The Hotline is delighted to provide college football fans with a regular dive into the recruiting process through the eyes and ears of Brandon Huffman, the Seattle-based national recruiting editor for 247Sports. He submitted the following report on June 26 …
Here come the Huskies
Washington was sitting on seven commitments a week ago, but coach Jedd Fisch has more than double the size of his class since Sunday.
The headliners were a pair of four-star tight ends, Vander Ploog from Southern California and Baron Naone, the No. 1 player in the state of Oregon in 2025.
The Huskies also reeled in three in-state players. The group includes the No. 2 prospect, athlete Jonathan Epperson, and the No. 5 recruit, athlete D’Aryhian Clemons, in addition to intriguing edge rusher Victor Sanchez Hernandez, an Olympic hopeful in taekwondo.
While the class is heavy on West Coast recruits, Illinois linebacker Donovan Robinson also joined the mix.
Wildcats turn to Texas
Arizona had itself quite the week, flipping California defensive lineman Mays Pese (from Cal) and in-state cornerback Dajon Hinton (from Arizona State).
The Wildcats also collected commitments from a pair of offensive linemen, Losipini Tupou and Sione Tohi, from California.
They landed in-state defensive lineman Kaleb Jones, plus Hawaii offensive lineman Javian Goo and four players from the Lone State State: safety Allen Gant, cornerback Swayde Griffin, safety Coleman Patmon and cornerback Gianni Edwards.
Finally, action in Boulder
Right now, Colorado has the smallest recruiting class (just four commitments) of any departing Pac-12 school. That’s no surprise. Coach Deion Sanders has been candid about his preference for transfers.
But outside of securing three commitments in April, it had been a quiet spring for the Buffaloes.
The situation changed on Monday, when Colorado landed Top247 prospect Chauncey Gooden, a four-star offensive lineman from Tennessee.
Gooden is one of the top-10 players at his position in the country and held 50 scholarship offers.
Beaver blitz
No school was hit harder in the 2024 recruiting cycle, with both high school recruiting and the transfer portal, than Oregon State.
So when the Beavers reeled in three pledges this week, it was a well-received jolt of momentum.
One commitment came from California, defensive lineman Jesse Myers, and one from Texas, cornerback David Madison.
The other reached Corvallis from Nevada: safety Sean Craig.
Now, the Beavers wait for a decision from their top quarterback target, Jaron Keawe Sagapolutele.
Cal’s QB pursuit
Cal is also waiting on Sagapolutele after hosting his final official visit.
Boise State and Utah State also are involved with the three-star prospect from Hawaii, but this looks like a Cal-Oregon State battle.
The Bears landed a pair of commitments this week, both from Northern California, in offensive tackle Michael Klisiewicz and tight end Jacob Houseworth.
More West Coast developments
While USC had its share of decommitments a week ago, the Trojans managed to land a player from outside the Golden State when three-star Georgia safety Shamar Arnoux committed on Wednesday.
Utah reeled in a key in-state pledge in linebacker Cyrus Polu, as well as two-way standout JJ Buchanan from Nevada and defensive lineman Malili Asiata from California.
Washington State grabbed a trio of commitments, two from California in athlete Jamar Searcy and cornerback Ishmael Gibbs, plus Texas defensive lineman Josiah Pratt.
Oregon continued its national pull with a commitment from four-star safety Brandon Finney out of Maryland.
Related Articles
40 years ago: SCOTUS decision vs. the NCAA changed college sports
B10 MBB picks: Indiana’s on top, but Oregon lurks as supreme sleeper
Big 12 MBB picks for 2025: Huge challenge awaits Four Corners schools
Arizona athletics: Desiree Reed-Francois’ challenging first 100 days
Mailbag: Buying Utah, Oregon FB in the fall and selling UW, Arizona
*** Send suggestions, comments and tips (confidentiality guaranteed) to [email protected] or call 408-920-5716
*** Follow Huffman on Twitter/X via @BrandonHuffman and support @AveryStrongDIPG
*** Follow me on Twitter/X: @WilnerHotline
*** Pac-12 Hotline is not endorsed or sponsored by the Pac-12 Conference, and the views expressed herein do not necessarily reflect the views of the Conference.
