ESPN College Football

CBS Sports Bruce Feldman made a top-10 list of his "most pleasant surprise guys of the spring," and it included three from the Pac-12: Washington DT Danny Shelton, UCLA RB/WR Steven Manfro and Oregon QB Marcus Mariota.

Three good choices.

Here's what he said about Shelton:

Danny Shelton, Washington, DT: The U-Dub defense was brutal in 2011, ranking 108th in scoring D and 106th in total D. They also were No. 87 in TFLs and No. 76 in run defense. Still, the revamped Huskies had some holes in the middle of that defense to replace, starting with massive Alameda Ta'amu, a fourth-round pick of the Steelers. The new Washington defensive staff though is very, very excited about the development of Shelton. The 6-1, 325-pound sophomore, who made 11 tackles last season, adjusted to the new system and techniques the best, U-Dub DL coach Tosh Lupoi says.

Lupoi knows plenty about disruptive D-linemen from producing more than his share at Cal. He says Shelton, a former state champion shot putter, has (former Cal first-rounder) Tyson Alualu-type hands and strike but is 325-pounds (as opposed to Alualu's 295) and that Shelton has the heft and explosiveness to be a two-gap defensive end at the next level. Better still, Shelton is smart and coachable.

And Manfro:

Steven Manfro, UCLA, RB/WR/KR: If Bruins fans hadn't heard about the redshirt freshman before spring, they almost certainly did by the end of UCLA's spring game when the 5-10, 190-pounder lit up the Rose Bowl making big play after big play. It's crazy to think that the guy who had almost 3,500 rushing and receiving yards and 39 TDs from scrimmage his senior year in Southern California at Valencia High only had offers from Wyoming and UCLA. The new Bruins staff is lucky to have him though. Manfro, who lists Maurice Jones-Drew and Danny Woodhead as his favorite athletes, has earned the nickname "the White Mamba" for his exploits on the field. UCLA coaches say Manfro – pegged as more quick than fast -- "flashed" in every practice they had and can be a line-up-all-over the field difference-maker as well as game-breaker for all of the Quick Game stuff new OC Noel Mazzone wants to run. The kid's family also has an amazing backstory, as detailed here by Fox's Lisa Horne.

"I'm excited about him," says Mazzone, who has a strong group of weapons out of the backfield that also include Jonathan Franklin and Jordon James. "He's a perfect hybrid for what we do. He can run routes. He's flexible enough to get in the slot. He's a back that can run in between the tackles and can play in the slot."

And Mariota:

Marcus Mariota, Oregon, QB: When word got out that Darron Thomas was jumping early to the NFL, folks close to the Ducks program weren't in a panic because they'd seen how dangerous young Bryan Bennett could be running Chip Kelly's offense. They'd also knew they had a smooth, swift 6-4 redshirt freshman from Hawaii in Mariota who would push Bennett hard for the starting job. And that's exactly what Mariota has done. He also looked more impressive in the Ducks nationally televised spring game, breaking off TD runs of 82 and 14 yards. As we've said, before it's risky to put too much stock in a spring performance, much less one spring game because of the variance of the circumstances, but Kelly had to be very pleased with how his young QB looked in his first chance under a spotlight.

"He's got that Hawaiian Island, laid-back, cool-breeze kind of attitude," Kelly told the Register-Guard after the spring game. "And it helps him."

Shelton is a sure-thing starter. If healthy, he's going to be expected to take up a lot of space in the middle of the Huskies' D-line.

Manfro and Mariota still have a fight ahead of them. Lots of guys shine -- or surprise -- during spring practices but then fade in the fall when coaches make hard decisions about playing time. That said, Manfro provided a playmaking spark that's mostly been missing for the Bruins. And everyone saw how good Mariota looked in the Ducks' spring game. If that's point A for the redshirt freshman, then big things might lay ahead.

California is the lifeblood of Pac-12 recruiting. Sure, coaches talk about putting up fences in their backyards and keeping their state's elite talent within. But the majority of the top-notch players from the conference hail from the Golden State -- Northern, Southern and everywhere in between.

So it was an interesting read in SI to see that the bulk of top-rated players in the state are holding out before making a commitment. Bravo. It would be nice to see players make their commitment after some careful consideration and then stick with it.

This trend of flip-flopping, while dramatic, gets old. There was the 11th-hour Shaq Thompson switch, for example (though Washington folks probably aren't complaining). And of course the tale of Davonte Neal, who left schools dangling (and 600 elementary school kids by the way) before finally settling on Notre Dame.

Remember the time when a player would simply call up the coach and say: "I'm coming to your school."

To which the coach would say: "OK, be ready to work in the fall."

That was it.

Of course, no California recruiting story would be complete without a Tosh Lupoi reference. Writes Steve Megargee from the SI article:

When Washington hired Tosh Lupoi away from California two weeks before National Signing Day, it sent shockwaves through the 2012 West Coast recruiting scene. The aftermath of that move is still making an impact.

