Generally when it comes to great outside linebacking recruits in the Pac-12, the USC Trojans are the team that scoops up the best of them year after year. The edge rushing for USC has been one of their strongest suits. In the Pete Carroll era, USC stacked up on defensive recruits year after year and battered up opposing offenses week-in, week-out.
Oregon and Cal have stepped up their game in the recruiting business, particularly on the defensive side of the football. But the team that could be making the biggest noise in terms of speed rushers outside of USC? The Stanford Cardinal, interestingly enough.
James Vaughters proved to be a solid impact freshman for the Cardinal and could be a real pest for the conference to deal with the next two-three seasons. Noor Davis, winner of the Butkus Award for top high school linebacking recruit, could be doing the same this year. Although he has offers from many of the biggest programs in the country and did check out the USC Trojans, academics has figured big for the Leesburg product, and Davis has reaffirmed that he'll be signing up to play for the Cardinal next season.
It's big news for a Cardinal team that must upgrade its defense to stay in the upper echelon of the conference whenever Andrew Luck departs.