The News Tribune’s 2023 Western 100: The top high school football recruits in the West

The top 100 high school football recruits in the 2023 class from Alaska (0), Arizona (11), British Columbia (0), California (51), Colorado (4), Hawaii (4), Idaho (2), Montana (1), Nevada (8), New Mexico (0), Oregon (2), Utah (5), Washington (11) and Wyoming (1) as selected by The News Tribune after polling various media outlets.

The past five Western 100 classes: 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018

Los Alamitos (Calif.) quarterback Malachi Nelson (7).
Los Alamitos (Calif.) quarterback Malachi Nelson (7).

QUARTERBACKS (10)

Aidan Chiles, 6-4/195, Downey, Calif. (Downey)

Enrolled at: Oregon State

Pierce Clarkson, 5-11/185, Bellflower, Calif. (St. John Bosco)

Enrolled at: Louisville

Brayden Dorman, 6-4/205, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Vista Ridge)

Signed to: Arizona

Luke Duncan, 6-6/185, Orinda, Calif. (Miramonte)

Signed to: UCLA

Nico Iamaleava, 6-6/200, Downey, Calif. (Warren)

Enrolled at: Tennessee

Myles Jackson, 6-2/190, Long Beach, Calif. (Millikan)

Signed to: Stanford

Gabarri Johnson, 6-0/200, Tacoma, Wash. (Lincoln)

Signed to: Missouri

Sam Leavitt, 6-2/195, West Linn, Ore. (West Linn)

Signed to: Michigan State

Malachi Nelson, 6-3/180, Los Alamitos, Calif. (Los Alamitos)

Signed to: USC

Jaden Rashada, 6-4/175, Pittsburg, Calif. (Pittsburg)

Considering: Multiple FBS offers

Scouting report: The West has a history of consistently producing elite passers. Since the College Football Playoff began following the 2014 season, seven quarterbacks who once starred at high school football programs in California, Hawaii and Nevada have led college programs to at least the semifinals. Three — Oregon’s Marcus Mariota (who played high school football at St. Louis in Hawaii), and Alabama’s Tua Tagovailoa (St. Louis) and Bryce Young (Mater Dei in California) — took their teams to title games. Tagovailoa made back-to-back championship appearances during his career, and won a title with the Crimson Tide following the 2017 season. Mariota (2014) and Young (2021) have both won the Heisman Trophy in the past decade, while Tagovailoa and Ohio State’s C.J. Stroud (Rancho Cucamonga in California) were both top-three finishers in voting during their careers. Eight quarterbacks who played high school football in the West have been first-round NFL Draft picks in the past decade. Eleven passers from the region were the primary starters for NFL teams this season. There’s never a shortage of talent at quarterback in the West. So, who’s next? This year’s class is headlined by a pair of five-star recruits who play for high schools located less than 15 miles apart in the greater Los Angeles area. Iamaleava is considered the top quarterback in the West in this class — and No. 2 overall player nationally behind five-star passer Arch Manning, the nephew of Super Bowl-winning quarterbacks Peyton and Eli Manning — by both 247Sports and Rivals, the top player in California by both sites, and is the top-rated recruit in Tennessee’s signing class. Nelson is considered the top overall recruit in the nation in 2023 by ESPN, and was the state’s Gatorade Player of the Year as a senior, finishing his career with 7,988 passing yards and 105 TDs. … Rashada (No. 6) and Chiles (No. 7) are also considered top-10 quarterbacks nationally by 247Sports. Rashada is the highest-ranked quarterback nationally not currently committed after he was granted release from his National Letter of Intent from Florida after signing with the Gators in December. Chiles is the top-rated recruit in Oregon State’s class, and threw for 3,350 yards and 38 TDs last fall, while also leading Downey with 940 rushing yards and nine TDs. … Clarkson paced St. John Bosco to a CIF Open Division state championship last fall, and Leavitt guided West Linn to a 6A state title. … Johnson and Leavitt, the top-ranked quarterbacks in Washington and Oregon in this class, were also both members of The News Tribune’s 2023 class of Northwest Nuggets. Johnson finished his career with 8,903 total yards and 111 total TDs, while Leavitt piled up 8,080 total yards and 90 TDs. Leavitt was also Oregon’s Gatorade Player of the Year and MaxPreps state player of the year. … The top-ranked quarterbacks in each state on the West Coast (per 247Sports Composite rankings) in Washington, Oregon and California are headed East to play college football. Iamaleava (Tennessee) and Johnson (Missouri) are heading to the SEC, and Leavitt (Michigan State) to the Big Ten. … Dorman, the top-ranked recruit in Arizona’s signing class, led Colorado in passing this season, per MaxPreps, with 3,783 yards and 49 TDs and is considered the top player in Colorado in this class by ESPN. … Iamaleava, Nelson and Rashada are all on the Top247, Rivals250 and ESPN300 nationally recruiting lists. … Iamaleava, Nelson, Rashada and Clarkson were all Elite 11 finalists. … Chiles and Clarkson were named to the All-American Bowl roster, and Nelson and Rashada to the Under Armour All-America Game roster. Iamaleava was named the offensive MVP at the Polynesian Bowl.

