The foundation for recruiting success is often laid in the spring during the December signing window, when campus visits, shortlists are made and verbal commitments are made.
Hotline delights as Pac-12 fans dive into the process through eyes and ears Brandon HuffmanSeattle-based National Recruitment Analyst for 247Sports.
Huffman will relay news and insights into the latest developments and keep track of upcoming events that will shape the 2022-23 recruitment cycle.
The following information, in his words, was provided to the hotline on June 13 …
*** Last week’s Pac-12 was the state of Oregon’s most important commitment. It comes from Aidan Chiles, a three-star quarterback from Southern California.
Chile had scholarship offers from Washington, Oregon, and Cal, and made an official visit to Washington State just days after seeing Oregon State. But he got committed to Beaver.
This negated the need for Oregon State to bring in three-star quarterback Luke Duncan from Orlanda, Cal. (More on Duncan in a moment.) Chile is a top-25 quarterback nationally. Not only does he help Beaver, but they have managed to keep him away from the four North Division schools that were following him heavily.
*** Beavers also received a commitment from three-star wideout David Wells, who is from Lakewood, Wash., and has been one of the top receivers in the Pacific Northwest for the past few years.
The important thing about Wells is that not only is the Beavers getting a really strong pass catcher, but their 7-on-7 teammates, three-star tight end Dorian Thomas, have been committed to Oregon State since November .
Arizona was trying to get Thomas on an official visit, and the state of Arizona was recruiting him as well. But Wells’ commitment probably keeps Thomas within the purview of OSU and keeps him from looking elsewhere.
This is important, as Thomas is one of the top-10 players in Washington State in 2023. To get to him and Wells and three-star tight end Cooper Jensen, who reaffirmed his commitment a week ago — the Beavers are doing really well in Washington.
*** USC landed Tobias Raymond an unrated tackle on Monday night. This is an important step as Raymond is the first offensive lineman to be committed to USC in the class of 2023.
After visiting Cal two weeks ago, Raymond received a scholarship offer from USC. He made his official visit and committed them. So Lincoln Riley and offensive coordinator Josh Henson have their guy on the offensive line before their big recruiting weekend arrives.
Raymond is a 6-foot-6, 270-pound tackle with plenty of room to grow. He attends Ventura High School, two of whose most famous football alumni have gone to UCLA: Eric Turner and Tyler Abel.
Raymond would become the first Ventura High player in at least the last 60 years to go on a scholarship to USC.
***Arizona welcomed a fair share of recruits last weekend, including the Wildcats’ quarterback commitment in the 2023 class: four-star prospect Brayden Dorman from Colorado Springs.
They were also able to host Jackson Bowers and offensive tackle Caleb Lomu – both are four-star prospects and both are out-of-state players. They are major visitors to them.
They brought in four-star receiver Jeremiah McClure from Mater Dei in Chula Vista. His teammate, Trey Edwards, committed to UCLA on Arizona a few weeks ago, so now the Wildcats are fighting back and trying to get McClure.
They were also able to host a number of West Coast defensive players, including three-star linebacker Solomon Davis from Covina and three-star defensive end Jacob Lane from Puyallup, who will visit Washington at the end of the month.
*** Cal is on Commitment – Watch this week with three-star recruit Ashton Sanders, who had one of the most entertaining official travel videos in this recruiting cycle.
Sanders, a 300-pound defensive lineman out of Cathedral High in Los Angeles, will announce his decision this week between Cal and Wisconsin.
The Bears are in a good place for him after the trip and a video that went viral several years ago showing Sanders running around a golf cart like Marshawn Lynch. Lynch’s Drive may be Cal’s second most iconic play after The Play, and now the recruits are copying it on their official tours.
*** Quarterback Domino’s could help Cal in the near future as four-star Jaden Rashda is expected to announce his decision on Saturday. He’s the top uncommitted quarterback in California, and we’re in Pittsburgh, Cal. Of all-but-sure, chances are headed to the SEC.
Assuming Rashda leaves the Pac-12, the Bears will bring in three-star quarterback Duncan from nearby Orinda for an official visit on June 24 — and possibly secure a commitment.
The Bears are also hosting three-star cornerback Salasa Vadravale from Rohnert Park, Cal. This is the only official visit he has made so far. They may get some dose of good news this week.
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