The argument goes something like this: Since the state of Oregon produces so few elite athletes, when they do come along, they simply must become Ducks. Otherwise, the Ducks are in big trouble, with all of the huge recruiting disadvantages they have to try to overcome. Don’t get me wrong. It’s great when an in-state athlete works out well. I’m …
I have often thought in the past few years about bigger, stronger and faster football players at Oregon. I guess that’s because of the success and the overall upward trajectory of the UO football program over the last seven or so years. Some of that thinking was propelled by Chip Kelly’s “big guys beat up little guys’ illustration. Some of it …
The biggest challenge in college sports is filling the spots of those who move on. Whether that person is graduating and moving on, or taking their talents to the professional ranks, the recruiting battle is forever endless. With that being said, the Oregon Ducks have extended an offer to Nathan Smith, a top lineman recruit in the class of 2016, according …
Mike Merrell’s Three and Out It stands to reason that the top football recruits will inevitably make for the best teams. Three of the four teams playing in the 2014-15 National Championship Playoffs — Alabama, Ohio State and Florida State — habitually have top-five recruiting classes. But the fourth — yes, our Oregon Ducks — don’t even come close. In …
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 …
Kevin Cline If you’re expecting Oregon to finish high in the recruiting rankings this year, then prepare to be disappointed. Last week, I went against popular opinion and explained why I thought Oregon would be taking a relatively small 2014 recruiting class. Now it looks like they might take an even smaller class than I suspected. On Tuesday, Justin Hopkins …
Kevin Cline Those expecting the Ducks to finish high in this year’s recruiting rankings should think twice. While the quality of recruits should be high, the quantity may not be. Oregon’s recruiting got off to a hot start but then quickly slowed, with very little activity in the past couple of months. Expect that to change in October, but nonetheless, …