Lincoln running back Roderick Robinson (2) during a game against Cathedral Catholic on Friday, Sept. 30, 2022 at Mira Mesa High School in San Diego, Calif.
Lincoln running back Roderick Robinson (2) during a game against Cathedral Catholic on Friday, Sept. 30, 2022 at Mira Mesa High School in San Diego, Calif.

RUNNING BACKS (3)

Damian Henderson, 6-1/185, Los Alamitos, Calif. (Los Alamitos)

Signed to: Colorado State

Jayden Limar, 5-11/190, Lake Stevens, Wash. (Lake Stevens)

Enrolled at: Oregon

Roderick Robinson II, 6-1/230, San Diego, Calif. (Lincoln)

Enrolled at: Georgia

Scouting report: The region tends to favor passing offenses, so this group is typically smaller, but always features elite talent at the top. Robinson, the consensus top running back in the West in this class, is considered a top-20 rusher nationally by 247Sports, Rivals and ESPN. He wrapped his record-setting career in December with a 218 yards and four rushing TDs to lift Lincoln to a CIF Division I-AA state title. And that was only his third-highest rushing performance of the season. In back-to-back weeks in September, Robinson rushed for 307 yards and three TDs against St. Bonaventure, then eight days later unleashed a 476-yard, eight-TD performance against eventual CIF Division 2-AA state champion Mater Dei Catholic. California’s MaxPreps state player of the year piled up 2,378 yards and 37 rushing TDs his final season before joining the two-time defending FBS national champions earlier this month. Robinson is on the Top247 (No. 241 overall recruit nationally), Rivals250 (No. 57) and ESPN300 (No. 284) lists. … Limar, the top-ranked recruit in Washington in this class by Rivals, is also considered a top-25 running back nationally by 247Sports, Rivals and ESPN. He was Washington’s Gatorade Player of the Year this fall after piling up 2,018 rushing yards and 36 TDs and pacing Lake Stevens to a 4A state championship — the first in program history. He was also named the state player of the year by both TNT and SBLive Washington. Limar was also part of this year’s Northwest Nuggets class.

Menlo-Atherton wide receiver Jurrion Dickey (13) during a game against Bellarmine College Prep on Saturday, Aug. 27, 2022 at Menlo-Atherton High School in Atherton, Calif.
Menlo-Atherton wide receiver Jurrion Dickey (13) during a game against Bellarmine College Prep on Saturday, Aug. 27, 2022 at Menlo-Atherton High School in Atherton, Calif.

WIDE RECEIVERS (16)

Tiger Bachmeier, 6-1/180, Murrieta, Calif. (Murrieta Valley)

Signed to: Stanford

Zachariah Branch, 5-10/170, Las Vegas, Nev. (Bishop Gorman)

Signed to: USC

Jurrion Dickey, 6-3/210, Atherton, Calif. (Menlo-Atherton)

Signed to: Oregon

Rico Flores, 6-1/190, Folsom, Calif. (Folsom)

Enrolled at: Notre Dame

Grant Gray, 6-3/180, Norco, Calif. (Norco)

Signed to: UCLA

Nyziah Hunter, 6-2/190, Salinas, Calif. (Salinas)

Signed to: California

Trech Kekahuna, 5-11/180, Las Vegas, Nev. (Bishop Gorman)

