These are our annual Pac-12 triplet rankings. We’ve selected a trio of players from each team in the conference.

The rules: Each player comes from a different position group, so the defensive version of this series features a defensive lineman, a linebacker and a defensive back. Each program’s troika is ranked against the others in the Pac-12, and we’ll be unveiling and writing about each in reverse-countdown order.

We continue our defensive rankings with No. 10 UCLA.

DL Jacob Tuioti-Mariner: How will the Bruins replace Takkarist McKinley and Eddie Vanderdoes? The most productive returner is this 285-pounder, who logged five tackles for loss and three sacks in 2016. Tuioti-Mariner will be asked to bring the pressure from the edge, and his job won't be easy with all of the other starting UCLA linemen leaving.

LB Kenny Young: The losses of Jayon Brown -- who notched a team-leading 120 tackles -- and Cameron Judge have hurt the Bruins on the second level. They're part of an overall defensive exodus that presents the biggest challenge facing Jim Mora's team entering 2017. Thankfully, Young returns after a productive campaign at inside linebacker that saw 90 stops, 8.5 tackles for loss and five sacks. With Brown gone, this is Young's unit now.

DB Adarius Pickett: Gone is Randall Goforth, gone is Fabian Moreau. The new veteran tandem of Pickett at cornerback and safety Jaleel Wadood takes the torch from those two. Pickett intercepted three passes last season. He has the athleticism and ball skills to emerge as a Bruins defensive fixture in 2017.

Verdict: Even with enviable individual talent, the Bruins have often underperformed defensively in the recent seasons. Now they must replace many of their solid players. The state of the defensive line is particularly worrisome, but there'll be more optimism at linebacker and in the secondary thanks to the remaining presence of some established horses there. Still, UCLA must replace its entire front line of defensive triplets, and that's always a daunting task.