Tag: Oregon Signing Day

Ducks widely considered one of biggest winners on early signing day

Christmas came early as Oregon was a big winner when it came to recruiting signing day.

Dan Lanning and the Duck cleaned up on National Signing Day with some saying this is the best class in program history after it landed inside the top-5 nationally for the first time ever.

Of course, only time will determine if that plays out, but according to the ratings, Oregon was No. 1 in the Big Ten, jumping in front of new rival Ohio State after Lanning was able to flip wide receiver Jeremiah McClellan from the Buckeyes, which turned a lot of heads.

Later in the day, Oregon also flipped 4-star WR Ryan Pellum from the USC Trojans, picking up another win over a conference foe.

The Ducks aren’t here to play. Several outlets nationally took notice, with several naming Oregon as one of the big winners on signing day. Here’s what ESPN’s Tom VanHaaren had to say:

The Ducks already had a top-five class coming into the early signing period, but coach Dan Lanning was able to add some outstanding players on Wednesday. Lanning flipped ESPN 300 receiver Ryan Pellum, the No. 90 overall prospect, from USC. It’s big to flip a commitment on signing day, but doing it at the expense of a conference opponent that has already had recruiting questions makes it an even bigger deal. On top of Pellum, Oregon was able to flip ESPN 300 receiver Jeremiah McClellan from Ohio State. McClellan is the No. 100 recruit overall and gives the Ducks four ESPN 300 receivers in the class. That pairs perfectly with what Lanning & Co. have been able to do in the transfer portal. Set to lose quarterback Bo Nix, a Heisman finalist, to the NFL, Oregon got Dillon Gabriel (from Oklahoma) and Dante Moore (from UCLA) out of the transfer portal. Both were among the top 10 quarterbacks available in the portal.

ESPN wasn’t the only outlet to take notice. 247Sports also had Oregon as one of the big winners of the day:

As we see in college football, if you have the quarterback, it’s easy to figure the other stuff out. Coveted wide receiver Jeremiah McClellan probably factored that into the equation when he flipped to Oregon from Ohio State on Wednesday. Perhaps so too did 4-star receiver Ryan Pellum, who flipped from USC. Speaking of flips, Dan Lanning convinced transfer offensive tackle Matthew Bedford to sign with Oregon over Colorado, where he was previously committed. It was one of a few Oregon vs. Colorado battles in 2024: Lanning also held onto top-100 offensive tackle JacQawn McRoy, who Coach Prime made a huge late push for.

We love that in the Big Ten, Oregon’s bringing in a recruiting class with two five-star defensive linemen, Aydin Breeland and Elijah Rushing. The Ducks are also in the final four for 4-star defensive lineman Jericho Johnson, who makes a decision Thursday.

It came as very little surprise in Eugene that the Ducks had a banner day on the recruiting trail because that’s something that Dan Lanning has shown time and again that he’s good at. What comes next will be more important, though, as the coaching staff looks to take this talent and develop it into a championship-worthy roster.

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Large number of Oregon’s 2024 recruiting class to enroll early

A large number of the Oregon Ducks who signed as part of the 2024 class are expected to enroll early this year.

Once upon a time it would be an aberration for a football recruit to leave their high school early, enroll into college and participate in spring ball.

But now it’s the norm and it seems as if the kids can’t wait to get onto the Oregon campus in Eugene and become Ducks. The quicker these kids are in the system, the quicker they’ll be able to develop and help out.

Only four of the new recruits that just signed will wait and join the team in the summer and all of those are on the offensive side. Every single recruit expected to play defense will be in Eugene in the coming weeks to provide depth and talent to a unit that’s already stocked with both.

Oregon’s 2024 class has been heralded as one of the top classes in the country and second in the Big Ten, only behind Ohio State. Here’s a look at who is expected to enroll early and participate in spring ball:

SIGNED: Four-star linebacker Kamar Mothudi is officially a Duck

Oregon has signed four-star linebacker Kamar Mothudi out of Los Alamidos, Calif.

When is comes to linebackers, Dan Lanning doesn’t mess around in recruiting the best.

Oregon was able to sign four-star linebacker Kamar Mothudi out of Los Alamidos, Calif. during the early signing period. 247Sports has Mothudi rated at the No. 17 linebacker in the nation and No. 208 player overall. He’s also rated the No. 18 player overall in the state of California.

Nearly every school on the West Coast recruited Mothudi and the Ducks had to beat the likes of Washington, Michigan State and Utah to sign him.

The Ducks are attempting to build up depth at linebacker and they’re doing a good job. Mothudi is one of three linebackers signed in this period and they have really good talent in the system already with players such as Jeffrey Bassa, Jestin Jacobs, and Devon Jackson, all former four-star recruits.

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SIGNED: 4-star Ryan Pellum is officially a Duck

The Oregon Ducks officially signed 4-star WR Ryan Pellum, adding him to the 2024 class.

That receiver room at Oregon is going to have to make room for one more.

Wide receiver Ryan Pellum, once thought to be a lock for USC, has changed his mind on signing day and has signed on to be an Oregon Duck.

At 5-foot-11 and 170 pounds out of Long Beach, Pellum turned down Alabama, both Arizona school and of course the Trojans in order to become a Duck.

According to national recruiting analyst Greg Biggins of 247Sports:

Pellum is a two-way player who is being recruited primarily as a receiver. He shows the ability to be a game-breaker and a true home run hitter from anywhere on the field. He’s a natural pass catcher with strong hands and is a smooth route runner. He’s explosive after the catch as well and should be an early impact guy in the return game. He’s a fiery competitor, which you like, but it’s also something he needs to reign in at times as his emotions can get the best of him. At his best, he’s an impact player with the talent to play immediately at the college level. He has the skill set and toughness to be big time corner in college as well but prefers the offensive side of the ball.

It will be interesting to see how the Ducks plan on using Pellum, perhaps has another Tez Johnson-type, a receiver in the slot as well as a kick returner. Both would make a lot sense. The last player in this mold that spurned USC for the Ducks is De’Anthony Thomas and that worked out all right.

Here are some highlights from Pellum:

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SIGNED: Four-star linebacker Dylan Williams is officially a Duck

The Oregon Ducks officially signed 4-star linebacker Dylan Williams, adding him to the 2024 class.

The competition at linebacker at Oregon practices is going to be fun to watch in the coming seasons.

That position has been fruitful for the Ducks in the recent recruiting cycles, and four-star linebacker Dylan Williams provides another valuable piece to that puzzle.

At 6 feet, 2 inches and 215 pounds, Williams, who is out of Long Beach, California, is the No. 26 linebacker in the nation and the No. 24 player in the state. In the weeks leading up to the early signing period, Williams visited other schools. But he ended up signing his national letter of intent with Dan Lanning in Eugene.

Williams is the third linebacker to sign with Oregon and Lanning on the opening day of this signing period. He turned down offers from UCLA, Oklahoma, Michigan State and Nebraska to come to Eugene.

Here is a look at Williams’ highlights:

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SIGNED: 3-star offensive lineman Devin Brooks is officially a Duck

The Oregon Ducks officially signed 3-star OL Devin Brooks, adding him to the 2024 class.

You don’t find many Oregon high school players with this size, but thankfully for Oregon, this one has chosen to be a Duck.

Offensive lineman Devin Brooks from Clackamas stands 6-foot-4 and weighs 290 pounds and he has officially signed to play his college football in Eugene.

247Sports gives Brooks three stars and an 89 rating. He’s also listed as the No. 2 player in the state and the No. 30 offensive lineman overall. The No. 1 player in Oregon, tight end Jayden Fortier out of Tualatin, has committed to play for Arizona State.

According to national recruiting editor Brandon Huffman of 247sports:

Brooks has developed his body and added more weight and strength and likely projects inside but has tackle feet and length if he needs to play there. Shows good balance and body control, flexibility and knee bend and plays with a good pad height and leverage. Better as a run blocker but adept in pass protection.

Brooks had offers from both Arizona and Arizona State as well as California and Colorado before settling on the Ducks back in June.

Here are some of Brooks’ highlights:

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SIGNED: 3-star wide receiver Jack Ressler is officially a Duck

The Oregon Ducks officially signed 3-star WR Jack Ressler, adding him to the 2024 class.

