Pac-12 football recruiting team capsules

Feb 4, 2016 - 2:10 AM Here are the signing day capsules for Pac-12 Conference teams:

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ARIZONA

Top 25 Class: No.

Best in class: QB Khalil Tate. While the Wildcats put a lot of focus on defense, Tate has a chance to be the game-changer in this class. The native of Gardena, California, is one of the nation's top dual-threat quarterbacks and could be the prototypical quarterback for Rodriguez's zone read offense.

Best of the rest: OL Michael Eletise. The 4-star recruit from Hawaii is considered one of the best guards in the country. At 6-foot-4, 295 pounds, Eletise should give the Wildcats some much-needed depth on the offensive line.

Late addition: WR Shawn Poindexter. Arizona got a last-second flip on this one. Poindexter, of Glendale Community College, committed to Marshall on Tuesday, but changed his mind a day later and signed with the Wildcats.

One that got away: QB Victor Viramontes whittled his decision down to Arizona and California, ultimately signing with the Bears on Wednesday.

How they'll fit in: Arizona has had one of the Pac-12's worst defenses over the past few years and the new recruits should help provide the Wildcats with some size and depth. The Wildcats also signed receiver Devaughn Cooper and running back J.J. Taylor, adding to their cache of offensive playmakers.

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ARIZONA STATE

Top 25 Class: No.

Best in class: N'Keal Harry. Big and athletic, the 6-foot-4 200-pound Harry not only gives the Sun Devils a big-play threat, but is a local product who decided to stay in the Valley of the Sun. ''I can't tell you how excited I am about this guy,'' coach Todd Graham said.

Best of the rest: ATH Chase Lucas. Though thin for his frame - 6-foot, 170 pounds - Lucas can play safety or cornerback and could play slot receiver. He was a teammate of Harry's at Chandler High School.

Late addition: none.

One that got away: DB Byron Murphy. The Sun Devils made a big push to get the local product, but he signed with Washington on Wednesday.

How they'll fit in: The Sun Devils have some holes to fill after a disappointing six-win season in 2015. Harry should have an immediate impact in ASU's high-octane offense and two JUCO transfers should solidify the O-line. Arizona State also took steps to shore up its pass rush and shaky secondary.

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CALIFORNIA

Top 25 Class: No

Best in class: WR Melquise Stoval, California

Best of the rest: CB Nygel Edmonds, Tennessee

Late addition: RB Zion Echols, California.

One that got away: Three-star offensive guard Francisco Perez had verbally committed to Cal before switching plans and instead signing with UCLA.

How they'll fit in: Because he arrived on campus in September, three-star early enrollee Max Gilliam has a slight edge on the starting quarterback job but don't make too much of it just yet. Three-star signee Victor Viramontes is a 240-pound athlete who has a strong arm and is a capable runner, two traits that fit in well with coach Sonny Dykes' Bear Raid offense. There are three other quarterbacks on the roster, including Luke Rubenzer who was Jared Goff's backup in 2014 before switching to defense in 2015.

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COLORADO

Top 25 class: No

Best in class: Beau Bisharat, RB, Sacramento, California.

Best of the rest: WR Johnny Huntley III, Plantation, Florida; Anthony Julmisse, WR, Plantation, Florida; Ronnie Blackmon, DB, Atlanta; Drew Lewis, LB, Coffeyville; Juwann Winfree, WR, Coffeyville

One that got away: Craig Watts, St. Petersburg, Florida. Signed with South Florida.

How they'll fit in: Bisharat and Winfree could step in and start right away. A three-year starter in high school, Bisharat rushed for 4,130 yards along with 43 TDs. Winfree had 55 catches for 837 yards and seven touchdowns last season for Coffeyville.

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OREGON

Top 25 Class: Yes. No. 23.

Best in class: Tristan Wallace, an athletic 6-foot-3 and 220 pounds, hails from DeSoto, Texas. He could make an impact right away. Coach Mark Helfrich said Wallace wants to play at receiver, so the Ducks will go with that at the start, but he did not rule out moving him in the future. ''I don't know what he is, but he's great,'' Helfrich said, adding that the position coaches will likely fight for him.

Best of the rest: Dillon Mitchell, a 6-foot-1, 180-pound wide receiver out of Memphis, Tennessee, was wooed by many elite programs, including Auburn, Alabama, Tennessee and Ohio State. Part of his appeal is that he also plays basketball, although it's not certain that he'll double up at the college level. He's already enrolled in classes.

Late addition: Four-star linebacker Keith Simms of Maryland had offers from Stanford, Cal, Michigan State and Virginia Tech, among other schools, but over the weekend committed to the Ducks.

