Ted Miller at espn.com has spent the past month ranking the top 30 players in the Pac-10. Not surprisingly, numero uno is USC safety Taylor Mays.

Miller says of Mays:

No one who regularly reads the Pac-10 Blog could possibly question ranking No. 1 the conference's only returning consensus first-team All-American, the most important member of the Trojans' All-Universe 2008 defense and the almost certain first Pac-10 player taken in the 2010 NFL draft. Oh, and the 6-foot-4, 230-pound Mays also is the best all-around athlete in college football. And possibly all of football

USC had the nation's best pass defense in 2008 because of Mays. The Trojans gave up only six touchdown passes all season. Foes completed only 52 percent of their passes and averaged 134 yards per game.

Mays' presence was a giant sign posted in the secondary: "Don't even think about it." And few teams did. And when they did, well, you've seen the clips of Mays' bone-jarring hits.

Other Trojans making the list:

5. Kristofer O'Dowd, C, USC
7. Damian Williams, WR, USC
12. Joe McKnight, RB, USC
17. Charles Brown, OT, USC
19. Josh Pinkard, DB, USC
21. Stafon Johnson, RB, USC
30. Everson Griffen, DE, USC

The entire list after jump…

Ranking the Pac-10's 30 best players: No. 1 [espn.com]

No. 1

	Kevin Terrell/Getty Images
	USC's Taylor Mays is the Pac-10's only returning consensus first-team All-American.

Taylor Mays, S, USC: The good news here is no one will disagree with this one. No one who regularly reads the Pac-10 Blog could possibly question ranking No. 1 the conference's only returning consensus first-team All-American, the most important member of the Trojans' All-Universe 2008 defense and the almost certain first Pac-10 player taken in the 2010 NFL draft. Oh, and the 6-foot-4, 230-pound Mays also is the best all-around athlete in college football. And possibly all of football. One of the great fascinations of the 2010 draft will be who goes first between Tennessee's Eric Berry -- also a mega-talented safety -- and Mays, with both likely going in the top 10. You know how many teams use Cover 2 to prevent offenses from making big plays downfield in the passing game? USC did that. Only it played Cover 2 with Mays playing the role of two safeties as a lone centerfielder. Sure, Mays' zero interceptions last year is a hole on his resume, even though his role limited his opportunities for picks. And a few folks snicker that a handful of Mays' team-high nine pass deflections in 2008 should have been interception. Mays, who's started 38 consecutive games, has yet to demonstrate great hands (which Berry has). But USC had the nation's best pass defense in 2008 because of Mays. The Trojans gave up only six touchdown passes all season. Foes completed only 52 percent of their passes and averaged 134 yards per game. It wasn't mostly because of the Trojans' cornerbacks, who were good but didn't earn first- or second-team all-conference honors. It wasn't because of strong safety Kevin Ellison, who was more of a glorified linebacker. It wasn't because of an overwhelming pass rush; USC only had 29 sacks. Mays' presence was a giant sign posted in the secondary: "Don't even think about it." And few teams did. And when they did, well, you've seen the clips of Mays' bone-jarring hits.

2. Jahvid Best, RB, California
3. Rob Gronkowski, TE, Arizona
4. Jacquizz Rodgers, RB, Oregon State
5. Kristofer O'Dowd, C, USC
6. Brian Price, DT, UCLA
7. Damian Williams, WR, USC
8. Syd'Quan Thompson, CB, California
9. Jeremiah Masoli, QB, Oregon
10. Walter Thurmond, CB, Oregon
11. Jake Locker, QB, Washington
12. Joe McKnight, RB, USC
13. Dexter Davis, DE, Arizona State
14. LeGarrette Blount, RB, Oregon
15. Alterraun Verner, CB, UCLA
16. Ed Dickson, TE, Oregon
17. Charles Brown, OT, USC
18. Will Tukuafu, DE, Oregon
19. Josh Pinkard, DB, USC
20. Reggie Carter, LB, UCLA
21. Stafon Johnson, RB, USC
22. James Rodgers, WR, Oregon State
23. Daniel Te'o-Nesheim, DE, Washington
24. Lawrence Guy, DT, Arizona State; Stephen Paea, DT, Oregon State
25. Toby Gerhart, RB, Stanford
26. Tyson Alualu, DE, California
27. Devin Ross, CB, Arizona
28. Keaton Kristick, LB, Oregon State
29. Brooks Reed, DE, Arizona
30. Everson Griffen, DE, USC

No. 5

O'Dowd

Kristofer O'Dowd, C, USC: What's the deal with the Pac-10 and centers of late? California's Alex Mack and Oregon's Max Unger likely will be selected in the first two rounds of this month's NFL draft, and O'Dowd may shortly join them -- he projects as being the first center selected in the 2010 NFL draft if he opts to bypass his senior season. He also joined them as a member of the first-team All-Pac-10 offensive line last year as a true sophomore. The 6-foot-5, 300-pound Tucson, Ariz., native -- a former Parade All-American -- will be the anchor of what will be one of the nation's best offensive lines this fall, though he is sitting out spring practices after shoulder surgery. O'Dowd has physical skills. In the 2007 opener vs. Idaho, he became the first USC true freshman to start at center and just the third Trojan freshman to start on the offensive line in a season opener, post-World War II. He's also smart, which helps when you're calling the line signals for the Trojans' complicated offense. He's the total package, almost a sure thing to earn All-American honors, barring injury.

