Pac 12 recruiting targets class of 2026 West Coast prospects start with a quiet scene. A sweatshirt. A handshake. A gym that still smells like tape and sweat. In that moment, the pitch feels simple. Stay home. Build something. Be the face of the new Pac-12.
Hours later, the reality hits harder. The rebuilt conference will not feel like a museum tour. It will feel like a street fight for relevance, fought inside seven-on-seven events, Friday night stadiums, and group chats that never sleep.
At the time, the rebrand looked like survival. Oregon State and Washington State kept the lights on while the map shifted, then pulled Boise State, Fresno State, San Diego State, Colorado State, and Utah State into a new start date of July 1, 2026.
Yet still, the core question keeps showing up in every recruiting plan. How do Pac-12 recruiting targets, class of 2026 West Coast prospects, choose a league that just finished rebuilding its house while everyone else throws money at the street?
However, this cycle gives the conference one advantage. Geography still matters, especially for families who want Saturday drives more than cross-country flights.
Consequently, this list leans into three truths. The Pac-12 needs players who can change games early, players who can sell belief in a new era, and players who fit the modern roster math shaped by NIL collectives and the transfer portal. Before long, the chase becomes personal. It always does.
The conference that had to learn its name again
In that moment, the Pac-12 stopped pretending nostalgia could carry it. The logo still meant something, but the weekly product needed teeth.
Hours later, coaches started talking like general managers. They talked about roster retention. They talked about travel budgets. Moreover, talked about recruiting rankings as if they were quarterly earnings.
Across the court, you can see the deeper fear. The West Coast has elite talent, but the national powers treat the region like an open buffet.
At the time, the old pitch leaned on tradition. The new pitch leans on opportunity, early snaps, and a chance to become the headline rather than a depth chart footnote.
Yet still, the best West Coast high school football prospects hear the same whispers. Bigger leagues. Huge brands. Larger stages.
However, the stage is not the same as the spotlight. A five-star in a crowded room can disappear.
Consequently, Pac-12 recruiting targets class of 2026 West Coast prospects turn into a specific type of bet. The conference needs recruits who believe they can carry a program, not just join one.
Despite the pressure, you can feel the opportunity in the details. The new members bring new recruiting footprints, especially in Southern California, the Central Valley, Arizona, and Nevada.
Finally, the chase tightens into a single promise. If you stay closer to home, you might play sooner, lead sooner, and own the moment sooner.
What matters when the pitch turns from glossy to real
In that moment, every coach says the same opening line. We need you.
Hours later, the prospect asks the harder question. What do you actually have for me?
At the time, the answer lives in three categories.
Yet still, the first category stays the loudest. Immediate impact matters because the rebuilt Pac-12 cannot wait three years to look dangerous.
However, the second category hits deeper. Regional gravity matters because the league needs faces that families recognize in the grocery store and on local highlights.
Consequently, the third category becomes the quiet separator. Fit matters because the modern game punishes mismatches, and the transfer portal punishes empty promises.
Before long, these criteria become the spine of Pac 12 recruiting targets class of 2026 West Coast prospects. Win now. Build identity. Keep the roster intact.
Across the court, the top prospects can feel the difference between a sales pitch and a plan.
Just beyond the arc, the list begins.
The West Coast turn that could define the next decade
10. Derek Colman Brusa, Edge from Kennedy Catholic, Burien, Washington
In that moment, you notice the shoulders first. They sit high, like a sprinter waiting for the gun.
Hours later, the film shows why the Pac-12 needs him. He plays edge like a closing door, with fast hands, violent hips, and no patience for slow tackles.
At the time, Washington State and Oregon State both lived on player development and late bloomers. Colman Brusa offers something cleaner: a ready frame and a ready motor.
Yet still, he fits the new conference shape too. Boise State and Fresno State have made careers out of building front-seven toughness, and that identity travels.
However, the data point matters here. Per the 247Sports Composite state rankings for Washington, Colman Brusa checks in at 6 feet 5, 267 pounds, with a 94 rating and a national rank of 126.
Consequently, his legacy value ties to the message. Keep elite defenders in the region, then build a conference that wins games in the fourth quarter.
9. Tony Cumberland, Defensive line from Willamette Eugene, Oregon
Tony Cumberland is what the new Pac 12 keeps chasing and keeps watching drift away. A four-star trench kid with West Coast roots, a national profile, and enough mass to make guards feel small.
Oregon got him early and never let the relationship cool. 247Sports notes Cumberland committed in September 2023, then made the loudest possible follow-through: he moved from Scottsdale to Eugene and enrolled at Willamette for his final two years of high school so Oregon could stay in his daily life, not just his official visit calendar.
That is gravity. Not marketing. Not tradition. Gravity.
December made it official. Cumberland signed with Oregon on Early Signing Day, December 3, 2025, which means a 2026 blue-chip defensive lineman is already off the board before the rebuilt Pac-12 even plays a single down as the new-look league.
