One of the most important keys to recruiting in the world of college football is being able to hold onto the talent that is close to home. While the Oregon Ducks have seen some massive success over the past decade recruiting on a national scale and bringing in top players from states like Texas, Florida, and California, what keeps a brand strong is the ability to hold onto the players who grow up in your backyard.
It’s that reason that the USC Trojans were so dominant in the recruiting game for much of this century; they were able to hold onto the elite players who grew up in California and get them to play in Los Angeles.
While the state of Oregon and Washington may not produce as much talent as places like California, Georgia, or Florida at the high school football level, it is still pivotal for success to make sure that the best players in your neck of the woods don’t take off to play elsewhere.
When Dan Lanning came to Oregon, he said that was among his top keys to success in the recruiting game.
So when we look at the Pacific Northwest — Oregon, Washington, and Idaho — who are the top-rated players in the 2024 class, and where are they currently committed or trending to sign? Let’s take a look: