Posted by Bryan Fischer

National Signing Day is almost here and recruits across the country are gearing up for plenty of last-minute pitches and school visits as head coaches look to shape their program for years to come. There was some head coaching turnover in the Pac-12 and a few interesting moves in terms of assistants which makes 2012 a very interesting year in the conference. Combined with the fact that this is the best year in a while for talent on the West Coast and there some buzz about what is going on in the Pac-12.

• Full Pac-12 conference commitment list

• Pac-12 recruiting news and commitments

• Pac-12 college football news

MaxPreps.com Top 25 Team Rankings, Big Ten
College		Commits	Top 100	Moving
	10. California	18	3
	17. USC	12	3
	21. Oregon	18	2
	25. Stanford	17	2
Search Recruits | Complete Top 25 Rankings

Top storylines

1. What's the fall out from Tosh Lupoi leaving for Washington?

The departure of Lupoi, Cal's best recruiter, might end up a seismic shift in the Pac-12 recruiting landscape. He was responsible for getting the Golden Bears into the top 10 in the team rankings and was on the verge of landing another five-star defender to give him an impressive three on defense. Instead plenty of Cal recruits and commitments have decided to take late official visits and only a handful can be considered solid verbal pledges. Lupoi might not be able to have a huge impact on the Huskies class but they're in the running for a few top players late in the process. Needless to say, this is a big move and one that might have a huge impact in 2012 and beyond.

2. How high does Oregon go?

The near departure of head coach Chip Kelly threw many recruits for a loop but it looks like, despite some negative recruiting by other schools, the current class will remain intact with the Ducks also in the running for some elite five-star guys on the West Coast come Signing Day. Oregon currently sits just outside the top 20 but if they land one or two of the guys that are left on their board, it's very possible to find them in the top 15 with one of the most talented classes headed to Eugene in a long time.

3. Roster management in Los Angeles

It's a good thing both head coaches in Los Angeles have NFL experience because they're going to have to do some good ol' fashioned roster management - something that does happen outside of the SEC - albeit for different reasons. Lane Kiffin and USC are finally starting to feel the effects of sanctions and have to be careful to not only sign 15 or fewer recruits on Signing Day but come in under the NCAA-imposed  limit of 75 scholarship players by the fall. The Trojans are in the running for some top talent and, with early enrollees, will actually bring in more than 15 players so it will be interesting to see what the team looks like going forward. Across town, this was expected to be a small UCLA class of 17 or so recruits but the Bruins currently have 25 commits. There are some creative things Jim Mora can do so it will be interesting to see who winds up on the roster come the fall.

4. Which new coach winds up with the best class?

The massive coaching turnover in the Pac-12 has made things interesting among the conference's middle class. Rich Rodriguez had an early head start but it took awhile to get his full staff on board and that might have cost him some. Todd Graham has to deal with a lot of negative recruiting thanks to the way he left Pitt but has managed to do better than tread water and could land one of the state's top players. Meanwhile, Mike Leach has done a remarkable job of remaking the Wazzu class to fit his offense and aggressively get players who might have been overlooked by others but are simply players when it counts on the field. Finally, Jim Mora has done a great job getting some elite talent to get excited about UCLA. Should be an interesting finish.

Most impressive class: California

Most underrated class: Oregon State

Work left to do: Arizona

Top Players to Watch Name Pos Committed 5. Shaq Thompson DB California 6. Ellis McCarthy DT UCLA 8. Andrus Peat OL Uncommitted 13. Nelson Agholor ATH Uncommitted 16. Arik Armstead OL/DT Uncommitted 21. Zach Banner OL Uncommitted 26. Josh Garnett OL Uncommitted 30. D.J. Foster ATH Uncommitted 37. Jordan Simmons OL USC 41. Aziz Shittu DT Uncommitted Complete Top Players Page

Assistant recruiters of note:

Robert Anae, Tony Gibson and Calvin Magee, Arizona
Mike Norvell, Arizona State
Marcus Arroyo, Ron Gould and Todd Howard, California
Eric Bieniemy, Darian Hagan and Bobby Kennedy, Colorado
Jerry Azzinaro, Gary Campbell, Mark Helfrich and John Neal, Oregon
Mark Banker, Brent Brennan, Mike Cavanaugh and Danny Langsdorf, Oregon State
Lance Anderson, Pep Hamilton and Mike Sanford Jr., Stanford
Adrian Klemm, Demetrice Martin, Noel Mazzone and Angus McClure, UCLA
James Cregg, Clay Helton, Kennedy Pola and Ed Orgeron, USC
Brian Johnson, Morgan Scalley and Kalani Sitake, Utah
Eric Kiesau, Tosh Lupoi, Johnny Nansen and Peter Sirmon, Washington
Mike Breske, Jeff Choate and Jim Mastro, Washington State

