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Season's best Pac-12 players: Nos. 6-10

We continue our countdown of the top 25 players in the Pac-12 this year. Obviously, this list is subjective, and though we spent a lot of time putting it together, there was a fair amount of debate in its creation.

In case you missed the first three installments, check out Nos. 21-25 here, 16-20 here, and 11-15 here.

Now, on to the next batch ...

No. 6: Washington DE Hau'oli Kikaha

Statistics: 25 tackles for loss (139 TFL yards), 19 sacks, 2 pass breakups, 3 forced fumbles

To contextualize the sheer amount of damage Kikaha inflicted on opposing offenses this season, imagine the length of a football field -- plus 40 yards. The Washington senior led the nation with a staggering 139 tackle for loss yards, and he also edged Utah's Nate Orchard for the national lead in sacks (19, though Kikaha played in one more game). The 6-foot-3, 246-pound senior was a speed-rushing force of nature in Seattle throughout his collegiate career, one in which he successfully fought back from two ACL tears. He was consistent, too: Kikaha registered at least a half-sack in all but one of Washington's games this season.

No. 7: Washington DT Danny Shelton

Statistics: 93 tackles, 16.5 tackles for loss, 9 sacks, 3 QB hits, 5 fumble recoveries

Kikaha -- and other 2014 Washington defensive stalwarts such as Shaq Thompson -- are quick to credit a large part of their statistical success to the disruptive force that Shelton generated inside. First off, this guy checks in at 6-2, 342 pounds, and he can move. That's obviously a rare combination, and it's the reason Shelton is dominating at Senior Bowl practices. But unlike most good defensive tackles who occupy double-teams without lighting up the stat sheet, Shelton went the extra mile: He racked up statistical productivity, too. This season saw 93 tackles, 16.5 TFL and nine sacks -- all absurd numbers for a tackle.

No. 8: UCLA QB Brett Hundley

Statistics: 3,155 passing yards, 69.1 percent completion rate, 22 TD passes, 5 INT, 871 rushing yards, 10 TD

Hundley showed the type of improvement NFL teams wanted to see out of him in 2014. He became more accurate (he upped his completion rate to 69.1 percent from 66.8 in 2013), and he cut his interception tally down to only five. In short, Hundley did a better job avoiding mistakes despite feeling significant pressure throughout the season -- the Bruins surrendered 40 sacks, the 113th-worst protection performance in the nation. Hundley showcased his dual-threat explosiveness throughout the year, and he saved a stellar performance for hated rival USC, throwing for 326 yards and three TDs. Hundley finished 3-0 in his career against the Trojans. In Westwood, that's a huge deal.

No. 9: Utah RB Devontae Booker

Statistics: 1,512 yards, 5.2 per carry, 306 receiving yards, 12 TD

In the regular season, Booker rushed for 759 yards after contact, 187 more than any other Pac-12 player. That statistic alone is enough to demonstrate Booker's value as a runner who has brought an impressive speed-power combination to the Salt Lake City backfield. Booker finished second in the Pac-12 rushing rankings behind only UCLA's Paul Perkins with 1,512 yards. Booker also registered 306 receiving yards as the centerpiece of Utah's offense. Booker's performance was made more impressive by the fact that defenses could frequently key on him since Utah's passing attack was so inconsistent. His return next year is critical news for Kyle Whittingham's team.

No. 10: UCLA LB Eric Kendricks

Statistics: 149 tackles, 11.5 tackles for loss, 4 sacks, 3 INT, 5 passes defended

Kendricks led the nation twice in solo tackles over the course of his UCLA career, and one of those campaigns came in 2014, his final go-round in Westwood. This guy was a tackling machine throughout his time in Bruin blue, so it's fitting that he was the only player in the nation to eclipse the century mark in solo tackles this past season. The other statistical inventory here might be even more impressive: When Kendricks led the nation with 150 tackles in 2012, he recorded the highest tally of any UCLA player since 1978. Given his consistently excellent productivity from the second level, it's no surprise that Kendricks leaves college as the Bruins' all-time leading tackler. He also has the Butkus Award in hand. Well deserved.