Signed to: Wisconsin

Ja’Kobi Lane, 6-4/175, Mesa, Ariz. (Red Mountain)

Committed to: USC

Makai Lemon, 6-0/180, Los Alamitos, Calif. (Los Alamitos)

Signed to: USC

Taeshaun Lyons, 6-2/165, Hayward, Calif. (Tennyson)

Committed to: Washington

Mikey Matthews, 5-10/185, Mission Viejo, Calif. (Mission Viejo)

Enrolled at: Utah

Jahlil McClain, 5-10/180, Bellflower, Calif. (St. John Bosco)

Signed to: Louisville

Jeremiah McClure, 6-2/195, Chula Vista, Calif. (Mater Dei Catholic)

Signed to: UCLA

DeAndre Moore Jr., 6-0/185, Bellflower, Calif. (St. John Bosco)

Enrolled at: Texas

Tre Spivey, 6-4/185, Chandler, Ariz. (Hamilton)

Signed to: Kansas State

Rashid Williams, 6-2/185, Pittsburg, Calif. (Pittsburg)

Signed to: Washington

Scouting report: The top recruit in USC’s high school signing class and top recruit in Oregon’s signing class highlight this group. Branch is considered the top receiver in the nation in this class by 247Sports and ESPN, and No. 2 by Rivals, and is the consensus top receiver in the West in 2023. The five-star prospect also headlines a Trojans class that enters National Signing Day ranked second in the Pac-12 and 15th nationally, also includes five-star passer Malachi Nelson, and nine more four-star high school recruits, including three more from California and two from Arizona. Also the consensus top player in Nevada in this class, the speedy receiver had 45 catches for 753 yards and 11 TDs last fall as part of Bishop Gorman’s 5A state championship run, and finished his career with more than 2,300 receiving yards and 33 TDs. Dickey headlines Oregon’s conference-leading class, which is also ranked 10th nationally, and includes 17 more four-star recruits, including nine from the West — two from California, and one each from Arizona, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Nevada and Washington. Dickey posted 2,537 receiving yards and 37 TDs in his high school career. Lemon, the second-ranked receiver in USC’s high school class behind Branch, tallied 1,044 receiving yards and 12 TDs last fall. Branch (No. 1), Dickey (No. 2) and Lemon (No. 3) are all considered top-10 receivers nationally by 247Sports. … Hunter is Cal’s top recruit in this class and had 912 receiving yards and 14 TDs last season. … Branch, Dickey, Lemon and Moore are all listed on the Top247, Rivals250 and ESPN300. … Dickey, Moore and Flores were All-American Bowl selections, and Branch, Lemon and Matthews were Under Armour All-America Game picks. Branch was the game’s MVP.

Pinnacle Pioneers wide receiver Duce Robinson (2) catches the ball as Highland Hawks free safeties Cole Crandall (7) and Joseph Allen (2) put him under pressure during the 6A state championship game at Sun Devil Stadium in Tempe, Ariz. on Saturday, Dec. 10, 2022.
Pinnacle Pioneers wide receiver Duce Robinson (2) catches the ball as Highland Hawks free safeties Cole Crandall (7) and Joseph Allen (2) put him under pressure during the 6A state championship game at Sun Devil Stadium in Tempe, Ariz. on Saturday, Dec. 10, 2022.

TIGHT ENDS (6)

Jackson Bowers, 6-5/225, Mesa, Ariz. (Mountain View)

Signed to: BYU

Cooper Flanagan, 6-5/230, Concord, Calif. (De La Salle)

Signed to: Notre Dame

C.J. Jacobsen, 6-5/230, Meridian, Idaho (Rocky Mountain)

Signed to: Utah

Matthew Klopfenstein, 6-5/225, Scottsdale, Ariz. (Horizon)

Signed to: Baylor

Walker Lyons, 6-4/230, Folsom, Calif. (Folsom)

Considering: Multiple FBS offers

Duce Robinson, 6-6/225, Phoenix, Ariz. (Pinnacle)

