2006 Pac 10 Recruiting Rankings

Ranking the 2006 Pac 10 recruiting classes and trying to figure out what it all means to the college football world.

1. USC
The class is heavy on ... Running back and safety. No one plugs in new talent faster and better than USC, so the hope has to be that this year's class can fill some mile-wide holes left by a few all-timers. Not only did the Trojans get three safeties to make up for the loss of Darnell Bing, they got three of the best in America in Antwine Perez, Taylor Mays and C.J. Cable. Out goes Reggie Bush and in comes Emmanuel Moody and Kenny Ashley. Bye-bye LenDale White, hello Stafon Johnson and Stanley Havili.
The player who'll someday be a really big deal ... LB Allen Bradford
The player you might care about this year ... RB Stafon Johnson
What it all means to the real world of college football ... Not only did USC restock the shelves, it came up with a who's who of top high school talent led by RB Stafon Johnson and WR Vidal Hazelton. If Florida didn't come up with the best recruiting class, USC did with a class that'll ensure a spot among the elite of the elite programs for a long time to come.

2. UCLA
The class is heavy on ... Offensive linemen and defensive end. The Bruins went hard after pass rushers bringing in five fantastic prospects led by speedsters Jeff Miller and Reginald Stokes. They'll need a little time in the weight room, but they'll be great. Six offensive linemen are coming in  with JUCO transfer Nick Ekbatani sure to push for a starting tackle spot right away and Sean Sheller and Micah Kia the bedrocks for the future.
The player who'll someday be a really big deal ... WR Terrence Austin
The player you might care about this year ... DT Darius Savage
What it all means to the real world of college football ... If it wasn't for that team on the other side of town, people would be doing cartwheels over UCLA's class. It doesn't have anywhere near the superstar power of USC's, but no one's does outside of Florida. Head coach Karl Dorrell brought in lots and lots of extremely talented prospects, so if you believe recruiting is about numbers, this is a class to get really fired up about. However, there won't be a lot of immediate help. This will be a group that comes through big in 2008.

3. California
The class is heavy on ... Running back. This is a diverse class getting help just about everywhere, but the star power is in the backfield with Tracy Slocum, R.J. Garrett, and speedster James Montgomery providing a ton of talent behind Marshawn Lynch and Justin Forsett. QB Kevin Riley will have a few years to develop.
The player who'll someday be a really big deal ... QB Kevin Riley
The player you might care about this year ... OL Mike Gibson
What it all means to the real world of college football ... This is one of the best classes yet under Jeff Tedford replenishing the talent with even faster prospects. Getting JUCO talents Mark Gray and Mike Gibson will provide instant help for all the losses on the offensive line, while defensive tackles Derrick Hill and Mike Costanzo might be too good to keep out of the rotation. The addition of CB Darian Hagan put a cherry on top of this good group.

4. Arizona 
The class is heavy on ... The defensive line. JUCO transfer Gabe Long will be the team's new defensive star in the middle, while Louisville Holmes is a tackle-sized end who'll help the pass rush right off the bat. A.J. Simmons and Ricky Elmore add to the loaded group of incoming ends as part of the seven defensive linemen Mike Stoops brought in.
The player who'll someday be a really big deal ... WR Terrell Reese
The player you might care about this year ... DT Gabe Long
What it all means to the real world of college football ... Enough's enough. It's time for the Stoops defensive reputation to kick in with more production, and it should with a good nucleus returning and superstar JUCO transfers Long, Homes and safety Nate Ness providing a big boost. There's an eye on the future as well with CB Devin Ross and safety Glyndon Bolasky just two of the very good freshmen talents.

5. Arizona State
The class is heavy on ... Instant help from the JUCO ranks. Five defensive players were brought in to fill holes led by safety Troy Nolan and CB Justin Tryon to improve the secondary, but the offense wasn't ignored with WR Angelo Richardson and pounding RB Ryan Torian to help out this year.
The player who'll someday be a really big deal ... RB Rodney Glass
The player you might care about this year ... WR Angelo Richardson
What it all means to the real world of college football ... You know the ASU offense is going to score without much of a problem, so the question is whether or not the D can slow someone down. It's always asking for way too much for a recruiting class to make a team better right away, but this group has to make an immediate impact if ASU is going to get over the hump and be a true Pac 10 player. ASU's D will be better with the secondary getting a big boost from Nolan and Tryon and 340-pound Martin Tevaseu coming in to clog up the middle.

