To make sense of Oregon’s recruiting landscape over the coming weeks and months, WFOD will be rolling out its 2019 Recruiting Big Board at the beginning of every week between now and the final signing period taking place in February. This weekly piece will provide a snapshot of both the recruits currently committed to the Ducks, as well as a high-level look at the prospects Oregon is believed to be currently pursuing, all in an effort to keep you informed and ahead of the curve as the end of the cycle draws near.
Below, we also provide an estimation on the number of available scholarships the Ducks have at their disposal for the given recruiting cycle. Note that these are unofficial counts that are subject to change as a result of ongoing roster fluctuation. You can also find the latest depth chart and scholarship updates by visiting WFOD’s Living Depth Chart.
Scholarships currently taken: 75/85
Scholarship seniors on current roster: 10
Estimated available scholarships for the 2019 class: 20
Quarterback:
**No change since last week**
Max. number expected to take: 1
Current commits:
(3*) Cale Millen – 6’4″, 190 lbs. – Snoqualmie (Wash.) Mount Si
After landing a commitment from Millen in early May, the Ducks are likely done at quarterback for the 2019 cycle.
Running back:
**No change since last week**
Max. number expected to take: 3
Current commits:
(3*) Jayvaun Wilson – 6’2″, 210 lbs. – Valencia (Calif.)
(4*) Sean Dollars – 5’10”, 185 lbs. – Santa Ana (Calif.) Mater Dei
The Ducks are likely finished at running back unless there is a prospect that comes along that is just too good for this staff to pass up. It’s worth noting too that Wilson could eventually become a linebacker for the Ducks, though he’s expected to compete for carries at running back when he gets to Eugene.
Wide receiver:
**No change since last week**
Max. number expected to take: 5
Current commits:
(3*) JR Waters – 6’3″, 185 lbs. – Oxnard (Calif.)
(4*) Josh Delgado – 5’11”, 181 lbs. – Bradenton (Fla.) IMG Academy
(4*) Lance Wilhoite – 6’3″, 186 lbs. – Nashville (Tenn.) Franklin Road Academy
(4*) Mycah Pittman – 5’11”, 195 lbs. – Calabasas (Calif.)
Current targets:
(5*) Kyle Ford – 6’2″, 209 lbs. – Orange (Calif.) Orange Lutheran – Probability/Trending: MEDIUM/UP
(5*) Bru McCoy – 6’3″, 205 lbs. – Santa Ana (Calif.) Mater Dei – Probability/Trending: LOW/IDLE
Even with the four receivers currently committed, Oregon will look to add at least one more receivers this cycle. The Ducks have shifted their focus almost exclusively to five-star prospect Kyle Ford at this present moment. Following his unofficial visit to Eugene in early June, Oregon catapulted towards the top of Ford’s list of favorites. Ford was on campus for his official visit during Oregon’s win over UCLA, as the Ducks remain squarely in the hunt for his signature this winter. USC, Washington, and Colorado are the main schools to keep an eye on here. McCoy unofficially visited the Ducks last year when Willie Taggart was still the head coach, but has not been back to Eugene since. Oklahoma, Texas, and USC are considered three of the favorites for him at the moment.
Tight end:
**No change since last week**
Max. number expected to take: 2
Current commits:
(4*) Patrick Herbert – 6’5″, 225 lbs. – Eugene (Ore.) Sheldon
Despite the current roster’s depth at tight end, the Ducks were originally targeting two tight ends in this class. Oregon picked up a commitment from Herbert, the brother of Justin, in mid-May, but fell short in their pursuit of two of the West Coast’s best in four-star prospects Ethan Rae and Jude Wolfe, who each committed to USC. With that, Oregon will likely stand pat and use the extra scholarship elsewhere.
