Power Ranking Every Pac-12 Team's 2016 Recruiting Class
On one day each year when the calendar rings up as national signing day, the fax machine becomes the center of the universe for college football fans, players, staff members, coaches and even media members.
Such was the case once again Wednesday as national letters of intent crisscrossed the country and players from the class of 2016 officially signed on the dotted line with their future schools of choice.
While headlines were made around the country and the SEC once again dominated the national conversation, it was in many respects a banner year out west in the Pac-12. Between USC and UCLA’s late surges into the top 15 of the 247Sports’ team rankings and Stanford’s impressive coast-to-coast collection of talent, it was yet another day filled with talented players finding homes in the conference of champions.
That being said, there appeared to be a clear pecking order in the Pac-12 when it came to how each school’s recruiting class shook out. We won’t know for several years how each will truly contribute on a whole, but nevertheless we can still look at the big picture and see how each class stacks up.
With that in mind, here’s a look at the classes in the Pac-12 based on overall talent level, team needs and even upside down the road.
12. Colorado
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When it comes to the Buffaloes, it shouldn’t at all be surprising to see them considered to be at the bottom of the conference pecking order in the recruiting rankings; however, it is important to note that it doesn’t mean that Mike MacIntyre didn’t sign a quality group.
Running back Beau Bisharat was rated as a 4-star by 247Sports and could add in some much-needed size at the position given his listed 6'2", 210-pound frame. He’ll be a nice addition on offense and could team up with JUCO transfer Juwann Winfree, who could help replace some of the production lost by the departure of Nelson Spruce. Fellow receiver Johnny Huntley, a 6'3" speedster out of Florida, will also be in the mix.
Of course, it all goes without saying that the biggest pickup by the Buffs in the past week came in the form of transfer quarterback Davis Webb. The former Texas Tech starter has proved to be a high-level college quarterback before injuries set him back and should prove to be a capable option for the team. Fans and staff members alike hope this is the recruiting class that helps the program get back to a much-needed bowl game in 2016.
11. Washington State
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Mike Leach beats to the sound of his own drum, and that tends to apply to recruiting as well. It makes sense given how Washington State has to be a little creative in getting kids up to Pullman and find a few diamonds in the rough while it's at it.
The end result is never going to be a top-25 recruiting class but one filled with 2- and 3-stars who wind up being productive players for the Cougars. If one thing sticks out with this year’s crop, it’s that Leach really brought in some necessary size, whether that’s a guy like Frederick Mauigoa (6'4", 290 lbs) out of American Samoa or a linebacker like JUCO transfer Chima Onyeukwu, who can rush the passer using his 6'3", 220-pound frame.
This group is also not surprisingly heavy on offensive linemen, with a total of six among the 27-man group. Signing five wide receivers also helps to address issues of depth at one of the most important positions for the Air Raid offense that the team runs.
10. Arizona
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Rich Rodriguez is highly regarded in coaching circles for taking overlooked recruits and turning them into stars, and he might have found a few more for the Wildcats with his class of 2016.
Khalil Tate, a 4-star athlete, is already on campus as an early enrollee. He’ll be in the mix for playing time along with Michael Eletise, one of a relatively thin group of offensive linemen for the team this cycle.
While there are other offensive contributors, this class is heavy on defensive talent, as a new staff on that side of the ball tries to shore things up. Defensive tackle Justin Holt (6'0", 295 lbs) will provide some much-needed size on the interior, and JUCO transfer Josh Allen is expected to come in right away and boost the pass rush. Players such as safety Jarrius Wallace and defensive back Tristan Cooper could also turn into steals down the road.
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9. California
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The Bears have had plenty of turmoil over the past month or two, including seeing offensive coordinator Tony Franklin leave for another job and enduring an offseason filled with plenty of speculation regarding the future of head coach Sonny Dykes. Still, despite all that, the Bears put together a solid effort that is naturally heavy when it comes to skill-position talent but adds bodies in the trenches as well.
The headline and only 4-star of the group is running back Melquise Stovall, who may well be in the mix from the moment he steps on campus given how much Cal will lean on the running game as it breaks in a new quarterback. Speaking of signal-callers, 3-star Max Gilliam should enter fall camp with a chance to replace Jared Goff and is already used to playing at a high level after throwing passes at powerhouse high school Oaks Christian in Southern California.
Athlete Victor Viramontes was a player a number of other programs were pursuing late in the process but Cal managed to snag, and 3-star cornerback Nygel Edmonds was considered a top-10 player in the state.
