Oregon recruiting shatters historical norms
Duck Sports Authority's newest honorary recruiting analyst, freshman safety Nick Pickett of the incoming 2017 class, nailed the state of Oregon football recruiting with this Tweet:
Pickett's a prophet. The Ducks are blowing up all historical norms on the recruiting trail. It's utterly unprecedented.
Oregon is currently ranked 7th in the nation with 15 commitments, 7 of them 4-stars. Tre'Shaun Harrison, Jevon Holland, Spencer Webb and Jonathan King are 3-star prospects with good offer lists who could potentially add another star before Signing Day. M.J. Cunningham, playing a full season at his natural position of middle linebacker, could earn a fourth star also.
In a typical year Oregon doesn't reach a baker's dozen of verbals until well into the fall, sometimes as late as January or December. At their current pace they may have 20 by the start of fall camp.
The Ducks have signed a Top Ten class only once, in 2011 when they finished 9th. The Chip Kelly years were the Golden Age in Oregon recruiting (of course they led to sanctions). The 2010 class ranked 13th, and the 2012 class ranked 16th in the nation, making it easily the best three-year stretch in school history.
Until now.
Remember a year ago when former offensive coordinator Scott Frost told a reporter how hard it is to recruit to Oregon?
Mastery of social media and a knack for creating momentum and juice has made the Ducks a national player in recruiting again. Wide receiver Warren Thompson, the latest addition, is one of the most dynamic and talented receivers the Ducks have ever signed, a player coveted by several SEC schools.
The Ducks are in the running for stud linebackers and lockdown corners. Sign a couple of quarterbacks and some gap-plugging defensive linemen, and this class could be the nucleus for years of success.
The heady progress comes with a couple of provisos and quid pro quos. For one, and this is important, perennial recruiting juggernauts Alabama and Auburn are currently languishing in the rankings. As of July 7th the Tide is going out, ranked just 48th with 6 commits. Auburn lies 58th with 7.
As Scott Reed pointed out in a recent column this is certain to change. These two recruiting bullies will vault to the upper reaches of the standings once Rivals 100 and 5-star prospects start announcing their decisions.
A second thing to remember is that the recruiting calendar has ramped up for everyone. Social media and the vastly increased amount of attention recruiting gets has stepped up the urgency. Kids commit sooner, decommit more often and flip with impunity.
The third essential thing to remember is that verbal commitments are non-binding and there will be both additions and deletions from Oregon's list.
Still, the energy, momentum and enthusiasm Willie Taggart and his staff have created around recruiting is both impressive and effective. Ten to twelve months ago, Oregon's recruiting prospects were both lethargic and dim. Oregon wasn't keeping up with key conference rivals. They were losing top recruits even in the state. Now they're outpacing everyone in the PAC-12, with some exciting prospects and decisions still to come.
The new commitment to recruiting fuels hope that Oregon can return to the top level of the conference and compete for championships again. If this new staff can coach the way they recruit, look out.
From the Rivals archives, here's a breakdown of the Ducks recruiting progress in prior years compared to this one:
2018:
1st commit Travis Dye April 8, 2017
2nd commit Isaiah Bolden April 29, 2017
5th commit Adrian Jackson April 29, 2017
7th commit Steve Stephens April 30, 2017
10th commit Jonathan King June 8, 2017
13th commit Warren Thompson June 19, 2017
2017:
1st commit C.J. Verdell May 2016
2nd commit Rutger Reitmaier June 2016
5th commit Adam Stack July 2016
7th commit Nick Pickett October 2016
10th commit Popo Aumavae November 2016
24 total commitments, class ranked 18th nationally. Did not reach 13 commitments until December 25, 2016.
2016:
1st commit Brady Breeze July 2014
2nd commit Seth Green October 2014
5th commit Theo Howard March 15. 2015
7th commit Troy Warner April 3, 2015
10th commit: Terry Wilson September 2015
20 total commitments, class ranked 25th nationally. Did not reach 13 commitments until October 12, 2015.
