NCAA Power Rankings: Top 2014 Pac-12 Football Recruiting Classes

The Wild West is looking like the "Mild West," as the recruiting temperature in the Pac-12 is on the cool side. There are not many commitments, and the classes are generally small.

USC is the school to watch. The Trojans are looking to rebound from what many consider an off-recruiting year in 2013. Utah, Washington and Oregon find themselves sitting high in the Pac-12 recruiting rankings, and all three hope to land the No. 1 spot on national signing day in February.

UCLA, Stanford and Arizona also are not to be overlooked and could be on the verge of opening some eyes during this 2014 recruiting cycle.

Player evaluations are based on review of tape at Scout.com, Rivals, 247Sports and ESPNU.

For more of Bleacher Report's exclusive CFB Recruiting 200 Signature Series content check out the hub page. 

12. Oregon State

Total commits: 1

Top commit: Nick Mitchell, QB

The Beavers have just one commitment, but Mitchell could be a sleeper. He has no stars attached to his name, yet he can throw with touch, accuracy and good timing. 

Mike Riley's program doesn't rely much on high-profile recruits. Instead, it brings in players it sees as good fits in Corvallis. Look for Oregon State to hover around the middle of the Pac-12 recruiting rankings for a good portion of this year.

11. Colorado

Total commits: 2

Top commit: Isaac Miller, OT

Colorado is under new management with Mike MacIntyre taking over. He knows how to find players out West due to his days as a head coach at San Jose State.

MacIntyre has two pledges. One is from 6'7", 255-pound 3-star OT Isaac Miller. The other committed recruit for the Buffs is 3-star LB Grant Watanabe.

Colorado is in the middle of transition in not only its football program but also its overall athletic department. Hopefully the change is for the better in Boulder.

10. UCLA

Total commits: 2

Top commit: Barry Ware, WR

UCLA figures to be a major player in 2014 Pac-12 recruiting, so don't overlook its two commitments right now. Jim Mora and his staff have shown they are a threat out west. The Bruins' class will expand soon. However, as for right now it has two 3-star wide receiver pledges.

Ware is a 3-star wide receiver who should get another star soon. He has great size at 6'3" and 190 pounds to go along with strong hands, deceptive speed and solid separation quickness. He has a similar style of play to UCLA wide receiver Devin Lucien. 

Dionte Sykes is another big wide receiver at 6'4" and 200 pounds who adds size to Mora's WR depth chart.

9. Oregon

Total commits: 3

Top commit: Jordan Hoiem, OLB

In his first recruiting cycle as head coach at Oregon, Mark Helfrich has three 3-star commitments. Under Chip Kelly, Oregon had a tendency to start recruiting later in the spring and early summer, but Helfrich ordered his staff to make an earlier attack on the trail.

Hoiem is the top player so far. The 6'4" outside linebacker from Hawaii is an athletic second-level defender. He can buzz into coverage and flips his hips easily to change direction in space.

The Ducks will be an interesting team to watch; they will do things a little differently recruiting under Helfrich. 

8. California

Total commits: 4

Top commit: Jalen Harvey, WR

Cal has one 4-star and three 3-star recruits.

Harvey, a 6'1", 175-pound wide receiver, has a 4-star rating and has smooth athleticism, soft hands and a large strike zone. 

A 3-star prospect, safety Koa Farmer has the size and instincts to play as an extra run defender while possessing the speed and range to patrol on the back end.

Sonny Dykes will add to Cal's class. The Bears are a dark horse to finish inside the top 25. 

7. Stanford

Total commits: 3

Top commit: Brandon Simmons, S

The Cardinal may have only three commitments, but both 4-star recruits in Simmons and RB Christian McCaffrey are great players. Daniel Marx is a 3-star fullback recruit with a strong frame at 6'3", 238 pounds. 

Simmons has a 6'0", 175-pound frame and can make bone-crushing hits when closing on the ball. McCaffrey is one of the nation's more exciting players. The 6'0", 195-pounder has good speed, agility and elusiveness with the ball. He can also play wide receiver.

David Shaw brought in a quality class last year and looks to be doing the same in 2014. 

6. Arizona State

Total commits: 4

Top commit: Jaleel Wadood, S

Todd Graham has three 3-star commitments and a 4-star pledge in the 5'11", 170-pound Wadood. From California, Wadood is a quick-moving defensive back who is at his best in the deep middle, where he can use his speed to jump passing lanes on each side of the field.

Athlete Michael Farmer has good size at 6'2" and 210 pounds and can play an array of positions. Graham may give him a look at running back or wide receiver.

Look for Arizona State to recruit the West Coast as well as the Heartland this year.

5. Washington State

Total commits: 5

Top commit: Payton Bender, QB

Mike Leach is having a tough time convincing any 5-star and 4-star recruits to come to Wazzu. His class has five commitments, but only from 3-star recruits.

Bender is a solid QB prospect with good delivery, quickness and pocket presence. The 6'1", 170-pound passer will make the cross-country move to WSU from Florida. DT Marcus Griffin is a strong and quick defensive line prospect from inside the state who stands 6'3", 285 pounds. Greg Hoyd III is a solid OLB from California who will help the Courgar defense down the line.

4. Washington

Total commits: 4

Top commit: Rahshead Johnson, WR

Steve Sarkisian has recruited well over the past few recruiting cycles, and U-Dub now has a roster that features good young talent. This class has three 3-star recruits and a 4-star commitment in Johnson. A Southern California native, Johnson has good speed, quickness and yards-after-the-catch skills.

With his staff of good recruiters, Sarkisian could be eyeing the No. 1 Pac-12 recruiting class spot this year.

3. Utah

Total commits: 4

Top commit: Jackson Barton, OT

Last year wasn't a good recruiting cycle for the Utes as they didn't sign a highly touted and ranked class. However, Kyle Whittingham is looking for redemption on the trail and secured four pledges already.

Barton, a 4-star offensive tackle from Salt Lake City, is the top commit and is joined by three other 3-star prospects. Barton is a 6'6" 275-pounder who could be an All-Pac-12 right tackle due to his solid footwork, strength and size.

2. Arizona

Total commits: 5

Top commit: Cameron Denson, WR/DB

Rich Rodriguez has recruited better than people think, including when he was at Michigan. So it should not be a shock he has Arizona off to such a good start.

Sure, the class is small, but Rich-Rod has two 4-star commits. Denson is the top player. He's a 4-star athlete with good athleticism. Running back Nick Wilson is a slick runner from California, and tight end Nick Nataro is a 3-star seam-player from Florida. 

1. USC

Total commits: 5

Top commit: Toa Lobendahn, OG

The Trojans are back in a familiar spot, as they sit atop the Pac-12 power recruiting rankings. Not only do they have the most commitments with five, the Trojans also have four 4-star recruits and one 3-star pledge.

Lobendahn is the top player in the class, but the 4-star offensive guard is joined by 4-star defensive tackle Tashon Smallwood, 4-star offensive tackle Jordan Poland, 4-star DE Austin Maloata and 3-star defensive tackle Michael Wyche. Lane Kiffin will fight tooth and nail to make sure last year's subpar recruiting effort was an aberration at Heritage Hall.

Edwin Weathersby is the College Football Recruiting Analyst for Bleacher Report. He has worked in scouting/player personnel departments for three professional football teams, including the New York Giants and Cleveland Browns.