Offensive line:
**No change since last week**
Max. number expected to take: 4
Current commits:
(4*) Malaesala Aumavae-Laulu – 6’7″, 345 lbs. – Henderson (Nev.) Liberty via Corsicana (Texas) Navarro College
(3*) Joey Capra – 6’4″, 275 lbs. – Auburn (Calif.) Placer
(4*) Jonah Tauanu’u – 6’6″, 317 lbs. – Harbor City (Calif.) Narbonne
Current targets:
(3*) Logan Sagapolu – 6’3″, 340 lbs. – Lehi (Utah) Skyridge – Probability/Trending: MEDIUM/UP
Oregon landed what was arguably their top recruiting target this cycle in four-star offensive tackle Jonah Tauanu’u back in August. With his pledge, the Ducks have solidified their core group of offensive line targets for this cycle, and may be done at the position provided there are no de-commitments between now and the winter. However, it’s still worth keeping an eye on Sagapolu, who could also be an option here as an interior lineman. The Lehi, Utah native officially visited Eugene to take in Oregon’s victory over UCLA. If Sagapolu were to commit to the Ducks, it’s expected he wouldn’t count towards the roster until 2021 after he returns from his Mormon mission.
Defensive linemen:
- Ika’s trending designation has moved from UP to IDLE
Max. number expected to take: 5
Current commits:
(4*) Keyon Ware-Hudson – 6’2″, 305 lbs. – Santa Ana (Calif.) Mater Dei
(3*) Suaava Poti – 6’3″, 285 lbs. – Bellflower (Calif.) St. John Bosco
Current targets:
(5*) Kayvon Thibodeaux – 6’5″, 239 lbs. – Thousand Oaks (Calif.) Oaks Christian – Probability/Trending: HIGH/UP
(4*) Siaki Ika – 6’3″, 347 lbs. – Salt Lake City (Utah) East – Probability/Trending: MEDIUM/IDLE
(4*) Ty Robinson – 6’5″, 260 lbs. – Gilbert (Ariz.) Higley – Probability/Trending: MEDIUM/DOWN
(4*) Drake Jackson – 6’4″, 260 lbs. – Corona (Calif.) Centennial – Probability/Trending: MEDIUM/DOWN
(4*) Stephon Wright – 6’3″, 260 lbs. – Los Angeles (Calif.) Cathedral – Probability/Trending: LOW/UP
(3*) Smith Vilbert – 6’7″, 250 lbs. – Montvale (N.J.) St. Joseph Regional – Probability/Trending: LOW/IDLE
(3*) Myron Warren – 6’3″, 240 lbs. – Many (La.) – Probability/Trending: LOW/IDLE
(5*) Ishmael Sopsher – 6’4″, 334 lbs. – Amite (La.) – Probability/Trending: LOW/IDLE
(4*) Khris Bogle – 6’5″, 215 lbs. – Fort Lauderdale (Fla.) Cardinal Gibbons – Probability/Trending: LOW/IDLE
(4*) Jaquaze Sorrells – 6’2″, 292 lbs. – Largo (Fla.) – Probability/Trending: LOW/DOWN
Defensive line will be a primary point of emphasis for the Ducks between now and the end of the recruiting cycle. Ware-Hudson and Poti are great foundational pieces, but Oregon needs to add at least two more players to feel better about their numbers moving forward. It’s worth noting that guys like Bogle, Thibodeaux, and Warren could also figure as hybrid defensive ends/outside linebackers. At this juncture, the Ducks look to be in a strong position for Thibodeaux, who by all accounts, seemed to have a phenomenal experience while on campus for his official visit back on October 13. Oregon, Alabama, and Florida State are considered the top contenders for his signature at this time. Ika officially visited Eugene to take in the Ducks’ win over UCLA and have similarly put themselves in great spot for the Salt Lake City native, who is also giving strong consideration to Alabama.
Linebacker:
**No change since last week**
Max. number expected to take: 6
Current commits:
(4*) Mase Funa – 6’2″, 245 lbs. – Santa Ana (Calif.) Mater Dei
(3*) Isaac Townsend – 6’6″, 235 lbs. – Arvada (Colo.) Ralston Valley Senior
(4*) Ge’mon Eaford – 6’1″, 217 lbs. – Deerfield Beach (Fla.)