Considering: Multiple FBS offers

Scouting report: Where will the nation’s top-ranked tight end in this class end up? Robinson, a five-star recruit, headlines this group, and is both the consensus top tight end in 2023 and top player in Arizona. Robinson, who has 28 offers, paced Pinnacle in receiving last fall, piling up 1,614 yards and 14 TDs. Also an elite baseball player, Robinson recently participated in a workout at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles before heading to the Polynesian Bowl in Hawaii. … Lyons, another consensus top-10 tight end nationally, is the second-highest rated player at the position not committed, and has 33 offers. … Robinson and Lyons are both ranked on the Top247, Rivals250 and ESPN300. Lyons was also named to the All-American Bowl roster, and Robinson the Under Armour All-American Game roster. … Bowers is the top-ranked player in BYU’s high school recruiting class. … Robinson (No. 1), Lyons (No. 9), Flanagan (No. 11), Bowers (No. 17) and Klopfenstein (No. 21) all top-25 tight ends nationally by 247Sports.

Kennedy Catholic’s Micah Banuelos throws Lake Stevens running back Jayden Limar to the ground in the backfield for a loss during the third quarter of the Class 4A state championship game on Saturday, Dec. 3, 2022, at Mount Tahoma High School in Tacoma, Wash.
Kennedy Catholic’s Micah Banuelos throws Lake Stevens running back Jayden Limar to the ground in the backfield for a loss during the third quarter of the Class 4A state championship game on Saturday, Dec. 3, 2022, at Mount Tahoma High School in Tacoma, Wash.

OFFENSIVE LINE (15)

Micah Banuelos, 6-2/290, Burien, Wash. (Kennedy Catholic)

Signed to: USC

Joshua Bates, 6-3/305, Durango, Colo. (Durango)

Enrolled at: Oklahoma

James Durand, 6-4/280, Chandler, Ariz. (Basha)

Signed to: Wisconsin

Spencer Fano, 6-4/275, Provo, Utah (Timpview)

Enrolled at: Utah

Landen Hatchett, 6-3/300, Ferndale, Wash. (Ferndale)

Signed to: Washington

Elishah Jackett, 6-6/280, Orange, Calif. (El Modena)

Signed to: Washington

Iapani Laloulu, 6-2/355, Honolulu, Hawaii (Farrington)

Enrolled at: Oregon

Caleb Lomu, 6-5/260, Gilbert, Ariz. (Highland)

Signed to: Utah

Alani Noa, 6-4/320, Sacramento, Calif. (Grant Union)

Signed to: USC

Heath Ozaeta, 6-6/300, Snoqualmie, Wash. (Mount Si)

Signed to: Oklahoma

Elijah Paige, 6-7/305, Phoenix, Ariz. (Pinnacle)

Signed to: USC

Simione Pale, 6-4/320, Elk Grove, Calif. (Elk Grove)

Signed to: Stanford

Raymond Pulido, 6-6/345, Apple Valley, Calif. (Apple Valley)

Signed to: Arizona

Amos Talalele, 6-5/330, Santa Clara, Calif. (Santa Clara)

Signed to: USC

Zak Yamauchi, 6-5/280, Las Vegas, Nev. (Bishop Gorman)

Signed to: Stanford

Scouting report: There is talent and depth inside in this year’s class. Banuelos (No. 11) and Hatchett (No. 25) are both considered top-25 interior offensive linemen nationally by 247Sports, and are also members of this year’s class of Northwest Nuggets. Banuelos is the top-ranked player in Washington in the 2023 class by 247Sports, and considered the top interior offensive lineman in the region by the site, and is projected to move inside after starting at left tackle for Kennedy Catholic’s high-flying offense throughout his high school career. Hatchett is considered the top center in the West in this class by 247Sports, Rivals and ESPN. Hatchett’s older brother, Geirean Hatchett, an offensive lineman at UW, was also named to the Northwest Nuggets and Western 100 lists in the 2020 class. … Laloulu is the top-rated guard in the West by Rivals, and the top player in Hawaii by both Rivals and ESPN. … Fano (No. 7), Lomu (No. 14), Paige (No. 16) and Jackett (No. 23) are all rated top-25 offensive tackles nationally by 247Sports. Fano is considered the top offensive tackle in the West by both 247Sports and ESPN, as well as the top-rated player in Utah by both 247Sports and Rivals. Lomu is considered the top tackle in the West by Rivals. Both Fano and Lomu are on the Top247, Rivals250 and ESPN300 lists. … Of the 11 four-star recruits in this offensive line group, nine are signed to Pac-12 schools, including Arizona (one), Oregon (one), Stanford (one), USC (two), Utah (two) and UW (two). Fano headlines Utah’s signing class, which includes six four-star recruits from the West. The defending Pac-12 champions rank third in the conference in this class in the 247Sports recruiting rankings, and 21st nationally. Durand was on Basha’s Open Division state championship team last fall, and Lomu on Highland’s 6A state championship team. … Bates, Fano and Lomu were on the All-American Bowl roster this winter, while Banuelos, Hatchett and Laloulu were on the Under Armour All-America game roster.

