Top 20 Pac-12 football commitments: Oregon Ducks, USC Trojans lead way, but Washington Huskies climbing

The long-term future of the Pac-12 Conference may be in doubt due to conference realignment, but the immediate future appears to be loaded with talent due to an impressive early list of 2023 commitments. 

While the USC Trojans took a commanding lead early in the team standings, the Oregon Ducks have made a significant run of their own with a pair of five-star commitments and plenty of depth from across the country. 

Similarly, Washington has steadily climbed the national rankings and entered the top-25 with a quartet of four-star pledges.

Here's a look at the conference's top-20 most important commitments of the 2023 recruiting cycle (so far):

20. 4-star quarterback Brayden Dorman (Vista Ridge HS; Colorado) — Arizona Wildcats

Coming off a stellar 2022 recruiting cycle, the Arizona Wildcats needed to maintain that momentum in 2023.

Enter Brayden Dorman.

The nation's No. 15 quarterback - and a four-star recruit - looked dead-set on a future at Oregon State before Arizona surged late.

Dorman has been an active recruiter for the Wildcats and many believe he has a bright future at the collegiate level. 

19. 4-star running back Dante Dowdell (Picayune HS; Mississippi) — Oregon Ducks

247Sports lists Dante Dowdell as a three-star prospect, while On3 lists him as the nation's No. 6 running back, a distinction that would launch him well inside the top-10 of this list.

As a junior, he rushed for 2,555 yards and 28 touchdowns, earning state player of the year honors in Mississippi.  

So, who do you believe?

Either way, securing his pledge was solid recruiting by Oregon and running back coach Carlos Locklyn.

Given a lack of West Coast running back talent, USC ventured to Texas to get its pair of ball-carriers, while Oregon was forced to pluck Dowdell away from Mississippi.

That's a tall order, but the Ducks managed to get the job done.

Dowdell could become a household name in the next couple of years if Oregon's offense reaches its potential. 

18. 4-star wide receiver Rashid Williams (Pittsburg HS; California) — Washington Huskies

The first new four-star commitment of the Kalen DeBoer era, Rashid Williams was recruited heavily by more than half of the Pac-12 Conference, as well as Arkansas, Miami, Ole Miss, Mississippi State and others.

The nation's No. 244 overall prospect and No. 27 wide receiver chose Washington and was followed shortly thereafter by a stunning string of 12 commitments in 12 days for the Huskies. 

Williams missed his entire sophomore year with a broken collarbone and fell from inside the nation's top-100 prospects to outside the top 250.

Fully healthy, Williams is beginning to climb back up the list - a good sign for his future production in Seattle. 

17. 4-star safety Kodi Decambra (Bishop Gorman HS; Nevada) — Oregon Ducks

There's buzz that Kodi Decambra is wildly underrated, a sentiment that was bolstered after he finished as one of two Elite 11 MVPs on the defensive side of the ball and earned an Under Armour All-American Game invitation. 

The 6-foot, 175-pound defensive back is finally seeing his stock rise. 

Rated the nation’s No. 239 overall prospect and No. 18 safety, the Bishop Gorman star also may help Oregon reverse a trend of several key misses at the high school national power program. 

If that's the case his recruiting value will be even more significant. 

16. 4-star cornerback Curley Reed (Lake Charles College Prep; Louisiana) — Washington Huskies

One of the more surprising commitments in the conference so far, Louisiana product Curley Reed generated more than 25 college offers before choosing the Huskies over Auburn, Florida State, LSU, Miami, Nebraska, USC and others.

In terms of 247Sports composite rankings, Reed is the headliner of Washington's class, but his ranking fluctuates by more than 100 spots nationally depending on the site. 

Regardless, the SEC-territory recruiting victory speaks to a strong belief in Washington's defensive back development and is yet another positive sign for the program.

15. 4-star running back Quinten Joyner (Manor HS; Texas) — USC Trojans

Given a general lack of West Coast running back talent - outside of Roderick Robinson II (UCLA) and Jayden Limar (Notre Dame) - top-flight Pac-12 programs had to leave the conference's geographical footprint to find ball-carriers.

Oregon went to Mississippi for Dowdell, while USC snagged a pair of big-time backs out of Texas.

Frankly, either Quinten Joyner or A'Marion Peterson could go in this spot, as the ranking has more to do with the 1-2 punch the Trojans have secured for themselves than any one individual. 

However, Joyner, the nation’s No. 212 overall prospect and No. 8 running back, earns the nod because he's the higher-rated player.

Still, USC's haul is impressive (times two). 

14. 4-star defensive lineman Kelze Howard (Spring Valley HS; Nevada) — Oregon State Beavers

It had been more than five years - 2,050 days to be exact - since Oregon State last landed a 247Sports composite four-star prospect. 

But Kelze Howard, the nation’s No. 171 overall prospect and No. 22 defensive lineman, ended that streak, becoming the highest-rated high school defensive prospect in program history.

