Football Recruiting
RB Joe Mixon (5-Star/Oakley, CA/Rivals#4RB)
Offers
At the turn of the month, Oregon landed a haymaker against national competition. Prized backfield prospect Joe Mixon (5-Star/Oakley, CA/Rivals#4 RB) received a long-awaited Ducks offer and guaranteed an appearance in Eugene in the near future.
“I was so hyped when (Coach Gary Campbell) was telling me I had a full ride to Oregon,” said Mixon. “I was jumping up and down on the phone, but tried to play it cool.”
At 6-foot-2, 195 pounds, Mixon is seemingly untouchable in the open field and like current Duck tailback De’Anthony Thomas, changes direction on the fly with lethal results.
“Oregon is definitely up there for me, there’s no doubt about it. I love the tradition and the offense and the coaches,” said Mixon. “I’ve always liked Oregon so it’s just a huge relief to finally have that offer. I can’t wait to get up there and check them out.”
Mixon’s blistering speed, coupled with formidable size, is a recipe made in heaven for the Ducks offense. While not a tabbed “power back”, Mixon’s stature gives him all the more vision to see the field and could propel him to heights only seen by Duck legends.
“I was excited when I heard Oregon offered,” said Van Dyke. “That’s a big time program. My coach spoke to (Matt Lubick) and he told him they were offering me. I can definitely see myself playing there.”
Athletic for his size, Van Dyke plays the traffic game, effortlessly breaking the second wave of defenders on screen passes for big gains down field. While Oregon’s receivers are more known for their blocking, Van Dyke’s presence on the perimeter would only strengthen a growing effort to let the pigskin fly as his build is an undeniable asset.
News
In the hunt to re-stock defensive ends, the Ducks continue to keep tabs on trench mammoth Jalen Jelks (3-Star/Phoenix, AZ). A reported 6’7″, 265 pounds, Jelks indicated that Oregon’s offer will continue to play heavily into his recruitment and appears to be headed to a decision sometime during or directly following his senior season. What may be most impressive about the southwest prep is a 36-inch wing span that allows for easy separation while blowing through opposing lines. Athletic to boot, Jelks fits the mold of recently departed Dion Jordan and has the potential to work his way into becoming a mainstay along the Oregon defensive line.
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Mark Flores, a Salem, OR resident, is a Firefighter/Paramedic and an avid Oregon Ducks fan. Prior to the fire service, Flores, a graduate of nearby Corban University, spent over seven years in professional journalism including a stint at the Statesman Journal in Salem and held the position of Sports Editor for the Hilltop News (Corban). A career transition however never dampened his love of writing and FishDuck is now his source to share his love of Mighty Oregon. Flores brings detailed knowledge of Oregon recruiting to the FishDuck team and welcomes your feedback.