Pac-12 Teams Most Likely to Start True Freshmen in 2016
National signing day is over, and the elation over completing a school’s recruiting class is still echoing around campuses across the Pac-12.
All told, it was a fairly impressive effort from several of the conference’s football programs. Both USC and UCLA finished strong to capture top-15 recruiting classes nationally, and others such as Arizona State, Oregon and Washington faired well in the rankings with top-40 classes despite not having a ton of scholarships to offer this February.
While coaches have barely had time to catch their breath from being out on the recruiting trail, work is no doubt underway to prepare for 2016. With that in mind, let's turn our attention to Pac-12 teams most likely to start their recently signed players as true freshmen or transfers this season.
While every squad will likely see a newcomer wind up as a starter because of either injuries or talent level, here are a few who are already factoring in their new signees.
USC
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The Trojans signed the top class in the Pac-12, according to 247Sports, and, as usual, it was an impressive group of players that stacks up well against anybody in the nation. While USC did see some key departures from this past year’s South Division champions, the roster remains relatively stacked. Therefore, this year’s recruits will have their work cut out for them if they want to start.
Five-star defensive lineman Oluwole Betiku is one of several players already on campus trying to get a jump on that by being enrolled for spring football. He could be one of several to see early playing time or even start, given that position group is up in the air going forward. Juco transfer Josh Fatu, a late addition to the class after flipping him from Boise State, is another candidate to come in early and make an impact.
Offensively, tight end Cary Angeline likely has an inside track to start, given just how thin the team is at the position. The 4-star may even be labeled a starter by default when fall camp rolls around, given the lack of players at the position on the roster.
Head coach Clay Helton also talked up the group of wide receivers USC signed, and while none of them are likely to unseat JuJu Smith-Schuster, at least one of them could crack the starting lineup by the time games start kicking off.
UCLA
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It’s no secret that the Bruins lost a ton of players to graduation and this year’s NFL draft. Hence, UCLA signed a deep class of 29 players that is stuffed with signees expected to play and start right away.
The top candidate to trot out onto the field when the team opens with Texas A&M is no doubt linebacker Mique Juarez. The 5-star was the state of California’s top-ranked player, and many believe he can immediately contribute to the Bruins defense as a young replacement for all that terrific linebacker Myles Jack used to do. Likewise, fellow freshman defender Boss Tagaloa could easily come in as an option to replace the departed Kenny Clark at defensive tackle.
Jim Mora also signed four wide receivers in the 2016 class, and you can figure at least one of them is in the plans to start right away, given the departures of Jordan Payton, Thomas Duarte and Devin Fuller. Four-star Theo Howard is already enrolled and getting reps with quarterback Josh Rosen.
As we saw this past season, injuries seem to be a fact of life around Westwood, and one figures that several other members of the 2016 class might wind up starting for the Bruins too.
Stanford
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The Cardinal hauled in a top-tier class in the Pac-12 this season, but the defending conference champions are known for winning with players they develop more than instant starters. Still, that’s been changing over the past few years, with more and more early contributors making an impact.
Among those who could start right away for Stanford is top-rated recruit Kaden Smith. Given the departures at tight end and the fact that the team is heavily invested in sending out two or three of them for offensive series, it seems like a good bet that Smith could wind up starting in 2016.
Though the Cardinal managed things well on their run to a Rose Bowl title, there was no question that the team was thin on the defensive line last season, and that will carry over to the upcoming year as well. Defensive tackles Michael Williams, Bo Peek and Jovan Swann all will have a chance to crack the starting lineup as a result, and defensive ends such as Loa Kaufusi might wind up penciled in eventually as well.
Also, don’t discount linebacker Curtis Robinson and safety Andrew Pryts seeing a spot start either.
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Oregon
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If you consider transfers to be a part of a recruiting class, as many do, then top of the list for the Ducks to start is quarterback Dakota Prukop. The former FCS star is hoping to follow in the footsteps of Vernon Adams Jr. in becoming the signal-caller in Eugene and will have the added benefit of going through spring practice this year.
Outside of that, the team will enter fall camp with the offensive line in flux, which could provide an opening for somebody such as guards Jacob Capra (an early enrollee to boot) and Samuel Poutasi or 3-star tackle Logan Bathke.
Players could also come in and start as true freshmen along the front seven. Oregon is changing schemes under new coordinator Brady Hoke, so everybody appears to be on equal footing. That’s good news for linebacker Darrian Franklin, junior college transfer A.J. Hotchkins and 4-star defensive end Bryson Young.
Utah
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After yet another banner season in Salt Lake City, Kyle Whittingham and his coaching staff will have to double-down this offseason while looking to replace several productive players in their starting lineup for 2016. That could be why the Utes’ recent signing class is littered with a host of junior college transfers who are expected to come in and start right away.
The biggest candidate to come in and take a spot is no doubt offensive tackle Garett Bolles. The Snow College product can probably play a number of positions on the line, and given how flexible the team is in moving guys around, it wouldn't surprise anybody if Bolles winds up starting somewhere for the opener. Likewise, with an entire linebacking corps to replace, it seems like David Luafatasaga is a lock to start.
Fellow transfers Troy Williams and Mitch Wishnowsky figure to be right in the mix to start the opener as well at quarterback and punter, respectively. Among the high schoolers coming in, Florida running backs Zach Moss and Devontae Henry-Cole each have a chance to help replace the departed Devontae Booker.
California
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While a good chunk of the defense is set to return to Berkeley, the Bears are losing a ton of offensive starters heading into the 2016 season. While quarterback Jared Goff will no doubt be the toughest player to replace, there are several more key starters Sonny Dykes is going to have to sort out.
Luckily, Cal was able to sign a full recruiting class, and there are a number of replacements in the group of 25. Perhaps no position will need somebody to step up more than wide receiver, where Jordan Duncan, Drew Kobayashi, Matthew Laris and Jordan Veasy will all enter fall camp with a chance to start right away (if not by midseason).
The lone 4-star of Cal’s class, tailback Melquise Stovall, also can come in and play right away even if the position he plays has plenty of depth at first glance. The team will be breaking in a new quarterback and an entire receiving corps, so expect the Bears to lean heavily on the run game in 2016.
Recruit ratings and info courtesy of 247Sports.
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