There are already rumblings that his recruitment may not be over, so Beaver Nation needs to cross its fingers.

Still, it's a great sign that Jonathan Smith is making headway in Corvallis.

The wins have started to come, and the recruiting results are slowly beginning to follow.

13. 4-star cornerback Cole Martin (Basha HS; Arizona) — Oregon Ducks

Arguably the easiest recruiting victory on the entire list, Cole Martin is the son of new Oregon cornerback coach Demetrice Martin.

So his future in Eugene may have been sealed as soon as his dad got the job.

Still, he's a major addition for the Ducks.

Martin is rated the nation’s No. 157 overall prospect and No. 14 cornerback, and gives the Ducks two of the top three cornerback prospects in the West region.

12. 4-star wide receiver Ashton Cozart (Flower Mound HS; Texas) — Oregon Ducks

Once an Oklahoma Sooners pledge, Texas product Ashton Cozart wiped his social media of any reference to the program in May and flipped to the Ducks.

The nation’s No. 152 overall prospect and No. 17 wide receiver is a bit raw, but the tools are off the charts.

Cozart is a blazing-fast 6-foot-3 1/2, 181-pound wide receiver with a high ceiling.

If it all comes together, he could be extremely special. 

11. 4-star edge-rusher Hunter Clegg (American Fork HS; Utah) — Stanford Cardinal

One of four bluechip commitments in Stanford's class, Utah edge-rusher Hunter Clegg chose the Cardinal over Auburn, BYU, LSU, Michigan, Oregon, USC, Utah, Washington and others.

Rated the nation’s No. 151 overall prospect, Clegg was thought to be a heavy Utah lean at one point, but Stanford managed to lure him away.

The Cardinals have just 11 pledges in its class, so don't be fooled by the No. 44 ranking nationally.

Stanford's class is intriguing. 

10. 4-star defensive back Braxton Myers (Coppell HS; Texas) — USC Trojans

As previously discussed, the West region cornerback depth is lacking in the 2023 recruiting cycle.

So USC went to Texas and snagged Braxton Myers, who the Trojans project as an outside cornerback despite his "safety" distinction on some recruiting sites. 

Myers, an All-American Bowl selection, chose USC over offers from Auburn, Clemson, Florida State, LSU, Michigan, Notre Dame, Oklahoma, Texas and many others. 

He is a versatile 6-foot-1, 185-pound defensive back who is almost certain to provide special teams help and defensive backfield depth sooner rather than later. 

Plus, the upside is clearly visible. 

9. 4-star cornerback Caleb Presley (Rainier Beach HS; Washington) — Oregon Ducks

Having secured Arizona product Cole Martin earlier in the 2023 recruiting cycle, Oregon focused its efforts on Rainier Beach cornerback Caleb Presley all spring.

This month, the All-American Bowl selection finally picked Oregon over Alabama, LSU, Oklahoma, Notre Dame, Stanford, Texas, USC, Washington and others.

For the Ducks, it further cements their hold on Washington (see: 5-star offensive tackle Josh Conerly Jr.) and gives them a pair of bluechip cornerbacks.

Presley's value on the field, particularly given his versatility, should not be overlooked, but he carries added importance by keeping the Washington pipeline thriving and by giving Oregon a commitment at a "light" position this year. 

8. 4-star linebacker Tackett Curtis (Many HS; Louisiana) — USC Trojans

From a pure "recruiting strength" standpoint, getting Tackett Curtis was a flex by Lincoln Riley and USC.

A Louisiana product and the nation's No. 5 linebacker, Curtis held nearly 50 scholarship offers when he recently committed to the Trojans.

He chose USC over Auburn, Clemson, Florida, Florida State, Georgia, LSU, Miami, Michigan, Notre Dame, Oklahoma, Oregon, Stanford, Texas A&M and many others.

From a football standpoint, Curtis is a highly-productive tackler (103 as a junior) whose talent should translate well to the college game.

He's got a chance to be a defensive tone-setter for the Trojans for years to come - and if that proves to be the case, this ranking will be too low. 

7. 4-star defensive lineman Anthony James (Wylie East HS; Texas) — Washington Huskies

It says something about Washington's recruiting progress that the program not only has a few players who could be considered true headliners, but also two who call Texas and Louisiana home. 

Anthony James, the nation’s No. 108 overall prospect and No. 12 defensive lineman, took official visits to Auburn, Utah and Washington, but the Huskies won out.

The 6-foot-5, 265-pound defensive lineman carries added value given the general lack of defensive line talent in the West region.

6. 4-star tight end Jaden Platt (Eaton HS; Texas) — Stanford Cardinal

Stanford has a pair of commitments on the list - and four four-star prospects in its recruiting class. 

Jaden Platt, the nation’s No. 88 overall prospect and No. 5 tight end, has seen his stock take off recently, as he jumped from outside the top 200 prospects nationally into the top-100.

