Oregon Ducks Recruiting Round-Up

Recent Commits

Alex Balducci, DE, 6-3/245 (***): No.2 recruit in Oregon decides to stay at home; an aggressive player that should fit the Ducks’ system well.

Cody Carriger, DE, 6-7/230 (***): his high motor and toughness makes him a handful on both sides of the ball; a tall drink water, Carriger will be an excellent target if he decides to play TE.

Trending on the Trail

UP – Byron Marshall, RB, 5-10/195 (****): with an offer firmly in hand, the Ducks rise to the top of his list.

Top Commits for 2012

·         Evan Baylis, TE, 6-5/220 (****): a huge threat in the passing game, but strength and blocking abilities still need work.

·         Jake Rodrigues, QB, 6-3/215 (***): a dual-threat QB that impressed several schools this spring with his speed and arm throwing skills

·         Eric Amoako, S, 5-11/195 (***): His twin brother Stephen also committed to Oregon; both are ball hawks in the making.  


***Check out how the rest of the Pac-12 is doing on the recruiting trail here.  

Colorado Buffaloes Recruiting Round-Up

Terrence Crowder rumbling past the line

Recent Commits

Terrence Crowder, RB, 5-11/208 (NR):  the staff at Colorado loves the way Crowder runs the ball; they are hoping he can make an impact down the road. 

Trending on the Trail

Jeffrey Thomas, WR, 6-3/175 (***): Although he is still waiting on offers, he knows he likes Colorado; he wants to make his decision before the season starts.

Travis Averill, OL, 6-6/280 (***): he is getting ready to announce his Top 3 list and Colorado has a great chance of making the cut. 

Austin Maass, OL, 6-4/275 (***): early playing time could be the line that hooks this Maass. 

Top Commits for 2012

·         Shane Dillon, QB, 6-5/185 (***): great pocket awareness and mobility make up for shoddy decision making and consistency

·         Tyler Henington, DT, 6-4/265 (***): highly touted for his size, motor, and technique; strong against the run, stronger against the pass

·         Clay Norgard, DE, 6-0/245 (***):  strength and size may keep Norgard away from DL for first few season; expected to begin at LB until he fills out frame. 

***Check out how the rest of the Pac-12 is doing on the recruiting trail here.  

California Bears Recruiting Round-Up

Colin Blake is leaning towards the Longhorns

Recent Commits

·         No recent commits

Trending on the Trail

Colin Blake, CB, 6-3/270 (****): after talks with Texas’ DB coach Duane Akina, Blake is just waiting for an offer from the Longhorns; if the offer does come, expect him to commit. 

Top Commits for 2012

·         Michael Barton, OLB, 6-1/205 (****): a quick, hard hitter that is always around the ball; expected to play the WILL linebacker position, possibly as a freshman.

·         Zach Kline, QB, 6-2/195 (****): a strong arm gives Kline’s pass some definite pop; he is also praised for his excellent pocket presence and decent accuracy.  


***Check out how the rest of the Pac-12 is doing on the recruiting trail here.  

Arizona State Recruiting Round-Up

Kimball Niumatalolo returning an INT for a TD

Recent Commits

Kimball Niumatalolo, LB, 6-1/235 (NR): a fast player with a ton of determination; don’t be fooled by his size.

Jake Sheffield, DT, 6-3/275 (NR): gained versatility after two years in Marine Corps, which drew ASU’s attention towards him; at the ripe age of 25, he brings maturity to the table.

Kody Kohl, TE, 6-3/220 (NR): possess a good football mentality plus showed off impressive skills in camp; a brother on the team helped making the decision to commit easier

Trending on the Trail

Kenny Lawler, WR, 6-3/185 (***):  Despite rumors about his soft commitment, Lawler’s father claims ASU is still his No.1.

Darreus Rogers, WR, 6-2/194 (****): despite being a verbal commitment to USC, Rogers said might not be 100% sold on Trojans. ASU and Washington are still in the mix

Jamar Allah, CB, 6-1/180 (**):  an impressive passing tournament drew an offer from ASU and it catapulted them to the top of his list. 

Top Commits for 2012

·         Dejon Allen, OG, 6-3/265 (***): can play on both sides of the ball but prefers OG; needs to add weight to his frame to be an interior lineman.

·         Randall Goforth, WR/CB, 6-0/175 (***): coverage troubles probably means he is better suited for offense; great hands and decent instincts could also make him a good target.

