Identifying the 50 best recruits in the Pac-12 over the past decade
When you talk about recruiting in the world of college football, the SEC obviously comes to mind first. Over the years, they’ve stacked the top talent in the world, year after year, and produced some of the best NFL players in the history of the sport.
The Pac-12 isn’t too far behind, though. When going through the top recruits that each team has signed in their history, some of the most notable names in the game have come from Pac-12 schools, whether it be John Elway, Dan Fouts, Aaron Rodgers, Keenan Allen, Robert Woods, Shaq Thompson or Kayvon Thibodeaux.
We wanted to dive into the archives and see who the greatest recruits in Pac-12 history were. At the start of this research project, we initially combed through the top recruits that every team had signed and tried to put them in order. Unfortunately, it quickly became clear that the USC Trojans were going to break the game. While most schools had a handful or a dozen of five-star players to account for in the history of their programs, the Trojans had over 60 signed to play in LA over their history.
If we did the top 50 recruits of all time in the Pac-12, it would end up being a list of 45 USC players, and maybe five other players from Oregon, UCLA or Cal. Nobody wants to read that list, save for our friends at Trojans Wire.
So to make it a bit more appealing, we restricted the window to the past decade and change, looking to 2010 for our start date. Parsing the top-rated players since then, we get a nice list of guys who have come through the Conference of Champions, painting a clear picture of which schools have best dominated the recruiting space out west in the latest era of college football.
Here are the top 50 Pac-12 recruits of the past decade.
1 — 5-star DL Korey Foreman | USC Trojans
Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
247Sports Composite Rating: 0.9992
Recruiting Class: 2021
National Ranking: 2
Career Stats: 20 Games | 24 tackles, 4.5 TFL, 2.5 sacks, 1 INT
Where is He Now? Korey Foreman, the highest-rated player to ever sign with a Pac-12 team, is still playing for the Trojans and getting set for his third season in 2023.
2 — 5-star edge Jaelan Phillips | UCLA Bruins
Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
247Sports Composite Rating: 0.9988
Recruiting Class: 2017
National Ranking: 1
Career Stats: 20 Games | 86 tackles, 23.5 TFL, 12.5 sacks, 1 INT
Where is He Now? After two seasons with UCLA, Phillips transferred to the Miami Hurricanes where he played for one season before being drafted with the No. 18 pick in 2021 by the Miami Dolphins.
T3 — 5-star edge Kayvon Thibodeaux | Oregon Ducks
AP Photo/Andy Nelson, File
247Sports Composite Rating: 0.9987
Recruiting Class: 2019
National Ranking: 2
Career Stats: 30 Games | 126 tackles, 35.5 TFL, 19.0 sacks
Where is He Now? Kayvon Thibodeaux had a great career at Oregon where he was a multiyear all-conference player and was the No. 5 pick in the 2022 NFL draft, selected by the New York Giants.
T3 — 5-star athlete Robert Woods | USC Trojans
Kirby Lee/Image of Sport-USA TODAY Sports
247Sports Composite Rating: 0.9987
Recruiting Class: 2010
National Ranking: 2
Career Stats: 38 Games | 252 catches, 2,930 yards, 32 TD
Where is He Now? Robert Woods was drafted by the Buffalo Bills in the second round in 2013, and he won a Super Bowl with the Los Angeles Rams in 2021.
5 — 5-star CB Iman Marshall | USC Trojans
Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
247Sports Composite Rating: 0.9985
Recruiting Class: 2015
National Ranking: 4
Career Stats: 48 Games | 218 tackles, 9.5 TFL, 6 INT
Where is He Now? After four seasons at USC, Marshall was drafted by the Baltimore Ravens in the fourth round of the 2019 NFL draft.
6 — 5-star WR Zachariah Branch | USC Trojans
Kiyoshi Mio-USA TODAY Sports
247Sports Composite Rating: 0.9980
Recruiting Class: 2023
National Ranking: 4
Career Stats: N/A
Where is He Now? Branch will start his college career with the USC Trojans in 2023.
T7 — 5-star QB Dante Moore | UCLA Bruins
247Sports Composite Rating: 0.9977
Recruiting Class: 2023
National Ranking: 5
Career Stats: N/A
Where is He Now? Moore will start his college career with the UCLA Bruins in 2023.
