Since new coach Mark Helfrich has taken over for Chip Kelly, he has been very busy on the recruiting trail. Not only has he and five assistant coaches had an in home visit with every current commit, he has also added some much needed talent to Oregon’s 2013 class. Oregon is now up to 17 commitments, and looks to add up to another five depending on whether the soft verbals commit or not.
The following are the most recent verbal commitments for the Ducks, and the first under coach Helfrich.
Devon Allen – WR – 6’1″ 190lbs
Devon Allen
Allen is a nice sized receiver. A 4-star Semper Fidelis All American and a state record holder in the 110 and the 300 meter hurdles, Allen is committed to play football and track for the Ducks. Previously under Kelly, Allen had only received an offer to do track for Oregon. Soon after Helfrich took over, he got the dream offer to also play wide receiver for the Ducks. Allen has great speed, good timing on jump balls, and is an excellent blocker. He will need to add a few pounds on the next level but that should be no problem with his frame.
During Allen’s Senior season he helped fill the stat sheet in a number of ways. He caught 43 passes for 749 yards and 9 touchdown, rushed 26 times for 251 yards and 5 touchdowns, and also returned 10 punts for 178 yards. Here are some of his highlights.
Damion Hobbs – QB – 6’3″ 225lbs
Damion Hobbs
Hobbs is listed as a pocket passer by ESPN, but he is clearly a dual threat Quarterback who can make big plays throwing and with his feet. The first QB to commit under Helfrich, the 3-star recruit adds some much needed depth at the position after the transfer of Brian Bennett. Hobbs was formerly committed to Utah State, but flipped to Oregon after he received an offer.
Hobbs finished his Senior year with 2,769 passing yards and 29 touchdowns while adding another 808 yards and 12 touchdowns on the ground. Leading his team to the Texas class 5A Division 2 Championship Game. Here are some of his highlights.
Elijah George – OT – 6’5″ 230lbs
Elijah George
George, a 2-star prospect has been flying under the radar for his recruitment and is a little small for his position. Being so tall, he could easily add anther 25-30lbs at the next level. He could also make the switch to the edge of the defensive line as he has great speed as well. However, Oregon has a stacked D-line that won’t need much help. George fits in perfect in Oregon’s run first offense as he is one of the fastest O-linemen in the country.
George had a great season on the O-line while also adding some great help to the other side of the ball. During his senior season he had 47 total tackles with 20 of them being solo. He also added 3 sacks, 1 forced fumble, and 1 pass deflection.
Juwaan Williams – ATH – 6’0″ 185lbs
Juwaan Williams
Williams is an extremely versatile and gifted athlete. The 3-star recruit currently plays QB for his high school team to utilize all his abilities, but he projects as either a wide receiver, or more likely a safety at the next level. Williams has great hands, great size and speed combination, and is a threat for big plays every time he touches the ball. The perfect player for Oregon to utilize wherever they see fit. Here are some of his highlights.
Matt Lubick – WR Coach/Recruiting Coordinator – Height/Weight: Unknown
Matt Lubick
Probably the most important recruit of the newly christened Helfrich-era is former Duke WR coach Matt Lubick. Lubick brings 17 years of coaching experience to the Ducks. Lubick won multiple awards in 2012 for WR coach of the year and assistant coach of the year by different organizations. He was one of three finalists for the AFCA assistant coach of the year award, and was a nominee for the Broyles award, presented annually to the top assistant coach in the nation. Lubick was key in getting the commitment of 4 star WR Devon Allen just days after being hired by Helfrich.
Coach Helfrich is already starting to put his stamp on this recruiting class in a very good way. If he can keep the soft verbal commits, Oregon should finish with a top 20, maybe even a top 10 recruiting class for 2013. With national signing day in less than a week, Helfrich will be very busy talking to potential recruits and solidifying current commitments. Tune in on February 6th to see what players sign and fax a national letter of intent to play for your Oregon Ducks.
WTD!
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Sam was born and raised in Cottage Grove, Oregon and he has been a die hard Duck fan his entire life. Sam studied at the University of Oregon before moving to San Diego for 5 years. After moving back to Oregon, Sam decided to follow his passion for writing and started writing for various sports sites. To him, nothing is better than being in Autzen Stadium with 59,000 fans screaming their heads off!