Was this group as loaded as it was back in the heyday of Jeff Tedford when the Bears were bringing in 5-stars? No, of course not. But it was still a class that appeared to fill some needs, and that might turn out to provide a few surprise contributors.
8. Oregon State
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You’d be hard-pressed to guess that Oregon State went 2-10 last season if you were to take a glance at the Beavers’ 2016 recruiting class. Not only was it among the bigger ones in the Pac-12 this season, but Gary Andersen hauled in a pair of 4-stars and a remarkable 23 3-stars.
Sure, that might not sound like a huge haul for some fans used to seeing the program in the top 25 of the team rankings, but for a program that went 2-10 last season, it’s impressive.
Christian Wallace was the highest-ranked player in the group and continues a strong pipeline to Corvallis from the state of Texas. He’ll probably find a home somewhere early as a freshman given how many holes the team needs to fill, and he likely isn’t the only one either. Defensive end Isaac Garcia, who is already 6'4" with a good frame to add to his 215 pounds, could join him.
For new defensive coordinator Kevin Clune, a ton of safeties in this class can possibly come in and see the field as the team looks to slow down some of the spread offenses that it will see in conference play. That’s a good thing too, because Oregon State needs all the help it can get from this class and others.
7. Utah
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The Utes have pulled better and better recruiting classes since the move to the Pac-12, and while this year’s crop might not have been as highly ranked as others, it was still a successful signing day for Kyle Whittingham and his staff.
Three junior college transfers are probably the most notable additions this cycle, starting with former Washington quarterback and Elite 11 signal-caller Troy Williams and Snow College offensive tackle Garett Bolles. The latter in particular was a hot commodity on the recruiting trail and appears to be ready to slide in right away and start. Linebacker David Luafatasaga was a late flip away from Ole Miss and also seems like he could be a plug-and-play type of player.
Perhaps the most intriguing members of the class hail from Florida, though. Tailbacks Zack Moss and Devontae Henry-Cole both bring a little something different on offense and certainly will be right in the mix for the Utes as they look to replace Devontae Booker in the backfield.
It might take a while for some players to develop given that is part of what has made Utah successful over the years, but when you look at the group from top to bottom, it was yet another quality effort by the Utes.
6. Arizona State
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Todd Graham is yet another Pac-12 coach who didn’t have to bring in a huge class in 2016 but nevertheless was able to land a good mix of guys he can develop, along with a few others who should see plenty of playing time as freshmen. That the Sun Devils were able to round up such a nice group despite a fairly large staff shake-up recently (defensive line coach Jackie Shipp left for Missouri this week) is even more impressive.
Locals like big receiver N’keal Harry and 4-star athlete Chase Lucas were not only quality pickups who are will get early looks to play but were also part of a big message by the ASU staff that it can keep top talent at home. With some junior college transfers such as corner J’Marcus Rhodes and defensive end Dougladson Subtyl, the Sun Devils appear to be in good shape going forward.
It also seems notable to point out that Graham seemed to add some depth along the offensive line with four offensive linemen, two of whom came from the JUCO ranks.
5. Washington
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With such a young roster already in place, head coach Chris Petersen didn’t have to bring in a huge class full of early contributors, but he did put together yet another class that fits in with what he’s trying to do on both sides of the ball.
On defense, players like lineman Levi Onwuzurike, linebacker Camilo Eifler and corner Kentrell Love could all develop into quality players with the proper coaching. Others, like cornerback and local star Isaiah Gilchrist, might even be able to crack the rotation as freshmen.
Quarterback Daniel Bridge-Gadd is already on campus as an early enrollee and might be the quarterback of the future once Jake Browning’s career is over. Running back Sean McGrew (California’s Gatorade Player of the Year) should be a nice complement to current starter Myles Gaskin, and Jacob Kizer could see playing time at tight end.
4. Oregon
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Oregon’s systems on both sides of the ball are so unique that it typically can turn 3-star players into 5-star talents when the bullets start flying on Saturdays. Such might be the case again in 2016 as the Ducks landed a quality group Wednesday that was not quite as big as some others but still managed to rank in the top 30.
Let’s start with the quarterback position, which has been a source of frustration among the fanbase whenever Marcus Mariota or Vernon Adams was not behind center. In addition to FCS transfer Dakota Prukop, Oregon signed dual-threat Terry Wilson as a developmental player for down the road and local standout Justin Herbert to boost depth. It seems like the vacated signal-caller position is Prukop’s to lose, but after 2016 any number of players could ignite the fast-paced attack.