"That whole thing that happened with coach Lupoi, I think it sent a message to everybody here in California that you have to wait until that point where everything's about to be finalized to make your decision," Atwater Buhach offensive tackle and Rivals100 recruit Aaron Cochran said. "Anything can happen."

Cochran should know. He's the younger brother of Matt Cochran, a 2012 three-star center who verbally committed to California two weeks before Lupoi's departure. Though he signed with California anyway, the Golden Bears lost several other coveted prospects. Among them: Sacramento Grant safety Shaq Thompson (Washington), Monrovia defensive tackle Ellis McCarthy (UCLA) and Westlake Village wide receiver Jordan Payton (UCLA). All three were Rivals100 recruits.

I was covering San Diego State when Cal defensive lineman Mustafa Jalil committed to the Aztecs, a "solid verbal" as they say, only to make his switch to the Bears. I distinctly remember someone at SDSU telling me off the record "we're going to have to work hard to keep that guy." Not hard enough, apparently. And after the switch, I remember that same person using a more explicit word.

Players are free to choose whatever school they want, but hopefully this will start a trend of giving their decision a little more thought, rather than just knee-jerking on their first commitment. And if that means waiting until signing day before making an announcement, great. That makes for better drama, anyway.

McLovin? What kind of a stupid name is that, Fogell? What, are you trying to be an Irish R&B singer?

• Life has been hectic for former Arizona QB Nick Foles.
• Arizona State coach Todd Graham on Pittsburgh: It was a mistake.
• A chat with former California offensive lineman Mitchell Schwartz as he joins the Cleveland Browns.
• Will this guy be Colorado's tight end of the future.
• Keeping track of Oregon's De'Anthony Thomas. A good cause over at Addicted to Quack.
• Lots of good stuff in this Oregon State notebook.
• The youth on UCLA's staff should help it connect with its players. This Bruin might go both ways.
• We learned this spring that USC WR Marqise Lee might be the only receiver in the country as good as Robert Woods.
• Former Utah tackle Tony Bergstrom is now a Raider.
• Why didn't former Washington RB Chris Polk get drafted? Tosh Lupoi gets a couple of recruiting connections.
• Looking at the Washington State offense, post-spring.

Max Browne (Sammamish, Wash./Skyline), one of the nation's top quarterback recruits, will announce his commitment Wednesday at 7 p.m. PT, according to ESPN Recruiting, which reports, "Browne has narrowed his choices to Alabama, Oklahoma, USC and Washington, although with recent visits to see the Sooners and Trojans, most think it will come down to those two programs."

So USC or Oklahoma for the 6-foot-5, 205 pounder?

Browne leaving for the Sooners would be a blow for the hometown Huskies, who are struggling to build the proverbial "wall" around their home state. During the 2011-12 recruiting season, most of the elite, local prospects crossed state lines to play football. The state featured five elite recruits: Offensive linemen Zach Banner and Josh Garnett, running back KeiVarae Russell, receiver Cedric Dozier and QB Jeff Lindquist. Only Lindquist signed with the Huskies.

Of course, the Huskies did much better in 2011 when they signed TE Austin Seferian-Jenkins, WR Kasen Williams, DT Danny Shelton -- three players who, by the way, lived up to their recruiting hype as true freshmen.

Still, in order to return to the nation's elite, Washington must win most of the recruiting battles for in-state prospects most years. That's part of the reason coach Steve Sarkisian was willing to pay top dollar to lure ace recruiter Tosh Lupoi away from California.

While some prospects go in search of a warmer, sunnier climate, and there's little coaches can do to charm them out of that thinking, part of getting the Huskies back into the nation's top 25 is making elite recruits want to stay home. For every Jake Locker who decides to play for the Huskies, there are too many guys like Jonathan Stewart (Oregon), Stephen Schilling (Michigan), Taylor Mays (USC), David DeCastro (Stanford), Deandre Coleman (California) and Jake Heaps (BYU).

As for Browne, the situation at Washington would seem ideal for him. Keith Price would be a senior his redshirt freshman year, giving him a year to acclimate himself before fighting for the job in 2014.

From ESPN Recruiting: "Browne completed 70 percent of his passes for 4,034 yards and 45 touchdowns as a junior. He plans to enroll early at his school of choice and has a good shot to be recognized as the top quarterback in the class of 2013."

It will be a big loss for the Huskies if he opts to cross state lines.

As far back as I can remember, I always wanted to be a gangster.

