National Signing Day: Grading the Pac-10's 2010 Recruiting Classes

The Trojans didn’t miss a step in the dawn of Lane Kiffin Era, coming home with the most five-star recruits in the NCAA. USC snatched three of the top six recruit, including Seantrel Henderson the Nation’s top prospect. Five five-star recruits overall give USC the right to lay claims on best Recruiting Class of 2010

Even on a down year with a turbulent offseason, the Trojans find a way to prevail and reload their never-ending arsenal.

Immediate Impact:

Dillon Baxter, RB (6’0” 205)

With Joe McKnight and Stafon Johnson on their way to the NFL, the door is wide open for Baxter (pictured) to make his way up to the top spot of the depth chart. But does he really have what it takes? Only the spring game will truly tell.

The One That Got Away:

Pete Carroll

Can Lane Kiffin continue the recruiting prowess that USC has flaunted over the past decade? Guess we will have to wait to see how he handles the helm of a team that actually has talent.

Grade: A+

If it wasn’t for the plethora of five-star prospects gathered by the other team in Southern California, UCLA would definitely have been at the top of the Pac-10’s recruiting rankings. Nonetheless, UCLA put together an absolutely stunning recruiting class and deserves a great deal of props for stealing the show on National Signing Day.

Depending on how long it takes for these recruit mature, the Bruins could quickly force their way back into the Conference Champ conversation.

Immediate Impact:

Owamagbe Odighizuwa, DE (6’3”, 234)

The ability to drive 300-pound linemen is pretty impressive. Expect to see a lot of the Double-O (pictured) next season.

The One That Got Away:

Seantrel Henderson, OT (6’8”, 301)

At the rate that UCLA was going on Wednesday, it didn’t seem completely impossible that the Bruins might steal this star from underneath everyone. Now that would have been amazing.

Grade: A

Two five-star recruits will help cease some of the “Best bumming” that is happening in Berkeley, but the Bears’ recruiting class boost comes mostly on the defensive side of the ball.

Within their prospect pick-ups this season are the two best defensive ends that California has to offer this year. Gabe King and Chris Martin could be terrorizing QBs as a duo for many seasons to come.

Immediate Impact:

Chris Martin, DE (6’4”, 240)

Martin (pictured), the second best defensive end in the US, should have a chance to crack the opening day roster at the rate that he is growing into his body. He has been said to remind people of Julius Peppers his junior season in college.

The One That Got Away:

Lache Seastrunk, RB (5’11”, 192)

The Bears could have used a big running back recruit like Seastrunk to completely move past the departure of Jahvid, but Oregon’s eye-popping offense lured the five star Texas product away from California. All is not lost in Cal because at least they still have Shane Vareen.

Grade: B+

In one of the bigger surprises on National Signing Day, the Ducks snuck in and stole four-star defensive tackle Ricky Heimuli right under the noses of UCLA and Utah, helping fill a deep hole on their defensive line.

Overall, Oregon pulled together a nice cornucopia of recruits, setting themselves up nicely for the upcoming seasons.

Immediate Impact:

Ricky Heimuli, DT (6’4”, 280)

Ranked sixth in MaxPreps’ Lemming’s Top DTs, Heimuli’s (pictured left) enormous size and toughness could come into play sooner than some might think. Because of his excellent push off of the line, expect to see him in shorter yard situations at first but not be surprised if he jumps up to an every down role.

The One That Got Away:

Dominique Easley, DT (6’3”, 258)

Oregon was one of only three schools that the five-star recruit visited but in the end Florida was too much for the Nation’s second best defensive tackle to turn down.

Grade: B

Stanford looked poised to finish within the Top 25 Recruiting Classes of 2010 but they steadily dropped as the day moved along. For the first time since his inaugural season on the Farm, Harbaugh’s failed to land a five-star recruit but still found ways to make a little noise on National Signing Day.

Immediate Impact:

Blake Lueders, DE (6’5”, 250)

With Stanford losing two of their top players on the defensive line, there should be a ton of juggling to fill their spots leading into the spring game. Lueders’s (pictured) pure athleticism could power his way onto the starting roster before the season is through.

The One That Got Away:

Jordan Zumwalt, LB (6’4”, 218)

Stanford made the headlines early on National Signing Day when four-star linebacker Jordan Zumwalt decided to de-commit from the Cardinal and sign with the Bruins. Just one of the many wins that UCLA came away with on this day.

Grade: B-

The Huskies signed 31 recruits on National Signing Day, the sixth most in the NCAA.

With a handful of four-star prospects and a bucketful of three-star recruits in that bundle, Washington quietly rose up the rankings and is now amongst in the Top 30 Recruiting Classes of 2010.

Immediate Impact:

Erik Kohler, OG (6’4”, 264)

Kohler (pictured) was provided an offer by 9 of the 10 Pac-10 schools mainly because of his quick feet and potent past protection. He will have a great chance of cracking the starting line-up of an offensive line that resembled a slice of Swiss cheese last season.

The One That Got Away:

Hayes Pullard, ATH (6’0”, 220)

Pullard natural ability to play either side of the ball had Steve Sarkisian drooling at what he could do with this talent but it was all for naught. USC had the inside track to Hayes and that was that.

Grade: B-

Arizona uncovered several four-star prospects on both sides of the ball but hardly any that immediately jump off of the paper as game changing players.

Immediate Impact:

Willie Mobley, DT (6’2”, 275)

The Juco recruit has had some time away from football so it may take a little bit of time to knock the rust off. Once he does get going, look for his size and experience to create a few waves on the Wildcats defensive line.

The One That Got Away:

Anthony Jefferson, CB (6’2”, 173)

All they needed to do was to convince this Southern California native that living in the desert is not that bad. They failed.

Grade: C

Four four-star recruits are all the Sun Devil’s could manage in a rather meager recruiting class by Dennis Erickson. But help on the offensive line is what they needed, and help is what they went and got.

Immediate Impact:

Brain Schwab, OT (6’8”, 320)

With the gaping hole that Sun Devils have at offensive tackle, Schwab has excellent odds of being the prospect to step and help his team out starting from day one on the field. The Juco recruit has been praised for his pass protection, which is something this offense desperately needs.

The One That Got Away:

John Cullen, OT (6’6”, 280)

Arizona State had high hopes that they could snag this aggressive linemen but when it came down to it, they could not offer what USC, Utah (who he eventually signed with), and Oklahoma could.

Grade: C-

The Beavers signed the least prospects (17) out of all of the teams in the Pac-10 and put together a rather lack-luster performance during this recruiting season. OSU does have an overabundance for freshman (32) lurking in the system so perhaps a lesser is better technique will work for them this season.

Immediate Impact:

Shaydon Akuna, LB (6’3”, 210)

It will be hard for any incoming freshman to make an immediate impact on this roster with the enormous wall of 2013 graduates standing in their way. If anyone is capable, it is the extremely speed linebacker Akuna. With this quickness and his amazing lateral speed, fans could see him on the field in no time.

Grade: D+

The Cougars’ National Signing Day was a lot like their 2009 season. It was pretty much over before it even started. Washington State failed to sign a prospect higher than three stars for third consecutive season. It will take a convention of optimist to convince me that the Cougars future isn’t as bleak as it seems.

Immediate Impact:

Ricky Galvin, All Purpose Back (5’8”, 168)

Galvin (pictured) is ranked 18th in the nation amongst running back and if he can mature rapidly, could stake a claim as a second or third running back on the roster once opening day comes.

Grade: D-