2015
1st commit Zach Okun 3-4-14
2nd commit Jake Breeland 4-9-14 (one commit by April 3rd)
5th commit Jihree Stewart 6-12-14
7th commit Calvin Throckmorton 6-21-14 (reached 7 by June 21st)
10th commit Travis Waller 7-1-2014
22 total commitments, class ranked 17th nationally. Did not reach 13 commitments until October 5, 2014.
2014
1st commit Tyrell Crosby 4/15/13 (0 commitments by April 3rd)
2nd commit Morgan Mahalak 4/30/13
5th commit Tanner Carew 6/15/13
7th commit Royce Freeman 7-12-13 (reached 7 by July 12th)
10th commit Jalen Brown 10-14-13
21 total commitments, class ranked 26th nationally. Did not reach 13 commitments until November 22, 2013.
2013
1st commit Evan Voeller 4/30/12 (0 commitments by April 3rd)
2nd commit John Mundt 6/18/12
5th commit Matt Wogan 6/26/12
7th commit Doug Brenner (reached 7 by September 12th)
10th commit Thomas Tyner 10/18/12
19 total commitments, class ranked 22nd nationally. Did not reach 13 commitments until December 23, 2012.
2012
1st commit Oshay Dunmore 4/2/11 (1 commitment by April 3rd)
2nd commit Evan Baylis 5/6/11
5th commit Jake Rodrigues 5/27/11
7th commit Cody Carriger 6/16/11 (reached 7 by June 16th)
10th commit Brett Bafaro 10/28/11
21 total commitments, class ranked 16th nationally. Did not reach 13 commitments until November 30, 2011.
2011
1st commit Tyson Coleman 10/3/09 (1 commitment by April 3rd)
2nd commit Sam Kamp 4/8/10
5th commit Tyler Johnstone 7/20/10
7th commit Tacoi Sumler 7/28/10 (reached 7 by July 28th)
10th commit Carlyle Garrick 10/22/10
23 total commitments, class ranked 9th nationally. Did not reach 13 commitments until November 28, 2010.
2010
1st commit Curtis White 3/1/08 (1 commitment by April 3rd)
2nd commit Terrance Mitchell 5/27/09
5th commit James Scales 9/11/09
7th commit Isaac Dixon (10/20/09) (reached 7 by October 20th)
10th commit Dontae Williams 11/18/09
24 total commitments, class ranked 13th nationally. Did not reach 13 commitments until December 10, 2009.
2009
1st commit Taylor Hart 4-17-08 (0 commitments by April 3rd)
2nd commit Trevor Fox 6-11
5th commit Jackson Rice 7/29
7th commit Avery Patterson 8/16 (Reached 7 by August 16th)
10th commit Andrew Iupati 11-18
26 total commitments, class ranked 32nd nationally. Did not reach 13 commitments until December 28, 2008.
2008
1st commit Mychal Rivera 6-3-07 (0 commitments by April 3rd)
2nd commit John Boyett 6-8
5th commit Nick Cody 7-3
7th commit Garrett Embry 9-4 (Reached 7 by September 4th)
10th commit Justin Thompson 12/13
22 total commitments, class ranked 19th nationally. Did not reach 13 commitments until December 19, 2007.
2007
1st commit Jeff Maehl 5/9/06 (0 commitments by April 3rd)
2nd commit Tonio Celotto 5/11
5th commit Eddie Pleasant 6/14
7th commit Miles Wade 6/30 (reached 7 by June 30th)
10th commit Brandon Hanna 8/6
29 total commitments, class ranked 11th nationally. Did not reach 13 commitments until November 2, 2006.
2006
1st commit Nick Costa 8/6/05 (0 commitments by April 3rd)
2nd commit Micah Howeth 8/6
5th commit Jordan Holmes 11/21
7th commit Justin Roper 12/20 (reached 7 by December 20th)
10th commit Devin Mays 1/1/2006
21 total commitments, class ranked 49th nationally. Did not reach 13 commitments until January 17, 2006 .