Oregon Football: Pro-Style QB Cale Millen

Mike Kelly Talent Evaluation

Football teams at any level want to build their roster around a quarterback, the most important position in the game. This is especially true in recruiting at the collegiate level. The Oregon Ducks 2019 early signing period is only a few weeks away, and they have a commitment from a good one in Mount Si High School signal caller Cale …

“Big and Bad” Dawson Jaramillo

Mike Kelly Talent Evaluation

The Oregon Ducks signed a stellar class of offensive linemen in the 2018 recruiting cycle. It is an imposing group of five young men averaging 6-foot-6 and 340 pounds, recruited from several states including Utah, California, and even Pennsylvania. But one of these is an Oregon-native and life-long Duck fan in Dawson Jaramillo. Dawson played at Lake Oswego High School (enrollment of about …

Oregon Football: Cornerback Verone McKinley III

Mike Kelly Talent Evaluation

The Oregon Ducks signed a very good group of defensive backs in the 2018 recruiting cycle, and certainly one of the most heralded was national recruit Verone McKinley III from Hebron High School in Carrolton, Texas. Hebron (Hawks) High School is a medium-sized institution with an enrollment of approximately 2,500 students, playing at the 6A (large school) level in Texas. …

Oregon Ducks Football: Defensive Back – Kalef Hailassie

Mike Kelly Talent Evaluation

Kalef Hailassie, a fine athlete from Elk Grove, California, was a late addition to the Oregon Ducks 2018 recruiting class. He committed to Head Coach Mario Cristobal without ever meeting him, and signed with the Ducks without ever visiting the campus. An unusual scenario to say the least. Hailassie, who was a long-time pledge to the University of Colorado, was …

The Long Road to Eugene: Cornerback Haki Woods Jr.

Mike Kelly Talent Evaluation

New Oregon Ducks cornerback Haki M. Woods Jr.’s long, meandering journey from his hometown of South Bend, Indiana to Eugene, Oregon took over four years of his life. The route included a stop at Indiana State University and Tucson, Arizona, where he was a Junior College All-American at Pima Community College. Haki grew up in a tough part of Indiana’s fourth …

Weather Forecast: Is a “Hurricane” Coming to Eugene in D.J. Johnson?

Mike Kelly Talent Evaluation

The Oregon Ducks were an also ran in the 2017 recruiting cycle sweepstakes for Deonte “D.J.” Johnson, along with 98 other schools. Johnson a hybrid outside linebacker/defensive end, committed to the Miami Hurricanes on July 25, 2017 over other finalists Washington, Utah, and USC. Johnson, from Luther Burbank High School in  Sacramento, California was a Top-100 player according the recruiting website …

“Big Play” Safety Jevon Holland

Mike Kelly Talent Evaluation

In addressing the 2018 Oregon Ducks Football recruiting class, one of the staff’s main goals was to shore up the back end of their defense. And one of the top targets in the west was Jevon Holland from Bishop O’Dowd High School in Oakland, California. Oregon secured a commitment from him on May 1, 2017, and he stuck all the way through to National Signing …

The Complete Package: Oregon Running Back Travis Dye

Mike Kelly Talent Evaluation

In the 2018 recruiting cycle the Oregon Ducks signed two running backs, one in particular with a very high ceiling. That would be Travis Dye from California’s Norco High, a school with an enrollment of about 2,200 students located in North Riverside county in Southern California. Travis was a three year starter for the Cougars. He was a primarily a wide …

Oregon Ducks Football: The Maturation of Tyler Shough

Mike Kelly Talent Evaluation

The task of recruiting and receiving a commitment from a highly regarded quarterback each recruiting cycle is an arduous process. Keeping said commit in the fold is even harder. After having a commitment from Colson Yankoff only to lose him to the rivals up north, the Oregon Ducks focused their efforts on an Elite 11 quarterback that was committed elsewhere, Tyler Shough from Chandler, Arizona. …