Platt chose Stanford over Florida, Florida State, LSU, Miami, Michigan State, Oregon, Tennessee and several others.

Already considered a major recruiting victory, Platt's commitment could give the Cardinal a true class headliner on Signing Day.

5. 4-star athlete Makai Lemon (Los Alamitos HS; California) — USC Trojans

To put it simply, the top-five commitments in the Pac-12 Conference are a pretty clear-cut group.

While recruiting services may view Nos. 6-20 in any number of orders, the top-five is rock solid with elite prospects.

At No. 5 in the Pac-12 commitment rankings, it's Makai Lemon.

The nation’s No. 24 overall prospect and No. 2 athlete falls just shy of five-star status - a distinction he would lay claim to by Signing Day if he remains at the No. 24 spot nationally.

On the field, Lemon has been the primary target of Los Alamitos five-star quarterback Malachi Nelson for years, so it's no surprise to see both members of the duo high on this list.

That connection will continue in college at USC - and should only help smooth Lemon's transition to the college level. 

He's a future star, and one who projects as a high NFL draft pick in time.

4. 5-star wide receiver Jurrion Dickey (Valley Christian HS; California) — Oregon Ducks

For much of his recruitment, Jurrion Dickey was viewed as a top-100 prospect with upside.

But he's delivered on that promise this spring and seen his stock absolutely skyrocket in recent months after a series of stunning camp showings. 

Rated the nation’s No. 14 overall prospect and No. 2 wide receiver, Dickey is firmly in the discussion as the nation's top pass-catcher.

Here's what 247Sports had to say about Dickey's ascension:

"Dickey has a rare combination of size, speed, body control, strength and hands. He’s a physical player who runs well enough to make a play after the catch and get deep while catching the ball well enough to be used as a possession receiver and go-to guy on key third down plays." 

3. 5-star wide receiver Zachariah Branch (Bishop Gorman HS; Nevada) — USC Trojans

The top two receivers in the country are staying home - and will have elite quarterbacks throwing them the football.

Branch, the nation’s No. 10 overall prospect and No. 1 wide receiver, also recently received a bump to five-star status on 247Sports.

But while Dickey had to climb the rankings to do so, Branch has been projected as arguably the nation's top wide receiver for more than a year. 

Here's 247Sports' breakdown of the dynamic playmaker:

"Branch picked up his five-star rating as well. The USC commit was already slated to earn his 5th-star before last weekend’s Future 50 event but his dominant showing pushed up our board even more.

"He jumped from No. 12 nationally in the Top247 to No. 10 and his game is continuing to trend up. He has really improved as a pure pass catcher and route runner this off-season and is so much more than just a speed guy. He’s the fastest receiver in the country and clocked a 10.3-100m as a sophomore but didn’t run track this past spring to focus on football and it showed." 

2. 5-star quarterback Malachi Nelson (Los Alamitos HS; California) - USC Trojans

The debate between No. 1 and No. 2 on this list will rage on for years to come.

But no one disputes Malachi Nelson's place as one of America's top prospects.

Rated the nation's No. 5 overall recruit, the 6-foot-3, 182-pound signal-caller was committed to Oklahoma before following Lincoln Riley to USC.

Now the unquestioned headliner of USC's class, Nelson projects as a future NFL first-round pick - and a college superstar.

Riley churns out Heisman Trophy candidates at the quarterback position, so it wouldn't be a surprise to see Nelson as a Heisman finalist in the coming years. 

1. 5-star quarterback Dante Moore (Martin Luther King Jr. Senior HS; Michigan) - Oregon Ducks 

Perhaps no prospect in the country is hotter right now than Dante Moore.

For months, Texas-bound quarterback Arch Manning has been viewed as a nearly unimpeachable choice as the nation's No. 1 overall prospect.

But in the past few weeks, Moore has firmly entered the discussion - and some believe will eventually overtake Manning for the No. 1 spot. 

The Michigan star was offered by Jim Harbaugh before his eighth-grade year, so he's been viewed as a superstar for years.

But recent camp showings, including a jaw-dropping Elite 11 performance, bumped him up to No. 2 nationally.

Prior to this year, 247Sports has never had 4 quarterbacks in the top-10 prospects nationally.

This year, four quarterbacks take up the top five spots - Manning (No. 1; Texas), Moore (No. 2; Oregon), Nicholaus Iamaleava (No. 3; Tennessee) and Malachi Nelson (No. 5; USC). 

In a historic year for quarterbacks, Dan Lanning's "progrum" may have secured the best player in the country. 

Moore may be Oregon's biggest recruiting victory ever. 

FINAL TALLY

7 - Oregon (1, 4, 9, 12, 13, 17, 19)

6 - USC (2, 3, 5, 8, 10, 15)

3 - Washington (7, 16, 18) 

2 - Stanford (6, 11) 

1 - Oregon State (14)

1 - Arizona (20)