Pac-10's Recruiting Classes Ranked: Is USC or Stanford No. 1?

The Pac-10 is usually one of the top recruiting conferences in the country, as some have ranked it second to the SEC from 2006 to 2010. 

But with NCAA sanctions looming over USC as well as recruiting struggles from mainstays like UCLA and Cal, the Pac-10 is having a down year in the recruiting world. 

Stanford has surprisingly emerged as the top recruiter in the conference, but USC and Washington have a couple of very strong classes as well. 

Here are the current rankings for the 2011 recruiting classes of the Pac-10. 

10. Arizona State

5-Star Commitments: 0

4-Star Commitments: 0

3-Star Commitments: 4

Arizona State has only seven commitments at the moment, with only four of them receiving 3-star grades; none of the Sun Devils recruits are ranked in the top 50 at their position. 

Quarterback Michael Bercovici is the top prospect of the group and is somewhat of an underrated prospect. He's on the small side, but has a strong arm and good field vision. 

9. Oregon State

5-Star Commitments: 0

4-Star Commitments: 1

3-Star Commitments: 3

Oregon State has 13 commitments at the moment, but only one of them has received a 4-star grade; three others are 3-star prospects. 

Headlined by defensive end Dylan Wynn, who's a top 25 defensive end, the Beavers also have a couple of intriguing offensive prospects in running back Storm Woods and receiver Tyrequek Zimmerman. 

8. Arizona

5-Star Commitments: 0

4-Star Commitments: 1

3-Star Commitments: 8

With 15 commitments on the books Arizona is not lacking in quantity, but the Wildcats are in need of quality.

Only one recruit from the class is ranked inside the top 50 at his position, that being middle linebacker Rob Hankins, a top 10 prospect at his position and by far the most talented recruit Arizona has gotten its hands on this year. 

7. UCLA

5-Star Commitments: 1

4-Star Commitments: 0

3-Star Commitments: 7

UCLA has an uncharacteristically poor recruiting class for 2011, currently ranking outside the top 50 with only eight commitments. 

While the Bruins are a little short on scholarships, they do have 5-star quarterback Brent Hundley and a top 10 center in Jacob Brendel. 

6. Washington State

5-Star Commitments: 0

4-Star Commitments: 2

3-Star Commitments: 6

Washington State's 19 commitments come second only to Stanford in the Pac-10, but the focus of the class is on running back Bishop Sankey and outside linebacker Chester Sua.

Sankey is a really intriguing 4-star running back who has the potential to be a real gem in a couple of years and Sua is a very versatile athlete ranked in the top 20 at his position. 

5. Oregon

5-Star Commitments: 0

4-Star Commitments: 4

3-Star Commitments: 5

Oregon's recruiting class, as you might have guessed, is offensive-heavy, but that hasn't been much of an issue for the Ducks in the past.

The combination of 4-star quarterback Jerrard Randall and 4-star receiver Tacoi Sumler is especially intriguing as both of these players have the potential to be future stars. 

4. Cal

5-Star Commitments: 0

4-Star Commitments: 4

3-Star Commitments: 6

Cal and Oregon have very comparable recruiting classes, with both schools holding commitments from four 4-star prospects and at least 10 total commitments. 

The Golden Bears' class is headlined by quarterback Kyle Boehm, who has arguably the strongest arm in the nation, and defensive tackle Mustafa Jalil, a top 10 prospect at his position with a ton of potential. 

3. Washington

5-Star Commitments: 2

4-Star Commitments: 2

3-Star Commitments: 12

Washington's recruiting class would have been something really special if the Huskies had been able to land Brett Hundely.

The Huskies did get the other two pieces though: 5-star receiver Kasen Williams and 5-star tight end Austin Seferian-Jenkins, both of whom are amongst the top five prospects at their positions. 

2. USC

5-Star Commitments: 2

4-Star Commitments: 5

3-Star Commitments: 4

USC doesn't have the most talent from the Pac-10 recruiting classes, but the Trojans do have the best. 5-star athlete De'Anthony Thomas is a top five overall prospect and if he wasn't listed at 5'8" and 165 pounds, he'd be the No. 1 overall recruit. 

He'll line up at cornerback most likely, but he's also one of the best running backs in the nation; Thomas has spoken of playing both ways. 

1. Stanford

5-Star Commitments: 0

4-Star Commitments: 8

3-Star Commitments: 14

Stanford doesn't have any 5-star prospects, but the Cardinal's 22 commitments are the most in the conference, as are their eight 4-star prospects and 14 3-star prospects. 

Stanford has three of the top 25 running backs in the nation and two top 25 linebackers, as well as top 25 talent at offensive tackle, defensive end and wide receiver.