(3*) Treven Ma’ae – 6’4″, 240 lbs. – Las Vegas (Nev.) Bishop Gorman
(4*) Jared Casey – 6’3″, 220 lbs. lbs. – Louisville (Ky.) Ballard
Current targets:
(3*) Caleb Johnson – 6’1″, 215 lbs. – Fullerton (Calif.) Fullerton College via Murrieta (Calif.) Vista Murrieta – Probability/Trending: MEDIUM/IDLE
(4*) Daniel Heimuli – 6’2″, 225 lbs. – Menlo Park (Calif.) Menlo-Atherton – Probability/Trending: MEDIUM/IDLE
(3*) Ralen Goforth – 6’2″, 224 lbs. – Bellflower (Calif.) St. John Bosco – Probability/Trending: LOW/DOWN
(4*) Laiatu Latu – 6’5″, 242 lbs. – Carmichael (Calif.) Jesuit – Probability/Trending: LOW/DOWN
(4*) Henry To’oto’o – 6’2″, 210 lbs. – Concord (Calif.) De La Salle – Probability/Trending: LOW/DOWN
Jared Casey is the most recent recruit to make his pledge to Oregon, joining Funa and Eaford as the Ducks’ third four-star recruit at linebacker. Add in Townsend and Ma’ae, who each have the frame to potentially develop into defensive ends, and you have to feel pretty good about where you stand if you’re Oregon defensive coordinator Jim Leavitt. There’s a good chance that the Ducks are finished at linebacker for this cycle, but keep an eye on any potential developments that take place with Heimuli. Oregon was recently listed as a finalist for Heimuli, who is also considering Alabama, Utah, Washington, and UCLA. Goforth and Latu were supposed to trip Eugene in September, but have decided to postpone their visits instead. Johnson is the latest addition to the linebacker target list after recently picking up an Oregon offer.
Defensive back:
- Steele’s trending designation has moved from UP to IDLE
- McDuffie’s trending designation has moved from UP to IDLE
Max. number expected to take: 6
Current commits:
(4*) Jeremiah Criddell – 5’11”, 188 lbs. – Santa Ana (Calif.) Mater Dei
(4*) Mykael Wright – 5’11”, 180 lbs. – Valencia (Calif.)
(3*) Trikweze Bridges – 6’3″, 175 lbs. – Lanett (Ala.)
(4*) Elijah Blades – 6’2″, 170 lbs. – Pasadena (Calif.) John Muir via Yuma (Ariz.) Arizona Western College
Current targets:
(4*) Chris Steele – 6’2″, 187 lbs. – Bellflower (Calif.) St. John Bosco – Probability/Trending: MEDIUM/IDLE
(4*) Trent McDuffie – 5’11”, 175 lbs. – Bellflower (Calif.) St. John Bosco – Probability/Trending: MEDIUM/IDLE
(4*) Noa Pola-Gates – 6’2″, 180 lbs. – Gilbert (Ariz.) Williams Field – Probability/Trending: LOW/IDLE
Defensive back was a major position of need for the Ducks entering the 2019 cycle, and as it stands right now, they’ve done an unbelievable job of addressing that need. Wright and Blades are two of the top corners on the West Coast, while Criddell and Bridges are two impact safeties with great long-term potential. The firmness of Blades and Criddell’s respective commitments to Oregon will be something fans will want to monitor over the next few months, as Blades took an official visit to Texas A&M earlier this fall and Criddell took an official visit to Oklahoma this past weekend. The Ducks should still be considered the strong favorite to land both players, but their flirtation with other schools is worth noting. McDuffie unofficially visited Eugene for the Stanford game and is unsure if he’ll take official visit sometime later this year. The Cardinal are believed to be Oregon’s biggest competition for the talented four-star recruit. Chris Steele is the newest addition to the Big Board after de-committing from USC in October. Steele recently indicated that Oregon, Florida, and Oklahoma comprise his top three.