Pac-12 Recruiting: Where Each School Stands Ahead of National Signing Day

If you're anything like myself or ESPN's Ryan McGee, you look forward to any college football news in the offseason, particularly national signing day.

National Signing Day is an opportunity for every coach to strengthen his team and build up the program for the next three or four years.

As we all know, though, a top-25 recruiting class doesn't always guarantee success on the field, as teams such as Texas and Tennessee have found out in recent years.

However, this article is not going to focus much on the national recruiting scene, but rather those in the Pac-12 conference.

The Pac-12 finds itself in a troublesome spot as the only Power Five conference to not make an appearance in last year's College Football Playoff.

Strong recruiting classes in 2016 would certainly boost the talent level of the teams out West, as many teams look to bolster their rosters after their 2015 campaigns.

For all you Pac-12 fans looking for the latest conference recruiting news, enjoy!

UCLA Bruins

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UCLA has its answer at quarterback with Josh Rosen, but it hopes a strong 2016 recruiting class can turn the Bruins into Playoff contenders.

2016 class rankings (according to Rivals.com): National (No. 11), Pac-12 (No. 1)

The Bruins find themselves in a pretty comfortable spot in terms of their 2016 recruiting class. UCLA returns quarterback Josh Rosen, who showed enough potential to make the Bruins a threat for years to come.

UCLA's next concern has to be surrounding Rosen with enough talent on both sides of the ball to be successful. The Bruins have four wide receiver commits so far, all of whom were given four stars by the Rivals.com database.

Jim Mora's class is also hoping to find some replacements on defense after losing linebacker Myles Jack and defensive tackle Kenny Clark to the NFL draft.

Linebackers Krys Barnes, Breland Brandt and Lokeni Toailoa have all committed to the Bruins, which would give immediate depth to a depleted group.

UCLA also has verbal commitments from two defensive tackles, Nick Terry and Osa Odighizuwa, whom they hope can help fill the void left by Clark.

With 24 commits already on board to this point, UCLA doesn't appear to have many last-minute offers on the table.

However, the highly ranked tandem of tight end Devin Asiasi and defensive tackle Boss Tagaloa each have UCLA among their final schools as they are set to make their decisions tomorrow.

If the Bruins can get one or both of these former high school teammates, expect UCLA to finish with one of the country's highest-ranked recruiting classes.

Stanford Cardinal

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David Shaw hopes his 2016 recruiting class will bring more Pac-12 Championships and Rose Bowl appearances.

2016 class rankings (according to Rivals.com): National (No. 13), Pac-12 (No. 2)

Coming off a Pac-12 Championship and a dominant Rose Bowl win, it probably hasn't been hard to convince recruits about the exciting current state of Stanford football.

Couple that with some of the best academics in Division I football and David Shaw practically has anything a potential recruit could hope for.

So far, the Cardinal have done quite well with 25 recruits to this point, including an astonishing 22 from out of state. Of those 22, six are Texas natives.

Replacing four-year starter Kevin Hogan at quarterback will be Stanford's first priority in 2016, and the highly touted K.J. Costello figures to battle for that job once he gets to campus.

The Cardinal will also have to find a way to make up for the loss of receivers Devon Cajuste (90 career receptions) and Michael Rector (72 career receptions) as they break in a new quarterback next season.

Stanford already has commitments from three wide receivers and two tight ends in its class, so many underclassmen could be making an impact on offense in 2016.

With one of the most complete overall classes in the country, do not expect many surprises from Stanford on national signing day.

Oregon Ducks

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Mark Helfrich has continued Oregon's recent trend of top-25 recruiting classes as the Ducks currently sit at No. 21, according to Rivals.com.

2016 class rankings (according to Rivals.com): National (No. 21), Pac-12 (No. 3)

Another year, another top-25 recruiting class for Mark Helfrich and the Ducks. So far, Mark Helfrich has locked in 19 commitments with a few more potential additions on national signing day.

Despite former Montana State quarterback Dakota Prukop's transfer to the Ducks, Oregon has three quarterbacks in its 2016 class.

Losing top receiver Bralon Addison will be tough to overcome, and Oregon only has one wide receiver commitment in Dillon Mitchell from Memphis, Tennessee, so this is a definite position of need.

Depth on the offensive line will also be of the utmost concern for the Ducks, but Oregon has already locked up three pledges to provide some depth up front.

Leading tacklers from the 2015 squad, Joe Walker and DeForest Buckner are also gone now after graduating, so Oregon's defense will need to find talent to make up for the lost production.

So far four linebackers and two defensive ends are part of the class, which could help give Oregon plenty of options by the time fall practice gets underway.

Defensive tackle Wayne Kirby could be a last-minute addition for Oregon's 2016 class, otherwise it appears the Ducks will be relatively content with their current recruits.

