West Region: Five predictions for 2018 class heading into spring

The 2018 recruiting class has become the full focus heading into the important offseason filled with camps, 7on7 tournaments and plenty of school visits. Here are five West Region predictions heading into this crucial stretch.

MORE WEST REGION: Five prospects under rankings microscope

Oregon does not have any 2018 commitments yet but first-year coach Willie Taggart could be setting up the Ducks for an outstanding recruiting haul that could be one of the best in the conference.

Two things are playing in his favor here: Taggart and his staff are excellent recruiters so they should be able to dip into California and possibly Florida (because of Taggart’s ties to that state) to land some excellent prospects.

The second thing is pure luck since so many talented prospects are in the state of Oregon this recruiting cycle. There are seven four-star prospects in the state and the only one off the board is ATH Braden Lenzy to Notre Dame.

All the others are seriously considering Oregon and at least two – WR Chase Cota and LB Eli’Jah Winston – have family connections to the Ducks in one way or another.

This is not an indictment on the committed players, especially at quarterback, but if recent history is any indication then there will be at least one decommitment from this position as the offseason continues.

Let’s take a quick look at the 2017 QB class: Hunter Johnson had been committed to Tennessee before flipping to Clemson. Jake Fromm was an Alabama pledge before going to Georgia. Kellen Mond was locked in with Baylor before the scandal broke there and he ended up at Texas A&M. Ohio State signee Tate Martell was committed to Washington and Texas A&M before picking the Buckeyes.

Those are only a few examples.

The point is this: With the recruiting process starting earlier, quarterbacks are especially pushed to make a quick decision. So much can still happen between coaching changes, new offers and more before signing day so nothing is locked in.

USC has a pledge from five-star Matt Corral, four-stars Jack Tuttle and Cameron Rising are committed to Utah and Oklahoma, respectively, and Jacob Sirmon has picked Washington. Nothing is guaranteed until all these guys sign and a lot more could still happen.

Here’s a scary thought for Pac-12 opponents: USC is one of the frontrunners or a major player in the recruitment of a majority of the top 10 players in California and the Trojans are already loading up in their 2018 class.

Five-star quarterback Matt Corral and five-star linebacker Palaie Gaoteote, who picked USC over Ohio State and others, are already committed along with four-star linebackers Raymond Scott and Bo Calvert among others.

Five-star receivers Jalen Hall, whose two Los Angeles Hawkins teammates signed with USC this past recruiting cycle, and Amon-Ra St. Brown are both super serious about USC as well.

If the Trojans push for another Rose Bowl – or better – this season, then USC’s recruiting could be off the charts. And that’s not good news for its Pac-12 counterparts.

The top player in the state of Nevada, Palaie Gaoteote, is off the board to USC but crosstown rival UCLA has its eye on the next two big-time stars at Las Vegas Bishop Gorman and the duo would be huge for the Bruins.

UCLA has jumped out as frontrunners for four-star quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson and four-star tight end Brevin Jordan. Coach Jim Mora, new offensive coordinator Jedd Fisch and others have great relationships with Thompson-Robinson, Jordan and others. Both are expected to visit soon. Wrapping up their commitments would be a tremendous step in the right direction.

Last recruiting cycle, two of the top three prospects in California left the Pac-12 when five-star RB Najee Harris picked Alabama and five-star OL Wyatt Davis went to Ohio State. In the previous recruiting class, two of the top five players departed when five-star LB Caleb Kelly picked Oklahoma and five-star OT Jonah Williams went to the Crimson Tide.

Expect other top California talent to depart for some of the nation’s highest-profile programs although it’s still too early to make any predictions.

Alabama and Ohio State have dipped into the West for outstanding talent in recent recruiting cycles and that should have a snowball effect. Michigan is working hard with many top recruits as is Nebraska, Florida State, LSU and others.

In the end, a majority will probably stay closer to home but there’s no question those national programs coming into the West is having an influence on some top recruits and it should continue into the future.