T7 — 5-star LB Shaq Thompson | Washington Huskies
Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports
247Sports Composite Rating: 0.9977
Recruiting Class: 2012
National Ranking: 4
Career Stats: 39 Games | 232 tackles, 15.0 TFL, 3.5 sacks, 5 INT
Where is He Now? Shaq Thompson was drafted by the Carolina Panthers with the No. 25 pick in 2015.
9 — 5-star OT Foster Sarell | Stanford Cardinal
Sergio Estrada-USA TODAY Sports
247Sports Composite Rating: 0.9968
Recruiting Class: 2017
National Ranking: 5
Where is He Now? After four years at Stanford, Sarell went undrafted in the NFL but signed with the Baltimore Ravens practice squad. He is a member of the Los Angeles Chargers.
10 — 5-star LB Justin Flowe | Oregon Ducks
Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports
247Sports Composite Rating: 0.9967
Recruiting Class: 2020
National Ranking: 6
Career Stats: 12 Games | 50 tackles, 3.5 TFL
Where is He Now? After three seasons — and only 12 games — with the Ducks, Flowe transferred to the Arizona Wildcats this offseason.
11 — 5-star S Su'a Cravens | USC Trojans
Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
247Sports Composite Rating: 0.9962
Recruiting Class: 2013
National Ranking: 5
Career Stats: 40 Games | 207 tackles, 34.5 TFL, 10.5 sacks, 9 INT
Where is He Now? Drafted in the second round by the Washington Redskins in 2016, Cravens had his NFL career end after three seasons due to injuries.
12 — 5-star CB Adoree' Jackson | USC Trojans
Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
247Sports Composite Rating: 0.9960
Recruiting Class: 2014
National Ranking: 7
Career Stats: 39 Games | 139 tackles, 6.0 TFL, 6 INT
Where is He Now? Adoree Jackson was drafted by the Tennessee Titans with the 18th pick in 2017 and plays for the New York Giants.
13 — 5-star DT Eddie Vanderdoes | UCLA Bruins
Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
247Sports Composite Rating: 0.9959
Recruiting Class: 2013
National Ranking: 6
Career Stats: 38 Games | 112 tackles, 13.5 TFL, 4.0 sacks
Where is He Now? Vanderdoes was drafted by the Oakland Raiders in the third round of the 2017 NFL draft. He last played for the San Francisco 49ers in 2021.
14 — 5-star WR George Farmer | USC Trojans
Matt Cashore-USA TODAY Sports
247Sports Composite Rating: 0.9953
Recruiting Class: 2011
National Ranking: 8
Career Stats: 23 Games | 30 catches, 363 yards, 4 TD
Where is He Now? Farmer went undrafted in 2015 but signed with the Dallas Cowboys as an undrafted free agent. He was released by the Seattle Seahawks in 2016 and has not played in the NFL since.
T15 — 5-star OT Walker Little | Stanford Cardinal
Jaime Valdez-USA TODAY Sports
247Sports Composite Rating: 0.9952
Recruiting Class: 2017
National Ranking: 9
Where is He Now? Little was drafted by the Jacksonville Jaguars with the 45th pick in 2021, where he is still on the roster.
T15 — 5-star DT Kenny Bigelow Jr. | USC Trojans
Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
247Sports Composite Rating: 0.9952
Recruiting Class: 2013
National Ranking: 9
Career Stats: 16 Games | 32 tackles, 8 TFL, 4 sacks
Where is He Now? After two seasons at USC, Bigelow transferred to West Virginia. He is a member of the New Orleans Saints.
T15 — 5-star CB Domani Jackson | USC Trojans
AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez
247Sports Composite Rating: 0.9952
Recruiting Class: 2022
National Ranking: 5
Career Stats: 7 Games | 2 tackles
Where is He Now? Jackson has played a single season at USC, where he saw action in just seven games.
18 — 5-star QB Malachi Nelson | USC Trojans
Kiyoshi Mio-USA TODAY Sports
247Sports Composite Rating: 0.9951
Recruiting Class: 2023
National Ranking: 12
Career Stats: N/A
Where is He Now? Nelson will start his college career with the USC Trojans in 2023.
