What are the Ducks getting in Lance Wilhoite?

Recruiting / Thursday, June 28th, 2018

The momentum from what was an exciting recruiting weekend has continued deep into the the week for Oregon head coach Mario Cristobal and the Ducks.

After securing two four-star commitments from Malaesala Aumavae-Laulu and Josh Delgado this past Sunday, the Ducks have now made it three following the verbal commitment of Nashville (Tenn.) Franklin Road Academy four-star wide receiver Lance Wilhoite on Thursday. With his commitment, Wilhoite is the third wide receiver to pledge to the Ducks in the 2019 class – joining Delgado and three-star talent JR Waters.

At 6’3″, 186 lbs., Wilhoite is physically built in the mold of Waters, offering the Ducks yet another (and much needed) big target and downfield threat; the kind that has yet to really reveal itself on the roster since Darren Carrington was dismissed from the program prior to the start of the 2017 season.

Below we take a closer look at Wilhoite’s 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:

  • Room for improvement as a route-runner: This is fairly typical of wide receivers with elite-level athleticism who are making the transition from high school to college. Against high school competition, players like Wilhoite are able to not just get by, but dominate, thanks to being so superior athletically. With that, the finer points of route-running often get glossed over. It’s not a glaring weakness, but it will be a particular point of emphasis early in his career.
  • Needs to improve his overall strength: Wilhoite’s thin, wiry frame is what makes him a prospect with tremendous potential, but filling out that frame will be key to him maintaining a physical advantage over the competition he’ll face in college.

Notable strengths:

  • Penchant for making acrobatic catches: As mentioned, Wilhoite’s thin, wiry frame is what makes him a player with a potentially bright future. Whether it’s making ridiculous one-handed grabs, or going up and over defenders in jump ball situations, Wilhoite knows how to make great use of his length and frame. Shows very good body control and concentration when the ball is in the air.
  • Explosive after the catch: As good as he is at getting deep and out-jumping defenders for the ball, Wilhoite is arguably just as good taking screens and slants the distance. He’s a very fluid athlete with a long stride and great speed; a true home run threat.
  • Fearless as a blocker: Wilhoite doubles as a safety at the high school level and it shows. In situations where he’s asked to block for his teammates, Wilhoite demonstrates physicality and willingness as a blocker.

Overall outlook:

It’s real hard not to love the addition of Wilhoite to Oregon’s offense. The Ducks haven’t always found success landing receivers that have Wilhoite’s rare combination of size, speed, and athleticism, but with Waters and Wilhoite part of the fold, those days could be reaching an end. The most readily available comparison to an Oregon player that comes to mind is to that of Carrington, though I’d argue Wilhoite is an even better athlete at this stage in his career with greater long-term upside compared to the former Duck. His tantalizing set of tools could make him a dynamic, game-changing talent inside Autzen Stadium on Saturdays in the fall.

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