Pac-10 Notes and News

The University of Southern California saw a string of seven-straight Pac 10 titles come to an end this season, and with head coach Pete Carroll jumping ship to the NFL you have to wonder if the Trojans will continue to dominate out west.

New head coach Layne Kiffin jumps on board to replace Carroll after just serving one year at the University of Tennessee. The possibility of NCAA sanctions for recruiting violations also hangs over the future of the program.

But judging from the commits USC seems to have on board for Wednesday’s National Signing Day; it won’t be long before the Trojans are right back in the thick of things in the quest for the BCS national championship game.

College Sports Matchups takes a look at USC and how the rest of the league’s team should fare on National Signing Day.

 Southern California Trojans. The Parade of high school All-Americans continues for USC, which ranks as one of the top 10 or so recruiting classes in the nation. USC has a small number of commits with just 13, but 10 of those are four star or better and all of them are three stars or better.

Dillon Baxter (5-11, 187) of San Diego has 4.5 speed and ranks by some services as the No. 1 running back recruit in the nation and is ready for USC. Other five-star recruits include wide receiver Kyle Prater (6-5, 205) of Hillside, Illinois who is considered one of the top overall recruits in the nation as well as the top wideout available and one of the top 10 or so recruits. Athlete Robert Woods (6-1, 180) has 4.5 speed and could play in the secondary or wide receiver while becoming an impact player.

UCLA Bruins: Rick Neuheisel has his hands full keeping up with USC just for control of Los Angeles, but this year’s crop should be at the top of the Pac-10 with nine four-star recruits. The crop is heavy with players in the offensive line and at key defensive spots like linebacker. While the skill position signings get more attention, the Bruins are bulking up the meat of the football team for a run at the Rose Bowl.

Oregon Ducks: The Ducks look to parlay their multi-uniform look and a trip to the Rose Bowl into a solid class that should feature eight four star recruits and a five-star in running back Lache Seastrunk of Temple, Texas. At 5-11, 192 pounds and  4.5 speed, he is a top three RB. The Ducks lured him away from Texas, Oklahoma, Florida and USC among others. Oregon signed another blue chip RB out of Houston in Dontae Williams, 5-11, 200 pounds with 4.49 speed.

Stanford Cardinal: Stanford burst on the scene this fall, trouncing USC and Oregon in successive weeks and the Cardinal should build on that success with a strong recruiting class under head coach Jim Harbaugh. The Cardinals have six commits from four star prospects, an unheard of number for Stanford. 

Running back Anthony Wilkerson (6-0, 210) 4.47 speed could fit into the power running game established by Heisman finalist Toby Gerhart and quarterback Brett Notttingham (6-4, 210) was considered one of the top five or so QB prospects in the nation and has the size of a Tim Tebow.

California Golden Bears: Cal was the big bust of the Pac 10 last year as a preseason favorite, and the Bears are in the middle of the pack as far as recruiting goes.  Top catch is defensive end Chris Martin (6-4, 240) out of Colorado, one of the top players at his position who was courted by big boys like Florida, Notre Dame and Oklahoma. Cal added five four-stars to its list.

Washington Huskies: In the second year of Steve Sarkisian’s rule, the Huskies are loading up for the future. Washington has one of the biggest commit lists with 28 prospects and 27 of them are three stars or better. Running back Deontae Cooper (6-0, 205) 4.47 speed could be a future star and the class is very solid from top to bottom.

Arizona State Sun Devils: ASU probably had the youngest team in the league last year, and most of those starters return for what should be a bowl run. Head coach Dennis Erickson also bags a solid class with five four-star commits. 

Junior college wideout George Bell (6-3, 195) 4.42 speed should help out immediately. Running back Deantre Lewis (5-10, 189) is a top RB prospect.

Arizona Wildcats: Arizona is expected to sign a small class with 19 commits, though 17 are three stars or better so it does have quality. The best of these are in the lines and at linebacker.

Oregon State Beavers: Head coach Mike Riley turned down overtures from USC to stay at his home school Beavers, so fans in Corvallis should be content they have one of the best bargains in college coaching. OSU has a lot of talent coming back and only has 14 commits, though 13 of them are three stars or better. Quarterback Sean Mannion (6-5, 205) of Pleasonton, California is a four-star QB prospect.

Washington State Cougars: It would be nice for Cougar fans to have hope for the future, but WSU ranks at the bottom of the Pac 10 in recruiting with no recruits higher than three stars.