The Hotline is delighted to offer West Coast followers with a daily dive into the recruiting course of via the eyes and ears of Brandon Huffman, the Phoenix-based nationwide recruiting editor for 247Sports. He submitted the next report on Dec. 5 …
The early-signing interval wrapped on Friday.
Amid a wild cycle of teaching adjustments that included three of California’s 4 energy convention faculties and two future Pac-12 faculties, recruiting was as chaotic as ever.
Right here’s our have a look at the applications throughout the West which have purpose to have fun, that skilled combined success and which have trigger for sorrow.
Celebrations are so as
Oregon: The Geese misplaced two coordinators this week: offensive playcaller Will Stein is Kentucky’s new head coach whereas defensive coordinator Tosh Lupoi took the identical submit at his alma mater, Cal.
Did that cease Dan Lanning’s recruiting efforts? Hardly. The Geese have been yet another dedication away from securing the No. 1 class within the nation regardless that touted receiver Chris Henry Jr. in the end stayed with Ohio State.
However the Geese secured a few five-star signees, like receiver Jalen Lott, who made them wait an additional day earlier than his letter-of-intent was despatched. They completed No. 3 within the nation and No. 2 within the Massive Ten.
USC: The Geese completed second as a result of the Trojans wrapped up the No. 1 class. Whereas Oregon couldn’t flip an Ohio State receiver, the Trojans succeeded. They satisfied Kayden Dixon-Wyatt to spurn the Buckeyes and stay in Southern California after a embellished prep profession at Mater Dei Excessive College.
USC had been in command of the highest class for a lot of the 12 months, because of a monster spring and summer time. Though coach Lincoln Riley needed to await just a few late signatures (five-star tight finish Mark Bowman, for instance), he locked up a category that options three gamers ranked No. 1 of their states.
The listing contains Southern California prospects Keenyi Pepe, the No. 1 deal with within the nation who performed for IMG Academy, and Talanoa Ili, who completed his profession in Hawaii.
Washington: The No. 1 recruit within the state of California ended up in Seattle when it was all mentioned and achieved: five-star offensive deal with Kodi Greene, who performs for Mater Dei.
Initially from Washington, the place he received a state title in basketball, Greene will return residence and reunite along with his brother at Washington.
The Huskies signed the No. 1 participant within the state of Washington, edge rusher Derek Colman-Brusa, who additionally has a present Husky for a brother.
However the massive information was UW’s profitable flips within the frenzied remaining days with four-star receivers Trez Davis (from Tulane) and Jordan Clay (Baylor). On Wednesday night time, two-time UCLA commit and one-time Stanford commit David Schwerzel flipped to the Huskies, as nicely. To finish the week, UW flipped long-time Florida tight finish dedication Kekua Aumua.
All in all, they completed with the No. 12 class nationally.
BYU: What every week in Provo with coach Kalani Sitake spurning Penn State to remain at his alma mater. In the meantime, the Cougars flipped two four-stars recruits from inside the state in Jaron Pula and Kennan Pula — each had dedicated to Utah.
Extra importantly, after hypothesis that he wouldn’t signal this week due to an LDS mission in January, Ryder Lyons, California’s prime quarterback, in the end signed with the Cougars on Wednesday.
Some good, some dangerous
Cal: After shedding dedicated prospects within the aftermath of Justin Wilcox’s dismissal (edge rusher Cameron Brooks to Florida State and linebacker Rocky Cummings to Texas, to call two), the scenario might have been worse.
The Bears ended up holding onto Bay Space standout Nemyah Telona, largely due to the hiring of Tosh Lupoi, a De La Salle Excessive College product (like Telona).
None of Cal’s 4 signees from Hawaii waffled, a gaggle headlined by four-star tight finish Taimane Purcell.
Extensively thought of among the many finest 5 recruiters in school soccer, Lupoi is again residence at his alma mater, in his native East Bay, and recruiting ought to solely get higher.
Utah: The Utes did lose a pair of four-stars on Friday, with the Pula twins signing with BYU. That’s a blow, for positive, as a result of they’re native and versatile.
However flipping the No. 1 recruit within the state, cornerback Salesi Moa, from Tennessee and signing the son of former Ute tight finish Ben Moa actually had the Utes feeling fairly good.
In addition they signed the No. 1 participant in Idaho, elite deal with Kelvin Obot, and flipped Fameitau Siale from Michigan State to play on the line of defense.
Stanford: The Cardinal introduced the hiring of head coach Tavita Pritchard earlier within the week, and whereas basic supervisor Andrew Luck did stellar work all 12 months recruiting with no head coach, there have been some early losses due to the emptiness.
However 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.
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UCLA: The Bruins had a top-25 class earlier than DeShaun Foster was fired, then fell into the 70s. They rebounded and have been No. 40 getting into the beginning of the signing interval, then ended the day outdoors the highest 100. However three commits on Friday helped push them into the 60s regardless of the lack of their three highest-rated pledges: Carter Gooden to Tennessee, Micah Smith to Illinois and Anthony Jones to a flat de-commitment.
However new coach Bob Chesney helped them land former Boston Faculty quarterback commit DJ Bordeaux, UNLV working again pledge Jayden Fox and Michigan State offensive deal with commit Quinn Buckey. Additionally, Chesney lured his former offensive deal with at James Madison, Michael Worth, from Alabama.
Tears, however not of pleasure
Colorado: As soon as once more, the Buffaloes opted in opposition to specializing in highschool prospects and barely snuck into the highest 100 (No. 95).
Colorado solely signed 11 gamers this week, although two are four-stars in linebacker Carson Crawford and security Preston Ashley. The Buffs additionally inked the No. 10 junior school recruit within the nation, Domata Peko Jr., the son of assistant line of defense coach Domata Peko.
However there’s hope. They employed offensive coordinator Brennan Marion away from Sacramento State, the place he was the pinnacle coach and had the highest-rated FCS recruiting class within the nation. Marion is named an aggressive recruiter, so there’s purpose for optimism down the highway in Boulder.
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