Head coach under pressure: Jeff Tedford, California

Top Pac-12 class prediction: California

Top Pac-12 signee: Shaq Thompson

Pac-12 school-by-school
North Division		Commits	Top Players	Notes
	- Team page - Commitment list	18	QB Zach Kline OL Freddie Tagaloa DB Shaq Thompson WR Bryce Treggs	This is a top 10 class for now. The emphasis is added because the departure of Lupoi to Washington has really thrown this group for a loop and caused several, such as Thompson, to look around before signing.
	- Team page - Commitment list	18	DE DeForest Buckner RB Byron Marshall QB Jake Rodrigues WR Dwayne Stanford	Chip Kelly's flirtation with the NFL has thrown some for a loop but it looks like the Pac-12 champs will only add to a very good 2012 class. Marshall and Rodrigues are perfect fits on offense
	- Team page - Commitment list	24	WR Malik Gilmore DB Tyler Hasty OL Isaac Seumalo	This might be one of Mike Riley most talented classes during his time in Corvallis. Seumalo is one of the top offensive linemen on the West Coast and Gilmore is very underrated at the wide out spot. There are plenty of players who could play as freshmen or sophomores from this group.
	- Team page - Commitment list	17	OL Nick Davidson LB Noor Davis RB Barry Sanders DT Jordan Watkins	It's not often you find the Cardinal in the top 25 in recruiting but things are rolling on the Farm. This is linemen heavy and has several recruits who should see early playing time. Stanford is also in the mix for elite offensive linemen Josh Garnett and Andrus Peat.
	- Team page - Commitment list	20	QB Jeff Lindquist QB Cyler Miles DE Damion Turpin	You wonder if this class could have been even better had Lupoi been hired earlier but as is, it's a very good effort out of Steve Sarkisian and staff. They failed to land the top OL's in the state but picked up two very good QB's to build around in Lindquist and Miles.
	- Team page - Commitment list	23	RB Robert Lewis WR Gabriel Marks OL Alex Mitchell	Mike Leach's hire has certainly turned heads on the Palouse and the recruiting trail. He's hit California for some players who were overlooked by other programs but are great fits for his system and done a good job in a short time span.
South Division		Commits	Top Players	Notes
	- Team page - Commitment list	17	QB Javelle Allen LB C.J. Dozier WR Trey Griffey	Even though he was hired early in the process,  Rodriguez hasn't made a huge splash in recruiting. But with new facilities and his staff finally in place, that will come. Allen is a very good fit for RichRod's offense.
	- Team page - Commitment list	19	ATH Randall Goforth OL Evan Goodman OL Stephon McCray	Former head coach Dennis Erickson had assembled one of the better classes in the conference and while it has taken some hits, Todd Graham has mostly kept it together.
	- Team page - Commitment list	25	DB Kenneth Crawley QB Shane Dillon DB Yuri Wright	Landing Wright is a risk but there's no doubt he's a talented player who can contribute early on. This class should add depth across the board despite not having a big time impact player.
	- Team page - Commitment list	25	DB Ishmael Adams DT Ellis McCarthy QB T.J. Millweard DB Marcus Rios	Jim Mora answered all the questions people had about an NFL guy recruiting in college with this effort. Landing McCarthy is a program-changer because big West Coast DT's don't exactly grow on trees.
	- Team page - Commitment list	12	WR Darreus Rogers LB Jabari Ruffin OL Jordan Simmons OL Max Tuerk	This is the first class truly limited by NCAA sanctions but that doesn't mean Lane Kiffin hasn't been able to pull in some great players. The Trojans are also in the running for elite, top 20 players on Signing Day too.
	- Team page - Commitment list	22	ATH Chase Hansen OL Cedrick Poutasi QB Travis Wilson	Kyle Whittingham has talked about what a plus the move to the Pac-12 has been for recruiting and this class is one example of getting better players by being in a BCS conference.
Search Recruits | Complete Top 25 Rankings

Posted by Bryan Fischer

We're less than two weeks out from Signing Day and what better time to take a look at each conference and where every school stacks up as coaches make final home visits and work on scholarship math. Here's a look at all the verbal commitments for the Pac-12.

  Arizona (17)

Quarterback Javelle Allen (Prosper, Texas)
Wide receiver Jarrell Bennett (New Orleans, La.)
Defensive tackle Gerron Borne (Reserve, La.)
Offensive lineman Beau Boyster (Bellflower, Calif.)
Wide receiver Julian Brooks (Chatsworth, Calif.)
Defensive lineman Cayman Bundage (Oklahoma City, Okla.)
Athlete Dakota Conwell (Upper St. Clair, Pa.)
Linebacker C.J. Dozier (Temecula, Calif.)
Wide receiver Trey Griffey (Orlando, Fla.)
Offensive lineman T.D. Gross (Santee, Calif.)
Offensive lineman Zach Hemmila (Chandler, Ariz.)
Defensive end Kyle Kelley (Irvine, Calif.)
Quarterback Josh Kern (San Antonio, Texas)
Running back Anthony Lopez (Gilbert, Ariz.)
Defensive end Dwight Melvin (Laveen, Ariz.)
Defensive back Yamen Sanders (Culver City, Calif.)
Defensive back Leo Thomas (San Antonio, Texas)

Arizona State (19)

Wide receiver Alonzo Agwuenu (Chino Hills, Calif./Mt. San Antonio Juco)
Defensive back Jamar Allah (Phoenix, Ariz.)
Wide receiver Josiah Blandin (Long Beach, Calif.)
Running back Terrell Davis (Victoria, B.C., Canada)
Linebacker Salamo Fiso (Long Beach, Calif.)
Wide receiver Randall Goforth (Long Beach, Calif.)
Offensive lineman Evan Goodman (Lakeland, Fla.), Tom Lemming Top Player for 2012
Tight end Nate Ingram (Ashley, Mich./Pierce Juco)
Defensive back Oliver Johnson (Woodland Hills, Calif./Pierce Juco)
Defensive tackle Milo Jordan (Corona, Calif.)
Tight end Kody Kohl (Gilbert, Ariz.)
Offensive lineman Stephon McCray (Fresno, Calif.)
Linebacker Carlos Mendoza (Westlake Village, Calif.)
Linebacker Kimball Niumatalolo (Pasadena, Calif./Pasadena City Juco)
Athlete Darwin Rogers (Chicago, Ill./Arizona Western Juco)
Linebacker Matthew Rowe (Long Beach, Calif.)
Defensive tackle Jake Sheffield (Palm Desert, Calif.)
Wide receiver Richard Smith (Long Beach, Calif.)
Offensive lineman Easton Wahlstrom (Scottsdale, Ariz.)

