National Signing Day: Top Class of 2021 Recruits Heading to the Pac-12
Written by Ryan Wright
Twitter: @RyanWrightRNG
What college football recruiting fans saw on National Signing Day eve is essentially the same view taken in the day after, and that held true in the Pac-12. USC and Oregon made waves with each landing four-star talents while Stanford (Austin Uke) and Oregon State (Jason White) each brought in three-star offensive linemen. As for the rest of the teams, they locked in their class without any dramatic twists or turns. But which teams did the best?
Every year the West Coast produces some of the best talent in the nation with a large draw to California, especially Southern California. The recruiting talent pipeline not only feeds the Pac-12 and Mountain West, but lends itself to recruiting poachers from the SEC, ACC, Big 12, and Big Ten. For the Pac-12 to ascend among the elite Power Five Conferences they must erect a proverbial wall that keeps the homegrown products local while drawing the best of the best from other hotbed talent pools.
Let’s find out how well the Pac-12 did securing their own in the 2021 recruiting cycle.
The 5-Stars
Of the 34 players rated as 5-stars in the nation, four hailed from Pac-12 territories; the nation’s top-rated player defensive end Korey Foreman of Centennial High School (CA), the third ranked J.T. Tuimoloau from Eastside Catholic (WA), Steilacoom (WA) receiver Emeka Egbuka, and Kennedy Catholic (WA) quarterback Sam Huard. So far, the Pac-12 landed two of four. Foremen locked in with USC and Huard stayed home inking with Washington. Breaking the hearts of Huskie and Cougar fans, Egbuka is heading east to Ohio State. The player all is waiting on to make his decision public is Tuimoloau.
The Pac-12 did not pull a 5-Star outside of their region.
The 4-Stars
Assuming the recruiting services do not change their player recruiting rankings again, as seen day of on NSD, the 2021 class had 327 4-Stars across the landscape. The Pac-12 secured 53 of the 327, 16 percent, with the wealth going to Oregon (19) and USC (14). Four teams missed out on a 4-Star this time around; Washington State, Colorado, Arizona, and Oregon State.
The Ducks impressed with three players ranked inside the Top 40; receiver Troy Franklin at No. 40, quarterback Ty Thompson at No. 39, and rugged Kingsley Suamataia at No. 35, just missing the 5-Star cut. USC had the lone other Top 50 player, who was not a 5-Star, in outside linebacker Raesjon Davis. Davis was a flip from LSU committing and signing on NSD.
Rounding out national players in the Top 100, USC outperformed their peers landing 4-Star quarterbacks (No. 68) Jaxson Dart (UT) and (No. 75) Miller Moss (CA) along with corner/receiver Ceyair Wright, the 79th ranked talent. Oregon signed highly coveted Maryland receiver Don’t’e Thornton, ranked No. 56, and Arizona offensive lineman Bram Walden (No. 84). Utah impressed snatching Westlake Village linebacker Ethan Calvert, the 77th rated prospect, away from UCLA and USC.
The Ducks class added even more talent with linebacker Keith Brown (No. 114) and flipped No. 122 cornerback Avante Dickerson (NE) away from Minnesota on NSD. Closing out the haul in the Top 150, Oregon signed Mater Dei corner Jaylin Davies while New York all-purpose back Seven McGee just missed the cut at No. 151.
USC’s ascension in the team rankings was aided by No. 120 linebacker Julien Simon from Lincoln High School (WA), receiver Kyron Ware-Hudson from Mater Dei (CA), and Tampa tight end Michael Trigg.
Arizona State and Cal sneaked into the upper echelons of the talent pool at No. 139 with California corner Isaiah Johnson going with the Sun Devils and Texas receiver J. Michael Sturdivant heading to Berkeley.
UCLA signed a trio in the 4-Star grouping, Saguaro (AZ) defensive end Quinton Somerville (No. 221), Nevada end Tiaoalii Savea (No. 215), and Junipero Serra receiver/athlete Devin Kirkwood (No. 267).
In total, Cal signed five 4-Stars; the aforementioned Sturdivant, tight end Jermaine Terry (No. 201), receiver Marvin Anderson (No. 284), quarterback Kai Millner (No. 289), and end Akili Calhoun (No. 361).
As the “star power rankings” go, the Washington Huskies produced the third best recruiting class in-conference, but because they only signed 15, they have to settle for the sixth best. Behind UDUB in the Pac-12 recruiting rankings is Arizona State. The Sun Devils attracted four 4-Stars with Florida athlete Tommi Hill (No. 224) already on campus. The two other pulls were Texas center Ezra Dotson-Oyetade (No. 271) and Washington target Junior Alexander (No. 293).
The Cardinal signed a solid class with 16 total commits that included 15 3-Star players. The lone 4-Star, who is already in Palo Alto, is defensive end Aaron Armitage (No. 207).
Final Pac-12 Class of 2021 Team Recruiting Rankings
- Oregon – 22 commits
- USC – 22 commits
- Cal – 19 commits
- UCLA – 18 commits
- Utah – 17 commits
- Washington – 15 commits
- Arizona State – 14 commits
- Stanford – 16 commits
- Washington State – 20 commits
- Colorado – 18 commits
- Arizona – 18 commits
- Oregon State – 10 commits
Photo credit: Alika Jenner; Oregon head coach Mario Cristobal