6. Brian Price, DT, UCLA
7. Damian Williams, WR, USC
8. Syd'Quan Thompson, CB, California
9. Jeremiah Masoli, QB, Oregon
10. Walter Thurmond, CB, Oregon
11. Jake Locker, QB, Washington
12. Joe McKnight, RB, USC
13. Dexter Davis, DE, Arizona State
14. LeGarrette Blount, RB, Oregon
15. Alterraun Verner, CB, UCLA
16. Ed Dickson, TE, Oregon
17. Charles Brown, OT, USC
18. Will Tukuafu, DE, Oregon
19. Josh Pinkard, DB, USC
20. Reggie Carter, LB, UCLA
21. Stafon Johnson, RB, USC
22. James Rodgers, WR, Oregon State
23. Daniel Te'o-Nesheim, DE, Washington
24. Lawrence Guy, DT, Arizona State; Stephen Paea, DT, Oregon State
25. Toby Gerhart, RB, Stanford
26. Tyson Alualu, DE, California
27. Devin Ross, CB, Arizona
28. Keaton Kristick, LB, Oregon State
29. Brooks Reed, DE, Arizona
30. Everson Griffen, DE, USC

No. 7

Damian Williams, WR, USC: Williams numbers from 2008 won't blow you away. He caught 58 passes for 869 yards, with his nine touchdown receptions ranking second to Arizona's Rob Gronkowski. This high ranking is based on three things: 1. He went nuts in the Rose Bowl, catching 10 passes for 162 yards with a touchdown; 2. He's the best receiver in the Pac-10; 3. The junior could be the first receiver taken in the 2010 draft if he opts to leave early. In other words, the 6-foot-1, 190-pound Williams is an elite talent, no matter that he only ended up honorable mention All-Pac-10 in 2008. Beyond physical skills, Williams has great hands and has long been touted as a precise route runner. Our suggestion to whoever wins the USC quarterback job is to find Williams early and often.

8. Syd'Quan Thompson, CB, California:
9. Jeremiah Masoli, QB, Oregon:
10. Walter Thurmond, CB, Oregon
11. Jake Locker, QB, Washington
12. Joe McKnight, RB, USC
13. Dexter Davis, DE, Arizona State
14. LeGarrette Blount, RB, Oregon
15. Alterraun Verner, CB, UCLA
16. Ed Dickson, TE, Oregon
17. Charles Brown, OT, USC
18. Will Tukuafu, DE, Oregon
19. Josh Pinkard, DB, USC
20. Reggie Carter, LB, UCLA
21. Stafon Johnson, RB, USC
22. James Rodgers, WR, Oregon State
23. Daniel Te'o-Nesheim, DE, Washington
24. Lawrence Guy, DT, Arizona State; Stephen Paea, DT, Oregon State
25. Toby Gerhart, RB, Stanford
26. Tyson Alualu, DE, California
27. Devin Ross, CB, Arizona
28. Keaton Kristick, LB, Oregon State
29. Brooks Reed, DE, Arizona
30. Everson Griffen, DE, USC

Here's a run-down of potential players to welcome to the Trojan family:

5-star offensive lineman Andre Smith - Supposively gave word to hometown favorite Alabama months ago, but he could be a signing day surprise. COMMITTED TO ALABAMA.

5-star defensive tackle Gerald McCoy - This Oklahoma native would be a huge steal from Stoops. COMMITTED TO OKLAHOMA.

5-star running back C.J. Spiller - A country boy from Florida. Can he and his family make the adjustment to big city living? Pete Carroll certainly made an impression on his mom. He could become the 2nd C.J. of the Trojans' 2006 recruiting class. COMMITTED TO CLEMSON.

5-star running back Stafon Johnson - Straight out of Dorsey. This kid should be a lock to stay in LA. COMMITTED TO USC.

5-star offensive lineman Stephen Schilling - USC has a better chance at this guy then Andre Smith. Although the Trojans would like both after losing underclassmen Winston Justice and Fred Matua. COMMITTED TO MICHIGAN.

4-star running back Michael Goodson - This kid has Reggie Bush-like moves as evidenced in the Army All-American game. COMMITTED TO TEXAS A&M.

4-star running back LeSean McCoy - Likely to remain home and attend Penn State, but he's still on the Trojans' radar since the Trojans' backfield will be playing on Sundays next season.COMMITTED TO MIAMI.

4-star linebacker Michael Morgan - There's nothing like stealing top talent out of Texas. See Emmanuel Moody. COMMITTED TO USC.

4-star defensive back Devin Ross - Supposively the Trojans were out of the running, but are now back on the block. COMMITTED TO ARIZONA.

*All rankings based on Rivals.com