• Rich Rodriguez wasn't happy with his team's first practice in pads. Did Nick Foles struggle at Arizona's pro day? Watch the video and you make the call.
• Catching up with former ASU safety Willie Daniel. House of Sparky continues on with its Sweet 16 Tournament of the school's all-time top players.
• Cal players say they are warming up to new defensive line coach Todd Howard -- the replacement for Tosh Lupoi.
• Colorado is hoping to land in-state running back Phillip Lindsay.
• Rob Moseley continues his position-by-position spring preview of Oregon. Here's the wide receivers.
• Cliff Kirkpatrick previews Oregon State's running backs going into spring.
• A few more details on Stanford's pro day.
• The folks at Bruins Nation continue their analysis of UCLA's coaching staff.
• USC tinkering with the 6-0, 220-pound Tre Madden at running back.
• Utah quarterback Jordan Wynn says he's ready to stay healthy for an entire season.
• Here's Bob Condotta's complete position-by-position review for Washington.
• Some more details from Wednesday's Mike Leach conference call.

Washington commit Shaq Thompson was at the center of one of the conference's hottest prospect battles of the recruiting season. After a public declaration for Cal, the four-star safety, ranked No. 16 on the ESPNU 150 list, pulled a last-minute switch to Washington.

Bob Condotta of the Seattle Times caught up with Thompson and got the full story behind his decision to pick Washington over Cal -- among others.

Here's what Thompson told Condotta:

They were always there on my list. Washington always stayed in it, so from the get-go that should have told everybody 'he's coming to Washington,' because that was the only school that didn't change.

I went up there for the Cal game (in September) and it was a beautiful atmosphere, a beautiful city, the fans really love their football, the team was fun to be around, the coaches were great. It was just like a great place for me.

The sidebar to all of this -- if you want to call it that -- was former Cal assistant and top-flight recruiter Tosh Lupoi leaving the Bears for Washington. Lupoi was recruiting Thompson to Cal, but the safety said that Lupoi's move had little to do with his decision.

Writes Condotta:

Shaquille said Lupoi stepped aside from handling his recruiting once the coach went to UW, leaving it to coach Steve Sarkisian, new defensive backs coach Keith Heyward and graduate assistant Donte Williams (who was able to recruit during the time when the Huskies did not have a full staff of assistants).

Thompson is considered the best safety prospect in the country and could make an immediate impact on a Washington defense desperate to plug holes in the secondary.

I'm Kevin Nealon, and that's news to me.

• ESPN's Todd McShay says former UA quarterback Nick Foles is better under pressure than Robert Griffin III, and he has the tweets to back it up.
• ASU's Todd Graham rewarded walk-on wide receiver Kevin Ozier with a scholarship.
• More fallout from the Tosh Lupoi departure from Cal to Washington.
• Former Buffs quarterback Tyler Hansen thinks his stock is on the rise. And from late Friday night, an early look at the Colorado offense in 2013.
• Oregon's Dior Mathis and B.J. Kelley both made the 60-meter final at the Husky Classic track meet. Mathis gets the bragging rights, finishing third while Kelley finished eighth.
• Mike Riley is expected to hire Rod Perry as his secondary coach today, according to the Portland Tribune.
• Former Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck being taken No. 1 is the only lock of this year's draft.
• Early reviews of UCLA strength coach Sal Alosi appear to be positive.
• Lane Kiffin filled two more coaching vacancies over the weekend.
• What are the 100 things a Utah fan must know before they die? Here's how to find out.
• Washington sets its pro day for March 8.
• Here's a recap of all the recent news and notes at Washington State.

I think positive emotion trumps negative emotion every time.

• Former ASU coach Dennis Erickson says the program is in good shape.
• Tosh Lupoi talked to the media for the first time since moving from Cal to Washington. Here's the Cal perspective.
• The quarterback competition is underway at Oregon, plus some poll results.
• Assistant coach rumors floating around Oregon State.
• The folks at Pacific Takes say Stanford had the top recruiting class in the Pac-12.
• More UCLA projections -- this time the offensive line in 2012.
• USC players are making a push for Keary Colbert to be their new receivers coach.
• Tough decisions all around for Washington's five new assistants.
• Mike Leach said Connor Halliday and Jeff Tuel will battle it out for the quarterback spot heading into spring.

Yes, Tosh Lupoi is well aware that his departure from California to Washington was awkward. Yes, he knows his hiring, which created what he termed "immediate competition" was jarring for everyone -- for him, for the folks at Cal and the recruits he'd once sold on the Bears who were now hearing him suddenly tout the Huskies.

"Obviously, I hadn't spoken a word about it to recruits [before accepting the Washington job], representing a different place, now going into the homes, wearing a different Polo," Lupoi said. "It was a little bit shocking of 'wait, hold on, we were just talking about Cal a week ago or something.'"

Lupoi spoke to Seattle reporters for the first time since he was lured away from Cal, his alma mater, in mid-January, just two weeks before national signing day. He was not made available to out of town reporters. His quotes here are from video and a transcription on Bob Condotta's blog for the Seattle Times.

It's sometimes hard to follow Lupoi's stream of consciousness remarks, somewhat reflective of the awkwardness of the topic, the hard feelings he knows exist on Cal's end of things and what he called "one of the toughest decisions I've ever gone through."

On the negative reaction from Cal fans: "That's my blood, sweat and that had a major impact as far as seeing what alumni or what stories were told. But it's something that you move on. You find out real quickly who your real friends are."