  California (18)

Linebacker Michael Barton (Concord, Calif.), Tom Lemming Top Player for 2012
Offensive lineman Matt Cochran (Atwater, Calif.), Tom Lemming Top Player for 2012
Athlete Cedric Dozier (Lakewood, Wash.)
Running back Damariay Drew (Livermore, Calif.)
Running back Maximo Espita (Salem, Ore.)
Wide receiver Chris Harper (Encino, Calif.)
Defensive back Zach Hoffpauir (Peoria, Ariz.)
Quarterback Zach Kline (Danville, Calif.), Tom Lemming Top Player for 2012
Kicker Cole Leininger (Fruit Cove, Fla.)
Offensive lineman Steven Moore (Elk Grove, Calif.)
Linebacker Hardy Nickerson (Oakland, Calif.)
Offensive lineman Christian Okafor (Houston, Texas)
Wide receiver Jordan Payton (Westlake Village, Calif.)
Wide receiver Darius Powe (Lakewood, Calif.)
Offensive lineman Freddie Tagaloa (Richmond, Calif.), Tom Lemming Top Player for 2012
Defensive back Shaq Thompson (Sacramento, Calif.), Tom Lemming Top Player for 2012
Wide receiver Bryce Treggs (Bellflower, Calif.), Tom Lemming Top Player for 2012
Wide receiver Kenneth Walker (Richmond, Calif.)

  Colorado (25)

Running back Donta Abron Jr. (Upland, Calif.)
Defensive back Kenneth Crawley (Washington, D.C.)
Running back Terrence Crowder (Galena Park, Texas)
Quarterback Shane Dillon (El Cajon, Calif.), Tom Lemming Top Player for 2012
Defensive tackle Tyler Henington (Denver, Col.)
Offensive lineman Jeromy Irwin (Cypress, Texas)
Tight end Sean Irwin (Cypress, Texas)
Defensive end Kisima Jagne (Chandler, Ariz.)
Defensive end Samson Kafovalu (Riverside, Calif.)
Offensive lineman Gerrad Kough (Pomona, Calif.)
Defensive end Derek McCartney (Arvada, Colo.)
Athlete Marques Mosley (Upland, Calif.)
Defensive end Clay Norgard (Highlands Ranch, Col.)
Running back Davien Payne (Perris, Calif.)
Defensive tackle Kory Rasmussen (Honolulu, Hawaii)
Tight end Austin Ray (Columbia, Mo.)
Defensive tackle Justin Solis (Westlake Village, Calif.)
Defensive end John Stuart (Westlake Village, Calif.)
Wide receiver Gerald Thomas (The Colony, Texas)
Wide receiver Jeffrey Thomas (Duncanville, Texas)
Defensive tackle Josh Tupou (Buena Park, Calif.)
Defensive back John Walker (Washington, D.C.)
Wide receiver Peyton Williams (Southlake, Texas)
Athlete De'Jon Wilson (Washington, D.C.)
Defensive back Yuri Wright (Ramsey, N.J.)

  Oregon (18)

Defensive back Eric Amoako (Arlington, Texas)
Defensive back Stephen Amoako (Arlington, Texas)
Linebacker Brett Bafaro (Hillsboro, Ore.)
Defensive tackle Stetzon Bair (St. Anthony, Idaho/Iowa Western Juco)
Defensive end Alex Balducci (Portland, Ore.)
Tight end Evan Baylis (Aurora, Colo.)
Defensive end Pharaoh Brown (Lyndhurst, Ohio)
Defensive end DeForest Buckner (Honolulu, Hawaii), Tom Lemming Top Player for 2012
Defensive end Cody Carriger (Butte, Mont.)
Linebacker Bryce Cottrell (Plano, Texas)
Defensive end Terrence Daniel (Oakland, Calif.)
Defensive back Reggie Daniels (Chandler, Ariz.)
Wide receiver Oshay Dunmore (Newport, Ore.)
Quarterback Jeff Lockie (Danville, Calif.)
Offensive lineman Kyle Long (Charlottesville, Va./Saddleback Juco)
Running back Byron Marshall (San Jose, Calif.), Tom Lemming Top Player for 2012
Quarterback Jake Rodrigues (Rocklin, Calif.)
Wide receiver Dwayne Stanford (Cincinnati, Ohio), Tom Lemming Top Player for 2012

Oregon State (24)

Offensive lineman Gavin Andrews (Granite Bay, Calif.)
Offensive lineman Grant Bays (Oceanside, Calif.)
Defensive back Kentrell Brice (Ruston, La.)
Running back Chris Brown (Fresno, Calif.)
Linebacker Cade Cowdin (Palm Desert, Calif.)
Offensive lineman Chase Eldredge (Palos Verdes, Calif.)
Wide receiver Malik Gilmore (Lakewood, Calif.)
Defensive back Tyler Hasty (Bellevue, Wash.)
Defensive back Kendall Hill (LaMarque, Texas)
Defensive back Chris Miller (Pomona, Calif.)
Offensive lineman Josh Mitchell (Snoqualmie, Wash.)
Defensive back Cyril Norland (Ruston, La.)
Wide receiver Zach Robinson (Tahlequah, Okla.)
Linebacker Caleb Saulo (Kent, Wash.)
Offensive lineman Isaac Seumalo (Corvallis, Ore.)
Defensive back Devian Shelton (Inglewood, Calif.)
Linebacker Joel Skotte (Bend, Ore.)
Tight end Caleb Smith (Renton, Wash.)
Tight end Dustin Stanton (Marysville, Wash.)
Defensive tackle Calvin Tonga (Yuma, Ariz.)
Quarterback Brent Vanderveen (Arroyo Grande, Calif.)
Wide receiver Cleveland Wallace (San Jose, Calif.)
Offensive lineman Garrett Weinreich (Arroyo Grande, Calif.)
Defensive back Chris Young (Auburn, Wash./Arizona Western Juco)

  Stanford (17)

Safety Alex Carter (Ashburn, Va.), Tom Lemming Top Player for 2012
Offensive line Johnny Caspers (Glen Ellyn, Ill.)
Wide receiver Connor Crane (Denton, Texas)
Offensive lineman Nick Davidson (Eden Prairie, Minn.), Tom Lemming Top Player for 2012
Linebacker Noor Davis (The Villages, Fla.), Tom Lemming Top Player for 2012
Offensive lineman Brandon Fanaika (Pleasant Grove, Utah)
Wide receiver Deante Gray (Houston, Texas)
Wide receiver Dontonio Jordan (Cornith, Texas)
Defensive end Luke Kaumatule (Honolulu, Hawaii)
Defensive end Nathaniel Lohn (Kansas City, Mo.)
Defensive back Drew Madhu (Tampa, Fla.)
Linebacker Blake Martinez (Oro Valley, Ariz.)
Defensive Tackle Ikenna Nwafor (Irving, Texas)
Running back Barry Sanders (Oklahoma City, Okla.), Tom Lemming Top Player for 2012
Offensive lineman Graham Shuler (Brentwood, Tenn.)
Defensive tackle Jordan Watkins (College Park, Ga.), Tom Lemming Top Player for 2012
Wide receiver Kodi Whitfield (Los Angeles, Calif.)

