Head coaches are sometimes the closers on the recruiting trail, but the assistant coaches go through the process and are integral in landing many top prospects. Here is a look at five Pac-12 assistants who have been doing an outstanding job so far this cycle. RELATED: Hot Big Ten assistants | SEC | ACC



KEITH HEYWARD, OREGON

A tremendous addition to Oregon’s first-year staff, Heyward has outstanding connections throughout the Pac-12 and it’s already paying off. After a slow start to this cycle, the Ducks had an incredibly busy week, landing seven of their eight pledges in that time. Heyward is a big reason by getting three-star safety Jevon Holland early this week and he was also crucial in the recruitment of four-star safety Steve Stephens, who picked Oregon over USC, Oklahoma and others this past weekend. Getting four-star Isaiah Bolden to flip from Florida State was also huge. Heyward helped land top players during stops at USC and Washington – many of who are now in the NFL – and he’s bringing those resources to Oregon now.

DEMETRICE MARTIN, UCLA

Martin did not much have to do with the top player in UCLA’s class, four-star dual-threat quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson, but widely regarded as one of the best recruiters in the country, Martin has had a hand in many others – and still has a lot of targets on the board. Known to recruits as “Meat”, the UCLA defensive backs coach was vital in landing a commitment from Texas four-star prospect Cam Jones and rangy three-star Jhevon Hill. There are many more on the board, including four-stars Bryan Addison and Stephan Blaylock and three-stars D’Angelo McKenzie and Ely Doyle. Five-star Tyreke Johnson out of Jacksonville (Fla.) Trinity is also high on the Bruins. If Martin can snag that commitment, he deserves a raise.

JOHNNY NANSEN, USC

The Trojans have regularly recruited the state of California well – and basically had the ability to land whichever high-level prospects they wanted – but Nansen absolutely deserves a ton of credit in locking up five-star linebacker Palaie Gaoteote so early. He’s a special player and had a bunch of teammates go to Ohio State last recruiting cycle, but Nansen helped land the Las Vegas Bishop Gorman standout this offseason. He also helped with four-star DT Tuli Letuligasenoa and JUCO DT Dillon Faamatau. As the linebackers coach, top-rated inside linebacker Solomon Tuliaupupu is another big target on USC’s radar.

FREDDIE WHITTINGHAM, UTAH

Utah only has three commitments in this class, but Whittingham was responsible for a real gem in four-star quarterback Jack Tuttle, who could emerge as one of the best prospects at that position in this class. Tuttle had offers from Alabama, LSU and many others, but felt most comfortable with the Utes and Whittingham was one reason why. Others the Utah tight ends/recruiting coordinator is diligently after include top-notch cornerback Isaac Taylor-Stuart, three-star running back Christopher Brown Jr., and many others as the Utes look to load up in this class.

IKAIKA MALLOE, WASHINGTON