The team also added much-needed reinforcements at linebacker, including top JUCO transfer AJ Hotchkins, and 4-star prospect Darrian Franklin is already on campus and picking up new coordinator Brady Hoke’s scheme. Safety Troy Dye is also already enrolled and provides some much-needed size to the secondary at 6'3", 210 pounds.
Naturally, a bevy of playmakers are headed to Eugene too. Mark Helfrich grabbed speedy wideout Dillon Mitchell out of the Memphis area, and athlete Tristen Wallace could play a number of positions on both sides of the ball as well. Overall, this is another solid group that will have a chance to develop a little bit before being counted on, but it is defensively heavy for a reason.
3. Stanford
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Stanford went into signing day with the Pac-12’s top class but slipped a little down the team rankings mostly because there wasn’t much to do Wednesday. Mostly because of the school's admissions standards, the Cardinal class is carefully planned out each year, and the result is little to no drama when it comes to putting pen to paper for the defending Pac-12 champs.
It can often be hard to judge Stanford’s classes, but there’s little doubting that this is a talented group for David Shaw. Tight end Kaden Smith appears to be the latest in a long line of highly regarded players at his position, and Shaw also signed No. 3 pro-style quarterback K.J. Costello.
As should be expected, Stanford did some work in the trenches too. Offensive linemen Devery Hamilton, Henry Hattis, Nate Herbig and Dylan Powell will all likely arrive on campus with a shot to crack the rotation and help block for Heisman runner-up Christian McCaffrey. On the other side of the ball, defensive linemen Michael Williams, Thomas Schaffer (a 6'7", 280-pounder from Austria), Jovan Swann and Bo Peek, among others, will likely be thrown right into the fire during fall camp, given how thin the Cardinal are up front defensively.
All in all, this is another impressive class for Stanford, which is continuing to see dividends on signing day from the impressive collection of recent hardware it has collected.
2. UCLA
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It’s no secret that the Bruins needed a strong recruiting class this season both due to the roster numbers on campus and because of the fact that so many talented players had left Westwood as a result of graduation or the draft. Consider it mission accomplished for Jim Mora and company after Wednesday—an impressive feat given some of the recent staff changes that have occurred for UCLA.
The headliner of the group was no doubt Mique Juarez, a 5-star linebacker who is expected to make an impact right away as one of the most athletic players at his position in the country. Not only did the Bruins keep the top recruit from the school’s backyard at home, but they just as importantly kept him away from other rivals.
All-name candidate Boss Tagaloa from high school powerhouse De La Salle will similarly be counted on to contribute early in his career, and the defensive tackle certainly has the necessary size at 6'3", 295 pounds. Receiver Theo Howard is already enrolled and on campus getting reps with quarterback Josh Rosen, while 4-star defensive end Breland Brandt could enter the rotation as a freshman, given the need for depth along the line this upcoming season.
More than anything, this was a fairly big class of recruits that hit on just about every area of need. Heck, the Bruins even grabbed commitments from a kicker, punter and long snapper. Now that is what you call a complete class.
1. USC
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Wax on, wax off—it's another top-of-the-league class for the Trojans. Clay Helton’s first recruiting class in charge of the program was a good one in keeping up with tradition, but it might not have gotten the buzz of prior classes.
Still, it’s loaded. The highlights are the two 5-star prospects in defensive end Oluwole Betiku (an early enrollee) and cornerback Jack Jones. Each has the chance to contribute early on, given the team’s obvious need for depth at each position. The two Southern Californians will no doubt feel right at home given how many talented players are already on the team from their high schools (Gardena Serra and Long Beach Poly, respectively).
This class is overall heavy on wideouts, including a pair of bigger receivers in Michael Pittman (6'4", 209 lbs) and Josh Imatorbhebhe (6'2", 205 lbs). The offensive skill positions are also boosted by a much-needed tight end in Cary Angeline and bruising tailback Vavae Malepeai. It’s also notable that Helton bolstered the offensive line with 4-star players in Nathan Smith, E.J. Price and Frank Martin II.
Overall, it's just another impressive haul for USC. Helton balanced needs on a quality roster with grabbing some of the best available talent out there. The Trojans finished strong Wednesday, and it was particularly noteworthy that a first-time head coach for a team that finished the season on a tough losing streak attracted players from Florida, Georgia, Alabama, Pennsylvania, Arizona and Hawaii to supplement the local talent base.
Recruit rankings and other information courtesy of 247Sports.
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