On Bears coach Jeff Tedford's reaction when he told him he was leaving: "It was kind of a quick conversation ... I think he was understanding of the opportunity that was offered here and the reasons to want to start something new.''

Lupoi was not asked about the recruitment of Shaq Thompson, a former California commit who flipped to Washington after Lupoi joined the Huskies staff. As we wrote here, there was a disconnect between Tedford and Lupoi over a home visit with Thompson, when Lupoi wasn't forthcoming with Tedford over where he stood with Washington. Tedford asked the Pac-12 to void Lupoi's visit as an official home visit for Cal, but the conference rejected that request.

As for that boat the Cal fans insist was a part of the lucrative package that convinced Lupoi to bolt Berkeley, Lupoi said it doesn't exist.

"Yeah, I haven't been on that boat," he said. "Maybe it's a canoe or something.''

We like doing Power Rankings at ESPN.com. These are the post-signing day Power Rankings.

If you want to see where your team stood on Jan. 10, go here.

The schedule does not factor into these. This is a projected pecking order based on where a team stands right now.

And if you don't like where your team is in the post-signing day Power Rankings, then I'd suggest whining about it until your team plays better.

1. USC: The Trojans ranked 13th in the final recruiting rankings with just 12 signees. They will be ranked in the preseason top 5, perhaps even No. 1. If things go according to plan, USC will blow a big raspberry at Paul Dee next January.

2. Oregon: The Ducks surprisingly lost QB Darron Thomas to the NFL, but the far more important news is not losing coach Chip Kelly to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. A strong recruiting class and another likely top-5 preseason rankings sets the Ducks up nicely to enter the national title chase.

3. Stanford: Stanford signed the best recruiting class in the Pac-12. It was ranked 12th by ESPN Recruiting and much higher by just about every other recruiting service. While the Cardinal have big holes to fill -- most notably behind center -- a glance through the roster suggests those rooting for the program to topple after a grand rise are going to be disappointed.

4. Washington: Much of the recruiting season had been disappointing for the Huskies, particularly losing almost all of the top in-state prospects, including a pair of A-list linemen who would have addressed major needs. But Steve Sarkisian made a series of aggressive moves rebuilding his coaching staff, most notably with the hiring of defensive coordinator Justin Wilcox and ace recruiter Tosh Lupoi. That supplies much of the positive momentum here.

5. Utah: The Utes signed a strong recruiting class and welcome back a wealth of starters from a team that won eight games without much production at QB. The promotion of 24-year-old Brian Johnson to offensive coordinator was a surprising move, particularly with fans rooting for a "celebrity" hire. It could prove to be a stroke of genius, but the onus is now on Johnson to make it become so.

6. UCLA: The Bruins are the big climbers from our Jan. 10 power rankings -- moving up from No. 10 -- but that's what happens when new coach Jim Mora punches back at skepticism with an outstanding recruiting class. A team that looked like a "neh" is moving closer to a "maybe."

7. California: Despite all the hand-wringing over the loss of Lupoi and receivers coach Eric Kiesau to Washington, the Bears still signed a top-25 recruiting class that addresses needs. Still, perception matters, and at present, Bears fans seem more worried than optimistic. Nothing, of course, a few wins in a shiny remodeled stadium can't change.

8. Arizona: Rich Rodriguez's recruiting class finished at or near the bottom of the Pac-12, according to most rankings. That said, Rodriguez got his man at defensive coordinator, Jeff Casteel, which is significant because most trace the problems at Michigan to his failure to do so for the Wolverines.

9. Washington State: The Cougars didn't soar in the recruiting rankings just because of the hiring of coach Mike Leach. Still, that doesn't appear to be dampening the enthusiasm in Pullman.

10. Arizona State: New coach Todd Graham did a solid job salvaging the Sun Devils' recruiting class. But the loss of QB Brock Osweiler to the NFL and the NCAA's rejection of receiver T.J. Simpson's bid for a sixth year of eligibility leave the program with plenty of questions on offense. And just as many on defense.

11. Oregon State: The Beavers were victimized by a handful of late recruiting flips that put dents in what was shaping up to be a strong class. And the loss of secondary coach Keith Heyward to Washington also was a blow. On the plus side, the Beavers will see 17 returning starters during spring practices.

12. Colorado: The Buffaloes remain at the bottom because the bottom line is this: They welcome back 13 starters from a team that went 3-10 and ranked last in both scoring offense and scoring defense. Still, coach Jon Embree put together a solid recruiting class, one that could become the foundation of his substantial rebuilding project.

Happy Friday. Welcome to the post-signing day mailbag.

I arranged these questions in front of me like hats, then picked them.

If you wish to follow me on Twitter, which you most certainly should, then go here and follow the directions.

To the notes.

