Oregon football’s success during the 2019 early signing period was obvious, with 22 early signees constituting the Pac-12’s No. 1 class, the No. 7 class in the nation. Not only is this the highest-ever ranked Duck recruiting class, it is the first time they have won the Pac-12 recruiting title.

Duck Sports Authority has been honoring the top five Oregon assistant coaches who produced results on signing day. So far, we have featured Keith Heyward and Marcus Arroyo.

Wide receivers coach Michael Johnson joins this elite crew today in this edition of Top Recruiter.

One thing that became clear during the 2018 season with Oregon football was that the Ducks were not deep at wide receiver. Many games it was a one-man show with Dillon Mitchell with some other players occasionally having games with multiple receptions. Catching the football was not a forte of the WR group this year.

The result of all this, coupled with Mitchell’s decision to forego his senior season and enter the NFL draft, was that the Ducks desperately needed receivers in this year’s class. Fortunately, Michael Johnson and the rest of the staff delivered, with four very good prospects and another possible commit during the later signing period.

The only major miss was one Johnson could not control: Arjei Henderson who has already decommitted three times during this recruiting cycle.

Johnson was involved heavily with all four of this year’s WR commits and was the primary recruiter for three of them. Marcus Arroyo assisted him with Pittman and Waters but with Wilhoite he was the clear point man with no regular secondary recruiter. With Delgado Johnson assumed the secondary recruiter role to Arroyo.

All four of the wide receivers signed in this class have a chance to contribute immediately. Three-star JR Waters looks far better on film that his rating.

Congratulations to Coach Michael Johnson who delivered a strong receiver signing class exactly when the Ducks needed it.