  UCLA (25)

Defensive back Ishmael Adams (Westlake Village, Calif.), Tom Lemming Top Player for 2012
Defensive end Eli Ankou (Bear, Del.)
Defensive end Jeremy Castro (Murrieta, Calif.)
Offensive lineman Alexandru Ceachir (Santa Monica, Calif./Santa Monica Juco)
Defensive back Justin Combs (New Rochelle, N.Y.)
Offensive lineman Colby Cyburt (Mission Viejo, Calif.)
Defensive back Shannon Edwards (Bakersfield, Calif.)
Kicker Ka'imi Fairbairn (Honolulu, Hawaii)
Offensive lineman Carl Hulick (Anaheim, Calif.)
Tight end Nate Iese (Elk Grove, Calif.)
Wide receiver Taylor Lagace (Arcadia, Calif.)
Running back Steven Lakalaka (Honolulu, Hawaii)
Defensive tackle Ellis McCarthy (Monrovia, Calif.), Tom Lemming Top Player for 2012
Quarterback T.J. Millweard (Fort Worth, Texas)
Running back Fabian Moreau (Davie, Fla.)
Linebacker Kenny Orjioke (Marietta, Ga.)
Running back Tairen Owens (Pasadena, Calif.)
Athlete Paul Perkins (Chandler, Ariz.)
Linebacker Aaron Porter (La Habra, Calif.)
Athlete Christian Powell (Upland, Calif.)
Defensive back Jerico Richardson (Mission Hills, Calif.)
Defensive back Marcus Rios (Elk Grove, Calif.)
Tight end Ian Taubler (Fresno, Calif.)
Athlete Trayvon Watson (Los Angeles, Calif.)
Offensive lineman Lacy Westbrook (Compton, Calif.)


  USC (12)

Defensive back Gerald Bowman (Philadelphia, Pa./Pierce Juco)
Defensive end Morgan Breslin (Walnut Creek, Calif./Diablo Valley Juco)
Tight end Jalen Cope-Fitzpatrick (Rocklin, Calif.)
Running back Jahleel Pinner (Mission Viejo, Calif.)
Wide receiver Darreus Rogers (Carson, Calif.)
Linebacker Jabari Ruffin (Downey, Calif.), Tom Lemming Top Player for 2012
Defensive back Kevon Seymour (Pasadena, Calif.)
Offensive lineman Jordan Simmons (Encino, Calif.), Tom Lemming Top Player for 2012
Linebacker Scott Starr (Norco, Calif.), Tom Lemming Top Player for 2012
Offensive lineman Max Tuerk (Santa Margarita, Calif.), Tom Lemming Top Player for 2012
Defensive end Pio Vatuvei (Patterson, Calif.)
Defensive end Chad Wheeler (Santa Monica, Calif.)

  Utah (22)

Wide receiver Brian Allen (La Marque, Texas)
Offensive lineman J.J. Dielman (Phoenix, Ariz.)
Defensive end Hunter Dimick (Syracuse, Utah)
Defensive end Moses Folauhola (West Valley City, Utah)
Athlete Chase Hansen (Highland, Utah)
Linebacker Resahwn Hooker (Fontana, Calif.)
Linebacker Jake Jackson (Carlsbad, Calif.)
Offensive lineman Lio Lafaele (Corona, Calif.)
Defensive back Austin Lee (Sandy, Utah)
Defensive end Koliniasi Leota (Walnut, Calif./Mt. San Antonio Juco)
Offensive lineman Zach Lindsay (Kaysville, Utah)
Wide receiver Delshawn McClellon (Cerritos, Calif.)
Athlete Reginald Porter (Amite, La.)
Offensive lineman Nua Poteki (Sandy, Utah)
Offensive lineman Cedrick Poutasi (Las Vegas, Nev.)
Offensive lineman Marc Pouvave (San Diego, Calif./Southwestern Juco)
Offensive lineman Junior Salt (Salt Lake City, Utah./Mt. San Antonio Juco)
Defensive back Justin Thomas (Orange, Texas)
Defensive end Sione Tupouata (Ephraim, Utah)
Defensive tackle Vaha Vainuku (Salt Lake City, Utah)
Tight end Jeremiah Valoaga (Oxnard, Calif.)
Quarterback Travis Wilson (San Clemente, Calif.)
Running back Kevin York (Geismar, La./Fullerton JUCO)

  Washington (20)

Defensive end Kalei Auelua (Honolulu, Hawaii)
Defensive tackle Josh Banks (Clovis, Calif./San Joaquin Delta Juco)
Offensive lineman Nathan Dean (Kirkland, Wash.)
Kicker Korey Durkee (Gig Harbor, Wash.)
Offensive lineman Jake Eldenkamp (Bellevue, Wash.)
Offensive lineman Cory English (Auburn, Wash.)
Defensive end Malcolm Jackson (Spring Valley, Calif.)
Quarterback Jeff Lindquist (Mercer Island, Wash.), Tom Lemming Top Player for 2012
Defensive end Cory Littleton (Spring Valley, Calif.)
Running back Ryan McDaniel (Torrance, Calif.)
Quarterback Cyler Miles (Denver, Colo.), Tom Lemming Top Player for 2012
Wide receiver Michael Rector (Tacoma, Wash.)
Linebacker Blake Rodgers (Las Flores, Calif.)
Athlete Kendyl Taylor (Chandler, Ariz.)
Quarterback Jason Thompson (Renton, Wash.)
Defensive end Damion Turpin (Compton, Calif.)
Defensive back Darien Washington (Orange, Calif.)
Wide receiver Dwayne Washington (Cerritos, Calif.)
Athlete Erich Wilson (San Mateo, Calif.)
Running back Psalm Wooching (Kailua Kona, Hawaii)

