Thursday was a big day in Eugene, Oregon. The Ducks were playing host to the NCAA Track & Field Championships at Hayward Field with hundreds of the top athletes from across the nation gathered to compete for individual and team titles.

All the while, several prospects stopped by the Oregon football offices for unofficial visits to see the program. On Tuesday Beaumont (Tex.) Central safety P.J. Locke was in town, Wednesday it was Corona (Calif.) Centennial DB Jihree Stewart and then Aledo (Tex.) speedster WR Ryan Newsome arrived in Eugene to check things out.

On Thursday one of those visits paid immediate dividends.

I am now verbally committing to the University of Oregon #GoDucks #WinTheDay #Pac12 #D1Bound pic.twitter.com/NL3PZrEVWk- Jihree (@JihreeStewart) June 12, 2014

Stewart becomes the fifth commitment to Oregon's class of 2015 and is the first recruit on the defensive side of the ball. For defensive backs coach John Neal he has the versatility to play anywhere.

"I could play corner or safety or dime for them," told Duck Sports Authority. "I could play either one."

The 5-foot-11, 175-pound athlete is ranked with three stars as the No. 67 overall recruit in California and moves the Ducks up to No. 41 in the team rankings. He holds offers from a dozen BCS programs including Washington, BSU and ASU.

Oregon is expected to sign three or four defensive backs for this class so the commitment of Stewart was a welcome beginning for that group and certainly gives the Ducks momentum to start off the summer.