As the 2024 recruiting season matures, the number of blue-chip recruits interested in the Oregon Ducks continues to grow. Today, 4-star edge rusher Zina Umeozulu announced his top nine schools, one of which is the Ducks. Umeozulu is ranked by 247Sports as the 141st player in his class and 11th best EDGE.
Umeozulu is from Allen, Texas, and his top schools seem to reflect a liking for his home state and its surrounding region. Of the nine schools he named, five are in Texas or in a state that borders Texas. In addition, Umeozulu’s only two scheduled official visits are with Texas and Oklahoma.
One thing that could make Oregon an attractive target for Umeozulu is the interest of another high-quality 2024 pass rusher, Elijah Rushing. According to On3, the Ducks are the favorite to land Rushing, who many think is the best pass rusher in the 2024 class.
Historically, edge rushers do much better when they have a quality teammate on the other side of the D-line, because it prevents the O-line from focusing too much on one or the other. If Rushing is to come to Oregon, Umeozulu could be attracted by the prospect of being part of a powerhouse freshman pass-rushing tandem.