Much has been made in recent years about the state of California and how the top talent gets distributed throughout the country. Most of the talent resides in Southern California, which used to be a USC stronghold, but in recent years the state’s best players have been more and more willing to leave the West Coast to play in the SEC or at Ohio State or Clemson.
With several of the state’s top prospects committing this summer, now is an opportune time to look back at the top-10 recruits from California from previous recruiting cycles — 2019 through 2022 — to see what sort of impact these players are making at the next level.
All rankings are from the 247Sports Composite.
2019
1. Five-star DL Kayvon Thibodeaux (No. 2 nationally, Oregon): Thibodeaux was the No. 2 player in the nation and certainly lived up to the hype. He had great performances in high-profile settings — the 2019 and 2020 Pac-12 title games and 2020 Rose Bowl — and notched 19 career sacks on his way to becoming a top-five pick in the 2022 NFL Draft.
2. Five-star ATH Bru McCoy (No. 9, USC/Texas/USC/Tennessee): McCoy’s college career started with a wild transfer saga. An off-the-field incident led to his departure from USC, and he transferred to Tennessee last year and caught 52 passes for 667 yards and four scores. McCoy figures to be the Vols’ top wideout this season.
3. Four-star QB Jayden Daniels (No. 35, Arizona State/LSU): Daniels had a really promising freshman season with the Sun Devils but was up and down over the next two years while the program was in the midst of off-the-field turmoil. He transferred to LSU last year, won the starting QB job, revived his career and could potentially lead the Tigers to the SEC Championship Game again this season.
4. Four-star WR Kyle Ford (No. 38, USC/UCLA): A pair of ACL injuries have hampered Ford’s career. He had his best season at USC last year (20 receptions, 365 yards, two touchdowns) but transferred to crosstown rival UCLA for more opportunities in the offense.
5. Four-star DB Mykael Wright (No. 41, Oregon): Wright was a first-team All-Pac-12 corner in 2020, but his play slipped in 2021. He left school early but went undrafted in 2022 after posting 113 career tackles and two picks. He played for the Seattle Sea Dragons of the XFL this spring.
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6. Four-star CB Chris Steele (No. 42, Florida/USC): Steele had a similar path to Wright. Promising, All-Pac-12 2020 season but an uneven 2021 led to him going undrafted after leaving school early. He most recently spent time with the Calgary Stampeders of the CFL.
7. Four-star LB Henry To’o To’o (No. 44, Tennessee/Alabama): To’o To’o was a productive linebacker in the SEC (354 tackles, 31 for loss) over his four years at Tennessee and Alabama. He was drafted in the fifth round by the Houston Texans this spring.
8. Four-star RB Zach Charbonnet (No. 46, Michigan/UCLA): Transferring to UCLA offered Charbonnet the opportunity to showcase himself as the Pac-12’s best running back, and he rushed for 2,496 yards and 27 touchdowns the past two years. The Seattle Seahawks drafted him in the second round in April.
Zach Charbonnet led the Pac-12 with 1,359 yards rushing in 2022. (Sean M. Haffey / Getty Images)
9. Four-star WR Joseph Ngata (No. 52, Clemson): Ngata caught 88 passes for 1,287 yards and six touchdowns in four years at Clemson. He went undrafted this past April but signed a free-agent contract with the Philadelphia Eagles.
10. Four-star DL Drake Jackson (No. 56, USC): Jackson was one of the best pass rushers in the Pac-12 throughout his three-year stint at USC. He notched 12.5 sacks and 25 TFLs in that time and was drafted in the second round by the San Francisco 49ers in 2022.
2020
1. Five-star QB Bryce Young (No. 2, Alabama): Young was more than worthy of his lofty ranking. He won the Heisman Trophy and led Alabama to the national championship game in 2021, his first year as the starter. He threw for 8,200 yards and 79 TDs over the past two seasons and was picked first overall by the Carolina Panthers in the 2023 NFL Draft.
2. Five-star LB Justin Flowe (No. 6, Oregon/Arizona): Flowe was either too injured or too inconsistent to land steady playing time at Oregon. He recorded 50 tackles in three seasons and transferred to Arizona in December.
