Huffman on Pac-12 recruiting: Tough times for Oregon State, impact of Kelly’s return, Colorado’s defections and more

The Hotline is delighted to provide Pac-12 fans with a regular dive into the recruiting process through the eyes and ears of Brandon Huffman, the Seattle-based national recruiting editor for 247Sports. 

December (dates) to remember

The NCAA’s recruiting dead period ended at 11:59 p.m. on Thursday — for the next 17 days, the contact period is in effect.

That means college coaches can not only visit high schools and attend games but also start taking in-home visits. More importantly, they can snap pictures with recruits in front of their Christmas trees and lock up their 2024 recruiting classes.

In reality, coaches are more likely to be looking at prospects in the 2025 and 2026 classes — and potentially 2027, too. So much of the heavy lifting for ’24 is already done.

The next three weekends will be open for official visits. The dead period returns on Dec. 18 and runs through Jan. 11.

OSU’s uncertain landscape

Oregon State lost several commitments in the wake of coach Jonathan Smith’s departure to Michigan State, all of them from three-star prospects:

— Offensive tackle Payton Stewart, a Washington native who had flipped to the Beavers after Northwestern, his original preference, fired Pat Fitzgerald, has re-opened his recruitment.

— Florida athlete Andrew Brinson also opened his recruitment on the heels of the departure of OSU running backs coach Keith Bhonapha, who’s headed with Smith to Michigan State.

— The third hit came Friday morning when Hawaii edge rusher Kekai Burnett announced his decommitment; he was OSU’s third-highest rated commit to date in the class.

As if the Beavers weren’t already facing enough questions about their future and an uncertain conference situation, their top-rated pledge in 2024, Under Armour All-American offensive lineman Rustin Young, said he may delay his signing until February while waiting for the Beavers to hire a line coach.

The promotion of defensive coordinator Trent Bray to head coach should answer some questions, and several key assistants are expected to stay in Corvallis. But the Beavers didn’t need any more issues hanging over the program.

UCLA: tense times ahead?

Whereas OSU is struggling to lock down recruits after Smith’s departure, UCLA’s decision to retain Chip Kelly could help the Bruins keep their class together for 2024. But the likelihood of Kelly being a lame duck next season certainly won’t help the Bruins with their 2025 class.

UCLA already recruits fewer high school players than any school in the current Pac-12. Now, with the Bruins being criticized for retaining Kelly, recruiting probably won’t be successful over the next year.

While Kelly prefers transfers to high school players, even that approach could be perilous. The Bruins sputtered down the stretch, losing three of their final four games. Two of the defeats were at home, in front of recruits, to sub-.500 opponents.

CU gains one, loses three

It was a rough November for the darlings of September.

At one point, Colorado was the hottest team in college football. But the 3-0 start turned into a 4-8 season, and the Buffaloes have lost three commitments from their 2024 and 2025 recruiting classes in the past week.

Things looked like they were trending in the right direction when four-star Georgia prospect Kamron Mikell, the No. 4 athlete in the country in 2024, committed to the Buffaloes on Thanksgiving Day.

But CU started to bleed recruits over the weekend — first Georgia quarterback Antwann Hill, the No. 5 passer in the 2025 class, then three-star Florida running back Jamarice Wilder.

To make matters worse, and more immediate, CU’s three-star quarterback pledge in the 2024 class, Danny O’Neil, also decommitted from the Buffs.

As a result, Coach Deion Sanders may have to use the transfer portal to add depth behind quarterback Shedeur Sanders.

Visits highlight the weekend

While Oregon and Washington will be busy this weekend playing for a Pac-12 Championship — and a likely berth in the College Football Playoff — the rest of the conference is free to host official visits.

Arizona State has easily the most intriguing prospect coming in this weekend: Seattle running back Jason Brown, a four-star talent who has a top-three of Michigan State, Oregon and Washington.

But the Sun Devils are bringing Brown to town and will make a big push to land the All-American Bowl and Polynesian Bowl selection.

ASU also will have the No. 1 player in Oregon, four-star tight end Jayden Fortier, on campus for an official visit.

Fortier committed to the Sun Devils in June, but Oregon offered him a scholarship last week. The Ducks will be a factor, so Arizona State must hope prioritizing Fortier pays off.

*** Send suggestions, comments and tips (confidentiality guaranteed) to pac12hotline@bayareanewsgroup.com or call 408-920-5716

*** Follow Huffman on Twitter via @BrandonHuffman and support @AveryStrongDIPG

*** Follow me on Twitter: @WilnerHotline

*** Pac-12 Hotline is not endorsed or sponsored by the Pac-12 Conference, and the views expressed herein do not necessarily reflect the views of the Conference.