·         Salamo Fiso, OLB, 6-1/215 (***): drew comparisons to Vontaze Burfict by some ASU coaches; use of hands are still a work in progress

·         Milo Jordan, DT, 6-2/265 (NR): a strong run stopper that needs work on the pass rush

***Check out how the rest of the Pac-12 is doing on the recruiting trail here.  

Arizona Wildcats Recruiting Round-Up

Recent Commits

·         No Recent Commits

Trending on the Trail

Deatrich Wise, DE, 6-5/220 (NR): although he won’t admit it, Arizona has several factors working into his favor

Polo Manukainiu, DE, 6-6/250 (NR): while getting a ton of hype across the nation, Manukainiu list Utah and Arizona in his top four.

Julian Brooks, WR, 6-2/185 (**): Arizona’s business program is apparently a huge draw for Brooks.

Top Commits for 2012

·         Taylor McNamara, TE, 6-5/235 (***): blocking ability is probably McNamara’s biggest concern, but in all reality he was targeted for his soft hands and size. 

·         Beau Boyster, C, 6-4/275 (***): despite worries about bad weight, he is touted for his excellent footwork and good pass protection.

·         Josh Kern, QB, 6-5/185 (NR): his decent field vision and mobility make up for his lack of speed and arm strength.

·         Nathan Sudfeld, WR, 6-5/215 (NR): he can recognize coverage packages pretty well and has an accurate arm, but arm strength could be an issue. 


***Check out how the rest of the Pac-12 is doing on the recruiting trail here.  

Pac-12 Recruiting Roundup: 06.17.11

Welcome back to the soap opera that sports fans like to call College Football Recruiting! 

Last week's Pac-12 Recruiting Round-up was a rousing success (well, at least for this blog).  Let’s continue to keep our fingers on the pulse of this recruiting melodrama college football fans love.

This Friday, I'm going to change it up a bit and give each team its own post.  I felt like last week's post was a little lengthy and a lot to scroll through.

In the introductory post (the one you are reading right now), I'll tally a weekly rankings to gauge the overall recruiting success each team is having compared to their conference peers.  The team names in the rankings will also link to their weekly recruiting round up.

Have fun on the recruiting trail.

Team	5*	4*	3*	2*	1*	NR	Total	PR
USC	1	5	1	1		1	9	31.00
Arizona State			6	1		4	11	24.00
Oregon		2	5				7	23.00
Washington		2	2	4			8	22.00
Utah			4	1		1	6	15.00
Stanford		2		2			4	12.00
Colorado			3	1			4	11.00
Arizona			2	2			4	10.00
Oregon State		1	2				3	10.00
Washington State			2	2			4	10.00
California		2					2	8.00
UCLA			2				2	6.00

Power Ranking the Pac-12's Head Coaches

This year’s list of Pac-12 head coaches is a very similar read to last year’s.

While the names may seem the same, the overall presence and outlying atmosphere created by these coaches has certainly changed.

The Pac-10 faithful will be introduced to three new head coaches this season, two experiencing their first year at helm.  How these coaches react to this backyard dog fight called “Pac-12 Conference Play” should be quite interesting.

Let's take a look at where each coach lands in my Pac-12's Coaches Preseason Power Rankings.    

Pac-12 Breakfast Links: 06.16.2011

*Ex-Michigan quarterback Tate Forcier has three Pac-12 teams (Arizona State, Washington State and Oregon) left on his list. I’m not sure if this head-case is really needed on either team.  [Star Advertiser]

*Speaking of ex-quarterbacks, Colorado’s former QB Cody Hawkins was named to USA’s football roster.  That brings me to the question: What the hell is the USA Football team? [Mile High Buzz]

*Chip Kelly suspended Cliff Harris indefinitely for his reckless driving incident.  I wonder what his definition of “indefinitely” is?  Probably 11 weeks. [ESPN]

*Let the Internet’s debating begin about Cliff Harris’ fate.  It’s not too late for him to enter NFL’s supplemental draft.  [SB Nation Bay Area]

*According to his dad, Stanford’s Head Coach David Shaw’s nickname is “Dr. Blitz”.  The newly appointed coach definitely has the talent at linebacker this year to live up to this fictitious doctorate. [Go Stanford]

*With several Pac-12 games scheduled for Friday nights, the illusion that this night of the week is just for prep football has been shattered.  Although it sort-of ends this “tradition”, it’s definitely a step in the right direction for the conference [Oregonian]   

*Speaking of moving forward, Larry Scott is addressing the lingering issues facing the NCAA and its players by suggesting the players get more money from the Pac-12’s new deal.  Spectacular idea! [Denver Post]

Colorado Football: Is the Buffaloes' Defense Equipped to Handle the Pac-12?

