Former Miami defensive tackle Jalen Grimble should give Oregon State some added thunder on its D-line. (Kevin Liles-USA TODAY Sports)
Southern Cal and Oregon dominated offseason recruiting headlines, but there are newcomers to know at every Pac-12 program.
Last season, a two-way force emerged at UCLA, when running back/linebacker Myles Jack was named Pac-12 Offensive and Defensive player of the year, an unprecedented double-dip that could be matched in 2014 by USC’s Adoree Jackson.
Jackson lined up at wide receiver, cornerback and returned punts in one scrimmage in August.
Here is a detailed look at newcomers to watch for all Pac-12 teams as identified by The Sports Xchange:
Arizona
WR DaVonte’ Neal — Neal is a redshirt sophomore with multiple offensive skills. Arizona will use him in the slot and try to get him the ball in a variety of ways, including on fly sweeps and potentially as a running back. Neal, a transfer from Notre Dame, is also a prime candidate at punt returner.
Arizona State
OG Christian Westerman — The former five-star recruit from Chandler, Ariz., spent one season at Auburn before transferring back home to Arizona State. He sat out last season and is now expected to make an impact on the field after being a weight room star, including 41 reps of 225 pounds on the bench press. “Christian is a road grader, man — powerful, strong,” ASU coach Todd Graham said on FoxSportsArizona.com. “He’s not even scratching the surface of how good he can be.”
California
DT Marcus Manley — The 6-foot-3, 290-pound sophomore is a transfer from Santa Monica College. He had a strong showing in spring workouts, recording five tackles and a sack that resulted in an 11-yard loss in the annual spring game, and emerged atop the depth chart after Jacobi Hunter transferred.
Colorado
RB Phillip Lindsay — The 5-foot-8, 175-pound freshman looks to be healthy after suffering a knee injury during his senior year of high school. He sat out a redshirt season last year but looked good in the spring as he looks to join a crowded group at running back. Lindsay had 22 rushes for 77 yards and five catches for 44 yards and a touchdown in spring scrimmages. “He’s the Tasmanian Devil,” CU coach Mike MacIntyre said. “He has that ‘never-say-die’ attitude. He’ll do anything. He gives unbelievable effort and he’s extremely tough.”
Oregon
WR Devon Allen — His debut for the Ducks this season will be one of the most anticipated for any player in school history. Although he has yet to play in a football game after sitting out a redshirt year, Allen has already given the Ducks reason to think he can make an impact right away. He won the NCAA Championship in the 110-meter hurdles despite splitting his time between football and track in the spring. He went on to win the U.S. championship in that event as well. He also showed off his speed by catching touchdown passes of 45 and 49 yards in Oregon’s spring game.
Oregon State
DT Jalen Grimble — He had to sit out last season after transferring from Miami, but entered fall camp considered a key to this defense, moving immediately into the starting unit. OSU coach Mike Riley has said Grimble can have the type of impact on the defensive line that Scott Crichton had in 2013 when he was a dominant player at his usual end position or when he moved inside in passing situations.
Southern Cal
CB/WR Adoree Jackson — Jackson (5-11, 185) was the highest-rated member of USC’s recruiting class, and he looked like it early in camp, playing both ways and returning kicks as well. “I’m trying to find a flaw right now with the guy,” coach Steve Sarkisian said after about a week of camp. Fellow freshman JuJu Smith and Rahshead Johnson were playing mostly receiver, but could also dabble at cornerback as two-way players.
Stanford
DE Solomon Thomas — Despite being a true freshman, Thomas could play right away as a backup on the defensive line. The 6-foot-3, 256-pounder was the 20th-best overall recruit and the fourth-best defensive end in the country in the class of 2014, according to Scout. Thomas reportedly had scholarship offers from more than 30 schools, including Alabama, Arkansas, Ohio State, Texas and UCLA.
UCLA
LB Kenny Young — The true freshman, a four-star recruit, wasted no time in making a quick impression on the coaching staff. He was working with the first-team by the second week of fall camp. “He doesn’t look like an 18-year-old freshman,” coach Jim Mora was quoted as saying the L.A. Daily News. “He looks like a man in there. … He’s come here and he certainly hasn’t disappointed.”
Utah
FS Tevin Carter — The former junior college transfer had to sit out a year before being declared eligible, only to sit out spring football with an ankle injury. This fall, he is finally showing the skills that has Utah coach Kyle Whittingham and his staff excited. If Carter can remain healthy and perform as expected, the Ute secondary improve from a unit that had only three interceptions last season.
Washington
S Budda Baker — The true freshman from nearby Bellevue (Wash.) High School should see immediate playing time because of his quickness. Although his size (5’10” and 177 pounds) precludes him from being a physical safety, coaches love his speed and coverage ability. He likely will see time at both cornerback and safety because of Washington’s lack of established players at those positions.
Washington State
CB Marcellus Pippins — The true freshman arrived on campus in January, ready to compete in spring drills. He has a leg up on the other cornerback candidates. He has shown impressive speed and leaping ability to this point in fall camp. Cornerback is a wide-open position for Washington State with Deone Bucannon and Damante Horton exhausting their eligibility.