19 — 5-star WR Keenan Allen | California Golden Bears
Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports
247Sports Composite Rating: 0.9949
Recruiting Class: 2010
National Ranking: 10
Career Stats: 33 Games | 205 catches, 2,570 yards, 17 TD
Where is He Now? Allen was drafted by the San Diego Chargers in the third round of the 2013 NFL draft, and he has become one of the best wide receivers in the league since.
T20 — 5-star WR Kyle Prater | USC Trojans
Kirby Lee/Image of Sport-USA TODAY Sports
247Sports Composite Rating: 0.9948
Recruiting Class: 2010
National Ranking: 11
Career Stats: 40 Games | 71 catches, 654 yards, 2 TD
Where is He Now? Kyle Prater transferred from USC to Northwestern after one season. He was part of the New Orleans Saints practice squad.
T20 — 5-star WR Amon-Ra St. Brown | USC Trojans
Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
247Sports Composite Rating: 0.9948
Recruiting Class: 2018
National Ranking: 10
Career Stats: 30 Games | 178 catches, 2,270 yards, 16 TD
Where is He Now? After getting drafted by the Detroit Lions in the fourth round of the 2021 NFL draft, St. Brown has quickly become one of the most electric young WRs in the league.
22 — 5-star QB Max Browne | USC Trojans
Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
247Sports Composite Rating: 0.9942
Recruiting Class: 2013
National Ranking: 11
Career Stats: 20 Games | 165-for-247, 1,647 yards, 7 TD, 4 INT
Where is He Now? Browne transferred to Pittsburgh after three seasons and only 14 games with USC.
23 — 5-star OT Kyle Murphy | Stanford Cardinal
Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
247Sports Composite Rating: 0.9937
Recruiting Class: 2012
National Ranking: 11
Where is He Now? Murphy was drafted by the Green Bay Packers in the sixth round of the 2016 NFL draft, and he bounced around the league. He is on the roster for the DC Defenders, an XFL team.
T24 — 5-star LB Noah Sewell | Oregon Ducks
Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports
247Sports Composite Rating: 0.9935
Recruiting Class: 2020
National Ranking: 13
Career Stats: 33 Games | 218 tackles, 20.5 TFL, 7.5 sacks, 2 INT
Where is He Now? Noah Sewell was drafted by the Chicago Bears in the fifth round of the 2023 NFL draft.
T24 — 5-star QB Sam Huard | Washington Huskies
Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports
247Sports Composite Rating: 0.9935
Recruiting Class: 2021
National Ranking: 12
Career Stats: 5 Games | 24-for-44, 265 yards, 1 TD, 4 INT
Where is He Now? Huard is a backup for Michael Penix Jr. on the Washington Huskies roster.
26 — 5-star QB Josh Rosen | UCLA Bruins
Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
247Sports Composite Rating: 0.9932
Recruiting Class: 2015
National Ranking: 11
Career Stats: 30 Games | 712-for-1,170, 9,340 yards, 59 TD, 26 INT
Where is He Now? Rosen was drafted by the Arizona Cardinals with the No. 10 pick in 2018, but his fortunes have gone downhill since. Rosen bounced around the league, and most recently spent time on the Vikings practice squad in 2022.
T27 — 5-star RB De'Anthony Thomas | Oregon Ducks
Scott Olmos-USA TODAY Sports
247Sports Composite Rating: 0.9926
Recruiting Class: 2011
National Ranking: 5
Career Stats: 37 Games | 243 rushes, 1,890 yards, 15 TD
Where is He Now? After electrifying the Oregon fan base in college, Thomas was selected by the Kansas City Chiefs in the fourth round in 2014. He played for KC until 2019, but has struggled to find a place in the NFL since a year-long stint with the Baltimore Ravens in 2020.
T27 — 5-star LB Palaie Gaoteote IV | USC Trojans
Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
247Sports Composite Rating: 0.9926
Recruiting Class: 2018
National Ranking: 15
Career Stats: 35 Games | 123 tackles, 9.0 TFL, 2.5 sacks
Where is He Now? Gaoteote played three seasons at USC before transferring to Ohio State, where he is still on the roster.