Over the past few seasons, football in Boulder has become a wallowing pit of despair. Thankfully, the “Dan Hawkins Experiment” has finally come to a close and the Buffaloes have a chance to emerge from his cloud of ineptness with the guidance of Jon Embree.

Although Embree has a multitude of problems to address, Colorado's stagnant defense will undoubtedly be atop of his list. 

For the past five seasons, Colorado’s defense has steadily declined.  In 2006, the Buffaloes ranked a respectable 58th in the nation, allowing 22.3 points per game.  But then the slope gets slippery. Colorado proceeded to slide down the rankings season-after-season, stumbling to an embarrassing 91st in 2010.

Pac-12 Breakfast Links: 06.15.2011

*Thanks for making me look like a liar in yesterday’s breakfast links, Juron Criner.  He was actually the reason why I DVR’d the episode.  [Tucson Citizen]

*Speaking of disappointments, Criner and Nick Foles got slaughtered in a few early draft projections.  It’s time to prove that helmet-haired, Mel Kiper wrong. [Tucson Citizen]

*Lane Kiffin tells WNOX 100.3 that he went for two so much last year because USC couldn’t get into a bowl .  That seems a little reckless considering the many gamblers counting on those points. [WNOX] (Kiffin's comments @35:30)  

*Speaking of gambling, Oregon is predicted to open as three point favorites against LSU.  If Cliff Harris is suspended, I’m definitely taking the Tigers.  [Gaming Today]

*Can’t seem to get off the gambling topic today.  Andrew Luck is the oddsmakers’ favorite to hoist the Heisman this season.  Definitely won’t argue with that.  [USA Today]

*There is nothing more unpredictable yet extremely fun to watch than a wild buffalo running at full speed on a field with innocent bystanders.  How is this even a contest?  Vote for Colorado’s Ralphie! [ESPN]

*Hmmm…back to the sportsbook to close it.  Oregon’s odds to win the 2012 National Championship are 13/1…hardly the favorites, but not a bad bet.  [SBR Forum]

Pac-12 Breakfast Links: 06.14.2011

 Imagine Harris in a car and the Tennessee player as a cop

*Juron Criner, Matt Barkley, and Darron Thomas will be on ESPN’s College Football Live this afternoon.  Don’t miss their takes on the upcoming season.  [Tucson Citzen]  

*I understand that Ducks just need to fly.  However, let’s try to keep that in the air or on the field, Cliff. [KVAL.com]

*Hmm, speaking of Cliff Harris’s free ride, it appears it was exactly that…free.  Call in the NCAA dogs, because something is getting fishy in Oregon [KEZI.com]          

*People love college football for the breakout stories.  Every year there is at least one per team.  Here are Arizona’s front runners [GoAZCats.com]

*Arizona’s President Robert Shelton was called on to help remove the stains of the Fiesta Bowl's recent past.  Let’s hope the Dr. Shelton has better bed side manners then the previous president.  [OC Register]

*Former Utah football player Jason Kaufusi is suing a medical technology company for implanting a “pain pump” in his shoulder.  With a name like “pain pump”, it almost seems like it was doing its job. [Deseret News]

*CUBuffs has put together a Pac-12 starter kit for the patience-impaired.  Unfortunately, you’ll have to wait for the countdown to start tomorrow.  [CUBuffs.com]

UCLA Football: Does Rick Neuheisel Have a Realistic Chance to Save His Job?

Almost everyone will agree that Rick Neuheisel's days in Westwood are numbered. This has to make you think, is there really anything that he can do to save his job?

There are, of course, certain extenuating events that could instantaneously take him off the hot seat, like going undefeated or making a BCS bowl.  However, no one in their right mind is predicting the Bruins to go that far.

When you think about it, with USC banned from post season play, the Pac-12 South title is really a reachable goal for every team in that division.  While Utah and Arizona State are receiving a ton of buzz this off-season to take the inaugural crown, they are hardly shoe-ins. Utah could definitely struggle in this much tougher conference and the Sun Devils are no strangers to falling short of their preseason hype.