His tape explains why the Ducks treated him like a priority from the start. Cumberland enjoys the close quarters. He attacks an inside shoulder, rolls his hips through contact, and turns the pocket into a crowded phone booth. 247Sports lists him at 6 foot 4.5 and 285 with a 95 rating, and the build matches the way he plays, heavy-handed and hard to move once he gets his feet under him.
Consequently, the cultural note lands in Eugene and Corvallis alike. If the Pac-12 cannot keep its best linemen close, it cannot sell physical football as an identity.
8. Camren Hamiel, Safety from Desert Edge, Goodyear, Arizona
In that moment, Arizona recruiting always feels like a chase. The best kids get tagged early, then the calendar turns into a tug of war.
Hours later, Hamiel plays the position like a voice. He points. He closes. Moreover, cleans up mistakes that never show in a box score.
At the time, San Diego State built a reputation on defensive structure and secondary toughness, and Boise State always loved safeties who could erase angles.
Yet still, Hamiel fits the rebuilt Pac 12 because he looks like a day one special teams demon with starter upside.
However, the numbers keep him honest. Per the 247Sports Composite list for Arizona, Hamiel is 6 feet 0, 180 pounds, with a 93 rating and a national rank of 165.
Consequently, his legacy note connects to the scheme. A new league needs a defensive identity, and safeties often define that voice.
7. Devin Fitzgerald, Wide receiver from Brophy College Preparatory, Phoenix, Arizona
In that moment, the name alone turns heads in the West. It carries history and expectation.
Hours later, the route work sells the rest. Fitzgerald glides into space, then snaps his feet down like he owns the sideline.
At the time, Pac 12 recruiting targets class of 2026 West Coast prospects needed a wideout who could pull cameras back toward the conference.
Yet still, the fit goes beyond marketing. Fresno State and Boise State have both produced high-volume receivers, and San Diego State can sell a fast path to featured touches.
However, the measurable baseline gives the chase a real shape. Per the 247Sports Composite list for Arizona, Fitzgerald measures 6 feet 2, 205 pounds, with a 92 rating and a national rank of 215.
Consequently, his cultural note becomes a test of belief. Can the rebuilt Pac-12 keep a high-profile Arizona receiver close enough to matter, or does he become another export?
6. Jett Washington, Safety from Bishop Gorman, Las Vegas, Nevada
In that moment, Bishop Gorman players walk onto the field as they have already seen the future. Their school sends them everywhere.
Hours later, Washington looks like the kind of safety the modern game requires. He carries rare length, then still moves like a corner when the ball leaves the hand.
At the time, Nevada has been a pipeline state for the Mountain West more than the power leagues. The rebuilt Pac-12 needs to own that lane again.
Yet still, the pitch here must feel different. Washington does not need offers. He needs a reason.
However, the data point shows why every staff member stays with him. Per the 247Sports Composite list for Nevada, Washington stands 6 feet 5, 215 pounds, with a 0.9824 rating and a national rank of 36.
Consequently, the legacy note writes itself. If the Pac-12 can land a Bishop Gorman safety with national top forty juice, it signals a conference that can recruit above its weight again.
5. Brandon Arrington, Cornerback from Mount Miguel, San Diego, California, Texas A&M
In that moment, San Diego recruits used to feel like afterthoughts. The region produced speed, then watched the power schools scoop it late.
Hours later, Arrington changes that pattern. He looks like the kind of athlete who can play receiver, corner, or returner and still tilt a Saturday.
At the time, San Diego State needed local stars to sell the new era. Boise State and Fresno State need athletes who can win the edges without perfect play calls.
Yet still, Arrington fits all of them because he plays with a track athlete’s confidence and a football player’s appetite.
However, the ranking keeps him in the national conversation. Per the 247Sports Composite list for California, Arrington is 6 feet 2, 186 pounds, with a 96 rating and a national rank of 55.
Consequently, his cultural note belongs to Southern California. The rebuilt Pac-12 needs prospects who make the region feel owned again, not rented.
4. Ryder Lyons, Quarterback from Folsom, California, BYU
In that moment, Folsom football feels like a factory. The lights look too bright for a high school stadium, and the offense moves like a college script.
Hours later, Lyons delivers the detail coaches crave. He throws with pace, then runs with the weight of a fullback when the lane opens.
At the time, quarterback recruiting is the most brutal market in the country. Every league sells quarterbacks hope, then buries them behind older transfers.
Yet still, Pac-12 recruiting targets class of 2026 West Coast prospects need a quarterback who can become a conference storyline, not just a roster piece.
However, the composite rating stamps him as more than local hype. Per the 247Sports Composite list for California, Lyons measures 6 feet 2.5, 220 pounds, with a 96 rating and a national rank of 60.
Consequently, his legacy note ties into the Pac-12 football schedule itself. If the new league wants marquee Saturday windows, it needs quarterbacks people want to watch.
3. Richard Wesley, Edge from Sierra Canyon, Chatsworth, California, Texas
In that moment, Sierra Canyon feels like a brand. The crowd expects stars before kickoff.