California Golden Bears

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Cal has done well with its 2016 recruiting class, but it must find a replacement for Jared Goff at quarterback.

2016 class rankings (according to Rivals.com): National (No. 26), Pac-12 (No. 4)

The most obvious point of need for the Golden Bears' 2016 recruiting class is quarterback, as three-year starter Jared Goff is off to the NFL draft after an incredible college career.

Cal's only quarterback commit this year is a well-regarded signal-caller in Max Gilliam, who will join several underclassmen quarterbacks in what is sure to be a hotly contested battle leading up to the 2016 season.

Attrition really depleted the skill positions for the Golden Bears, who lose five of their six leading receivers from 2015 along with speedy running back Daniel Lasco.

Cal has four wide receiver commits so far in 2016, and an exciting commitment from running back Melquise Stovall who could challenge for carries on day one.

Defense hasn't been a strong suit for the Golden Bears under Sonny Dykes, but Cal has racked up five defensive backs and four defensive linemen to potentially strengthen that side of the ball in 2016.

The Golden Bears appear to be a dark-horse candidate for wide receivers Demetris Robertson and A.J. Brown, but they could be poised to bring in an electrifying athlete in Zion Echols on signing day.

Arizona State Sun Devils

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Todd Graham is hoping to turn Arizona State into a perennial Pac-12 contender again, and a strong 2016 recruiting class could certainly help make that happen.

2016 class rankings (according to Rivals.com): National (No. 32), Pac-12 (No. 5)

Eight of Arizona State's 18 commits are junior-college transfers, which shows how Todd Graham is going with the "win now, worry later" strategy in regard to his 2016 class.

Regardless, commitments from two of the top JUCO defensive ends in the country, Dougladson Subtyl and Christian Hill, could solidify the defensive line in Tempe for the coming season.

The quarterback position is almost certainly up for grabs now that Mike Bercovici has graduated and Dillon Sterling-Cole out of Houston appears to have the potential to earn the starting quarterback spot in 2016.

D.J. Foster will be very difficult for the Sun Devils to replace after an impressive career in Tempe, but one of the top-ranked wide receivers in the country, N'keal Harry, will set out to make his own name legendary among Arizona State lore.

Defensive back is also likely to be a position of need for the Sun Devils, who have three cornerback commitments, two of which are junior-college players, in the 2016 class.

USC Trojans

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Instability within the coaching staff at USC has made it difficult for recruits to commit in 2016.

2016 class rankings (according to Rivals.com): National (No. 33), Pac-12 (No. 6)

Don't let their current rankings fool you, the USC Trojans could finish the 2016 recruiting cycle in a big way and vault into a top-15 class.

USC has just 13 commitments to this point but are among the favorites for many of the top remaining players in the country, including consensus No. 1 defensive tackle Rashan Gary.

The Trojans appear to be contenders with several defensive tackles other than Gary, including Jonathan Kongbo III, Connor Murphy and Boss Tagaloa.

The Trojans have just four defensive commitments so far, which has to be of some concern for Clay Helton. While many other defensive players are considering USC, being considered is hardly a reassuring thought for USC's coaching staff.

Offense doesn't appear to be an issue for the 2016 class, as USC has five wide receiver commitments set to join an already-talented group in Southern California.

Tight End Devin Asiasi is another potential signee for USC, but UCLA appears to have the advantage at this point in the recruiting process.

It seems very unlikely that the Trojans will be silent on national signing day, but Helton's coaching staff will almost certainly be nervously awaiting several decisions on February 3rd.

Utah Utes

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After an impressive 10-3 campaign in 2016, Kyle Whittingham hopes to make the Utes contenders for years to come.

2016 class rankings (according to Rivals.com): National (No. 35), Pac-12 (No. 7)

Kyle Whittingham has been able to do more with less just about everywhere he's coached, but especially in Salt Lake City.

That's not to say he isn't bringing in some solid players, but he has shown a unique ability to get the most out of his players.

So far in the 2016 class, Utah has already brought in 26 players, 17 offensive and nine defensive.

An obvious hole for Utah to fill is at running back now that Devontae Booker is off to the NFL. The Utes have three running back commitments in their 2016 class, including a highly rated junior-college running back in Thomas McDonald from Florida.

Quarterback will also be a position of need in Salt Lake City, but the Utes have two quarterback commitments already signed and enrolled in spring classes.

Defense could be a bit of concern for the Utes who don't have any standout defensive players in their class, but their three linebacker commitments could find some early playing time once they set foot on campus.

The Utes do not figure to have many late additions to their class, as they seem content with the 26 players they have commitments from already.

Washington Huskies

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Chris Peterson is hoping a strong finish to the 2015 season will convince recruits the Huskies are trending upward.

2016 class rankings (according to Rivals.com): National (No. 38), Pac-12 (No. 8)

Chris Peterson has been regarded as one of the country's top coaches for many years now; however, his time at Washington hasn't been as successful as many might have expected.

