It’s been a roller coaster ride for the Oregon Ducks at the cornerback position during the 2019 recruiting cycle. First came the summer de-commitment of three-star prospect Marques Caldwell, who would later go on to sign with Texas. Then, just before the start of the early signing period in December, the Ducks lost out on a commitment to another Texas program, as four-star talent Elijah Blades switched his commitment from Oregon to Texas A&M.
This time around, however, it was head coach Mario Cristobal’s turn to flip a coveted corner in the Ducks’ favor.
On Monday, the Ducks addressed the turn-style nature of their recruiting efforts at corner once and for all by landing a key commitment from Spanish Fort (Ala.) three-star prospect DJ James, formerly a verbal commit to Mississippi State.
What’s Understood Don’t Have To Be Explained 💚🦆100% COMMITTED To The University Of Oregon!#GoDucks 🦆 pic.twitter.com/TftWbQppUw
— DJ James🌴 (@DJ2ERA) January 21, 2019
James joins four-star prospect Mykael Wright as the second cornerback currently committed to Oregon’s 2019 recruiting class.
Below we take a closer look at James’ game, examining his weaknesses and strengths, as well as projecting how he may make an impact for the Ducks when he ultimately arrives on campus.
Notable weaknesses:
- Frame could use some developing: Listed at an even 6-feet and 170 pounds, James certainly isn’t a player who possess borderline physical attributes, but he is a player who still has some progress to make, particularly as it relates to his weight. His ability to fill out could make all the difference in his career trajectory.
- Doesn’t possess elite speed: If there’s one element of James’ game that prevents him from being an elite-level prospect, it’s probably his speed. It’s not like he has cinder blocks for feet, but compared to the nation’s best at the cornerback position, James doesn’t possess that next level speed and quickness.
Notable strengths:
- Terrific cover skills: If the ball is in the air and in DJ James’ vicinity, you can pretty much count on him making a positive play for the defense. His ability to blanket receivers and come up with deflections and interceptions feels routine, and is a testament to his fundamentals and natural ball skills. Shows a real knack for making impact plays.
- Fluid athlete: Few corners the Ducks have offered look as smooth and effortless as James does in coverage. Though he may not be as explosive as some of the nation’s elite at the position, there’s an efficiency to his movements and an instinctiveness when he reads and reacts to a play. He has a great foundation from which to grow.
- Physical defender: Not only does James possess impressive cover skills and athleticism, but he couples it with physicality when stopping ball carriers. More rugged than he lets on, James’ toughness and willingness to throw his body around is what makes him such a well-rounded player.
Overall outlook:
James’ three-star rating may say one thing, but his film says something entirely different – at least in our eyes. Similar to the 11th hour addition of Kahlef Hailassie during the 2018 cycle, in James, the Ducks have landed an unheralded prospect who could easily emerge as a diamond in this star-studded 2019 recruiting class. Though perhaps not as twitchy as former Oregon commit Elijah Blades, James shares a similar penchant for making plays and impacting the game when he’s on the field. Given Oregon’s experience at the position, he may not be a player who instantly commands playing time when he arrives on campus. However, with a little physical development and seasoning he could easily be a player who teams with fellow incoming freshman Mykael Wright to give the Ducks one of the best young cornerback tandems in the entire conference. In our opinion, James is perhaps the biggest steal for the Ducks in this historic recruiting class.