29 — 5-star LB Mique Juarez | UCLA Bruins
Justin Ford-USA TODAY Sports
247Sports Composite Rating: 0.9924
Recruiting Class: 2016
National Ranking: 11
Career Stats: 3 Games | 2 tackles
Where is He Now? Juarez had his career cut short by concussions suffered at UCLA that forced him to step away from the game.
30 — 5-star CB Cormani McClain | Colorado Buffaloes
247Sports Composite Rating: 0.9921
Recruiting Class: 2023
National Ranking: 13
Career Stats: N/A
Where is He Now? Cormani McClain will play his first collegiate season this year at Colorado.
31 — 5-star QB JT Daniels | USC Trojans
Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
247Sports Composite Rating: 0.9919
Recruiting Class: 2018
National Ranking: 6
Career Stats: 31 Games | 589-for-937, 6,947 yards, 45 TD, 25 INT
Where is He Now? Daniels might be one of the only QBs in college history to start games for four teams. After two seasons at USC, Daniels transferred to Georgia. He then transferred to West Virginia for a single year after spending both 2020 and 2021 in Athens. He is in line to start for the Rice Owls in 2023, his final year of eligibility.
T32 — 5-star OT Josh Conerly Jr. | Oregon Ducks
247Sports Composite Rating: 0.9918
Recruiting Class: 2022
National Ranking: 8
Where is He Now? After playing in a specialty role as a true freshman, Conerly is in line to be the starting LT for the Ducks this year.
T32 — 5-star QB Davis Mills | Stanford Cardinal
Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
247Sports Composite Rating: 0.9918
Recruiting Class: 2017
National Ranking: 15
Career Stats: 14 Games | 287-for-438, 3,468 yards, 18 TD, 8 INT
Where is He Now? After three seasons at Stanford, Mills was drafted by the Houston Texans in the third round of the 2021 NFL draft, where he has played as a solid starting QB over the past couple of years.
34 — 5-star athlete Arik Armstead | Oregon Ducks
Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports
247Sports Composite Rating: 0.9917
Recruiting Class: 2012
National Ranking: 4
Career Stats: 20 Games | 87 tackles, 10.5 TFL, 4.0 sacks
Where is He Now? Armstead didn’t have a long career at Oregon, but he was taken with the No. 17 pick by the San Francisco 49ers in 2015. He has established himself as an elite DL.
35 — 5-star DE Owamagbe Odighizuwa | UCLA Bruins
Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
247Sports Composite Rating: 0.9911
Recruiting Class: 2010
National Ranking: 17
Career Stats: 37 Games | 134 tackles, 24.5 TFL, 12.5 sacks
Where is He Now? Odighizuwa had a short-lived NFL career after getting drafted by the New York Giants in the third round in 2015. He spent one season with the Giants, and joined the Buffalo Bills practice squad for a year in 2018 before being released.
T36 — 5-star DE Canton Kaumatule | Oregon Ducks
Scott Olmos-USA TODAY Sports
247Sports Composite Rating: 0.9909
Recruiting Class: 2015
National Ranking: 17
Career Stats: 3 Games | 5 tackles
Where is He Now? Kaumatule is another player who tragically had his career drastically altered by head injuries. A number of concussions forced him to step away from the game.
T36 — 5-star DE Keisean Lucier-South | UCLA Bruins
Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
247Sports Composite Rating: 0.9909
Recruiting Class: 2015
National Ranking: 16
Career Stats: 37 Games | 122 tackles, 23.0 TFL, 6.5 sacks. 1 INT
Where is He Now? After a long career at UCLA, Lucier-South most recently played with the Edmonton Elks in the Canadian Football League.
T38 — 5-star RB Thomas Tyner | Oregon Ducks
Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
247Sports Composite Rating: 0.9907
Recruiting Class: 2013
National Ranking: 20
Career Stats: 33 Games | 292 rushes, 1,581 yards, 17 TD
Where is He Now? After two great years with the Ducks, Tyner ended up transferring to Oregon State where he played for one season.
T38 — 5-star TE Duce Robinson | USC Trojans
247Sports Composite Rating: 0.9907
Recruiting Class: 2023
National Ranking: 17
Career Stats: N/A
Where is He Now? Duce Robinson will play his first collegiate season in 2023.
