Top Class of 2019 Pac-12 recruits: Oregon signs one of the nation’s best in Kayvon Thibodeaux

1. Kayvon Thibodeaux DE Thousand Oaks, CA - Oregon - The Ducks signed the top prospect out West and one of the top players in the nation at any position. Thibodeaux is one of those 12-15 prospects there are each year who look like they could already play in the NFL and should be a slam dunk first round draft pick. He might be able to fill in for NFL prospect Jalen Jelks right away.
2. Kyle Ford WR Orange, CA - USC - The only five-star-level player other than Thibodeaux signing Pac-12 this year, Ford is a 6’2 215 powerful receiver in the mold of USC great JuJu Smith-Schuster. He stuck with the Trojans through hard times and will likely redshirt in 2019 due to an ACL injury he suffered in his senior year and USC’s talent and depth at receiver.
3. Sean Rhyan G San Juan Capistrano, CA - UCLA - Chip Kelly’s staff is doing some interesting recruiting at UCLA right now, but they still managed to pull the West’s top offensive linemen to Westwood. Rhyan is already 6’5 325 and is the kind of smooth/polished prospect that could start as a true freshman on an inexperienced UCLA line.
4. Faatui Tuitele DT Honolulu, HI - Washington - The Huskies killed it recruiting defensive linemen this year and Hawaii’s best is the crown jewel. He’s big and strong and should fall in line as the next dominant DT at Washington.
5. Jacob Bandes DT Pittsburgh, CA - Washington - California’s top defensive tackle heads to a program that’s becoming a star DT factory - Danny Shelton-Vita Vea-Greg Gaines. It’s fitting as the stout and powerful Bandes reminds me of a bigger, more-athletic (6’2 315) Gaines and could fit into the rotation at Washington as a freshman.
6. Mase Funa LB Santa Ana, CA - Oregon - You don’t see 6’2 245 linebackers with the skill and athleticism Funa already has coming out of high school very often. He’s good and big enough to where he could start right away on Oregon’s defense.
7. Jonah Tauanu’u T Harbor City, CA - Oregon - There aren’t many players with the size and talent of Tauanu’u out West. He could slide in as a key contributor at tackle in 2019 the way Penei Sewell did in 2018, instantly giving the Ducks talented depth on the line.
8. Drake Jackson DE Corona, CA - USC - What’s great about Jackson is he already has the size to play defensive end in the NFL, not just the Pac-12, at 6’3 270. He’s ultra strong and reminds me of the best defensive linemen of the Pete Carroll glory years. He could play right away at USC.
9. Puka Nacua WR Orem, UT - UCLA/USC/Oregon/Washington - The longtime USC commit was going to flip to Oregon, then Washington, then UCLA, then Oregon again, now UCLA again. He’s taking more time to make a decision, but it looks like the electric, 6’2 190 WR will stay in the Pac-12 with one of those four schools.
10. Trent McDuffie CB Bellflower, CA - Washington - Athletic enough to be a star punt returner, but physical enough to fit right in with Washington’s Death Row secondary, McDuffie looks a lot like Byron Murphy did coming out of high school. His stock skyrocketed his senior season and he ended up being one of the West’s most-highly-rated DBs.
11. Mykael Wright CB Lancaster, CA - Oregon - Big, fast and strong, Wright isn’t too far off from Thibodeaux in being Oregon’s most-talented signee. He will fit right in with a young and talented Oregon secondary and could get solid playing time in 2019.
12. Elijah Higgins WR Austin, TX - Stanford - The Cardinal landed a big time receiver out of Texas who might be able to step in for J.J. Arcega-Whiteside right away. He’s 6’3 215 and has the athleticism and polish to contribute from day one.

Other top recruits

Jayden Daniels QB San Bernadino, CA - Arizona State

Mycah Pittman WR Calabasas, CA - Oregon

Austin Jones RB Oakland, CA - Stanford

Branson Bragg C Crandall, TX - Stanford

Laitu Latu DE Carmichael, CA - Washington