If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again.
That’s an apt expression for Dan Lanning and the Oregon Ducks when it comes to the recruitment of 5-star edge rusher Elijah Rushing, who officially signed his national letter of intent on Wednesday, joining the Ducks’ 2024 class.
Rushing was one of the most high-profile targets for Oregon ever since the start of the Lanning era, but he shocked a lot of people by committing to the Arizona Wildcats earlier this year, despite many thinking that he was a lock to end up in Eugene.
Lanning did not stop recruiting him, though, and eventually Rushing changed his mind, flipping from the Wildcats to the Ducks.
Elite off the edge.
Let’s go to work, @elijah_rushing!#GoDucks x #NSD24
— Oregon Football (@oregonfootball) December 20, 2023
Rushing, standing at 6-foot-6, 240 pounds, is among the most coveted players in the nation, ranked by 247Sports as the No. 17 overall player and No. 2 EDGE in the 2024 class. He ultimately chose Oregon over schools like Arizona, Notre Dame, Georgia, and Michigan.
The EDGE position looks incredibly strong for Oregon going into 2024, led by a trio of true freshmen who produced at a high-level last year, plus the possibility that Jordan Burch returns for another year. Though Rushing will have a lot of competition for playing time, we’ve seen consistently under Lanning that if you’re good enough, you’re old enough to play.
Here’s a look at Rushing’s high school highlights:
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