One that got away: Running back Vavae Malepeai verbally committed to Oregon but signed with USC. Malepeai holds the career prep rushing record for the state of Hawaii.

How they'll fit in: All eyes will be on the quarterback situation at Oregon and how it evolves over the next few years. But the Ducks got a solid recruiting class that included 17 high school players and a junior college transfer. While some fans grumbled that there were no five-star recruits and that most national class rankings put the Ducks in the 20s, Helfrich maintained the importance of signing players who will enroll at Oregon and play, as opposed to players who won't ultimately qualify.

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OREGON STATE

Top 25 Class: No.

Best in class: Shurod Thompson, a safety out of Brentwood, California, had offers from Arizona, Arizona State, Boise State, California, Colorado, Utah, Washington, Washington State, among others. At 6-foot-1 and 185 pounds, the speedy Thompson was considered among the top 10 players in the nation at his position.

Best of the rest: Christian Wallace, a cornerback out of Sealy, Texas, was considered among the top 25 prospects out of Texas. He also rushed for 1,000 yards and 10 touchdowns as a senior and Andersen said he will also carry for the Beavers.

Late addition: Defensive tackle David Fangupo, a 350-pound JC transfer from Cerritos College who signed with the Beavers after earlier committing to Utah.

One that got away: Four-star offensive lineman Frederick Mauigoa, who decided to go to Washington State.

How they'll fit in: Coach Gary Andersen addressed his needs on defense, but the Beavers remain short at quarterback after both Seth Collins and Nick Mitchell decided to transfer. Marcus McMaryion will return and Andersen announced Wednesday that Utah State transfer Darell Garrettson, who had to sit out last year under NCAA rules, had earned a scholarship. The only quarterback in the recruiting class is Mason Moran out of Arizona's Chandler High School, who was recruited as a defensive player by other schools. Andersen said that the Beavers may have to bring in a walk-on at the position.

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SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA

Top 25 Class: Yes

Best in class: Oluwole Betiku, DL, Gardena, California. The Trojans plugged a hole on their line with the commitment of a powerful prospect joining the pipeline of talent running a few miles north from Serra High School to USC.

Best of the rest: Tyler Vaughns, WR, La Puente, California, and WR Michael Pittman Jr., Westlake Village, California. USC landed two of the top receiving prospects in the country to bolster their enviable depth at the skill positions for the next starting quarterback.

Late addition: Jack Jones, WR/CB, Long Beach, California. The Trojans' next possible two-way star chose to stay close to home on decision day, announcing it with a video featuring fellow LBC denizen Snoop Dogg. ''I thought it was absolutely awesome,'' coach Clay Helton said. ''I'm amazed how creative it gets every year.''

One that got away: Jonathan Kongbo, DT, Arizona Western College. The junior college standout passed on a chance to contribute immediately for the Trojans, choosing Tennessee instead.

How they'll fit in: USC has rarely hesitated to play freshmen during Helton's six seasons in the program, and this class should be no exception. The Trojans are flush with speedy juniors at their skill positions, but the new recruits will help out until it's their turn to shine in 2017.

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STANFORD

Top 25 Class: Yes

Best in class: Curtis Robinson, OLB, Irvine, Calif.

Best of the rest: K.J. Costello, QB, Coto de Caza, California; Clark Yarbrough, OT, Rumson, New Jersey; Kaden Smith, TE, Flower Mound, Texas; Scooter Harrington, TE, Riverside, Connecticut.; Andrew Pryts, S, Hermitage, Pennsylvania.; Treyjohn Butler, CB/S, Rancho Cucamonga, California; Obi Eboh, CB, Southlake, Texas; Richard McNitzky, LS, San Antonio.

Late addition: Jet Toner, P/K, Honolulu

One that got away: OLB Jeffrey McCulloch.

How they'll fit in: The five offensive linemen signed Wednesday have termed themselves the `Phat Five,' and several of them will have a chance to help remake the line in their first years. Outland Trophy winner Joshua Garnett was the last true freshman to start at Stanford. Cardinal coach David Shaw also stressed the importance of signing four defensive linemen. That was Stanford's most worrisome position after losing Harrison Phillips to a season-ending injury in the first game of the season and having to convert offensive players to fill in. Shaw also expects Costello to have an impact. Stanford will carry three scholarship quarterbacks next year, none of whom have ever started a game.

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UCLA

Top 25 Class: Yes

Best in class: Mique Juarez, LB, Torrance, California. Juarez, who was previously committed to the Trojans, could replace Myles Jack as a versatile outside linebacker capable of defending slot receivers and tight ends.

