Coming off a wild weekend that saw the Oregon football program demonstrate the full might of their recruiting prowess, the momentum has continued into the week, as the Ducks picked up a commitment from Deerfield Beach (Fla.) three-star defensive lineman Brandon Dorlus at the start of the early signing period Wednesday.
BOOM!!! LETS WELCOME BRANDON DORLUS TO THE FAMILY!!! @brandon_dorlus pic.twitter.com/m9pugsdmDL
— Mario Cristobal (@coach_cristobal) December 19, 2018
Formerly a verbal commit to Virginia Tech, Dorlus officially opened up his recruitment in early December after taking an official visit to Florida in late November. Though they were a relative newcomer on the scene, the Oregon coaching staff made Dorlus a priority, pushing him to take the official visit that took place this past weekend.
Dorlus, a high school teammate of fellow Oregon verbal commit Ge’mon Eaford, joins a defensive line group that has suddenly gained serious momentum after landing five-star prospect Kayvon Thibodeaux on Saturday alongside the long-standing commitments of Keyon Ware-Hudson, Suaava Poti, and Treven Ma’ae.
With Dorlus’ commitment, the Ducks boast the nation’s fifth-ranked recruiting class per 247Sports’ Composite Team Rankings, trailing LSU by mere percentage points.
Below we take a closer look at Dorlus’ 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:
- Doesn’t possess elite explosion: Dorlus is a good athlete, but his athleticism – and particularly, his explosiveness – is not what sets him apart from defensive linemen in the 2019 class. Though an effective player, he’s a grit and grind athlete who finds a way to get the job done despite lacking elite athletic tools.
- Pad level is a little high: Coming out of his stance, Dorlus has a tendency to play a little upright as he engages opposing offensive linemen at the point of attack. Technique is an easily fixable area of his game, but it is one that could use some focus.
- Needs to add strength: In addition to improving his overall technique and fundamentals, Dorlus would benefit from adding strength to his 6-foot-2, 270-pound frame. Dorlus is anything but weak, but he could certainly be more dominant at the point of attack after spending time in a collegiate strength, conditioning, and nutrition program.
Notable strengths:
- Versatility: Dorlus’ greatest quality on the football field may be his versatility. With enough speed and quickness to play defensive end in a 3-4 alignment, and enough strength to provide spot duty at nose guard, Dorlus is a valuable addition to the Oregon defensive line thanks to his utility.
- Knack for disruption: One thing that reveals itself on tape is just how disruptive Dorlus can be. For a defensive lineman, he has a true knack for making plays and effecting the game both at and behind the line of scrimmage.
- Instinctual: While he may not possess create-a-player physical attributes, Dorlus is an instinctual player who understands his strengths and limitations, yet still finds a way to impact the game. With some seasoning and maturity, he can be expected to develop into a steady and reliable force.
Overall outlook:
Defensive line has been a position the Oregon coaching staff has wanted to address in a significant way throughout the entire 2019 recruiting cycle, and in Dorlus, Mario Cristobal and company have landed a versatile piece that nicely complements the other defensive line commitments in the Ducks’ 2019 class. In terms of immediate impact next season, it would come as a mild surprise to see Dorlus earn extensive action. Not only will he be competing for playing time with fellow d-line commits in Ware-Hudson, Poti, Thibodeaux, and perhaps even Ma’ae, but Dorlus will also have to supplant veteran incumbents such as Gary Baker, Austin Faoliu, Drayton Carlberg, Gus Cumberlander, and Andrew Faoliu for reps. In reality, this might actually be the best thing for Dorlus, who could use a redshirt year to improve his strength and technique before being called upon. With his best football ahead of him, Dorlus is the type of player who could easily become a rotational mainstay with a season or two of maturation.