller defenders like linebackers and players in the secondary. He helped Rhode Island average 168 yards in the run game last season. His 90.8 run grade was the second-best of all returning linemen.