Pheezie from Nor Cal writes: Reflecting on the moves and news of the last few weeks in the conference, [Washington coach Steve Sarkisian] program raids now seem to smack loudly of desperation. While you could view them as savvy, it seems to put the impetus on winning, like now. I don't think you can count on raiding other schools' top recruiters every single year and hoping they flip enough guys -- especially at the prices they're paying. At what point does Udub admin sour on Sark's antics? I know a lot depends on wins, but, is Sark on the #1 P12 hot seat heading into the 2012 season? And what is his magic win number to beat the heat?

Ted Miller: Sarkisian is not only not on the Pac-12's hottest seat, his seat isn't even warm.

It's fair to say, however, that Sarkisian made a mistake when he hired Nick Holt, his good friend and former colleague at USC, as his defensive coordinator. At the time, Sarkisian sold it as a home run hire, which was justification for the Holt's exorbitant $650,000 salary.

It wasn't. So that is on Sark.

But there is nothing desperate about hiring Tosh Lupoi and Eric Kiesau away from California, or Justin Wilcox and Peter Sirmon away from Tennessee, or Keith Heyward away from Oregon State. I call that savvy without reservation. Those are good coaches and good recruiters. Further, beyond the respect all those guys command, Sarkisian immediately generated some positive momentum for his program after a lackluster finish to the season.

As for winning "like now," well, welcome to the world of big-time college coaching. Every AQ program needs to win "like now." You mention a hot seat. Sarkisian isn't on one, but if the Huskies post a losing season in 2012, his seat would certainly warm up in 2013. That's the nature of the business. But I don't think that's going to happen. I see a program with a clear upward trajectory.

Wilcox is one of the bright young coordinators in the country, a guy who is headed for an A-list head coaching job, perhaps within the next five years. Lupoi is widely regarded as one of the nation's best recruiters. Those hires are about right now but they are more about rebuilding Washington into an elite, top-25 program.

Wilcox should yield immediate help on defense. I'd be shocked if the Huskies give up 33.3 points and 426.3 yards per game next fall. And while Lupoi perked up recruiting this go-around -- hello Shaq Thompson! -- he should be an even greater asset in 2012.

But, of course, my typing it doesn't make it so. Sarkisian, just like any other coach, needs to produce. What I am merely saying is the Pac-12 blog is still putting a "buy rating" on the Huskies.

Will from Norfolk, Va., writes: What do you think about Rich Rodriguez's unimpressive recruiting class for Arizona? Do you think it'll get better next year?

Ted Miller: I think: 1. It's probably better than it's being rated; 2. Absolutely, things will get better. And, by the way, if Arizona inks Davonte Neal that one signature would make Rodriguez's first class a success. He's a guy who could provide immediate help on either side of the ball.

One thing that might have hurt Arizona's short-term recruiting success is Rodriguez hired a staff with very little West Coast recruiting experience (other than retaining respected O-line coach Robert Anae). Don't take that wrong: As you know, the Pac-12 blog has repeatedly said that new coaches need to hire their guys -- guys they know and trust. Rodriguez learned that at Michigan when he couldn't lure defensive coordinator Jeff Casteel away from West Virginia, as he did for Arizona.

It's best to view this class as a "getting-to-know-you" effort. Sure, Wildcats fans would have loved if Rodriguez reeled in some big names based on his big name. But his recruiting track record is strong. Just look how successful Michigan was this season with his recruits.

Of course, Wildcats fans also have a right to expect Rodriguez and his staff to land a higher rated class in 2013.

Brent from Salt Lake City writes: A little shocked by the Brian Johnson hire at the U. Can you make me feel better about the prospect of a 25 year old OC?

Ted Miller: Of course, it's a risk. Johnson, who doesn't turn 25 until Feb. 16, has only been a full-time assistant coach -- quarterbacks -- since 2010. When you see a want ad, just about every one requires a certain amount of experience. Why? Because it means you'll know the ins and outs of said job. You'll have already seen -- and overcome -- the myriad challenges a job presents. There is no way around it: Johnson lacks experience. He hasn't seen a lot as a coach. Further, you could argue that Utah hasn't exactly been lights out at quarterback since he took over the position.

Again, a risk.

That said: What successful person doesn't take risks? As they say: High risk, high reward. That's what Johnson represents.

You need reassurance, Brent? Let me introduce you to someone. His name is Kyle Whittingham. He's your highly successful coach. He made a former BYU fullback your defensive coordinator in 2009. What do you think about Kalani Sitake now?

The obvious read on this is Whittingham sees something in Johnson. When he interviewed Johnson about the job, Johnson wowed him. Whittingham's spidey senses started to tingle. My guess is Whittingham is a believer in his instincts. And he went with his instincts.

Understand: This is not a move that would be made by a coach with questionable job security. If the Utes offense falters next fall -- it wasn't exactly the cat's meow in 2011 under the venerable Norm Chow, by the way -- Whittingham won't get fired over it. He can afford to take a big risk and hope for a big reward down the road.

Shane from Fort Lewis, Wash., writes: How is Washington State truly going to do next year? Is Mike Leach the real answer to get us back in the top 10? Last question; when will WSU be back in a RoseBCS bowl game?