  Washington State (23)

Quarterback Austin Apodaca (Longmont, Colo.)
Wide receiver Brett Bartolone (La Habra, Calif.)
Defensive back David Bucannon (Fairfield, Calif.)
Running back Teondray Caldwell (Los Angeles, Calif.)
Defensive back Freddie Davey (Miami, Fla.)
Offensive lineman Denzell Dotson (Glendale, Ariz.)
Linebacker Kieth Ewing (Bellaire, Texas)
Offensive lineman Sam Flor (Bothell, Wash.)
Defensive tackle Ioane Gauta (Placentia, Calif./Fullerton Juco)
Wide receiver Alex Jackson (Culver City, Calif.)
Running back Robert Lewis (South Gate, Calif.)
Wide receiver Gabriel Marks (Los Angeles, Calif.)
Offensive lineman Eduardo Middleton (Oceanside, Calif.)
Defensive end Kache Palacio (Gardnea, Calif.)
Linebacker Khalil Pettway (Culver City, Calif.)
Offensive lineman Niu Sale (Los Alamitos, Calif./LA Harbor Juco)
Offensive lineman B.J. Salmonson (Everson, Wash.)
Defensive back Taylor Taliulu (Alea, Hawaii)
Defensive end Jacob Tuivaiave (Tacoma, Wash.)
Offensive lineman Pierson Villarrubia (Mandeville, La.)
Running back Theron West (Wilmington, Calif./LA Harbor Juco)

Posted by Bryan Fischer

It's getting down to crunch time on the recruiting trail, with just over a month until National Signing Day. With most of the Holiday season over with and attention turned to the new year, things are about to pick up even more as the decommits, recommits and surprises start happening.

The Eye on Recruiting has already given you some players ticketed for a rise on offense and defense in the recruiting rankings and now it's time to cast a critical eye on the teams that are looking to move up and a few that could be on their way down.

Team rankings movers

Alabama

Is there a better recruiter than Nick Saban? Currently, it's hard to argue with the man's success on the field and on the recruiting trail. He could be putting together an all-time great class in 2012 and just recently added lineman Alphonse Taylor and highly regarded running back T.J. Yeldon. Though they already have a quarterback in Alec Morris, the Tide are heavily pursuing dual-threat signal-caller Jameis Winston, one of the best players in the state and at his position, and top safety Landon Collins. If they can add Winston and close in on a few other top targets, Saban's team could vault to the top of the team rankings when everybody signs on the dotted line.

Ohio State

In just a short amount of time, Urban Meyer has made his presence felt in Columbus and nationally thanks to his recruiting acumen. The biggest splash has been made along the defensive line, where's he's grabbed commitments from the number three player in the country Noah Spence, tackle Tommy Schutt and end Se'Von Pittman. Though the NCAA handed out a bowl ban to the program, that probably won't deter too many recruits and playing for Meyer will be enough for some of them. They could land top 100 players like offensive tackle Jordan Diamond and athlete Davonte Neal so expect the Buckeyes to close well.

Notre Dame

The Irish and Brian Kelly put together a great group of defensive lineman last year and appear to have a balanced group of quality players at every position this year. California commits Deontay Greenberry and Tee Shepard seem solid and can make an impact right away after getting aclimated to South Bend. As is usual for Notre Dame, plenty of top recruits like Nelson Agholor, Arik Armstead and Gunner Kiel have the Irish on their short list and could turn a good class into a great one.

USC

The Trojans' great year in 2011 has proven they're one of the few schools who can shake off harsh NCAA sanctions and still play and recruit well. Lane Kiffin has a plan to deal with scholarship reductions and it will be put to the test in 2012 with 2012 being the first class limited to 15 players. USC has already signed a few top players early, such as linebacker Scott Starr and top JUCO safety Gerald Bowman. They have a chance at some top national guys Agholor and Andrus Peat so it's possible for it to be a small but great recruiting class for the Trojans.

California

Like their Pac-12 counterparts, the Bears could come on strong late with some top recruits. They're in good position to land Armstead and most consider five-star safety Shaq Thompson a lock to go to Berkeley. Ace recruiter Tosh Lupoi is a tremendous recruiter and with a great year out West for talent, should do pretty well. Cal's current group of commits, with quarterback Zach Kline and wide receiver Bryce Treggs, is a good start.

Team rankings shakers

Florida State

This is still a very good group of players but there's no doubt that the Seminoles class has taken hit in the past few weeks - thanks in large part to Alabama. Defensive end Chris Casher is a solid building block but future teammate Mario Edwards is looking hard at Oklahoma and Texas. Losing Winston would be a huge blow and there's a slim chance some, like Dante Fowler and Mario Pender, could pull a switch on Signing Day. Jimbo Fisher has done very well with the 2012 class but fans have a reason to be a little nervous at how they'll close.

Florida

A 6-6 season and losing offensive coordinator (and noted recruiter) Charlie Weis to Kansas have caused the Gators to slip a little. It still looks like they'll be a lock for a top 10 class come February with so many top 100 recruits but there's no doubt the uncertainty surrounding the program could come back to bite them. The loss of Weis in particular could hurt with possible pledges like Agholor and put a damper on Will Muschamp's first full recruiting class. Expectations are high with Meyer doing what he's doing in Columbus so a class that isn't filled with five-stars will further the perception that the program is slipping a bit.

Auburn

Will there be a meltdown on the Plains? It seems as though things haven't been going the Tigers' way recently with rival Alabama in the national championship game and stealing top commit in Yeldon. On top of that, defensive coordinator Ted Roof is gone and big time offensive coordinator Guz Malzahn surprisingly moved on to a head coaching job. This is still a very good class but they'll need to hold the current group together as well as snag a few top recruits to help reload an already young team.

