Ohio State, Alabama poaching elite 2017 West recruits

Jul 15, 2016

ESPN 300 prospects in the West region are committing to programs outside the Pac-12 at a prodigious rate. Already, 10 of the 28 committed ESPN 300 prospects in the 2017 class from the area are committed to non-Pac-12 programs. Who are the players who should be suiting up for Pac-12 programs but look likely to leave the region? Here are five the Pac-12 is slated to miss out on, plus five more uncommitted recruits that could join them.

5 West region prospects committed elsewhere

1. Najee Harris (No. 4 in ESPN 300, No. 1 overall RB; committed to Alabama)

The nation’s top-ranked skill position player from Antioch HS in California committed early to Alabama. It appeared as though Harris was likely to eventually flip to a program closer to home, but that sentiment is not as strong as it once was. The Crimson Tide have signed a top-five West region prospect in each of the past two classes, so adding Harris in 2017 would be nothing new. From the Pac-12, UCLA and USC continue to be involved, while Cal could be a program to watch as the hometown option.

Najee Harris, out of Antioch HS in California, is the No. 4 player in the 2017 class and has committed to Alabama. Miller Safrit/ESPN

2. Wyatt Davis (No. 35 in ESPN 300, No. 8 overall OT; committed to Ohio State)

Davis, the region’s No. 6 prospect out of St. John Bosco HS in California, was also looking hard at Alabama. Davis said he’s always envisioned going out of state for college, so it could be difficult for Pac-12 programs to get back into the mix.

3. Tate Martell (No. 72 …

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