After four-star linebacker Blake Nichelson took an official visit to Eugene last month, the Oregon Ducks put themselves in a prime position to land the highly rated recruit out of California. A prediction from 247Sports recruiting director Steve Wiltfon has come in for the Ducks to get his commitment.
Nicholsen, who is ranked as the No. 13 LB and No. 176 overall player in the 2023 class, narrowed his recruitment to three schools on the Fourth of July, with the Ducks listed alongside the UCLA Bruins and Florida State Seminoles.
It will be interesting to see how, if at all, conference realignment plays a factor in Nicholsen’s decision. With the Bruins declaring for the Big Ten starting in 2024, it will change the competition and path forward should Nicholsen choose UCLA. Of course, the Ducks might be following UCLA to the Big Ten in the coming days or weeks, so it may not be a major factor in the end.