When it comes to the coronavirus travel ban, every team is equally affected in some ways, but the Pac-12 has some particular challenges because there have been some considerable hot spots as this pandemic has played out in Seattle, the Bay Area and in Los Angeles.
Those are three areas that house Pac-12 programs, and only time will tell if it has any negative influence on how those schools - namely Washington, Cal, Stanford, USC and UCLA - come out of this on the other side.
Like every coaching staff across America, Pac-12 teams have had to adjust their recruiting practices: No face-to-face meetings with recruits. No on-campus visits. No spring evaluation period, which could be so valuable. Virtual tours have replaced walking families around their campuses.
Some teams have navigated through this new world - at least for the time being - pretty well.
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MORE ASK FARRELL: Which Big Ten coaches have impressed? | SEC coaches?
CLASS OF 2021 RANKINGS: Rivals250 | Position | Team | State
CLASS OF 2022: Top 100
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USC has the top-rated class in the team recruiting rankings, with five of its seven commits as four-star prospects. The Trojans have landed four commits since early- to mid-March, when the coronavirus storylines really started to heat up.
Following the Trojans is Oregon, which has won back-to-back team recruiting titles in the Pac-12. The Ducks have five commitments, but only one in the last few months - when four-star quarterback Ty Thompson made his pledge.
Cal now sits in third place in the team rankings after recent commitments from Folsom, Calif., three-star Kaleb Higgins and three-star quarterback Kai Millner out of Gilbert (Ariz.) Higley. The Golden Bears also received a commitment from local standout Akili Calhoun in early March, just as the global pandemic was taking shape in the U.S.
Washington and Arizona State round out the top five in the Pac-12, but each of those programs has only two commits. Other than USC, Oregon and Cal, no teams in the conference have more than two pledges.
FARRELL'S TAKE
We ask Rivals National Recruiting Director Mike Farrell to name one or two coaches in the Pac-12 who have been most impressive recruiting during this challenging time, and which coach might excel the most in this current recruiting climate?
“In the Pac-12, it all starts with Mario Cristobal and what he’s doing at Oregon. The Ducks have become the cream of the crop in Pac-12 recruiting and the brand they are building will continue to draw recruits even as remote as they are and how much they rely on in-person visits.
"But I have to also mention USC's Clay Helton and his new hire, Donte Williams, who came over from Oregon and has made a big difference so far. USC is once again reeling in four-stars and that’s a start for a class that is led by Jake Garcia. However, on-field results will determine the fate of Helton more likely than not, but at least this is a solid start.”
