Duckling Profile: Khalil Oliver Fights to Fill Defensive Gap

Forrest Welk FishWrap, FishWrap Archive

Football recruiting is often akin to the careful planning of an investor. Coaches invest capital into players whom they feel will fill larger roles in the future. Oregon is no exception, as the Ducks are known for seeking youth and athleticism to fill gaps in their roster. With the departure of several key defensive backs, freshman Khalil Oliver looks to show …

Players Who Wait Outshine Current Recruits

Mike Merrell FishWrap, FishWrap Archive

Mike Merrell’s Three-and-Out Lost in the excitement of the returning stars and the hope of stars to come is the quiet backbone of any football team. For the most part, these are the guys who didn’t grab the headlines their freshman years. They’ve been in the program for a year or two or three, possibly redshirting, biding their time behind …

Oregon Football Recruiting Analysis: Grading the Class

Chris Charbonnier FishWrap, FishWrap Archive

National LOI signing day is a lot like Christmas for those of us who follow recruiting. A few of us have rich parents and expect the world, while others come from blue collar families.  All of us wake up early and wait in agony for mom and dad to come downstairs so that we can start opening presents.  Sometimes, we …

Oregon Football Recruiting Analysis: Wild Week Awaits

Chris Charbonnier FishWrap, FishWrap Archive

With less than a week left before national signing day, there are plenty of questions surrounding Oregon’s 2014 recruiting class.  The only guarantee is that the next seven days will be eventful, one way or another.  There are also seven names to keep an eye on during that time:  DT Trey Lealaimatafao, DT Rika Levi, DT Ratu Mafileo, S Matrell …

Recruiting Update: Oregon Banking on Three Bills

Mark Flores FishWrap, FishWrap Archive

Football Recruiting Visits For Oregon, the recruiting stakes placed on this past weekend couldn’t have been much higher.  The Ducks hosted a slew of visitors over the past few days, some of which are absolute necessities in the long-term plan in Eugene. One of Oregon’s biggest targets, defensive lineman Trey Lealaimatafao (3-Star/San Antonio, TX) finally made his way north after …

Oregon Football Recruiting Analysis: This Class is “Good,” not “Great”

Chris Charbonnier FishWrap, FishWrap Archive

Recruiting is a merciless and often brutal component of the college football system.  There’s no reason to sugar-coat it: the past couple weeks haven’t been ideal for the Ducks.  This is not going to be another article about Budda Baker.  There are plenty of those.  The fact is Baker is a great player and a great kid with a chance …