Besides defense, the one unit that has improved greatly under Dan Lanning is the receiver position. One just has to look at Troy Franklin’s last two season to see that has been the case.

Oregon hopes that continues with receiver Jack Ressler out of Santa Ana, Calif. and Mater Dei High. He stands at 5-foot-11 and 195 pounds. From the sounds of it, Ressler would make a good slot receiver, possession-type guy in the Duck offense.

He had offers from the likes of Arizona, Arizona State, Boise State and Colorado before settling on Oregon.

The Ducks receiver room is quite full, so Ressler might have to redshirt in 2024 and go from there.

Here are some highlights from Ressler:

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SIGNED: Four-star offensive lineman Fox Crader is officially a Duck

The Oregon Ducks officially signed 4-star offensive tackle Fox Crader, adding him to the 2024 class.

Dan Lanning was determined to stock up on big offensive linemen when he got to Oregon. Really big offensive linemen.

Fox Crader, at 6-foot-6 and 285 pounds, certainly fits that mold.

The four-star recruit out of Vancouver, Wash. signed with the Ducks. According to 247Sports, Crader is the No. 19 offensive lineman in the country and the No. 3 player out of Washington, again taking one of that state’s best players away from the Washington Huskies.

According to national recruiting Brandon Huffman from 247Sports, “Crader is a player who made a big jump from his sophomore season to his junior campaign,” he said. “With a basketball background, he’s got the length, feet, and frame you’d like in a tackle and probably adds another 20-30 pounds in college with relative ease to fill out that frame. Crader plays left tackle and shows good flexibility, a natural knee bend, change of direction and body control.”

Crader turned down offers from Oklahoma, USC, Georgia and LSU in order to come to Eugene.

Here is a look at Crader’s highlights:

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SIGNED: Four-star EDGE Jaxson Jones is officially a Duck

The Oregon Ducks officially signed 4-star EDGE Jaxson Jones, adding him to the 2024 class.

Part of the transformation of the Oregon Ducks defense is finding pass rushers and more specifically, defensive ends, whose sole purpose is to get after the quarterback.

Oregon is trying to continue that tradition as the Ducks just signed four-star EDGE rusher Jaxson Jones out of Yuma, Ariz.

At 6-foot-3 and 215 pounds, Jones will likely use the beginning of his career at Oregon to bulk up some. 247Sports rates Jones as the No. 30 EDGE rusher in the nation and the No. 7 player in the state of Arizona.

In 2022, Jaxson finished an 11-game junior season with 87 tackles, 17 sacks, three fumble recoveries, and two kick blocks. As a sophomore in 2021, he recorded 47 tackles, five sacks, and one forced fumble.

Jaxson had offers from Washington, Arizona State, California and Colorado State before deciding to become a Duck.

Here’s a look at Jones’ highlights:

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SIGNED: 4-star defensive lineman Tionne Gray is officially a Duck

The Oregon Ducks officially signed 4-star DL Tionne Gray, adding him to the 2024 class.

Size was an issue when Dan Lanning was hired at Oregon and in his two seasons, he’s been able to improve the size on both sides of the line of scrimmage.

That size improvement continues for Oregon as it has signed defensive lineman Tionne Gray from St. Louis, Missouri. He comes in at 6-foot-6 and 295 pounds and has been given four stars by the 247Sports Composite. Gray is also the No. 44 defensive lineman in the nation and the No. 9 player from Missouri.

According to Allen Trieu of 247Sports, Gray has the size to play immediately. This was his analysis of the newest Duck defensive lineman.

Big frame and big body. Enters college with the size to compete. It will be more about shaping himself than needed to add a lot of weight. Two-way player in high school who could really play either side of the ball in college, but projects as a college defensive lineman first. Moves well, and looks like he can add some weight without losing those athletic qualities. Still is barely scratching the surface of what he can be. As long as he keeps physically and technically developing, he has the tools to be a Power Five starter and potentially an NFL prospect.

Lanning wanted to bring in SEC size and talent and from the sounds of it, Gray has both. He had offers from Arkansas, Missouri, Colorado, and Illinois.

There is a lot of depth at the DL position for Oregon in 2024, but we’ve seen underclassmen get playing time if they can prove that they deserve it.

Here are some highlights of Gray:

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