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West Spotlight: Five teams that need a strong close to 2023

The Early Signing Period is approaching in a hurry with teams losing opportunities to close on targeted recruits. Here are five teams in the West that need to close the 2023 recruiting class strong.

MORE IN THIS SERIES: Five East Coast teams that need a strong close to 2023 | Mid-South | Southeast | Midwest

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CLASS OF 2023 RANKINGS: Rivals250 | Team | Position | State

CLASS OF 2024 RANKINGS: Rivals250 | Team | Position | State

CLASS OF 2025 RANKINGS: Rivals100

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OREGON STATE 

Jonathan Smith
Jonathan Smith (AP Images)

The Beavers (6-2) are having a fantastic season, with a close loss to USC and a blowout defeat to Utah. Oregon State is a different team than in years past and coach Jonathan Smith deserves a lot of credit. Coming off double-digit wins over Washington State and Colorado, the Beavers are definitely a team to contend with again in the Pac-12.

But recruiting has not taken off yet. Oregon State is currently tied with Campbell and Tulane for No. 65 in the team recruiting rankings. It’s ranked eighth in the conference behind Colorado, which just lost to the Beavers 42-9 and fired its coach midseason.

Smith and his staff have made it routine to have the Beavers’ recruits play above their rankings. Their success this season should warrant more recruiting wins.

SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS WITH OREGON STATE FANS AT BEAVERSEDGE.COM

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WASHINGTON STATE 

Earlier in the season, Washington State had a ton of momentum, especially after winning at Wisconsin and then defeating Cal 28-9 to start the month of October, but it has not meant a lot of recruiting wins yet.

The Cougars have had only one commit during the season, and it's from Aledo, Texas, defensive end Ansel Din-Mbuh. Washington State sits No. 72 in the team recruiting rankings between Liberty and Virginia. It’s ninth in the conference rankings with no four-stars in the class.

West Linn, Ore., three-star quarterback Sam Leavitt and three-star LB Jailen Ruth out of Hawthorne, Fla., lead the Cougs’ class right now.

SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS WITH WASHINGTON STATE FANS AT WAZZUWATCH.COM

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UCLA  

Tre Edwards
Tre Edwards (Matt Moreno | Rivals.com)

After a slow start to his coaching career at UCLA, Chip Kelly and the Bruins have done an outstanding job at 7-1 this season with their lone loss coming last weekend at Oregon. UCLA beat a good Washington team and took down Utah the weekend before the Ducks’ game. An 11-win regular season is not out of the question at all, with USC being the biggest - and maybe only - threat left.

But recruiting has been dismally slow. UCLA is tied with UConn for No. 90 in the team recruiting rankings and just ahead of Kent State. The Bruins have only seven commits - second fewest among Power Five schools - and recently lost a huge commitment from four-star running back Roderick Robinson from San Diego Lincoln as he flipped to Georgia.

But there could be a light at the end of the tunnel. UCLA is working to flip four-star quarterback Pierce Clarkson from Louisville. Four-star Jeremiah McClure, teammate of UCLA commit Tre Edwards, is also looking at the Bruins.

SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS WITH UCLA FANS AT BRUINBLITZ.COM

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CAL

RJ Jones
RJ Jones (Nick Lucero/Rivals.com)

Cal is hanging on to the No. 100 spot in the team recruiting rankings, with only seven commitments, all three-stars. None of the top 55 prospects in the state of California rankings are committed to the Golden Bears, who have four losses this season but three were only by a touchdown. A loss to Colorado a couple weeks ago definitely didn’t help on the recruiting trail.

Decommitments have hurt Cal this cycle as well. Four-star defensive back RJ Jones from powerhouse Bellflower (Calif.) St. John Bosco, massive offensive lineman Amos Talalele and three-star defensive tackle Ashton Sanders all have backed off their pledges.

SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS WITH CAL FANS AT GOLDENBEARREPORT.COM

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ARIZONA STATE 

Shaun Aguano
Shaun Aguano (AP Images)

The Sun Devils have two major issues ahead of them: There is no clarity regarding the future of the head coaching position and his staff and there is a lingering NCAA investigation that continues to drag on. Is it any surprise that recruiting is suffering in a major way?

Arizona State is not in the top 100 of the team recruiting rankings and has the fewest - six - commitments of any team in the Power Five conferences. Interim coach Shaun Aguano has tried his hardest to spark the program and re-engage with local prospects, but until the long-term coaching situation and the NCAA issues are resolved it could be a tough road.

Three-star quarterback commit Israel Carter is a bright spot, though, as the Corona (Calif.) Centennial standout has thrown for 1,438 yards and 20 touchdowns with no picks this season. He’s rushed for 538 yards and 11 scores as well.

SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS WITH ARIZONA STATE FANS AT DEVILSDIGEST.COM

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