Blake Purchase (12), right, forces a fumble from Valor Christian Eagles QB Asher Weiner (14) in the first quarter of the 2022 Colorado 5A State Championship game at Empower Field at Mile High Stadium in Denver, Colo. on Saturday, Dec. 3, 2022. Creek recovered which led to a field goal.
Blake Purchase (12), right, forces a fumble from Valor Christian Eagles QB Asher Weiner (14) in the first quarter of the 2022 Colorado 5A State Championship game at Empower Field at Mile High Stadium in Denver, Colo. on Saturday, Dec. 3, 2022. Creek recovered which led to a field goal.

DEFENSIVE LINE (11)

Collins Acheampong, 6-7/255, Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif. (Santa Margarita Catholic)

Enrolled at: Miami

Cameron Brandt, 6-4/260, Chatsworth, Calif. (Sierra Canyon)

Committed to: Stanford

Hunter Clegg, 6-4/235, American Fork, Utah (American Fork)

Signed to: Utah

Siale Esera, 6-3/250, Provo, Utah (Timpview)

Signed to: BYU

My’Keil Gardner, 6-2/275, Peoria, Ariz. (Liberty)

Enrolled at: Oregon

Kelze Howard, 6-4/250, Las Vegas, Nev. (Spring Valley)

Enrolled at: Oregon State

David Peevy, 6-4/230, San Diego, Calif. (Lincoln)

Signed to: USC

Blake Purchase, 6-2/240, Englewood, Colo. (Cherry Creek)

Signed to: Oregon

Teitum Tuioti, 6-3/220, Sheldon, Ore. (Sheldon)

Enrolled at: Oregon

Matayo Uiagalelei, 6-5/265, Bellflower, Calif. (St. John Bosco)

Enrolled at: Oregon

A’Mauri Washington, 6-4/295, Chandler, Ariz. (Chandler)

Signed to: Oregon

Scouting report: Oregon was the biggest winner in the West in this group, signing three edge rushers and two defensive tackles from the region during the early period with four-star designations by at least one recruiting site. Uiagalelei is the consensus top edge rusher in the West, and a top-10 recruit at the position nationally, and finished his senior season with 47 tackles, 10.5 tackles for loss, 7.5 sacks, one caused fumble and three deflections as part of St. John Bosco’s run to the CIF Open Division title. Purchase, considered the top player in Colorado by 247Sports, also joins the Ducks after piling up 68 tackles, 12 tackles for loss, 18 sacks and two caused fumbles for Cherry Creek in the program’s fourth consecutive run to a 5A state championship. Purchase was also the Colorado Gatorade Player of the Year and MaxPreps state player of the year. Tuioti, the top-ranked player in Oregon by both 247Sports and ESPN, piled up 84 tackles, 30 tackles for loss, 13 sacks, one interception returned for a touchdown, one caused fumble, two recoveries and a safety in his one season at Sheldon while also playing tight end, and joins his dad at Oregon, who is the Ducks’ defensive line coach. Tuioti was also part of this year’s Northwest Nuggets class. Rivals and ESPN both consider Washington, who had 38 tackles, 14 tackles for loss, five sacks, two caused fumbles and nine defelections, the top defensive tackle in the West in 2023. Gardner had 58 tackles, nine tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks, three caused fumbles and two recoveries. … Uiagalelei (No. 6), Purchase (No. 17), Tuioti (No. 22) and Clegg (No. 25) are all top-25 edge rushers nationally by 247Sports. … Uiagalelei and Clegg are both on the Top247, Rivals250 and ESPN300 lists, and were both named to the All-American Bowl roster this winter. … Clegg tallied 61 tackles, 11 tackles for loss and eight sacks as a senior, and is Utah’s top defensive signee. … Kelze Howard (No. 22), Oregon State’s top defensive signee, and Collins Acheampong (No. 23), who was named to the Under Armour All-America Game, are both top-25 defensive linemen nationally by 247Sports. … Peevy won a CIF Division 1-AA state title with Lincoln last season. … Uiagalelei’s older brother, D.J. Uiagalelei, a former five-star quarterback at St. John Bosco who played three seasons at Clemson, announced his transfer to Oregon State two days after Matayo signed with the Ducks, adding intrigue to the rivalry between the two schools in Eugene and Corvallis.