Hours later, Wesley looks like a reason. He gets off the ball like he heard something personal, then bends the corner with a sprinter’s hip turn.
At the time, edge rushers dictate modern college football. They also dictate transfer portal shopping lists when teams fail to recruit them.
Yet still, the rebuilt Pac-12 can sell Wesley the cleanest pitch possible. Come wreck games, then become the face of a defense that the league can hang its identity on.
However, the data point puts him in a national view. Per the 247Sports Composite list for California, Wesley stands 6 feet 5, 250 pounds, with a 95 rating and a national rank of 80.
Consequently, the cultural note hits Southern California again. The Pac 12 needs a pass rusher who turns local Friday nights into Saturday marketing.
2. Chris Henry Jr, Wide receiver from Mater Dei, California, Ohio State
In that moment, Mater Dei games feel like college games. The sidelines stretch wide, the pads pop louder, and every snap looks filmed for a documentary.
Hours later, Henry shows why his name keeps climbing. He runs routes as he rehearsed them in a mirror, then plays the ball as if it belongs to him.
At the time, the rebuilt Pac-12 needs stars from Mater Dei for one reason. Winning the West Coast starts with winning the most famous halls.
Yet still, landing him would mean more than a single commitment. It would mean the conference can still recruit at the highest edge of the region.
However, the composite ranking makes the chase obvious. Per the 247Sports Composite list for California, Henry measures 6 feet 5, 201 pounds, with a 98 rating and a national rank of 32.
Consequently, his legacy note becomes a warning and a dream. Either the Pac-12 keeps a top thirty-five receiver home, or it watches another local icon leave for someone else’s spotlight.
1. Kodi Greene, Offensive tackle from Mater Dei, California
In that moment, you cannot teach size. The hallway looks smaller when he walks through it.
Hours later, the film shows the rare part. Greene does not just lean on defenders. He moves them, then finishes as he enjoys it.
At the time, every rebuilt league needs a foundation piece. Tackles become that foundation because they protect quarterbacks, stabilize run games, and keep offenses on schedule when everything else breaks.
Yet still, the Pac-12 needs to prove it can land elite line talent, not just skill players. Boise State has lived on tough lines. Oregon State built its best identity there. Fresno State won by making the games ugly.
However, the data point puts Greene in the tier that changes recruiting narratives. Per the 247Sports Composite list for California, Greene stands 6 feet 5.5, 320 pounds, with a 98 rating and a national rank of 20.
Consequently, his cultural legacy note carries the full weight of the conference. If Pac-12 recruiting targets class of 2026 West Coast prospects land the region’s premier tackle, the rebuilt league gains credibility that no press release can manufacture.
The next pitch will decide what the rebuilt Pac-12 becomes
In that moment, the future feels fragile. The new members arrive officially in July 2026, but recruiting never waits for paperwork.
Hours later, the staff will fly again. They will walk into gyms again. They will promise development again.
At the time, the Pac-12 recruiting targets class of 2026 West Coast prospects list is not just a wishlist. It is a survival plan.
Yet still, the hardest part has nothing to do with highlights. It has to do with trust, especially in an era where NIL collectives reshape decisions, and the transfer portal offers a second exit if the first choice feels wrong.
However, this rebuilt league can sell one thing that the national giants struggle to sell. A recruit can become the main character quickly.
Consequently, the conference should lean into identity instead of apology. Sell physical football. Sell defense that travels. Moreover, sell quarterback development that does not require waiting behind a rented veteran.
Before long, the message has to show up on the field. A few statement wins change more recruiting calls than a thousand graphics.
Across the court, recruits notice one detail every Saturday. They notice energy. They notice belief. Most importantly, notice whether a stadium feels alive or rented.
Just beyond the arc, the rebuilt Pac-12 needs a signature. It needs a season where the new logo does not feel like a throwback.
Finally, the lingering question hangs over every living room visit. When Pac-12 recruiting targets class of 2026 West Coast prospects look at the map, do they see a conference rebuilding, or do they see a conference ready to take the West back?
Read More: Top 100 Football Recruits Class of 2026 NIL Meets Tradition
FAQs
Q1: What does “Pac 12 recruiting targets class of 2026 West Coast prospects” mean?
A: It’s a shortlist of West Coast 2026 recruits who could define the rebuilt league’s first real recruiting statement.
Q2: When do Class of 2026 recruits sign their letters of intent?
A: Many sign in the early period in December 2025. That window sets the tone before the 2026 season even starts.
Q3: Why does the July 1, 2026, start date matter for recruiting now?
A: Recruiting never waits for paperwork. Coaches sell the new era early, and prospects decide long before the first kickoff.
Q4: Why does the article emphasize “regional gravity”?
A: Local stars keep fans invested and make the league feel real. They also help the rebuilt Pac-12 keep talent from leaving the region.
Q5: What kind of players does the rebuilt Pac-12 need most in this cycle?
A: It needs early-impact recruits who can change games fast. It also needs faces that build belief in the new era.
