The Hotline is delighted to offer West Coast followers with a daily dive into the recruiting course of by the eyes and ears of Brandon Huffman, the Phoenix-based nationwide recruiting editor for 247Sports. He submitted the next report on Dec. 18 …
It was a season of change for the Pac-12 legacy faculties.
The 2 remaining both fired their coach (Oregon State) or misplaced their coach (Washington State) as they welcome six new faculties to the rebuilt convention.
Three of the 4 California faculties will welcome new head coaches themselves (Cal, Stanford and UCLA) after a spring firing (Stanford), a September firing (UCLA) and a late-season firing (Cal).
The dean of West Coast coaches, Kyle Whittingham, is stepping down at Utah after 21 seasons, handing the keys to coach-in-waiting Morgan Scalley, the Utes’ longtime defensive coordinator.
Arizona State and Washington nonetheless have their head coaches, Kenny Dillingham and Jedd Fisch, respectively, although each have been linked to quite a few jobs this offseason.
And let’s provide kudos to the brand new co-dean of the West Coast coaches, Dan Lanning, who’s wrapping up his fourth season at Oregon with a second playoff berth. (USC’s Lincoln Riley is ending his fourth season, as effectively.)
Here’s a have a look at the most effective place group every faculty has secured for his or her highschool recruiting class of 2026.
Arizona
Offensive Line: Whether or not it was signing in-state standout Malachi Joyner, a four-star prospect from Gilbert, or heading to Texas to safe four-star deal with Justin Morales, the Wildcats strengthened their offensive line on this class. The success stands as a tip ‘o the cap to offensive line coach Josh Oglesby, who has a knack for analysis and growth.
Arizona State
Backfield: The Solar Devils signed four-star quarterback Jake Fette from Texas — he’s an Elite 11 finalist — and stayed in Texas for a four-star working again, Cardae Mack. Given the switch of quarterback Sam Leavitt and commencement of Jeff Sims, plus tailback Raleek Brown’s entry into the NFL Draft, don’t be shocked if both Fette or Mack pushes for taking part in time early subsequent season.
Cal
Offensive line: Famika Anae, the Bears’ line coach, made a robust case to be retained by new coach Tosh Lupoi together with his recruiting prowess. The Hawaii native went to the Aloha State for 2 stellar linemen in Esaiah Wong and Kamo’i Huihui-White and received a steal in Elisha Faamatuainu. However the headliner of Cal’s class is Daniel McMorris from Oklahoma, a former Minnesota commit who’s a Top247 prospect and caught with the Bears even by the firing of Justin Wilcox.
Colorado
Linebacker: Whereas the Buffaloes signed simply 12 gamers, they did high quality work with the entrance seven. Texas linebacker Carson Crawford is their lone Top247 prospect whereas outdoors linebacker/edge rusher Domata Peko Jr. is a top-10 junior faculty prospect (and the son of CU’s assistant line of defense coach Domata Peko, a longtime NFL veteran). Georgia linebacker Rodney Colton and Washington’s Colby Johnson spherical out this unit.
Oregon
Secondary: 5-star prospect Jett Washington is the No. 1 security within the nation and the nephew of NBA legend Kobe Bryant. An elite playmaker who has first-round potential as a linebacker, he’s a ball-hawker at security. Florida security Devin Jackson and California cornerback Davon Benjamin are every top-100 recruits from the defensive backfield for Chris Hampton, who will take over because the Geese’ defensive coordinator with Lupoi off to Berkeley.
Oregon State
Receiver: It’s no shock that new head coach JaMarcus Shephard sees the necessity to enhance OSU’s wideouts. The highest dedication is a longtime pledge, Archbishop Riordan’s Cynai Thomas, who caught with the Beavers by the uncertainty of a training change. However Shephard was in a position to land Jameson Powell on signing day, convincing the longtime Mississippi pledge to return to Corvallis from Sacramento. Then Shephard added Folsom’s Jayden Padgett a day later whereas additionally including Jesse Legree from prep energy St. Frances Academy in Maryland.
Stanford
Receiver: Tyler Osborne has quietly been probably the greatest recruiters within the area since coming over from Sacramento State. His work flipping Michigan commit Zion Robinson gave the Cardinal their headliner within the class (and a top-20 receiver nationally). Daylan Sharper has NFL bloodlines, and Stanford beat UCLA and USC, in addition to Arizona State, for Sharper whereas going to Georgia for Atticus Joseph and New York for Jacob Butler.
UCLA
Linebacker: Whereas neither Matthew Muasau or Malaki Soliai-Tui are rated extraordinarily excessive, UCLA’s historical past of taking frivolously recruited linebackers, letting them free and turning them into NFL draft picks has been spectacular (like former walk-on turned NFL Defensive Rookie of the Yr frontrunner Carson Schwesinger, or Muasau’s older brother, Darius, now with the New York Giants). Each recruits come from prep powerhouses who performed robust schedules and good competitors and have been multi-year anchors for these defenses.
USC
Receiver/tight finish: Whether or not it was the No. 1 tight finish within the nation, Mark Bowman — he’s the highest tight finish the Golden State has produced since Mackey Award winner Brock Bowers — or elite receivers Kayden Dixon-Wyatt, who they flipped from Ohio State, and even Ethan “Boobie” Feaster from Texas, the Trojans didn’t go improper. Nonetheless, our cash is on the electrical Trent Mosley, who went nuclear on opposing defenses as soon as he was totally wholesome and helped Santa Margarita win the state title. He may find yourself being the most effective faculty participant from this group.
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Utah
Offensive line: The Utes are more likely to have a pair of first-round draft picks from their offensive line within the spring, together with Outland Trophy winner Spencer Fano. But it was one other former first rounder, ex-Utes star Jordan Gross, who made the best influence on Utah’s prime signee: Kelvin Obot, the No. 1 recruit in Idaho, who performs for Gross at Fruitland Excessive College. Utah additionally flipped mammoth in-state standout Mataalii Benjamin from Minnesota, then went to New Mexico for the highest recruit within the state, inside lineman Moses Sparks Jr.
Washington
Receiver: Kevin Cummings has a knack for recruiting — whereas at Arizona, he signed Tetairoa McMillan — however the assortment of wideouts he landed at Washington this yr could also be his greatest but. Cummings flipped two-time Navy All-American receiver Jordan Clay from Baylor, flipped Trez Davis from Tulane, snagged Mason James out of Oklahoma after which landed Blaise LaVista from Illinois.
Washington State
Secondary: Although they misplaced coach Jimmy Rogers to Iowa State on the ultimate day of the early-signing interval — and will nonetheless lose a number of extra gamers to ISU, as effectively — the Cougars did effectively within the defensive backfield: seven of their signees play cornerback or security. They hit the junior faculty ranks arduous, with Willie Breland Jr. and Bryce Heckard, a pair of cornerbacks who will probably be anticipated to play early.
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