Commentary

USC highlights Pac-10 recruiting

Originally Published: August 23, 2010
By Tom Luginbill | ESPN Recruiting

Pac-10 Recruiting Breakdown

Rank School
1

USC Trojans

Top prospect: DT Antwaun Woods (Woodland Hills, Calif./Woodland Hills)

The Trojans showcase four ESPNU 150 members and several top-10 rated positional prospects. Instead of targeting specific positions, it looks like Lane Kiffin is going after top players. ATH DeAnthony Thomas (Los Angeles/Crenshaw) is perhaps the most explosive athlete USC has recruited in the past five years, regardless of whether he ends up at cornerback or stays on offense. Four-star WR Victor Blackwell (Santa Ana, Calif./Mater Dei) is an athletic prospect who hasn't even come close to reaching his upside. QBs Max Wittek (Corona Del Mar, Calif./Mater Dei) and Cody Kessler (Bakersfield, Calif./Centennial) add depth behind Matt Barkley as Mitch Mustain heads into his senior year.
USC
2

Stanford Cardinal

Top prospect: ILB James Vaughters (Tucker, Ga./Tucker)

This class lacks immediate-impact prospects, but it's deep with overall quality and upside to help contend for a Pac-10 crown. Four-star RB Amir Carlisle (Sunnyvale, Calif./The King's Academy) has the footwork and speed to develop into a very productive rusher. Four-star wide receiver Ty Montgomery (Dallas/St. Mark's) isn't a game-breaker but is a well-rounded wideout. Coach Jim Harbaugh also helped his defense by adding two solid three-star ends in Charlie Hopkins (Spokane, Wash./Gonzaga Prep) and Kevin Anderson (Palo Alto, Calif./Palo Alto).
Stanford
3

Oregon Ducks

Top prospect: WR Tacoi Sumler (Miami/Christopher Columbus)

The Ducks continue to cast a wide recruiting net. Oregon has stretched out to Florida for two of the best at their positions in the fertile Sunshine State. Sumler should quickly emerge as a weapon upon his arrival in Eugene. He may lack ideal size but there aren't many quicker, faster or with better space-player attributes in the country. Jerrard Randall (Hollywood, Fla./Chaminade-Madonna) possesses all the tools to shine at the quarterback position in Chip Kelly's zone-read offense and was a huge pickup for the program. Top-10 rated offensive tackle Andre Yruretagoyena (Scottsdale, Ariz./Chaparral) needs to add some bulk but he is agile and can block in space, which are ideal attributes for the system he is joining.
Oregon
4

Washington Huskies

Top prospect: OT Austin Seferian-Jenkins (Gig Harbor, Wash./Gig Harbor)

Washington has built a strong class early, but it has really had only one significant pickup late in the summer with Seferian-Jenkins. The Huskies have commitments from three four-star prospects, led by jumbo athlete Aubrey Coleman (Walnut, Calif./Walnut), who could play tight end or defensive end and is an intriguing prospect. UW has a commitment from running back Brendon Bigelow (Fresno, Calif./Central East), who had ACL surgery last season. But when he's healthy, he's one of the quicker and faster backs in the Class of 2011 and is very dynamic and versatile. He could move into the ESPNU 150 with a healthy senior year.
Washington
5

California Golden Bears

Top prospect: WR Maurice Harris (Greensboro, N.C./North Guilford)

Cal is slowly putting together a very talented, but small, class for 2011 at this time and the Golden Bears have cast their recruiting net out wide, snaring prospects from Texas to Arizona and to North Carolina with WR Harris. RB Daniel Lasco (The Woodlands, Texas/The Woodlands) has great top-end speed with a straight-line style. DT Mustafa Jalil (San Diego, Calif./Central Catholic) is a load at 300 pounds, while QB Kyle Boehm (San Jose, Calif./Arch Bishop Mitty) adds depth and a big arm.
California
6

UCLA Bruins

Top prospect: WR Brandin Cooks (Stockton, Calif./Lincoln)

This is a team that could move up the charts fast between now and February because the Bruins are in the running for many of the country's top prospects. WR George Farmer (Gardena, Calif./Serra), ATH Devon Blackmon (Fontana, Calif./Summit) and DT Todd Barr (Long Beach, Calif./Lakewood) are just a few prospects who have the Bruins high on their list and all three are ranked in the top three nationally at their respective positions. Don't let UCLA's small numbers fool you at this point; the class is loaded with offensive line help, which is a need.
UCLA
7

Arizona Wildcats

Top prospect: ILB Rob Hankins (Dallas/Parish Episcopal)

The Wildcats are off to a hot start in the early going and have added considerable depth at running back and along the defensive front seven, particularly at linebacker. A pair of scat backs in Ka'Deem Carey (Tucson, Ariz./Canyon Del Oro) and Jared Baker (Los Angeles, Calif./Loyola) add quickness and big-play spark. OLB Hank Hobson (Bakersfield, Calif./Stockdale) is physical and can run.
Arizona
8

Oregon State Beavers

Top prospect: DE Dylan Wynn (Concord, Calif./De la Salle)

Perhaps no other program in the country is a better example of recruiting and developing three-star players into conference championship contenders than the Beavers. They have also done a great job of selling their program to prospects outside of the Pacific Northwest and California. They have commitments from eight different states. RB Malcolm Agnew (St. Louis, Mo./De Smet Jesuit) is undersized, but is similar to Jacquizz Rodgers.
Oregon State
9

Arizona State Sun Devils

Top prospect: WR Gary Chambers (Glendale, Ariz./Ironwood)

The Sun Devils are still a head-scratcher in terms of their lack of prowess on the recruiting trail given all their positive resources. They are off to a slow start and not in the running for many of the state's top prospects; however, there are still many in-state targets available. OG Cyrus Hobbi (Scottsdale, Ariz./Saguaro) and DT Todd Peat (Chandler, Ariz./Corona Del Sol) are must-gets for the Sun Devils.
Arizona State
10

Washington State Cougars

Top prospect: RB Bishop Sankey (Spokane, Wash./Gonzaga)

There are signs of life that indicate this program is improving on the recruiting trail and the top half of the Cougars' class is reminiscent of our thoughts on Oregon State's philosophy. Five states are represented, even Florida, which is an indicator of improved speed. OLB Logan Mayes (Eugene, Ore./Marist) is an upgrade.
Washington State

Tom Luginbill is ESPN's national director of football recruiting.

Tom Luginbill

RecruitingNation
  • Senior National Recruiting Analyst for ESPN.com
  • Coached in four professional football leagues
  • Named ACC Rookie of the Year in 1994

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