The Hotline is delighted to provide West Coast fans with a regular dive into the recruiting process through the eyes and ears of Brandon Huffman, the Phoenix-based national recruiting editor for 247Sports. He submitted the following report on Dec. 5 …
The early-signing period wrapped on Friday.
Amid a wild cycle of coaching changes that included three of California’s four power conference schools and two future Pac-12 schools, recruiting was as chaotic as ever.
Here’s our look at the programs across the West that have reason to celebrate, that experienced mixed success and that have cause for sorrow.
Celebrations are in order
Oregon: The Ducks lost two coordinators this week: offensive playcaller Will Stein is Kentucky’s new head coach while defensive coordinator Tosh Lupoi took the same post at his alma mater, Cal.
Did that stop Dan Lanning’s recruiting efforts? Hardly. The Ducks were one more commitment away from securing the No. 1 class in the country even though touted receiver Chris Henry Jr. ultimately stayed with Ohio State.
But the Ducks secured a couple of five-star signees, like receiver Jalen Lott, who made them wait an extra day before his letter-of-intent was sent. They finished No. 3 in the country and No. 2 in the Big Ten.
USC: The Ducks finished second because the Trojans wrapped up the No. 1 class. While Oregon couldn’t flip an Ohio State receiver, the Trojans succeeded. They convinced Kayden Dixon-Wyatt to spurn the Buckeyes and remain in Southern California after a decorated prep career at Mater Dei High School.
USC had been in control of the top class for most of the year, thanks to a monster spring and summer. Although coach Lincoln Riley had to wait for a few late signatures (five-star tight end Mark Bowman, for example), he locked up a class that features three players ranked No. 1 in their states.
The list includes Southern California prospects Keenyi Pepe, the No. 1 tackle in the country who played for IMG Academy, and Talanoa Ili, who finished his career in Hawaii.
Washington: The No. 1 recruit in the state of California ended up in Seattle when it was all said and done: five-star offensive tackle Kodi Greene, who plays for Mater Dei.
Originally from Washington, where he won a state title in basketball, Greene will return home and reunite with his brother at Washington.
The Huskies signed the No. 1 player in the state of Washington, edge rusher Derek Colman-Brusa, who also has a current Husky for a brother.
But the big news was UW’s successful flips in the frenzied final days with four-star receivers Trez Davis (from Tulane) and Jordan Clay (Baylor). On Wednesday night, two-time UCLA commit and one-time Stanford commit David Schwerzel flipped to the Huskies, as well. To end the week, UW flipped long-time Florida tight end commitment Kekua Aumua.
All in all, they finished with the No. 12 class nationally.
BYU: What a week in Provo with coach Kalani Sitake spurning Penn State to stay at his alma mater. Meanwhile, the Cougars flipped two four-stars recruits from within the state in Jaron Pula and Kennan Pula — both had committed to Utah.
More importantly, after speculation that he wouldn’t sign this week because of an LDS mission in January, Ryder Lyons, California’s top quarterback, ultimately signed with the Cougars on Wednesday.
Some good, some bad
Cal: After losing committed prospects in the aftermath of Justin Wilcox’s dismissal (edge rusher Cameron Brooks to Florida State and linebacker Rocky Cummings to Texas, to name two), the situation could have been worse.
The Bears ended up holding onto Bay Area standout Nemyah Telona, largely because of the hiring of Tosh Lupoi, a De La Salle High School product (like Telona).
None of Cal’s four signees from Hawaii waffled, a group headlined by four-star tight end Taimane Purcell.
Widely considered among the best five recruiters in college football, Lupoi is back home at his alma mater, in his native East Bay, and recruiting should only get better.
Utah: The Utes did lose a pair of four-stars on Friday, with the Pula twins signing with BYU. That’s a blow, for sure, because they are local and versatile.
But flipping the No. 1 recruit in the state, cornerback Salesi Moa, from Tennessee and signing the son of former Ute tight end Ben Moa certainly had the Utes feeling pretty good.
They also signed the No. 1 player in Idaho, elite tackle Kelvin Obot, and flipped Fameitau Siale from Michigan State to play on the defensive line.
Stanford: The Cardinal announced the hiring of head coach Tavita Pritchard earlier in the week, and while general manager Andrew Luck did stellar work all year recruiting without a head coach, there were some early losses because of the vacancy.
But the Cardinal rallied late, flipping four-star receiver Zion Robinson from Michigan, four-star athlete Dre Pollard from Washington and longtime Vanderbilt quarterback commit Michael Mitchell Jr., a four-year starter from San Francisco’s Riordan HS.
UCLA: The Bruins had a top-25 class before DeShaun Foster was fired, then fell into the 70s. They rebounded and were No. 40 entering the start of the signing period, then ended the day outside the top 100. But three commits on Friday helped push them into the 60s despite the loss of their three highest-rated pledges: Carter Gooden to Tennessee, Micah Smith to Illinois and Anthony Jones to a flat de-commitment.
But new coach Bob Chesney helped them land former Boston College quarterback commit DJ Bordeaux, UNLV running back pledge Jayden Fox and Michigan State offensive tackle commit Quinn Buckey. Also, Chesney lured his former offensive tackle at James Madison, Michael Price, from Alabama.
Tears, but not of joy
Colorado: Once again, the Buffaloes opted against focusing on high school prospects and barely snuck into the top 100 (No. 95).
Colorado only signed 11 players this week, though two are four-stars in linebacker Carson Crawford and safety Preston Ashley. The Buffs also inked the No. 10 junior college recruit in the country, Domata Peko Jr., the son of assistant defensive line coach Domata Peko.
But there is hope. They hired offensive coordinator Brennan Marion away from Sacramento State, where he was the head coach and had the highest-rated FCS recruiting class in the country. Marion is known as an aggressive recruiter, so there is reason for optimism down the road in Boulder.
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