Bingham quarterback Dallen Martinez is sacked by Skyridge’s Tausili Akana during the 6A state semifinal game at Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City on Thursday, Nov. 10, 2022. Skyridge won 45-20.
Bingham quarterback Dallen Martinez is sacked by Skyridge’s Tausili Akana during the 6A state semifinal game at Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City on Thursday, Nov. 10, 2022. Skyridge won 45-20.

LINEBACKERS (9)

Leonard Ah You, 6-4/210, Kahuku, Hawaii (Kahuku)

Signed to: Oregon State

Tausili Akana, 6-4/225, Lehi, Utah (Skyridge)

Signed to: Texas

Xe’ree Alexander, 6-3/215, Burien, Wash. (Kennedy Catholic)

Signed to: Idaho

Deven Bryant, 6-0/210, Bellflower, Calif. (St. John Bosco)

Signed to: Washington

Tre Edwards, 6-1/200, Chula Vista, Calif. (Mater Dei Catholic)

Signed to: UCLA

Liona Lefau, 6-1/210, Kahuku, Hawaii (Kahuku)

Enrolled at: Texas

Jerry Mixon, 6-2/220, San Francisco, Calif. (Sacred Heart Cathedral Prep)

Signed to: Oregon

Blake Nichelson, 6-3/200, Manteca, Calif. (Manteca)

Signed to: Florida State

Leviticus Su’a, 6-1/225, Santa Ana, Calif. (Mater Dei)

Signed to: Arizona

Scouting report: Texas signed a pair of four-star linebackers from the West during the early period in Akana and Lefau. Akana, the consensus top outside linebacker in the West, is listed as an edge rusher for the Longhorns, and recorded 70 tackles, 21 tackles for loss, 14.5 sacks, 22 quarterback pressures and caused a fumble in leading Skyridge to a 6A state title. He is on the Top247, Rivals250 and ESPN300 lists, and considered the top player in Utah in this class by ESPN. Lefau was the Hawaii Gatorade Player of the Year and MaxPreps state player of the year in 2022 after pacing Kahuku to a second consecutive Division I-Open state title win, and racking up 52.5 tackles, six tackles for loss, four sacks and two caused fumbles. … Nichelson piled up 44 tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks, one interception, six pass breakups and one caused fumble this season, while also finishing his career with more than 5,400 all-purpose yards and 90 TDs — including 4,000-plus rushing yards and 65 scores. … Akana (No. 5) and Nichelson (No. 13) are considered top-15 linebackers nationally by 247Sports. … Akana, Nichelson and Edwards were all named to the All-American Bowl roster this winter. … Bryant won a CIF Open Division state championship with St. John Bosco, and Edwards a CIF Division 2-AA title with Mater Dei Catholic last fall.

Long Beach Poly wide receiver and defensive back Daylen Austin (8) during a game against Clovis on Thursday, Aug. 18, 2022 at Lamonica Stadium in Clovis, Calif.
Long Beach Poly wide receiver and defensive back Daylen Austin (8) during a game against Clovis on Thursday, Aug. 18, 2022 at Lamonica Stadium in Clovis, Calif.

DEFENSIVE BACKS (16)

Daylen Austin, 6-1/180, Long Beach, Calif. (Long Beach Poly)

Signed to: Oregon

Leroy Bryant, 6-0/175, Fairfield, Calif. (Angelo Rodriguez)

Signed to: Washington

Maliki Crawford, 6-3/180, Oxnard, Calif. (Pacifica)

Signed to: USC

Kodi Decambra, 6-0/175, Las Vegas, Nev. (Bishop Gorman)

Signed to: Oregon

Brock Fonoimoana, 6-1/190, Kahuku, Hawaii (Kahuku)

Signed to: Utah

Jshawn Frausto-Ramos, 6-0/180, Bellflower, Calif. (St. John Bosco)

Signed to: Stanford

Jeremiah Hughes, 6-1/175, Las Vegas, Nev. (Bishop Gorman)

Signed to: LSU

R.J. Jones, 6-1/195, Bellflower, Calif. (St. John Bosco)

Signed to: UCLA

Cole Martin, 5-10/175, Chandler, Ariz. (Basha)

Enrolled at: Oregon

Christian Pierce, 6-2/180, Rancho Cucamonga, Calif. (Rancho Cucamonga)

Signed to: USC

Rodrick Pleasant, 5-11/180, Gardena, Calif. (Junipero Serra)

Considering: Multiple FBS offers

Caleb Presley, 5-11/180, Seattle, Wash. (Rainier Beach)

Signed to: Washington

Justyn Rhett, 6-1/195, Las Vegas, Nev. (Bishop Gorman)

Enrolled at: Georgia

Smith Snowden, 5-10/175, Lehi, Utah (Skyridge)

Signed to: Utah

Jasiah Wagoner, 5-11/170, Spanaway, Wash. (Spanaway Lake)

Enrolled at: Oklahoma

Aaron Williams, 6-2/185, Bellflower, Calif. (St. John Bosco)

Signed to: Louisville

Scouting report: This class of defensive backs is stacked with talent. Pleasant (No. 8), Austin (No. 11), Crawford (No. 17), Snowden (No. 21) and Williams (No. 24) are all considered top-25 corners nationally by 247Sports. Pleasant, Austin, Williams and Martin are all on the Top247, Rivals250 and ESPN300 lists. Martin, Presley, Wagoner and Williams were all All-American Bowl roster picks. Austin, Decambra, Pleasant and Rhett were all Under Armour All-America Game selections. This group features nine state champions. The cornerback group in particular is perhaps the best position group in the West in this class, and is loaded with talented, versatile players. Pleasant, the consensus top corner in the West and a consensus top-15 corner nationally, is the headliner and scheduled to announce his commitment on Wednesday’s National Signing Day. Pleasant tallied 30 tackles, four interceptions, seven passes defended, one caused fumble and recovery, and scored seven total TDs, including two rushing, two receiving, two on kickoffs and one interception return. Also a star sprinter, Pleasant had the top times in California in the 100 (10.14 seconds) and 200 (20.4) last spring. His 100 time tied for the fourth fastest in the nation in 2022, and his 200 time was second. … Snowden was the Utah Gatorade Player of the Year and MaxPreps state player of the year after pacing Skyridge to the program’s first state title with 28 tackles, six tackles for loss, and six interceptions and one returned for a touchdown, and eight pass breakups, as well as a kickoff return TD. … Presley is considered the top recruit in Washington in this class by ESPN, and is the top-ranked recruit in the hometown Huskies’ high school class. He was also part of this year’s class of Northwest Nuggets. … Frausto-Ramos is the top recruit in Stanford’s class. … Decambra is considered the top safety in the West by 247Sports, and Pierce the top safety in the region by Rivals. … Fonoimoana is the top player in Hawaii in this class by 247Sports.

Skyline wide receiver and defensive back Kenyon Sadiq (6) in a football game against Idaho Falls on Saturday, Sept. 24, 2022 at Ravsten Stadium in Idaho Falls, Idaho.
Skyline wide receiver and defensive back Kenyon Sadiq (6) in a football game against Idaho Falls on Saturday, Sept. 24, 2022 at Ravsten Stadium in Idaho Falls, Idaho.