Ted Miller: Shane wants answers!

1. Washington State is going to go 7-5 next year; 2. Yes; 3. The Cougars will play in the 2016 Rose Bowl.

I think Leach will produce immediate results. I think the Cougars will be a bowl team in 2012. How much of a "bowl" team depends on the defense stepping up.

As for the Rose Bowl and top-10, that could take some time. And some savvy recruiting. But Washington State has been to two Rose Bowls since 1997, and Leach produced top-10 teams at a Washington State-like program (Texas Tech). It's entirely reasonable to believe the marriage will yield success.

I'm in the process or reading Leach's book, "Swing Your Sword." Here's something of note. Leach, who never played college football and went to law school before he swerved into coaching, had to work his way up through the coaching ranks, starting at the very bottom of the bottom. Here is Leach recalling his time with Hal Mumme at Iowa Wesleyan.

In these sorts of situations, it's easy to fixate on how the other team has better resources than you do. But it's more important to concentrate on maximizing your own resources instead of worrying about things you can't control. It's a challenge, obviously, because the stronger and faster the other team is, the better they can minimize damage and the better their chances of popping open a big play. Regardless, you just can't spend a lot of time dwelling on what you don't have. Instead, you think about the areas you need to fortify and find your opponent's weaknesses so you can direct your attack.

Leach's coaching strength is doing more with less, with outsmarting more talented foes. That means Cougars teams with five-win talent, win six or seven games. And Cougars with seven-win talent win nine or 10.

Alex from Las Vegas writes: So USC was limited to 15 signings but only got 12. What happens to the balance? Does USC lose them or do theyet to apply those 3 next year?

Ted Miller: I could answer this, but Michael Lev of the Orange County Register did such a good job today that, well, I'm going to steal from him.

The short answer: Signing 12 works in USC's favor. The Trojans are presently at 77 scholarships, according to Lev, which means two players will need to be shaved in order to be in line with NCAA sanctions, which mandate that USC can't have more than 75 scholarship players over each of the next three seasons. That will be easy to hit with natural attrition.

Further, Lev points this out:

As things stand now, Kiffin and his staff can bring in three midyear enrollees next winter. Add those to the 15 signees allowed next February, and you’ve got a total of 18.

That’s a meaningful number.

According to the USCFootball.com’s database, USC signed an average of 18 players from 2007-10, with a high of 19 (2008) and a low of 17 (2010). So this year’s total of 17 and next year’s projected total of 18 are hardly out of the ordinary.

What we're starting to see is that coach Lane Kiffin has a plan to manage the scholarship reductions, and it just might work out. There's no way around being down 10 scholarships each year. It limits options and makes a team more vulnerable to injuries due to depth issues. But if the Trojans stay healthy, and touted recruits pan out, they might just be able to weather the next three years pretty well, despite sanctions.

Mister Kilmister from Front Range, Colo., writes: Ted. You seem like a nice guy. You've done well trying to include CU and Utah into the mix. We're trying out best to fit in with our new conference. We want things to go well. But if you ever call us part of the West Coast again I swear to God I will put a cutout of Ubben's head on a stick and wave it in front of you anytime you set foot in our state. I hope we don't have to go over this again.

Ted Miller: You mean you'll make me younger and better looking?

As new members of the Pac-12, and as a school with a lot of students from California, you guys are a little West Coast-y, aren't you? I'm in landlocked Arizona -- no coast to be seen -- and I'm West Coast-y.

Or do you Utah and Colorado folks insist on being mountain folk even as you settle into the Pac-12?

D from Oakland writes: Got to tell you Ted. I frequent your blog less and less these day. Primarily because the discussion has been overrun by [people D doesn't like in the comments sections]. I know its not your fault and there may be no way to reign in these losers but it makes for a [not fun] lunchtime read. I now go elsewhere for my college football lunchtime fix.

Ted Miller: D, you do realize you can read my wonderful posts -- each and every one, over and over and over -- without reading the comments section? There is no rule that you have to trade barbs in the dark netherworld of the blog comments section.

Jeffrey from Flagstaff, Ariz., writes: For the sake of offseason humor, can you please refer to the upcoming Cal-UW match as the "Raise Bowl."

Ted Miller: "Raise Bowl" is good. We definitely have to figure out a good, snarky name for Washington's visit to California on Nov. 2.

Tosh-o-palooza?

The Welcome Back &%$##@ Bowl!

Thoughts?

Interesting story here from Mitch Sherman about coaches hiring assistants known as much for their recruiting as their coaching acumen -- and the tension that sometimes creates.

And, obviously, this includes analysis of the California-Washington-Tosh Lupoi situation:

The changes paid off for the Huskies, who signed the No. 23 class nationally, headlined by safety Shaq Thompson of Sacramento, Calif., a former Cal commit ranked 16th in the ESPNU 150. Washington also got a late pledge from cornerback Brandon Beaver of Compton, Calif., considered a Cal lean before Lupoi's departure.