3. Five-star QB DJ Uiagalelei (No. 10, Clemson/Oregon State): Uiagalelei went to Clemson with a lot of acclaim and produced some exciting moments off the bench as a freshman but struggled in his two seasons as the starter and lost his job late last season. He’s looking for a fresh start at Oregon State with coach Jonathan Smith, a respected offensive mind.
4. Four-star QB C.J. Stroud (No. 42, Ohio State): Stroud, who was a late riser in the recruiting process, followed Justin Fields at Ohio State and thrived — he threw for 8,512 yards and 85 touchdowns the past two seasons. He was a two-time Heisman finalist and was drafted No. 2 overall by the Houston Texans in April.
5. Four-star WR Gary Bryant Jr. (No. 46, USC/Oregon): Bryant’s best season at USC came in 2021 when he caught 44 passes for 579 yards and seven scores. He redshirted last season after not playing a lot early and transferred to Oregon this offseason.
6. Four-star CB Clark Phillips III (No. 51, Utah): The Utes flipped Phillips from Ohio State late in the recruiting cycle and he became an impact defensive player in the Pac-12 and a unanimous All-American in 2022 when he picked off six passes. He was drafted in the fourth round by the Atlanta Falcons in April.
7. Four-star RB Kendall Milton (No. 54, Georgia): Milton has been a part of the running back rotation for Georgia the past few years and ran for a career-high 590 yards and eight touchdowns as the Bulldogs won their second consecutive national championship in 2022.
8. Four-star WR Jalen McMillan (No. 67 Washington): McMillan enjoyed a breakout season in 2022 with 79 catches, 1,098 yards and nine receiving touchdowns for the Huskies. He’ll return in 2023 and be a critical part of what should be one of the most explosive passing attacks in the country.
9. Four-star WR Jermaine Burton (No. 82, Georgia/Alabama): Burton left Georgia after it won the national title in 2021 and transferred to Alabama, where he caught 40 passes for 677 yards and seven touchdowns (both career highs) in 2022. He’ll be one of the main targets in the Crimson Tide’s passing game in 2023.
10. Four-star OL Myles Murao (No. 115, Washington): Murao played in just four games over three years at Washington and entered the transfer portal in April.
2021
1. Five-star DL Korey Foreman (No. 2, USC): Foreman was regarded as a massively significant get for the Trojans, but he’s recorded just 24 tackles (4.5 for loss) and 2.5 sacks during a quiet first two years in college.
2. Four-star WR Troy Franklin (No. 41, Oregon): Franklin benefited from Oregon’s new offensive system and excelled as a sophomore with 61 receptions for 891 yards and nine touchdowns. He’ll be the Ducks’ No. 1 receiver this season and should be one of the best wideouts in the Pac-12.
3. Four-star LB Raesjon Davis (No. 49, USC): Davis was another big recruiting win for USC, but he’s yet to find consistent playing time and has made just eight tackles in 24 career games.
4. Four-star WR Xavier Worthy (No. 62, Texas): Worthy is one of the most talented receivers in the country. His production dipped last season so he’ll need a bounce-back year in 2023, but his career numbers (122 catches, 1,741 yards and 21 TDs) are still solid.
5. Four-star QB Tyler Buchner (No. 71, Notre Dame/Alabama): Buchner opened last season as Notre Dame’s starter but suffered a shoulder injury in the second week of the season and didn’t start again until the bowl game. Notre Dame brought in Wake Forest transfer Sam Hartman to be the starter this offseason, so Buchner entered the portal a few months later and joined Alabama’s QB competition.
6. Four-star QB Miller Moss (No. 76, USC): Moss is in the tough position of sitting behind Heisman Trophy winner Caleb Williams. He’s decided to stay at USC despite the fact it added Class of 2023 five-star QB Malachi Nelson this offseason. Moss will likely be the Trojans backup once again this year.
