Asking the Tough Questions About Oregon Football Recruiting

Jason Fowler FishWrap, FishWrap Archive

The best thing about recruiting is that concerns and questions tend to pop up throughout the entire year. My continued analysis of Oregon Duck football recruiting has me asking the tough questions as we begin the month of August. With the tremendous, early start to the 2016 recruiting class, the tough questions aren’t easy to find. With a class ranking …

Recruiting Update: Mid-Summer Haze

Mark Flores FishWrap, FishWrap Archive

News Not unlike the smoky horizon of the west coast, the ’15-’16 recruiting cycle has settled into a mid-summer haze, seeing several key story lines move into a holding pattern. While much has been made of Bryce Youngquist’s (4-Star/Rancho Cucamonga, Calif./Rivals250) recruitment rapport with Eugene, the vaunted linebacker has finally given himself a deadline to announce his commitment. This coming …

Oregon Football Recruiting Class of 2016 Will Break Into Top 10

Jason Fowler FishWrap, FishWrap Archive

This is the best start to a recruiting class that Oregon has had in its football history. The potential greatness of the class of 2016 is due not only to the number of highly touted athletes that have committed to the Ducks, but also to the total number of commitments before Independence Day. Twelve verbal commitments before July 4th is a record …

Oregon Football Recruiting Analysis: An Inside Look at Defensive Tackle

Jason Fowler FishWrap, FishWrap Archive

Finding an elite defensive tackle is difficult for most college programs. Most high-end prospects are found somewhere in the southeast region of the United States. Pulling one from the South to, say, Eugene, Oregon, is a significant challenge. Oregon rarely gets a serious look from elite tackle recruits, so when a blue-chipper mentions Oregon among his top ten schools, the fans get a …

Oregon Football Recruiting Analysis: Linebackers

Jason Fowler FishWrap, FishWrap Archive

The importance of linebackers is somewhat unnoticeable until the unit becomes inefficient. The 2015 recruiting class saw Oregon bring in three linebackers — one true freshman inside linebacker, Fotu Leiato (who may end up on the outside, or even at safety), and two junior college outside linebackers, Jonah Moi and Paris Bostick. Obviously, there will be a need for outside linebackers in two …

Why Oregon Football Will Continue to “Win the Day”

Tyler Timm FishWrap, FishWrap Archive

What once used to be considered a “gimmick” has now turned into a dominant program. Ever since Mike Bellotti transitioned into an up-tempo spread offense team and then handed the reigns to Chip Kelly, the Oregon football program has since been in question. After making a Rose Bowl appearance in 2009 followed by a national championship game appearance in 2010, …

Oregon Football Recruiting Analysis: Make More Offers

Jason Fowler FishWrap, FishWrap Archive

Let’s get greedy! Oregon played for the national title and picked up a top-20 recruiting class in 2015. Now is the time to use that momentum to bring in a boatload of top prospects for the next recruiting cycle. Top 10 recruiting classes in the Helfrich era may start in 2016 and be similar to the 2011 top 10 class, which …

Recruiting Reality Hits Old Oregon Fans Hard

Charles Fischer, Mr. FishDuck FishWrap, FishWrap Archive

Once Oregon gets consistently into the Top Five…wins major bowls, becomes one of the top winning programs in the nation–and if the Ducks play twice in five years for the National Championship–THEN our beloved Ducks will recruit like the BEST. Hey you Greybeards. You know who you are in age, and like me, you have thought the above. Heck–I didn’t …

Oregon Football Recruiting Analysis: Closing Out the 2015 Class

Jason Fowler FishWrap, FishWrap Archive

With limited official visits Coach Mark Helfrich is making the most with what he’s got, but is running out of time. The Ducks may have three more commitments available for this 2015 recruiting cycle after getting two commitments in the last week.  Signing day is February 4th and that leaves little time for Coach Helfrich and staff to attempt to snag …

It Is Not About Recruiting!?

Dave Kensler FishWrap, FishWrap Archive

It has become a statement acknowledged as fact: Recruiting is paramount to an effective team. As such, you might not like what I have to say. But when I look at the college level of the sport as a whole, I see the hype of recruiting, National Signing Day and related hoopla overblown in terms of significance. We are talking …

Oregon Football Recruiting: Official Visits Are Getting Tight – Who Gets Them?

Jason Fowler FishWrap, FishWrap Archive

With about two weeks left until the national letter of intent day (NLI) or signing day on February 4th, who is not looking at the prospects and trying to figure out how to get key commitments to Oregon from players and juggle the limited official visits? Due to sanctions, Oregon lost one scholarship in each of two years (limiting the …

Oregon Football Recruiting Analysis: Oregon Can’t Beat Ohio State

Jason Fowler FishWrap, FishWrap Archive

Did it start in 2012 when the Ohio State Buckeyes robbed the Oregon Ducks of highly touted all-purpose back Dontre Wilson right under their noses? Or did it begin before that when Ohio State out-recruited Oregon for top high school prospects? Either way, the 2015 recruiting class will not be different, with the Buckeyes winning this contest by a large margin …