40 — 5-star WR Demetris Robertson | California Golden Bears
Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports
247Sports Composite Rating: 0.9905
Recruiting Class: 2016
National Ranking: 13
Career Stats: 37 Games | 99 catches, 1,280 yards, 10 TD
Where is He Now? After two years at California, Robertson transferred to Georgia for three seasons.
41 — 5-star WR Juju Smith-Schuster | USC Trojans
Robert Hanashiro-USA TODAY Sports
247Sports Composite Rating: 0.9904
Recruiting Class: 2014
National Ranking: 21
Career Stats: 40 Games | 213 catches, 3,092 yards, 25 TD
Where is He Now? Smith-Schuster was drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the second round in 2017 after a great career at USC, and he recently picked up a Super Bowl ring with the Kansas City Chiefs.
42 — 5-star DT Rasheem Green | USC Trojans
Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
247Sports Composite Rating: 0.9899
Recruiting Class: 2015
National Ranking: 15
Career Stats: 32 Games | 115 tackles, 20 TFL, 16.5 sacks
Where is He Now? Green was drafted in the third round of the 2018 NFL draft by the Seattle Seahawks. He has since spent one year with the Houston Texans, and signed with the Chicago Bears this past offseason.
43 — 5-star WR Jurrion Dickey | Oregon Ducks
247Sports Composite Rating: 0.890
Recruiting Class: 2023
National Ranking: 18
Career Stats: N/A
Where is He Now? Dickey will play his first collegiate season with the Ducks in 2023.
44 — 5-star RB Stephen Carr | USC Trojans
Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
247Sports Composite Rating: 0.9888
Recruiting Class: 2017
National Ranking: 20
Career Stats: 43 Games | 419 rushes, 1,919 yards, 18 TD
Where is He Now? Carr played four seasons at USC and transferred to Indiana for a single season in 2021.
45 — 5-star DE Solomon Thomas | Stanford Cardinal
Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
247Sports Composite Rating: 0.9885
Recruiting Class: 2014
National Ranking: 26
Career Stats: 26 Games | 98 tackles, 24.5 TFL, 12.0 sacks
Where is He Now? Thomas went to the San Francisco 49ers with the third pick in the 2017 NFL draft. He signed with the New York Jets last season.
46 — 5-star DE Oluwole Betiku Jr. | USC Trojans
Patrick Gorski-USA TODAY Sports
247Sports Composite Rating: 0.9884
Recruiting Class: 2016
National Ranking: 9
Career Stats: 12 Games | 39 tackles, 13.5 TFL, 9.0 sacks
Where is He Now? Betiku transferred to Illinois after a single season at USC. He most recently was a member of the New York Giants.
T47 — 5-star DT Ellis McCarthy | UCLA Bruins
Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
247Sports Composite Rating: 0.9881
Recruiting Class: 2012
National Ranking: 24
Career Stats: 22 Games | 58 tackles, 6.5 TFL, 6.0 sacks
Where is He Now? After two seasons at UCLA, McCarthy went undrafted in 2015, but played on the Miami Dolphins practice squad for a year.
T47 — 5-star OG Chuma Edoga | USC Trojans
Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
247Sports Composite Rating: 0.9880
Recruiting Class: 2015
National Ranking: 26
Where is He Now? Edoga was drafted by the New York Jets in the third round of the 2019 NFL draft. He plays for the Dallas Cowboys.
49 — 5-star CB Darnay Holmes | UCLA Bruins
Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports
247Sports Composite Rating: 0.9879
Recruiting Class: 2017
National Ranking: 22
Career Stats: 35 Games | 120 tackles, 3.0 TFL, 8 INT
Where is He Now? Darnay Holmes was drafted by the New York Giants in the fourth round in 2020, and he is remains on the roster in NY.
50 — 5-star TE Xavier Grimble | USC Trojans
Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
247Sports Composite Rating: 0.9878
Recruiting Class: 2010
National Ranking: 18
Career Stats: 35 Games | 69 catches, 731 yards, 11 TD
Where is He Now? Grimble did not get drafted coming out of USC, but he has bounced around the NFL, playing for the Giants, 49ers, Patriots and Steelers among others.