[Washington coach Steve] Sarkisian said Wednesday at his press conference to unveil the signees that he prioritized the hiring of excellent recruiters.

"We want to pound our chest on how much football we know," Sarkisian said, "but if the players can't execute it, then that part is a bit irrelevant. You have to have the players in place to do it. So we went out and tried to identify some guys that, I think, were not just good football coaches, but were good recruiters. I think in the end, it did have a direct impact on what we were doing."

So was Lupoi the top recruiter in the Pac-12 this year? Well, he was one of them. But the prize for Pac-12 recruiter of the year went to Stanford's Mike Bloomgren.

It's a tough call in the Pac-12 because there are so many deserving coaches, but Bloomgren and Stanford closed big. Literally. Stanford landed ESPNU 150 offensive tackles Kyle Murphy (San Clemente, Calif./San Clemente) and Andrus Peat (Scottsdale, Ariz./Corona Del Sol) on signing day to give the Cardinal the nation's top O-line class. A nod also goes to former Stanford coach Brian Polian (now with Texas A&M), who started the recruiting, but it was Bloomgren who closed the deal. He fought off USC and Nebraska for Peat, and the Trojans again for Murphy.

Conference coaches getting honorable mention include: Adrian Klemm, UCLA; Tosh Lopoi, Washington; Demetrice Martin, UCLA; Ed Orgeron, USC.

Look at California football. It is your Rorschach test. How you view it -- the 2012 recruiting class as well as coach Jeff Tedford -- measures your sense of perspective.

To some, California's 2012 recruiting class is a disappointment. To others, it's a top-25 class. Both assessments are fair. And true.

To some, Tedford has built a consistent winner in Berkeley, and that has earned him some patience as the Bears try to regain their footing after going 12-13 over the past two seasons. To others, Tedford has plateaued and he faces a win-or-else campaign in 2012. Both assessment are fair. And true.

Everyone knew Tedford would face some tough questions during his signing day news conference Wednesday. Not necessarily tough in a sense of probing his feelings on his job security, but tough in the sense of being distracting from what he wanted to talk about: Another top-25 recruiting class.

"I don't want this to be a big Tosh thing," he said. "I understand where you guys are coming from, but this is about the recruits that are here."

A "Tosh thing" was unavoidable. Tosh Lupoi, Cal's celebrated ace recruiter, had bolted for Washington with two weeks left in the recruiting season. He got a big raise. Folks didn't begrudge him that. The timing, however bad, and the money move, however big, didn't bother Cal fans. It was the process, and the perception of behind-the-scenes double-dealing.

Much of this has been overblown by folks who don't understand how dirty this business sometimes -- mostly by necessity -- gets. Still, there was a disconnect between Tedford and Lupoi over a home visit with top safety prospect Shaq Thompson (Sacramento, Calif./Grant). There is some residual suspicion about which program Lupoi was representing. No, Lupoi wasn't forthcoming with Tedford about what he was doing that night. (We don't know Lupoi's perspective here because Washington decided not to make Lupoi available for interviews until next week. Feel free to judge the wisdom of that media strategy.)

Thereafter, Tedford and Cal asked the Pac-12 to void the evening as a home visit.

"I'm not going to get into mudslinging or anything like that," Tedford said. "The recruiting process went the way that it went. Really, the only thought was that we asked the conference about having a home visit that was kind of used and we wanted to have another home visit to get in and really represent our school. That was really the only thing we asked. Can we go into the home during the week? They said no."

And, yes, Thompson flipped to Washington.

But, really, the big payoff for Lupoi leaving didn't go to Washington. It went to UCLA, which signed defensive end Ellis McCarthy (Monrovia, Calif.), receiver Jordan Payton (Westlake Village, Calif./Oaks Christian) -- who decommitted from Cal, committed to Washington and then signed with the Bruins -- and athlete Kenneth Walker (Richmond, Calif./Kennedy). Oregon ended up with lineman Arik Armstead, who had Cal among his finalists.

Yes, that's a lot of quality beef. Still, the general feeling coming out of the Cal football office is this is life in the big city. You might have noticed this week, and signing day in particular, featured flips across the conference and the nation. Flips are part of recruiting. Fan perspective on them is almost exclusively based on which side of a flip said fan is on.

And, by the way, a prospect has a perfect right to decommit whenever he wants. If he needs to do it 20 times, fine. The only time the athlete is empowered during the process is before he puts pen to paper. Thereafter, he yields power to the program and draconian NCAA rules.

Let's, however, switch gears with a humble question: Did anyone notice that Cal signed ESPNU 150 receiver Darius Powe (Lakewood, Calif./Lakewood) and four-star receiver Bryce Treggs (Bellflower, Calif./St. John's Bosco)? Or the nation's No. 2 QB in Zach Kline? Seven of 17 signees were rated four stars.