Best of the rest: Brandon Burton, DB, Gardena, California. Mora finally cracked the Serra-to-USC pipeline by landing Burton, a four-star prospect who could contribute on offense or defense. Making recruiting inroads into a high school that has produced Robert Woods, Marqise Lee and Adoree Jackson can help UCLA vault into college football's elite.

Late addition: Boss Tagaloa, DL, Concord, California. UCLA struggled to stop the run even before standout lineman Kenny Clark declared for the NFL draft, so there will be opportunities for the 6-foot-1 300-pound Tagaloa to help shore up the middle of the Bruins defense.

One that got away: Devin Asiasi, TE, Concord, California. New offensive coordinator Kennedy Polamalu plans to feature tight ends and fullbacks in a more physical scheme that could echo defending Pac-12 champion Stanford, but that wasn't enough to keep Tagaloa's high school teammate from signing with former Cardinal coach Jim Harbaugh at Michigan.

How they'll fit in: After losing four of the top five receivers from quarterback Josh Rosen's promising freshman season, UCLA will need immediate contributions from early enrollee Theo Howard and the other new receivers. Coach Jim Mora also identified tight end Jordan Wilson and the special teams battery of snapper Johnny Den Bleyker, punter Austin Kent and kicker JJ Molson among players who should see the field early.

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UTAH

Top 25 Class: No

Best in class: Garett Bolles, OL, Snow College, Lehi, Utah

Best of the rest: Troy Williams, QB, Santa Monica College, Carson, California

Late addition: David Luafatasaga, LB, Arizona Western, Honolulu, Hawaii

One that got away: Wayne Kirby, DT, Pocatello, Idaho

How they'll fit in: All eyes are on the offensive side of the ball with quarterback Travis Wilson and running back Devontae Booker gone. As junior college transfers, both Williams and Bolles are expected to contribute immediately. But coach Kyle Whittingham is all about defense and the linebacker corps got an infusion with Luafatasaga, Davir Hamilton, Snow College transfer Kurtis Taufa and Donovan Thompson.

Luafatasaga ''is exceptional at rushing the passer,'' Whittingham said. ''He can also play inside linebacker. His real strength is coming off the edge.''

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WASHINGTON

Top 25 Class: On the bubble

Best in class: Byron Murphy, DB, Scottsdale, Arizona. Rated a four-star cornerback, Murphy was the top-rated player in the state of Arizona and heavily recruited by Arizona State. He decided to leave the desert for the Pacific Northwest and a chance to contribute early in his career.

Best of the rest: Outside linebacker Camilo Eifler was ranked as high as No. 6 in the country at his position coming out of Bishop O'Dowd High School in the Bay Area. Right behind Eifler is RB Sean McGrew from Torrance, California. McGrew was the Gatorade state player of the year for California after rushing for 5,762 yards and 76 touchdowns in his prep career despite being undersized at 5-foot-7 and 173 pounds.

Late addition: Jordan Chin, WR, San Fernando, California. Chin was more of a track and field athlete in high school and ran the leadoff leg for the reigning state champions in the 4x100 meter relay. Washington is hoping that speed will translate to wide receiver.

One that got away: Washington made a late run at QB Jacob Eason, the top player in the state of Washington, but Eason stuck by his verbal commitment to Georgia.

How they'll fit in: The depth of Washington's class is in the secondary with Murphy, Kentrell Lowe, Isaiah Gilchrist and Taylor Rapp. They'll be joining an already talented secondary that returns three starters, but someone out of that group is likely to make contributions in 2016.

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WASHINGTON STATE

Top 25 Class: No.

Best in class: Receiver Isaiah Johnson of Belle Glade, Florida, was rated a four-star prospect by ESPN.com, and among the top 20 receivers in the state. The 6-foot-3, 211-pound product of Dwyer High School caught 44 passes for 912 yards and 12 touchdowns as a senior.

Best of the rest: Running back Romello Harris rushed for 1,943 yards and 25 touchdowns in just nine games as a senior, and is rated the No. 57 running back prospect in the nation. The 5-foot-10, 175-pounder totaled 7,311 rushing yards in his prep career at Tulare Union High in California.

Late addition: Linebacker Suli Tamaivena of Kirkland, Washington. His father, Levi, was a national rugby star in Fiji.

One that got away: Athlete Tayler Hawkins of Palm Springs, California, who chose San Diego State.

How they'll fit in: Washington State has plenty of returning veterans from a nine-win season that was the best in more than a decade. The new players should have time to learn the system and earn playing time without being rushed into the breach. With three quarterbacks on the roster, the Cougars apparently did not feel the need to sign a top passer this year to run the Air Raid down the road.