ATHLETES (9)

Isaiah Carlson, 6-2/220, Ferndale, Wash. (Ferndale)

Signed to: UCLA

Kade Eldridge, 6-4/235, Lynden, Wash. (Lynden Christian)

Signed to: USC

Reed Harris, 6-4/200, Great Falls, Mont. (Great Falls)

Signed to: Boston College

Vincent Holmes, 6-0/180, San Jacinto, Calif. (San Jacinto)

Signed to: Washington

Jamari Johnson, 6-4/270, Inglewood, Calif. (Inglewood)

Signed to: Louisville

Donavyn Pellot, 6-2/210, Las Vegas, Nev. (Silverado)

Signed to: UCLA

Leo Pulalasi, 6-1/205, Lakewood, Wash. (Lakes)

Signed to: Washington State

Kenyon Sadiq, 6-3/200, Idaho Falls, Idaho (Skyline)

Enrolled at: Oregon

JeyQuan Smith, 5-10/175, San Bernardino, Calif. (Cajon)

Considering: Multiple FBS offers

Dijon Stanley, 6-1/175, Granada Hills, Calif. (Granada Hills)

Signed to: Utah

Luke Talich, 6-3/185, Cody, Wyo. (Cody)

Committed to: Notre Dame

Scouting report: The top two athletes in the West in this class, per 247Sports rankings, will play tight end in college. Sadiq, considered the top athlete in the region and top player in Idaho by both 247Sports and ESPN, joins the Ducks at tight end after tallying 1,303 receiving yards and 18 TDs and 233 rushing yards and four scores as a senior, leading Skyline to a third consecutive 4A state title. He also added 32 tackles, two sacks, three interceptions and two caused fumbles on defense, and averaged 41.8 yards per punt. Sadiq was Idaho’s Gatorade Player of the Year and MaxPreps state player of the year last fall, named the 4A All-Idaho player of the year for the second consecutive season, and named the state player of the year by SBLive Idaho. He was also part of this year’s class of Northwest Nuggets. Johnson, who was on the All-American Bowl roster this winter, will also play tight end at Louisville, and tallied 318 receiving yards and four TDs as a senior. … Sadiq (No. 4), Johnson (No. 11) and Holmes (No. 18) are all top-20 athletes nationally by 247Sports. … Holmes is listed as a safety for the Huskies, and considered the top safety in the West by ESPN in this class, and collected 1,169 receiving yards and 13 TDs, while adding 55 tackles and two interceptions his senior season. … Stanley, considered the top athlete in the West by Rivals, will play running back for the Utes, and had 2,756 rushing yards and 33 TDs his senior season on the way to L.A. Times player of the year honors. … Harris is ranked the top player in Montana in this class by both 247Sports and ESPN. … Talich is the top player in Wyoming in 2023, and will join Notre Dame as a preferred walk-on over three Pac-12 and more Division I offers.

Liberty (Calif.) kicker Grant Meadors (6).
Liberty (Calif.) kicker Grant Meadors (6).

SPECIALISTS (3)

LS Keane Bessert, 6-1/220, Fruita, Colo. (Fruita Monument)

Committed to: Wisconsin

K/P Aidan Flintoft, 6-1/185, Westlake Village, Calif. (Oaks Christian)

Committed to: Stanford

K/P Grant Meadors, 6-0/165, Bakersfield, Calif. (Liberty)

Committed to: Oregon

Scouting report: Meadors is considered a six-star kicking prospect and the top kicker in the nation in the 2023 class by Chris Sailer Kicking. Averaged 62.9 yards per kickoff on 81 attempts last season, including 65 touchbacks, and converted 63-of-66 PAT attempts and 7-of-12 field goals with a long of 47 yards to help Liberty to a CIF Division 1-A state title. Also added 40.5 yards per punt on 27 attempts, including dropping 15 inside the 20-yard line, and had 20 tackles on defense. … Flintoft is rated a six-star punter and kicker by Chris Sailer Kicking, and the No. 3 punting prospect in the nation and top in the West, and No. 5 kicker nationally and No. 2 in the region in this class. Averaged 39 yards per punt last season on 23 attempts, and had 47 touchbacks on 60 kickoffs last fall, averaging 58.3 yards per attempt. Was 39-of-41 on PAT tries and a perfect 6-of-6 on field goals with a long of 50 yards. … Bessert is considered a five-star prospect and the top long snapper in the West and No. 3 long snapper nationally in this class by Rubio Long Snapping. Also played center for the Wildcats and added 30 tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks, nine quarterback hurries and caused a fumble on defense.

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