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In Oregon Duck football’s recent history, in-state high school talent hasn’t exactly been a priority. Beginning with Willie Taggert and then Mario Cristobal, the recruiting emphasis has been to go more cross-country with a focus on Texas and SEC country.
To be fair, the state of Oregon hasn’t been a huge hotbed of talent, but even those kids who are the best the state has to offer haven’t been a top priority of the Ducks.
New coach Dan Lanning intends to change that trend and change it immediately.
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“We’re going to battle to keep the best in our state, and we think that we should be able to keep the best in our state,” he said as Oregon announced its 2022 signees. “Obviously (Lake Oswego wide receiver Justius Lowe) is in that category. I think before the day is over with people will realize that we were able to be really competitive in our state and get guys on board on our team.”
Lowe was ranked as the state’s No. 3 rated player, and he was just the appetizer. True to his word, Lanning later secured the commitment of the state’s No. 2 rated player in safety Trejon Williams, a defensive back from Jefferson High in Portland, followed by linebacker Emar’rion Winston, Oregon’s No. 4 prep player out of Central Catholic who also committed to the Ducks.
“My very first day recruiting, the very first time I could get on the road, I spent that day in Oregon, and in Portland, and in the area. That will always be a priority for us, and obviously, for us, we have the ability to go anywhere, and that’s a blessing. But we have to win home first,” Lanning said.
The state’s No. 1 player, wide receiver Darrius Clemons from Westview High, signed with Michigan back in December before Lanning was the Oregon coach. If the timing had been different, Oregon might have been able to land what could have been the Fantastic Four.
But Lanning and his staff have to be overjoyed with the haul they were able to pull in on this late signing day. The Ducks were able to get every single player they expected to sign and even a couple of nice surprises. Running back Jordan James flipped from Georgia to the Ducks and offensive lineman Dave Iuli, a previously verbal commit, spurned Cristobal and Miami, as well as USC and signed with the Ducks.
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