Teams sitting pretty

Texas

Mack Brown has pulled in some impressive recruiting classes to Austin but this may be his best yet. The country's top running back and second-ranked wide receiver are headed to the 40 Acres and the depth of the group is one of the reasons why the Longhorns are the top ranked team in the latest Maxpreps rankings. There's no doubt that they should finish among the top three but it still remains to be seen if they can keep the top spot. Texas isn't completely done recruiting and could add a few impact players between now and Signing Day.

Michigan

Brady Hoke put together the bulk of this class before even coaching a game and has occupied the top team spot for most of the year. From top-to-bottom this might be the best class in the country with plenty of players who should come in and make an impact early  The Wolverines have seemingly filled all their holes and are still in the running for a few national recruits that could bolster their ranking so Michigan definitely has a shot at being ranked as the best.

Mora turning heads in Westwood

As soon as Jim Mora was hired in Westwood, the first question would be how well could the longtime NFL coach recruit at the college level? As it turns out, pretty well if early indications are to hold up in the future.

Mora's best recruiting job was the hiring of his assistants, notably ace recruiter Adrian Klemm, secondary coach Demetrice Martin  and former Arizona State offensive coordinator Noel Mazzone. The trio, among others, have plenty of West Coast ties and have allowed the staff to hit the ground running despite being hired so late in the game. Keep an eye on this group poaching a few recruits from the Sun Devils once-promising class as well as a few Los Angeles natives.

December has seen the Bruins' class add several good players. Defensive backs Marcus Rios and Ishamel Adams are two players who could play early on defense and landing linebacker Kenny Orjioke out of Atlanta is a solid get for the staff. For the most part, the commitments prior to the new staff have hung in and seem sold on the direction of the program.

Though they're not anywhere close to getting elite talent, the signs out of UCLA are encouraging for a relatively inexperienced staff. The problem in the past has not been about recruiting however, it's been talent development and in that area things are still TBD. Still, given the progress on the recruiting trail, the coaching change has given plenty of Bruin fans something to smile about in a relatively dour year.

Video of week

I'm headed out to the Rising Seniors Bowl in Atlanta this year, which features some of the top juniors (class of 2013) in the state of Georgia. Among the headliners this week is linebacker Reuben Foster, an Alabama commit and easily one of - if not the - top players at his position next year. Here's some of his highlights:

Posted by Bryan Fischer

The class of 2012 rankings won't be updated for a few more weeks but with the high school football season over, it's not too hard to see what players might be moving their way up in the rankings and who might slide down a little bit. Here's a look at each position group and some players that might be a little higher on the board come January.

DEFENSIVE END

On the way up: Ramsey (N.J.) five-star end Darius Hamilton.

What did he do: A terror for opposing offensive lines all season, Hamilton was a constant presence in his opponents' backfield. In the state championship game alone he had a hand in four sacks and you would need a super computer to count the number of defensive pressures he had this year. The 6-foot-4, 245-pounder finished his senior year with 74 tackles and an impressive 17 sacks.

The case: He's already a five-star so he won't get a bump in that department but based on his season, should move up into the 20's in the overall rankings (he's 38th right now) and at least leap-frog Dante Fowler among defensive ends given that Fowler didn't play a snap this season. Bosco had a great season and Hamilton was a big reason why.

Also on the way up: Jelani Hamilton (Committed to Miami), Tyriq McCord, Faith Ekakitie (Committed to Iowa)

On the way down: Dante Fowler (Committed to Florida State)

DEFENSIVE TACKLE

On the way up: Prattville (Ala.) defensive tackle Justin Shanks (committed to Florida State)

What did he do: Despite often drawing double or triple teams, Shanks was a key cog in Prattville's 3-4 defense this season. He racked up 60 tackles and 5.5 sacks but was a big factor in stopping the run. He's got a great motor and helped lead his team to a state title.

The case: Shanks is ranked 21st among defensive tackles - one spot behind future teammate Dalvon Stuckey. He put together a great season and has the size, speed, and quickness you look for in a run-stopping interior lineman.

Also on the way up: Sheldon Day (Committed to Notre Dame), Dante Phillips (Committed to Florida)

On the way down: Aziz Shittu

LINEBACKER

On the way up: Stone Mountain (Ga.) linebacker Raphael Kirby (Committed to Miami) and Madison (Ala.) linebacker Reggie Ragland (Committed to Alabama)

What did they do: Kirby had a great senior year and really showed his speed and explosiveness off his senior year. He played inside for Stephenson but projects well as an outside linebacker who can do well in pass coverage despite being a little undersized. In contrast, Ragland looks like he's ready to play for the Crimson Tide in New Orleans this season. He's another prototype inside backer that runs well and is a great tackler in space or in traffic.

The case: Both sit outside the top 10 at their positions and don't have a spot on the overall rankings but that should change. Each has a chance to play early and develop into all-conference selections.

Also on the way up: Anaheim (Calif.) inside backer Butch Pauu (Committed to BYU) and Norfolk (Va.) inside backer Kwontie Moore (Committed to Virginia).

CORNERBACK

On the way up: Miramar (Fla.) corner Tracy Howard.

What did he do: You can tell how good a cornerback is by how often teams don't throw their way and hardly anybody in the state of Florida even looked Howard's way. He still ended the season with an impressive 10 picks and was easily one of the best defenders along the East Coast.

The case: Howard has been a star for a while now and though he doesn't have 4.3-40 speed, is still fast and fluid. He's also very instinctive and really attacks the ball in the air. Howard is ranked as the 20th best cornerback but should easily be in the top 10 at the very least.

Also on the way up: Pasadena (Calif.) corner Kevon Seymour, Elk Grove (Calif.) corner Marcus Rios (Committed to UCLA), Ocala (Fla.) defensive back P.J. Williams (committed to Florida State).

On the way down: Westlake Village (Calif.) corner Ishmael Adams.

SAFETY

On the way up: Fairfax (S.C.) safety Ronald Geohaghan (committed to Clemson)

What did he do: He's a terrific athlete who can play just about any back seven position if needed. He's best suited as a safety and is rangy and physical enough to take away entire parts of the field.

The case: Geohaghan currently sits as the 23rd-ranked safety in the Maxpreps rankings and based on his physical play and coverage skills should see a bump in the position rankings.

On the way down: Lakewood (Wash.) safety Cedric Dozier, College Park (Ga.) defensive back Chaz Elder.

Video of the week

If you haven't seen it already, you have to check out this video of .

Posted by Bryan Fischer

ORLANDO -- Gridiron Kings, the final recruiting event of the summer, kicked off at the Wide World of Sports complex Saturday afternoon near Disney World, featuring some of the top talent in the country.

Divided into four regions, the players from the Southeast continued their impressive dominance of the event, going undefeated in the first two games of pool play in an event the team has won every year since its inception.

"It's been a great experience so far, I'm playing with some of the best talent from the Southeast," Fairburn (Ga.) defensive back Joshua Holsey said. "We're playing against everyone from around the country and that's a great experience. We're having fun and since we're winning, it's really fun."

The Southeast lucked out in its two wins, however. The deciding touchdowns in each game came with less than a minute remaining, but the find-a-way attitude was just part of the spirit the athletes from the South exuded.

"Our offense just brings us back and our defense just tries to do what we can to stop the offense from scoring," Holsey said. "We all pretty much know each other from The Opening. We all have a close bond, either in the locker room or on the field, it's just like playing with each other (for years), we know what each other does and likes. That's the greatest thing."

Though most of the players at Gridiron Kings are already committed to a school, that didn't stop the Auburn-bound Holsey from trying to get a few players to join him on The Plains.

"Yes, I'm trying to get as many recruits to come to Auburn as possible," Holsey says without hesitation. "Me, JaQuay (Williams), we always talk about getting the best guys. We want to go down there and win, we're trying to win the national championship ourselves. We're trying to build a class that can go down there and compete and have fun."

Holsey has been committed to the Tigers since May and points to one thing above others as being the reason he is firmly a part of Auburn's recruiting class.

"Just the coaches," he said. "They're really nice to me. The players, the whole facilities, it just feels like a family and a place where I can spend the next four years there."

Adams close to decision

If there was one team really looking forward to toppling the Southeast, it was the West squad. Westlake Village (Calif.) cornerback Ishmael Adams helped the squad to a 1-1 mark, with the lone loss coming thanks to a pass that was tipped by a defender right into the hands of a Southeast receiver for a score with less than 30 seconds left. Despite the close loss, spirits were high throughout the day for a dangerous squad come the knockout round.

"It's a great time with all the fellas, just hanging out," Adams said. "We're putting in work."

Adams and his West teammates are closer than the other three regional teams in part because they've seen each other early and often this summer.

"Just from camps and doing all these different things, we're very comfortable with each other," he said. "The chemistry is there. We're looking to do well."

Doing well also includes a bit of trash talk between the squads. For the West, according to Adams, that means shouts of "West Side All Day," or "West Side is the Best Side." He is also pretty talkative on the field with his teammates about what to expect from the offenses and didn't mind talking about his recruiting either.

"I'm very close," he said of a decision. "I'm still going to take all my official visits but I'm pretty sure with where I want to go right now. I'm taking my visits to see what the other schools have. I want to make the decision before I go into the season."

Holding offers from most of the Pac-12, Adams has always looked to stay somewhat close to Southern California and has narrowed down his list to include programs with strong ties to the area.

"UCLA, Cal, Oregon, Colorado and Arizona State," he said were his finalists. "UCLA and Cal, they're on me real big, then ASU. I've also always talked to the Oregon coach and he's told me he's not really hard on calling me every day. He just let me know that he wants me at the school and if I want to come, it's my decision."

Adams added that fellow West teammate Bryce Treggs, who committed to Cal two weeks ago, was heavily recruiting him for the Bears.

Notes

-- Tampa (Fla.) athlete Nelson Agholor wasn't supposed to be at the event but was a late -- and impact -- substitution for the Southeast squad. He's a fluid athlete who was a favorite target on offense and could really get off the line. He's tremendous at safety, but the way he can influence a game on either side of the ball, it's no wonder schools are just recruiting to get him on campus and then figure out a position later. He said he didn't want to talk recruiting and instead wanted to focus on what happened on the field.

-- SMU commit Robert Lewis and Texas A&M commit Trey Williams were the two most impressive players out of the backfield. Lewis was able to find soft spots in the defense and exploit them at all three levels of the passing game. Williams had two highlight plays when he shaked and baked his way down the field for a big gain and then followed it up with a touchdown on a seam route.

-- Tight end Sean Price continues to impress this summer. The Citra (Fla.) product was once again a matchup issue for linebackers who either couldn't handle his speed or couldn't handle his size. He has a good release off the line, but it can get better, which will only make him more dangerous in the passing game. Price made one of the best catches of the day when he dove for a ball and caught it one-handed for a touchdown.

-- 2013 quarterback Shane Morris had a bit of an up-and-down day. He wasn't as sharp as he normally was in 7-on-7 settings, sometimes lapsing when making an easy throw and turning it into an incompletion. The lefty didn't have the athletes that some of the other quarterbacks did but he still should have performed better.

-- Texas A&M commit Matt Davis was one of four Aggies in Orlando and just flat-out moved the ball downfield for the Southwest team. He doesn't throw the tightest spirals, but he moves the chains and gets the ball to the right receiver.

-- Boise State commit Marcus Rios had a nice day and grabbed a spectacular interception off a deflection versus the Southeast team.

-- It's going to be tough to get past the Southeast team when they have players like defensive backs Chaz Elder and Travis Blanks. The pair hooked up on an interception with Blanks tipping the ball and Elder pulling down the turnover. The pair simply were ball hawks all evening.

