The Ducks may have lost two defensive back recruits in June following the de-commitment of Cameron Williams and Marques Caldwell, but that seemingly hasn’t proven to be much of an obstacle as they look to fill those voids in the 2019 recruiting class, as Monday, Oregon head coach Mario Cristobal received a verbal commitment from Lanett (Ala.) four-star safety Trikweze Bridges.
C O M M I T T E D 🔥‼ #ScoDucks 🦆🦆 @Marcilyn7 @teebridges14 pic.twitter.com/58WgUgBaLU
— #11Bridges (@TrikwezeB_2) July 23, 2018
With his pledge, Bridges is Oregon’s 15th verbal commitment in their 2019 recruiting class, and the third defensive back, joining four-star recruits Mykael Wright and Jeremiah Criddell. Bridges’ commitment also gives the Ducks the nation’s sixth-best recruiting class for 2019 per 247 Sports’ Composite Team Rankings, currently holding a slight edge over Notre Dame for the spot.
Rare is the scenario when Oregon bests name-brand programs from the south for top flight talent, but it’s becoming increasingly clear that the Oregon coaching staff has rare talents on the recruiting trail. With 22 reported offers to his name, Bridges commits to the Ducks despite interest from regional powerhouse programs such as Florida State, LSU, Alabama, and Georgia.
Below we take a closer look at Bridges’ 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:
- Not especially explosive: Bridges is a very good athlete, but he doesn’t possess great explosiveness tracking down ball carriers or breaking to the football while in flight. The good news for him is he makes up for it with terrific instincts and length, though the lack of explosiveness could prove to be a vulnerable element of his game once he starts facing college-level competition.
- Needs to mature physically: At 6-foot-3 and 175 pounds, Bridges is a string bean who should be a major beneficiary of a college-level weight and nutrition program. To his credit, he plays with a physical streak from his safety position despite his frame, but he’ll likely need to add bulk if he’s to remain healthy over the course of a season and ultimately fulfill his potential.
Notable strengths:
- A ballhawk extraordinaire: You could make a great argument that of all the safety prospects the Ducks have offered during the 2019 recruiting cycle, Bridges may be the one who is the best pure ballhawk. As a junior, Bridges nabbed 10 interceptions, demonstrating outstanding range and ball skills. He’s a turnover machine with a true penchant for making plays.
- Fluid athlete: Though he may lack truly elite athleticism, Bridges is a very smooth, fluid athlete with great natural football instincts. With the ball in his hands, he morphs into an offensive player who is looking to score. Which shouldn’t come as a surprise, as he also excels as a receiver for Lanett High.
- Long and rangy with room to grow: One of Bridges’ greatest assets is his great length and long stride which he uses to cover all corners of the field like a center fielder in baseball. As he fills out his wiry frame, he could be even more impactful with his range, particularly as it relates to punishing receivers downfield.
Overall outlook:
Given his current body composition, it would come as no surprise if Bridges were to wind up wearing a redshirt his first year on campus. Projecting forward at the safety position, the Ducks will have Brady Breeze, Nick Pickett, and Billy Gibson entering their junior year by the time Bridges arrives on campus, with Steve Stephens and Jevon Holland as redshirt freshmen/sophomores. He’ll also likely be competing for reps at safety with fellow 2019 commit Jeremiah Criddell, which only further impedes his path to the field in Year 1. However, Bridges clearly possesses an array of skills that could make him an exciting player in the back end of the Duck defense. Though he’s not as physically developed as Tyree Robinson, he is of similar stature and skill-set, and is perhaps a more natural playmaker and better overall football player at this stage in his career compared to the former Duck. Bridges is a nice addition who likely rounds out Oregon’s recruitment of safeties this cycle unless a can’t miss prospect at the position (see Noa Pola-Gates) decides he wants to join the flock.