Fact: Tedford and the Bears signed a good class. Yes, it could have been a great one. But you could say that about a lot of programs that finished second or third with elite prospects. Just imagine, for example, if USC had signed offensive linemen Andrus Peat and Kyle Murphy? Or Armstead, who originally committed to USC?

There should be no illusions about where Tedford and Cal stand. There is substantial and reasonable frustration over the recent trajectory of the program. It's based on wins and losses. It's based on the sense that Cal got big-timed by Washington with the loss of two assistant coaches. And it's based on a "what could have been" around the recruiting class.

Some see trouble. Tedford knows this. Naturally, he rejects it.

"The perception that we are in trouble is wrong because we aren't in trouble," Tedford said.

Not to go all Simon & Garfunkel in conclusion, but Tedford's task is simple: Build a bridge over these troubled waters. And start winning again in 2012.

National signing day is over. But life is not, even if it feels that way.

Clearing away the confetti and reviewing what happened.

Top class: Stanford signed a class that is the envy of all but a small handful of teams in the nation. ESPN Recruiting ranked Stanford's class 12th. Rivals rated the Cardinal No. 5; Scout ranked Stanford No. 6; 24/7 sports ranked the Cardinal No. 9; and Tom Lemming ranked Stanford 10th. Stanford's haul of offensive linemen might be one of the best in the history of recruiting rankings.

Biggest surprise: Is UCLA coach Jim Mora a rookie or a freshman? However the NFL lifer is best described, his first recruiting haul was outstanding by any measure, but particularly for a coach with basically zero college experience. What you have to credit is Mora hiring a great recruiting staff. The Bruins signed a top-20 class and hit plenty of need areas.

Biggest disappointment: There are very few people who believe that Rich Rodriguez wasn't a great hire for Arizona. Zero, maybe. That said, the Wildcats didn't get a recruiting bump based on that perception. They finished at or near the bottom of most rankings of Pac-12 recruiting classes and didn't sign any recruits with at least a four-star rating from ESPN Recruiting.

Fastest riser: Just over a week ago, Washington's recruiting was surprisingly mediocre, particularly after the Huskies lured ace recruiter Tosh Lupoi away from California. But the Huskies surged late, starting with a commitment from elite safety Shaq Thompson, a former Cal commitment. And the Huskies' surge didn't stop on signing day, as they moved up to No. 23 in the final national rankings.

Under the radar: While Pac-12 newbies Colorado and Utah didn't sign top-25 classes, both very quietly signed strong classes that addressed immediate needs, and they finished in the middle of the Pac-12 recruiting rankings. In their first season recruiting as real Pac-12 teams -- as in having a season of play under their belts -- here's a guess that both Colorado coach Jon Embree and Utah coach Kyle Whittingham are happy with how things went and are eager for another go-around in 2013.

Recruiter of the year: Many wondered if Stanford coach David Shaw could maintain the program momentum created by former coach Jim Harbaugh. Well, in his first season, he led the Cardinal to a BCS bowl game and top-10 finish. On Wednesday, he produced a better recruiting class than Harbaugh ever put together -- at least in terms of recruiting rankings. Those who think Stanford is going away because of the departure of Harbaugh and QB Andrew Luck might be in for a surprise.

Player you'll see next season: It would be surprising if Shaq Thompson isn't starting at safety for Washington in the opener against San Diego State. The same could be said for Isaac Seumalo on the Oregon State offensive line. In L.A., it will be battle between UCLA defensive tackle Ellis McCarthy, USC outside linebacker Jabari Ruffin and USC defensive tackle Leonard Williams for top freshman defender. It will be interesting to see how Stanford's elite class of frosh offensive linemen shapes up. There should be some hot competition there, with one freshman breaking through and at least earning playing time. Also interesting in the Bay Area: Is senior Zach Maynard the answer at QB for Cal, or might Zach Kline earn playing time as a true freshman?

California's tumultuous recruiting season continues to be just that, with good news and bad news arriving the day before national signing day.

The Bears lost receiver Jordan Payton (Westlake Village, Calif./Oaks Christian) to Washington -- the school which lured Cal's former ace recruiter Tosh Lupoi -- but salvaged the day a few hours later by getting a re-commitment from athlete Cedric Dozier.

Payton, also a one-time USC commit, admitted that Lupoi as well as Eric Kiesau -- who also left Cal for Washington -- played a major role in his flip to the Huskies.

"I was very close with Tosh Lupoi and Eric Kiesau at Cal," Payton told ESPN.com's Greg Biggins "When they left for Washington, I decided to take a look there. I really wasn't looking at Washington before, but I took a visit and was blown away."

In other recruiting news Tuesday:

• Arizona State got a commitment from JC linebacker Steffon Martin.
• FB Christian Powell (Upland, Calif.) has flipped from UCLA to Colorado, which is having a nice last month of recruiting.
• Four-star receiver Kenny Lawler (Upland, Calif.) said he'll pick between California, Oregon State and Washington State on signing day.
• Here are the ESPNU signing day times.