Team breakdown: Who won California in 2016?
The class of 2016 is in the books, and the ink has dried on the LOIs. Several programs dipped into the talent hotbed that is California, and it is time to take a look at which program can claim to be the recruiting champion of California.
1. UCLA – 2,342 CA pts – 3.65 CA ASR – 20 CA commits
HEADLINER: LB Mique Juarez –
The five-star linebacker chose UCLA over Ole Miss, Alabama, and BYU on Signing Day
OVERVIEW: With so much talent in California, UCLA stayed close to home for the great majority of its class. Five-star Jaurez was the big prize with his Signing Day announcement, but the Bruins’ class also includes 10 Rivals250 Californians. Overall the class includes 12 four- and five-star prospects, all from the state of California.
2. USC – 1,470 CA pts – 3.91 CA ASR – 11 CA commits
HEADLINER: CB Jack Jones – Jones made his Signing Day decision for USC, choosing the Trojans over Alabama and Texas A&M.
OVERVIEW: The Trojans' class is topped by a couple of California five-stars. Reciever Tyler Vaughns and cornerback Jack Jones are two of the most explosive playmakers in the country and will stay on the West Coast for college. The two are joined in the Rivals100 by Michael Pittman and Wole Betiku and together they give the Trojans more Rivals100 Californians than any other college program.
3. Cal – 963 CA pts – 3.18 CA ASR – 11 CA commits
HEADLINER: QB Max Gilliam – The standout quarterback chose Cal in April and has already enrolled.
OVERVIEW: Gilliam and running back Melquise Stovall lead the way for the Golden Bears' class. Both are Rivals250 members and top 40 in California. All 11 of Cal’s in-state signees are ranked 5.6, three-stars or above, and Victor Viramontes, Daniel Juarez and Traveon Beck are ranked in the 5.7, three-star range.
4. Washington State – 855 CA pts – 2.60 CA ASR – 15 CA commits
HEADLINER: TE Mason Vinyard – Washington State offered in the summer and he decided to jump on it and he never looked back.
OVERVIEW: Mike Leach and the Cougars are the first out-of-state program on the list, and signed one of the biggest California classes. Vinyard is the highest-ranked of Washington State’s group, which also includes a total of nine three-star prospects.
5. Arizona – 812 CA pts – 3.11 CA ASR – 9 CA commits
HEADLINER: QB Khalil Tate – The Rivals250 quarterback chose Arizona early in the process over offers from Notre Dame, USC, Texas A&M, UCLA and others.
OVERVIEW: The Arizona Wildcats close out the top five with the second-smallest class in the top 10. Junipero Serra Rivals250 quarterback Tate leads a group of eight California three-star prospects to Tucson. Corona Centennial was particularly kind to Arizona with 5.7 three-star prospects Chacho Ulloa and J.J. Taylor signing with the Wildcats
6. Boise State – 735 CA pts – 2.50 CA ASR – 14 CA commits
HEADLINER: RB Alexander Mattison – The three-star running back committed to Boise State after a late January visit.
OVERVIEW: Nearly half of the Broncos' class is from the state of California, including the highest-ranked member of the class, Mattison. The standout running back is joined by eight more California three-star prospects. Boise State experienced most of its success in Southern California.
7. Washington – 652 CA pts – 3.29 CA ASR – 7 CA commits
HEADLINER: LB Camilo Eifler – Eifler made a summer pledge to the Huskies over offers from across the country.
OVERVIEW: The Washington Huskies have the smallest group of Californians in the top 10, but only trail USC and UCLA for the number of four-star prospects signed. Eifler is joined by Rivals250 running back Sean McGrew and four-stars just outside the Rivals250 Kentrell Love and Luke Wattenberg.
8. San Diego State – 630 CA pts – 2.38 CA ASR – 13 CA commits
HEADLINER: ATH Tayler Hawkins – The three-star standout chose the Aztecs over Washington State on Signing Day.
OVERVIEW: The Aztecs' group of 13 is topped by Hawkins with four more three-star prospects also putting pen to paper on Signing Day. San Diego State signed multiple prospects from Palm Springs and Carlsbad, and added depth on both sides of the ball.
9. San Jose State – 615 CA pts – 2.05 CA ASR – 19 CA commits
HEADLINER: WR JaQuan Blackwell – Blackwell chose to commit to San Jose State in July. Utah, Fresno, Colorado, and San Diego State also pursued.
OVERVIEW: San Jose State signed the second-biggest class of Californians finishing just behind UCLA’s 20-man group. The Spartans' class is lead by Blackwell with offensive lineman Jaelen Lewis and linebacker Blake Walls also achieving three-star status.
T-10. UNLV – 540 CA pts – 2.42 CA ASR – 12 CA commits
HEADLINER: QB Armani Rogers –Rogers was a former Cal commit who chose UNLV over Fresno in the end.
OVERVIEW: The Runnin’ Rebels charged into Los Angeles and secured the services of Rogers and then went north for four more three-star prospects. Fresno was particularly nice to the Rebels with David Tate, Leevel Tatum and Charles Williams all from the area, with Tate and Tatum both from Edison.
T-10. Oregon – 540 CA pts, 3.17 CA ASR – 6 CA commits
HEADLINER: DE Bryson Young – Young committed to the Ducks in October over the likes of Arizona State, Michigan, and Tennessee.
OVERVIEW: Young is the lone four-star in the group, but the class is heavy on high three-star prospects. Offensive lineman Jacob Capra, Hunter Kampmoyer, Troy Dye and Darrian Franklin each achieved 5.7, three-star rankings, and offensive lineman Logan Bathke earned a 5.6, three-star ranking. All are ranked in the California Top 100 for 2016.
QUICK LOOK AT 2017
1. USC – 349 CA pts, 4.0 CA ASR, 2 CA commits
Headliner: RB Stephen Carr, Fontana (Calif.) Summit, 6.0 4 stars, No. 37 Rivals100
2. UCLA – 336 CA pts,, 3.25 CA ASR, 4 CA commits
Headliner: DE Javaris Steward, Pomona (Calif.) Pomona, 5.8 4 stars, No. 232 Rivals250
3. Alabama – 230 CA pts, 5.0 CA ASR, 1 CA commits
Headliner: RB Najee Harris, Antioch (Calif.) Antioch, 6.1 5 stars, No. 5 Rivals100
4. Arizona State – 182 CA pts, 4.0 CA ASR, 1 CA commits
Headliner: CB Jermani Brown, Calabasas (Calif.) Calabasas, 6.0 4 stars, No. 44 Rivals100
5. Stanford – 161 CA pts, 4.0 CA ASR, 1 CA commits
Headliner: TE Colby Parkinson, Westlake Village (Calif.) Oaks Christian, 5.9 4 stars, No. 60 Rivals100
6. Washington – 147 CA pts, 4.0 CA ASR, 1 CA commits
Headliner: CB Keith Taylor, Anaheim (Calif.) Servite, 5.9 4 stars, No. 130 Rivals250
7. Arizona – 123 CA pts, 4.0 CA ASR, 1 CA commits
Headliner: QB Braxton Burmeister, La Jolla (Calif.) La Jolla Country Day, 5.8 4 stars, No. 175 Rivals100
T8. San Jose State – 60 CA pts, 3.0 CA ASR, 1 CA commits
Headliner: QB K.C. Cureton, Los Angeles (Calif.) Los Angeles, 5.5 3 stars
T8. Washington State – 60 CA pts, 3.0 TX ASR, 1 CA commit
Headliner: CB Tayari Venable, Rancho Cucamonga (Calif.) Ranch Cucamonga, 5.5 3 stars