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Around the West: Oregons fast start

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QB K.J. Costello is one of several highly touted early Stanford commits.
Given its academic prowess, Stanford has the upper hand when football is a secondary factor. Every program in the West region can sell football and the opportunity to play in a major conference, but Stanford always has the appeal of life beyond the gridiron. For that reason, it comes as no surprise when the Cardinal are successful on the recruiting trail.
In this class, Stanford already has the best quarterback in the state of California in K.J. Costello, one of the top all-around athletes in Curtis Robinson and one of the nation's top tight ends in Texas standout Kaden Smith. And head coach David Shaw appears to be just getting started. There are still a bevy of top targets remaining on the board. Four-star cornerback David Long, who has indicated that he favors the Cardinal, would be another great addition to a class that is already considered one of the best in the region.
Step it up
Washington
Sean McGrew is one of several four-star Washington commits, but the Huskies are low on numbers.
There is no arguing coach Chris Petersen's success. The job he did at Boise State was remarkable and he continues to make Washington a nationally relevant program. But recruiting in the Pac-12 is a different animal and the Huskies need to step it up.
Washington only has four commitments so far in this class -- albeit three are four-star prospects -- which is tied for fewest in the conference with Colorado. Rivals.com ranks this Huskies' class (mainly because of the small number of commits) ninth in the Pac-12. It's only July, so there is plenty of time left and Washington has a tremendous amount to offer, but players are committing earlier than ever and the Huskies are trailing some other conference powers.
Biggest get
ATH Dymond Lee
Dymond Lee could play QB or WR at UCLA.
UCLA was always going to find it difficult to get a top-notch quarterback to join its 2016 class after signing No. 1-rated Josh Rosen last year. Assistant coach Taylor Mazzone zeroed in on three-star Matt Lynch from Colorado when other top priorities committed elsewhere, and then got Dymond Lee to fill another quarterback slot in this class when Asiantii Woulard decided to transfer.
The intriguing part about Lee's commitment is that he is one of the top wide receivers in the state. This summer, he has also shown the ability to pass the ball, though he has not been as consistent as you would expect a Pac-12-caliber signal-caller to be. So if things don't work out for Lee at quarterback, the Bruins would still be getting a viable weapon for Rosen in that uptempo offense.
Let's not forget
LB Mique Juarez | Torrance (Calif.) North
Mique Juarez's recruitment is far from over.
It is nearly impossible to forget or overlook the recruitment of Mique Juarez because he remains such a prominent figure on the recruiting scene. It looks destined to be a USC-UCLA battle for California's top-rated player. but Juarez has been committed to the Trojans for months and some might think things are all wrapped up.
They are not. USC is still in the driver's seat. He is still committed and he visited for Rising Stars Camp last week. But UCLA is putting on the full-court press and Juarez visited with his father and others for the UCLA Elite Skills Camp and they had a long talk with coach Jim Mora. Nebraska and others are also in the running, but this looks like a Los Angeles battle.
Surprise commitment
RB Vavae Malepeai | Mililani (Hawaii)
Despite his family connections to Oregon, three-star running back Vavae Malepeai from Hawaii was insistent that he would be patient through the recruiting process and consider all of his options. As every scholarship offer rolled in, the bruising prospect stayed level headed and was already planning the official visits he would take in the fall. Michigan, Stanford, UCLA, USC and Washington were all possible destinations, but then the Ducks jumped in and changed everything.
Malepeai visited the Cardinal for their Junior Day and held off on a commitment, but when he did the same at Oregon, he couldn't resist. His recruitment looked like it would be a lengthy one, especially given the lack of highly regarded running backs in the region, but Malepeai came off the market before the craziness even began.
Shaky ground
CB Jordan Parker | Pittsburgh (Calif.)
Jordan Parker's commitment to UCLA is not entirely solid.
Jordan Parker and Shurod Thompson talked seriously for months about playing together. Then Thompson committed to California and only a few days later Parker surprisingly picked UCLA. Since then, Thompson has backed off his pledge to the Golden Bears and while Parker has stuck with the Bruins, he has made it no secret he wants to take visits.
Parker, a Pittsburg, Calif., four-star cornerback, will visit USC and Oregon and could take other visits, too, throughout the recruiting process. UCLA still has his commitment, but there's no doubt he will look at others in the coming months.
Coming up next?
DB CJ Pollard | Gardena (Calif.) Serra
CJ Pollard will announce his college choice next month.
As the son of a former USC defensive back, many have expected CJ Pollard -- from renowned USC pipeline Gardena Serra -- to become a Trojan as well. But Pollard has been in no hurry to arrive at a college decision. Pollard has given every school recruiting him an opportunity. He visited Utah, which was the first school to offer him, and also dropped by Arizona State.
Most recently, Pollard visited Oregon and he's set to announce a choice at The Opening early next month. The Trojans still have to like their chances, especially with good friends and former teammates Adoree' Jackson, Olajuwon Tucker, Rasheem Green and John Houston now on campus at USC doing their best to recruit him. Pollard camped with the Trojans last week, but no matter where he goes, he can be credited for doing his homework.
Blair Angulo
West Recruiting Analyst
Adam Gorney
West Recruiting Analyst
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