Currently, the Huskies have 18 commitments, 10 offensive and eight defensive, who are hoping to be part of the resurgence of Washington football.

The Huskies were relatively young on offense last season, as both their leading passer and leading rusher were freshmen.

Washington loses its top two receiving threats from 2015, but it has two wide receiver commitments along with a tight end commitment to help fill that void.

On the defensive side of the ball, Washington's five defensive back commitments seem poised to earn some playing time in the Huskies secondary.

Linebacker Camilo Eifler is one of Washington's highest-rated recruits, and the incoming freshman has the potential to make an impact right away.

Peterson's squad should be relatively active on national signing day, as it remains part of the discussion regarding Arizona State-commit N'Keal Harry among other big-time targets.

Offensive lineman Nate Herbig could be a potential late addition for the Huskies, a much-needed pickup for a relatively thin position group for Washington.

Oregon State Beavers

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While the Beavers struggled in 2015, a strong recruiting class this year could bring about change in Corvallis.

2016 class rankings (according to Rivals.com): National (No. 40), Pac-12 (No. 9)

Gary Andersen's first full recruiting class is shaping up to be a turnaround group, centered around the defensive side of the ball.

The 2016 Beavers class is led by safety Shurod Thompson, who has the potential to compete for a starting spot right away.

Two other defensive backs, Landry Payne and Michael Johnson, could help improve what was a porous secondary in Corvallis in 2015.

Quarterback commit Mason Moran will jump right into a starting position battle, as Oregon State has struggled to find consistency since Sean Mannion left campus.

Storm Barrs-Woods' absence will be another tough challenge for the Beavers offense to overcome, but running backs Artavis Price and Kyle White will look to fill that void going forward.

Oregon State doesn't figure to be active on national signing day, as their 25-member class seems to be complete.

Washington State Cougars

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Mike Leach's team came up with several big wins in 2015, but it must learn to avoid the bad losses in order to become a threat in the Pac-12 race.

2016 class rankings (according to Rivals.com): National (No. 49), Pac-12 (No. 10)

As expected with any Mike Leach team, the focus in 2016 is on the offensive end.

Of Washington State's 25 commits, 15 are offensive players of some sort. The Cougars have five wide receivers in their 2016 class, which should give their pass-heavy offense plenty of depth.

Washington State lost several offensive linemen to attrition, but Mike Leach's class includes four offensive tackles who could play instantly.

Junior-college linebacker Chima Onyeukwu could challenge for playing time once he steps on campus as well, as he hopes to help out a defense that struggled in 2015.

Defensive ends Lyric Bartley and Garrett McBroom will also fill a position of need for the Cougars, so look for at least one of the two to crack the starting lineup in 2016.

With a full class already, it seems unlikely that Washington State will have many late commitments Wednesday.

Arizona Wildcats

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Arizona's struggles in 2015 have potentially discouraged recruits from coming on board this year.

2016 class rankings (according to Rivals.com): National (No. 61), Pac-12 (No. 11)

This is one of the surprises of the recruiting season in 2016, as the Arizona Wildcats were a hot commodity after their Fiesta Bowl appearance in the 2014 season.

However, a 7-6 2015 season left many questions about Rich Rodriguez's ability as a head coach, which has potentially hurt their 2016 class.

Still, Arizona has 19 players currently committed, 11 of whom are offensive players.

The offensive line should be bolstered with the 2016 class, as highly touted guard Michael Eletise headlines a group of four offensive linemen who could play immediately.

On the defensive side of the ball, look for junior-college defensive end Josh Allen to get some early playing time in Tuscon.

The Wildcats aren't quite done with the 2016 class, as they are waiting on a decisions safety Chacho Ulloa, among others, on national signing day.

Colorado Buffaloes

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Mike MacIntyre is hopeful his 2016 recruiting class can bring the Buffaloes back to relevance in the near future.

2016 class rankings (according to Rivals.com): National (No. 79), Pac-12 (No. 12)

Well, we made it. The final team in the Pac-12 who has the lowest-rated class in the conference.

That's not to say the Buffaloes don't have some talent coming in, but with only 13 commitments, Mike MacIntyre has to be hoping for some late movement on the recruiting trail to bolster his class.

Colorado was certainly looking for help in the secondary, and their two commitments at cornerback should factor into the defensive backfield equation early on.

The Buffaloes also lost several offensive linemen to graduation, but their four offensive linemen commits should help add some depth in that department.

Now that Nelson Spruce is off to the NFL, Colorado will need someone to become an impact player on the offensive side of the ball.

Look for junior-college wide receiver Kabion Ento to make an instant impact and become a favorite target of Sefo Liufau going forward.

With very few available roster spots in Boulder, don't expect Colorado to be too active on national signing day.

Recruiting information is courtesy of Rivals.com.