By Pigskin Pete

Feb 2007 -- Despite a sorry bowl loss finish in the 2006 season, the Oregon Ducks came up with a stellar class of recruits for 2007, ranking among the 
nation’s top 10 in both quality and quantity.

Scout.com, an authority in such matters, rates USC #2 and UO #8 in their
ranking of recruiting results for the 119 NCAA Division I schools. California, at #12, was the only other Pac10 member ranked in the top 25. The Ducks
had 29 new signees, second in volume only to Auburn’s 30 among the 25, SC had 18, Cal 25. Quality rankings for the remaining Pac10 members: Washington #29, UCLA # 36, Arizona State # 38, Oregon State #39, Stanford # 42, Arizona #49 and Washington State #53.

Notable recruiting results include the accomplishment of new Arizona State coach Dennis Erickson, whose 23 signees include the only two national top-20 rated prep QB’s. Erickson continues his reputation for finding junior college talent, signing two JC all-Americans. The grey-thatched, well traveled coach of national titlists at Miami Fl brings in gridders from 10
different states. The Sun Devils are very well stocked with veterans and Erickson will definitely challenge for conference supremacy in 2007.  Nevertheless, Southern Cal remains a title favorite and has signed eight of the nation’s top 50 most treasured newcomers to back its returning league champions. Based upon returning talent, we dub SC, Oregon, Cal and Arizona State as the league’s best for 2007.

Oregon State didn’t match its Eugene neighbors in recruiting results, but signed no less than 30 newcomers, topped by a 4-star running back, Ryan McCants of Corona CA. Beaver coach Mike Riley got an extension to his contract for his 2006 accomplishments. However, greenness at QB will not be a plus when the Beavers take their 2007 journey to the home grounds of a revenge-minded USC which OSU vanquished in the most stunning upset of the entire NCAA Divsion I 2006 season. 

Huskies may bark by 2008

Coach Tyrone Willingham’s resuscitation of a Washington Husky program that reached rock bottom before his arrival seems on track, with 27 new recruits, including a national all-everything blue chip in wide receiver Anthony Boyles from Compton CA. The Dawgs don’t have enough vets and must break in a new QB next season, so just a winning 2007 record will suffice to
remind conference mates that the Huskies will return to former glory.

Stanford was the sickliest Pac10 program this past season, earning a new coach, former NFL QB Jim Harbaugh. Harbaugh collected national Division III playoff credits at the University of San Diego. He will be sorely teated at this higher level, with a weak group of veterans. The Big Red staff brought in 19 recruits, with only five from California. Pennsylvania, Florida, Hawaii,
Iowa, Illinois, Louisiana, Mazssachusetts, Mississippi, Oregon, Texas and Washington are contributing new bodies to the Stanford cause. Across San Francisco Bay, Cal’s Jeff Tedford got a contract extension and 26 new recruits to celebrate his 2006 conference title sharing with SC.

Oregon also extended coach Mike Bellotti’s pact and just signed a new offensive coordinator, Chip Kelly. Kelly has done well at the lower NCAA level he coached at the University of New Hampshire. Now he brings success in the spread offense to Duckville, signaling that Bellotti will
continue to stress the wide open attack that the departing Gary Crowton honchoed. That offense has two veteran QB’s, Dennis Dixon and Brady Leaf, returning. Duck fans hope Bellotti will allow his new offensive coordinator to avoid the 2006 waffling of choices between the two. 

There are some notable schedule intersectional matchups for Pac10 members in 2007...Ohio State will travel to Husky stadium and Syracuse will host the Dawgs in a season opener. Washington State faces a mighty challenge with an opener at Wisconsin. Oregon journeys to
Michigan, with the Wolverines sure to be reminded of their 2004 upset by the Ducks in Eugene.  UCLA hosts top 10 Tennessee, SC travels to Nebraska and Notre Dame. Tennessee travels to Cal and Oregon State goes to an up and coming program at Cincinnati.

Roses & Raspberries...a passel of posies to the Pac10 administrators for stressing a round robin schedule for football...raspberries are earned by Berkeley anti-sports activists who continue to find ways to hinder facility improvements at venerable Cal stadium...blossoms were earned by the Bears’ traditional rivals at Stanford for a total upgrade of their old gridiron arena.

© 2007  Oregon Magazine