The 2023-24 recruiting cycle is just weeks old but already in high gear.
Brandon Huffman, the national recruiting editor for 247 Sports, offered the following assessment of the current commitments and top targets in the junior class for each Pac-12 program.
Arizona
Top commit currently: RB Jordan Washington
Top prospect on the board: DL Elijah Rushing
Hotline comment: Rushing, a five-star edge rusher, attends high school a few miles from Arizona Stadium. We don’t know if third-year coach Jedd Fisch can secure the hometown prize, but we know this: He has a much, much better chance than Kevin Sumlin ever did of landing Bijan Robinson.
Arizona State
Top commit currently: WR Elijah Baesa
Top prospect on the board: RB Ca’lil Valentine
Hotline comment: Baesa, a four-star prospect from Texas, is the only commitment thus far for new coach Kenny Dillingham, whose first months on the job were devoted to retooling the 2023 roster. Valentine is from Chandler, Arizona, and already has offers from Oregon, Washington and Utah.
California
Top commit currently: TE Camden Jones
Top prospect on the board: DL Jericho Johnson
Hotline comment: The Bears have to restart their recruiting momentum, a task made much easier if they can land Johnson, a four-star recruit from nearby Fairfield. That piece won’t be so easy: Johnson picked up an offer from Alabama earlier this month.
Colorado
Top commit currently: DL Omar White
Top prospect on the board: ATH Aaron Butler
Hotline comment: Deion Sanders’ hotly anticipated first full recruiting cycle has started well, with White and athlete Ju’Juan Johnson as committed four-star prospects. Butler is coveted by all the top programs. Whether CU lands him or not, the class could be one of the best in the conference.
Oregon
Top commit currently: WR Tyseer Denmark
Top prospect on the board: DB K.J. Bolden
Hotline comment: The Ducks have five commitments so far. All five carry four-star ratings and two are receivers, Denmark and Jordan Anderson. If you’re curious about Bolden, know this: He’s the top-rated safety in the country, he’s from Georgia, and the Bulldogs want him. Dan Lanning is aiming high.
Oregon State
Top commit currently: TE Wyatt Hook
Top prospect on the board: RB Jason Brown
Hotline comment: Brown, from O’Dea High School in Seattle, is the No. 1 prospect in the state of Washington and would be a massive pickup for the Beavers. There’s a key connection, too: OSU running backs coach Keith Bhonapha, who recruited former O’Dea High School star Myles Gaskin to Washington, has been Brown’s primary recruiter since he was a freshman.
Stanford
Top commit currently: CB Jamir Benjamin
Top prospect on the board: QB Elijah Brown
Hotline comment: The 2024 cycle has started slowly for new coach Troy Taylor, whose roster-building task is as difficult as they come. Brown, who plays for powerhouse Mater Dei, is the top-ranked player in California and the No. 3 quarterback in the country.
UCLA
Top commit currently: CB Khristian Dunbar-Hawkins
Top prospect on the board: WR David Washington
Hotline comment: Dunbar-Hawkins is a four-star talent from Mater Dei, which doesn’t send nearly as many players to UCLA as it does to USC. The Bruins’ other commitment thus far is Joshua Glanz, a three-star offensive lineman. As usual, look for Chip Kelly to mix high school seniors with a load of transfers.
USC
Top commit currently: TE Joey Olsen
Top prospect on the board: QB Dylan Raiola
Hotline comment: Raiola is the top prospect on everyone’s board, the No. 1 rated player in the 247Sports composite (and a Phoenix resident). Georgia is the current leader, although Nebraska — where his father Donovan, once played and currently works — will be tough to beat. The Trojans have a steep climb to land Raiola.
Utah
Top commit currently: ATH Kobe Boykin
Top prospect on the board: OL Isaiah Garcia
Hotline comment: Garcia carries a four-star rating, is one of the top players in Utah and has scholarship offers from all the top programs in the West. If the Utes don’t land his signature next winter, we’ll be surprised. (Of note: The No. 1 player in Utah is a quarterback, Isaac Wilson — yep, Zach’s younger brother.)
Washington
Top commit currently: QB EJ Caminong
Top prospect on the board: DL Jericho Johnson
Hotline comment: Caminong is a three-star prospect from Seattle who will be one of several candidates to replace Michael Penix in the 2024 season. Like Cal, the Huskies have their sights on Johnson, the 300-pound defensive tackle. He has offers from Georgia and Michigan, in addition to Alabama.
Washington State
Top commit currently: No commits
Top prospect on the board: ATH Marquawn McCraney
Hotline comment: The Cougars are the only program in the conference without a commitment to this point, which isn’t a major issue given the early stage of the recruiting cycle. McCraney is a high bar for WSU. The four-star safety from Burien, Washington, has offers from USC, Utah and, naturally, Washington.
*** 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
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(AP Photo/Ralph Freso, File)
Brandon Huffman – Pac-12 Football Recruiting Notebook
Pac-12 recruiting roundup: Oregon dominates with stellar close, Utah’s breakthrough class, Colorado lands Hunter
Brandon Huffman Pac-12 recruiting notebook
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