-- The top wide receiver in the country, Texas commit Cayleb Jones, went down with a hand injury early in the day. Fellow Longhorn Thomas Johnson made sure he wouldn't be missed with a terrific day. He has great hands, runs good routes and catches everything.

-- The more athlete Ronald Darby plays defensive back, the more he looks like a top-flight safety prospect. The talented athlete has speed and burst almost unmatched and does a really good job of focusing on his man and reading what he does.

-- It was a very good day for Scottsdale (Ariz.) athlete Davonte Neal. There's still debate as to whether he's best suited for offense or defense and he played both equally well on Saturday. He's still a bit stiff in his hips when he turns and runs at corner but he nevertheless was an impact player on both sides of the ball and made several plays in the secondary.

Posted by Bryan Fischer

PALO ALTO, Calif. -- Football is a sport played in the elements and the hundreds of top athletes from all over the West Coast got a dose of rain, wind and hail during Sunday's Nike Training Camp on the Stanford campus. Here's a few of the top performers on the defensive side of the ball:

Defensive linemen

Many expected Stanford commit Aziz Shittu to show up and replicate what he did at the LA Nike Camp but he didn't end up coming. Considering the terrific talent at offensive line, the group along the d-line did pretty good at the camp.

Dwight Melvin

The position group MVP, Melvin looked and played like Shittu-light. He was quick off the line and had a good array of pass rush moves. He's uses his hands well and can really get up field. He's not tall but he's still got good size and should be able to garner multiple BCS offers in the near future.

Jaylen Ruiz

The class of 2013 defensive end had another nice camp and looks ready to play college ball already. He's quick and has a pretty good spin move. Ruiz is flexible and can probably play at either end or tackle but based on what he showed, could use his superior quickness to overwhelm guards and centers inside.

Linebackers

One of the weaker groups at Stanford, there were still a few bright spots. Underclassman Michael Hutchings from nearby powerhouse De La Salle High certainly could be one to watch as he looks like he's a senior headed to college and not into his junior year in high school.

Chris Santini

Still getting into the hang of playing linebacker, Santini was very good in open space and excelled during the 7-on-7 portion. He had a great diving interception, which he caught one-handed after tipping the ball. He's the requisite size for a linebacker and it will be interesting to see what he can do with the pads on. He's already received a lot of interest but some tape at linebacker could mean some big offers headed his way.

Scott Starr

Starr was one of the highest regarded linebackers at the event and he didn't really disappoint. He's good in space and is quicker than one would think given his size. He can improve his strength a bit as he might have trouble with some bigger running backs and offensive linemen.

Defensive backs

From top to bottom, this was probably the best group at the camp. Having elite talent certainly helps but there were high caliber guys all over, which made watching drills much more fun than other camps.

Johnny Johnson

A rising junior, Johnson displayed skills of a much more experienced corner. He was quick and could change direction on a dime. He did a good job of staying close to his man and then sinking off to help when he read the quarterback. He's not the tallest corner on the field but he is the most aggressive and has the swagger all good corners have.

Marcus Rios

A Boise State commit, Rios really impressed with his footwork, especially his backpedal. He got caught out of position once or twice but recovered nicely. He's got good quickness and was very savvy while playing corner. There's no question he's a BCS-caliber guy and it might be hard for the Broncos to keep him.

Tee Shepard

Shepard doesn't have much to prove as he's already one of the top corners in the country. He had a lingering shoulder injury so he played wide out instead of corner and flashed his speed by blowing by some other defensive backs. He's got a good build and is very agile, performing very well during cornerback drills. Shepard's backpedal is smooth and he keeps his center of gravity right where it should be.

Shaq Thompson

Like Shepard, there's not much for Thompson to prove but he exceeded expectations Sunday despite being limited with a bit of a tender ankle. Well developed, he looks like a physical safety at the next level but has the agility to play corner as well. He does a good job of changing directions and is a someone who can contribute early at safety, corner, wide out or running back based on his skill set.

Posted by Bryan Fischer

March is over and the calendar has turned to the month of April so it's time to take a look at some notable non-BCS schools' early commitments for the class of 2012.

Boise State (1)

Defensive back Marcus Rios (Elk Grove, Calif.)

BYU (4)

Defensive back Matt Hadley (Connell, Wash.)
Offensive lineman Zach Lindsay (Kaysville, Utah)
Defensive back Rhett Sandlin (Sandy, Utah)
Wide receiver Josh Weeks (Show Low, Ariz.)

East Carolina (1)

Athlete Quataye Smyre (Statesville, N.C.)

Houston (5)

Offensive lineman Blake Herman (Needvile, Texas)

Defensive end Gregory Jackson (Aldine, Texas)

Wide receiver Jordan Jolly (Navarro JUCO)

Running back Terrence Taylor (Diboll, Texas)

Defensive back Davonte Thomas (Aldine, Texas)

Marshall (2)

Offensive lineman Tyler Combs (Louisa, Ky.)

Linebacker Devon Johnson (Richlands, Va.)

Nevada (0)

SMU (1)

Running back Robert Lewis (South Gate, Calif.)

Tulsa (1)

Defensive back Rob Riederer (Holton, Kan.)

UCF (0)

Posted by Bryan Fischer

While the Texas's and Texas A&M's and Alabama's are off and running with the class of 2012 (often before the class of 2011 is signed), schools like Boise State grabbing a commitment early in the process tends to raise an eye brow. 

In the case of the Broncos' class of 2012, that is an especially salient point with their first commitment in Elk Grove (Calif.) cornerback Marcus Rios. Already holding an offer from Pac-12 school Arizona State, Rios' recruitment figured to heat up over the summer but the corner decided to end things early. 

"He's a pretty special player, a national-type recruit," Rios' high school coach Ryan Gomes told the Idaho Statesman. "The UCLAs and USCs and Cals and some of those other places are going to still come knocking." 

The 6-foot, 170 pound Rios played both cornerback and safety last year but projects as a corner in college.