6. Stanford
The class is heavy on ... Receivers. If Walt Harris is going to throw the ball like he wants to, he needs receivers. This isn't a stellar haul of talent, but it's a very tall group with best-of-the-bunch Richard Sherman coming in at 6-3 and the other three receivers averaging over 6-2. Quarterback Alex Loukas is an intriguing prospect who might be in the starting mix by 2007.
The player who'll someday be a really big deal ... DE Levirt Griffin
The player you might care about this year ... DT Sione Fua
What it all means to the real world of college football ... Harris got several skill players, but the teeth of his first big recruiting class is on defense with tackle Sione Fua, end Levirt Griffin, linebacker Nick Macaluso and safety Marcus Reese the corps of the 2008 D. Considering the problems Stanford had last year stopping anyone, the new stars might see action sooner than expected.

7. Washington
The class is heavy on ... The lines. Most will focus on the skill players Ty Willingham brought in, but the teeth of the class comes from the lines with 310--pound JUCO transfer Brandon Jefferson penciled into a starting spot on the offensive side, and defensive tackles De'Shon Matthews and Cameron Elisara the rocks for the near future. In all, six offensive linemen were brought in along with three defensive tackles.
The player who'll someday be a really big deal ...DT Cameron Elisara
The player you might care about this year ... QB Jake Locker
What it all means to the real world of college football ... This isn't necessarily the class that'll put Washington in the elite of the elite again, but it's a very good start. Yes, the lines got the most overall help, but the offense needs an immediate boost after the last two years meaning star-of-the-class freshman QB Jake Locker might get every shot to take over the starting job. JUCO transfer Marcel Reese has NFL measureables at 6-3, 235 pounds with sub-4.4 speed; he could quickly become the team's star receiver.

8. Oregon State
The class is heavy on ... Tight ends and JUCO defensive linemen. Five tight ends were brought into the mix of various shapes and sizes, but the best of the bunch should be 6-4, 215-pound John Reese. 6-6, 280-pound Geoff Garner might be better growing into a tackle. Head coach Mike Riley brought in three JUCO defensive ends and one tackle. Dorian Smith will make the most immediate impact, but speedy Danzel Issac could become the best of the pass rushers.
The player who'll someday be a really big deal ... LB Gabe Miller
The player you might care about this year ... DE Dorian Smith
What it all means to the real world of college football ... Defense, defense, defense. The Pac 10 doesn't exactly have a who's who of top defenses, but Oregon State's should be appreciably better with all the new help from the JUCO ranks along with solid high school prospects Alex Linnenkohl and Mitchel Hunt at tackle and linebackers Gabe Miller and Keaton Kristick.

9. Washington State
The class is heavy on ... Backs and receivers. Five running backs, five receivers and three tight ends were brought in with several sure to be asked to play right away. JUCO transfers J.T. Diederichs and lightning fast Derrell Hutsona will combine at running back, while Charles Dillon should grow into a nice number two receiver alongside Jason Hill.
The player who'll someday be a really big deal ... WR Anthony Houston
The player you might care about this year ... WR Charles Dillon
What it all means to the real world of college football ... This class should probably ranked a lot higher. Defensive end Micah Hannam shouldn't be overlooked and 223-pound Andy Mattingly projecting into a killer linebacker, but this is a class full of flash and dash with all the offensive players and speedy defensive backs. It's asking a lot to replace a back like Jerome Harrison, but the Cougars will give it a try with three fantastic prospects to give it a shot.

10. Oregon
The class is heavy on ... Quarterbacks. A lot of attention was paid to the offensive line, but this class will be judged five years from now on the quarterbacks. While Dennis Dixon and Brady Leaf will be the main men this year, there will be a mega-battle over the next few years for the pecking order with 6-7 Justin Roper, speedy Nathan Costa, and big, strong Cody Kempt coming in.
The player who'll someday be a really big deal ... QB Justin Roper
The player you might care about this year ... S Matthew Harper
What it all means to the real world of college football ... Oregon's class might not jump off the charts, but it's a good one for the future of the Oregon offense and the present for the defense with five talented JUCO transfers coming in. While he's not Haloti Ngata, Jeremy Gibbs is a good tackle who should pay immediate dividends in the middle of the defense. Dexter Manley and Micah Howeth are talented ends, but the real star is burner Matthew Harper, who needs to take over a starting safety spot from day one.