The Pac-12 is back next season, and its members were busy Wednesday building what they hope to be foundational recruiting classes on early signing day.
Boise State, San Diego State, Colorado State, Fresno State, and Utah State are leaving the Mountain West to join Oregon State, Washington State, Texas State, and Gonzaga (basketball only) in the new Pac-12 next season.
The Broncos currently have the top recruiting class heading into a new era for the conference, according to 247Sports. Boise State has already signed two four-star recruits and leads the league with 202.9 points and an average recruit rating of 86.5.
Texas State is No. 2 with 187.6 points and a 85.8 average recruit rating, followed by Washington State with 187.3 points and a 85.4 average rating. Colorado State is No. 4 with 184.9 points and an average recruit rating of 85.4 just days after introducing new head coach Jim Mora.
Here are players to watch in each class:
Boise State
WR Terrious Favors, Atlanta, Georgia – A four-star recruit, Favors racked up 1,176 receiving yards, 1,029 rushing yards, and 20 touchdowns as a senior at Carver High. He finished his career with 4,187 all-purpose yards and 34 touchdowns.
Four-star offensive tackle Kole Cronin and three-star quarterback Cash Herrera, who was committed to Indiana, are also players to watch in what is the Broncos’ highest-rated recruiting class in program history. Boise State’s class is currently ranked No. 51 nationally by 247Sports. Its highest-rated class in program history was No. 53 in 2011.
Washington State
RB Tre Garrison, New Orleans, Louisiana – The 6-foot, 195-pound three-star recruit rushed for more than 1,000 yards and 14 touchdowns through the first 10 games of his senior season at nationally ranked Edna Karr High. He is expected to enroll early.
Colorado State
QB Darnell Kelly, Fairburn, Georgia – The three-star recruit threw for 7,415 yards and 83 touchdowns and added 1,366 yards and 21 touchdowns on the ground during his career at Langston Hughes High.
Texas State
WR Lakeyleon Graves, Kilgore, Texas – Graves is the highest-rated recruit in Texas State history and the first four-star recruit the Bobcats have ever landed, according to the Austin American-Statesman. He’s also tied with Favors and Cronin as the highest-rated incoming freshman in the conference, according to 247Sports. As a junior, he caught 48 passes for 987 yards and 13 touchdowns and added 136 tackles as a linebacker. Wake Forest, Missouri, and Houston were among the many programs vying for his services.
Fresno State
QB Deagan Rose, Clovis, California – After de-committing from Oregon State, Rose chose to sign with his hometown Bulldogs. Clovis is less than 10 miles from Fresno. Rose chose the Bulldogs over offers from Arizona, Arizona State, Arkansas, Oregon, Iowa State, Pitt, Virginia Tech, Utah, and Boise State to name a few programs that coveted his services. Rose threw for 3,407 yards, 36 touchdowns, and just four interceptions as a senior, according to MaxPreps.
San Diego State
QB Brady Campbell, Bakersfield, California – The Aztecs flipped the in-state prospect from New Mexico at the last minute. The three-star recruit posted 3,586 passing yards and 38 touchdowns the past two seasons at Frontier High.
Utah State
TE Jude Nelson, Long Beach, California – The 6-4, 220-pound three-star recruit flipped his commitment from Colorado State to Utah State at the last minute. He’s the younger brother of UTEP quarterback Malachi Nelson, and he caught 61 passes for 824 yards and 12 touchdowns in just nine games as a senior at Milikan High, according to MaxPreps. He also had offers from Boise State, Fresno State, and UNLV.
Oregon State
LB Jeremiah Brown, San Jacinto, California – The Beavers have plenty of work to do after heading into signing day with just seven commits in new head coach Jamarcus Shepherd’s first class. But Brown is an explosive linebacker who could end up as a gem. He was committed to San Diego State but flipped to Oregon State in June.