7. Four-star LB Ethan Calvert (No. 78, Utah/Cal Poly): Calvert was a promising prospect but suffered a knee injury as a freshman at Utah and made only three tackles as a sophomore. He entered the portal this offseason and transferred to Cal Poly in the FCS ranks.
8. Four-star DB Ceyair Wright (No. 80, USC): Wright played sparingly as a true freshman but earned a starting role at corner for the Trojans last year. He’ll be in the mix for a starting spot again this season.
9. Four-star WR Beaux Collins (No. 86, Clemson): Collins has 53 receptions for 780 yards and eight TDs through two rough years for Clemson’s passing game. We’ll see if the hire of new coordinator Garrett Riley improves Collins’ production.
10. Four-star TE Brock Bowers (No. 105, Georgia): Bowers is one of the best players in college football and has been a key piece in Georgia’s back-to-back national championships. He’s caught 119 passes for 1,824 yards and 20 TDs in two seasons, and he’s barely playing in the fourth quarter of most games or else those numbers would be even better. He will likely be a first-round pick next April.
2022
1. Five-star DB Domani Jackson (No. 5, USC): Jackson played in seven games as a true freshman while still recovering from a knee injury through most of the season. He had two tackles and a pass breakup. He’ll be in USC’s corner rotation this fall.
2. Four-star RB Raleek Brown (No. 42, USC): Brown contributed as a runner, receiver and returner in his first season at USC. He had 402 yards from scrimmage on just 58 touches (6.9 yards per touch) and six TDs. He’s an explosive player, and his touches will likely increase this year.
3. Four-star OL Earnest Greene (No. 45, Georgia): Greene redshirted last season but could be in line to start for the Bulldogs this season.
4. Four-star WR Tetairoa McMillan (No. 51, Arizona): McMillan was arguably the best player in California as a senior and made an immediate impact at Arizona last fall: 39 catches, 702 yards and eight TDs. He should be one of the top receivers in the Pac-12 — which is loaded at the position — this year.
5. Four-star edge David Bailey (No. 66, Stanford): Bailey was impressive as a true freshman, recording 46 tackles (8.5 for loss) and 2.5 sacks. Stanford lost a lot of talent and depth this season, but Bailey is sticking around and will give the Cardinal a centerpiece on defense.
6. Four-star WR CJ Williams (No. 73, USC/Wisconsin): Williams caught four passes for 34 yards last year while stuck in a deep receiver group. He transferred to Wisconsin in the offseason and should get more of an opportunity in offensive coordinator Phil Longo’s Air Raid attack.
7. Four-star DL Hero Kanu (No. 129, Ohio State): Kanu didn’t play much as a true freshman but had an impressive spring game a few months ago and could be a part of the defensive line rotation this fall.
8. Four-star DB Jalil Tucker (No. 145 Oregon/San Diego State): Tucker was a highly rated defensive back prospect but played in just one game for the Ducks last season. He transferred to San Diego State this offseason and will play receiver for the Aztecs.
9. Four-star DB Jahlil Florence (No. 157 Oregon): Florence, Tucker’s teammate at Lincoln High School in San Diego, played in eight games last season, recorded eight tackles and a pick. Oregon added a lot of new players in the secondary both through the portal and in recruiting, so there will be plenty of competition for a spot in the rotation.
10. Four-star LB Junior Tuihalamaka (No. 159, Notre Dame): Tuihalamaka played in all 13 games for Notre Dame last season and earned a start against Navy. He’s now playing more of a defensive end role and should be in the mix for more playing time there as opposed to linebacker, which was his original position.
Takeaways
• Of the 30 players from the 2019 through 2021 classes on this list — who have each been in college for at least two years — 13 have started for multiple seasons at the school they initially signed with. Worthy signed with Michigan but didn’t enroll and signed with Texas. It would be 14 if you want to count him.
• USC signed 11 players on this list. Oregon was next with six, followed by Georgia with four.
• Georgia has been selective in Southern California, and the players the Bulldogs have signed have filled some crucial roles.
• USC had a development issue under Clay Helton that has hurt the perception of the program. Lincoln Riley is tasked with fixing that.
• Fifteen of the 40 players listed have transferred at least once.