To make sense of Oregon’s recruiting landscape over the coming weeks, WFOD offers up 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: 73/85
Scholarship seniors on current roster: 9
Estimated available scholarships for the 2019 class: 21
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 target:
(5*) Kyle Ford – 6’2″, 209 lbs. – Orange (Calif.) Orange Lutheran – Probability/Trending: MEDIUM/IDLE
Even with the four receivers currently committed, Oregon will look to add at least one more receiver during the 2019 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 also on campus for his official visit during Oregon’s win over UCLA in November, as the Ducks remain squarely in the hunt for his signature this winter. USC and Washington are the other main schools to keep an eye on here.
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:
- Removed Davis DiVall from the list following his commitment to Baylor
- Jones’ trending designation has moved from IDLE to DOWN
Max. number expected to take: 4
Current commits:
(4*) Malaesala Aumavae-Laulu – 6’7″, 345 lbs. – Henderson (Nev.) Liberty via Corsicana (Texas) Navarro College
(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
(3*) Dawand Jones – 6’8″, 360 lbs. – Indianapolis (Ind.) Ben Davis – Probability/Trending: LOW/DOWN
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 solidified their core group of offensive line targets for this cycle. Keep 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:
- Removed Siaki Ika from the list following his commitment to LSU
- Removed Ty Robinson from the list following his commitment to Nebraska
- Removed Stephon Wright from the list following his commitment to Arizona State
- Removed Drake Jackson from the list following his commitment to USC
- Okuayinonu’s trending designation has moved from IDLE to DOWN
- Sopsher’s trending designation has moved from UP to IDLE
- Added Kristian Williams to the target list
- Added Nathan Pickering to the target list
Max. number expected to take: 5
Current commits:
(4*) Keyon Ware-Hudson – 6’2″, 305 lbs. – Santa Ana (Calif.) Mater Dei
(3*) Sua’ava Poti – 6’3″, 285 lbs. – Bellflower (Calif.) St. John Bosco
(5*) Kayvon Thibodeaux – 6’5″, 239 lbs. – Thousand Oaks (Calif.) Oaks Christian
(3*) Brandon Dorlus – 6’2″, 270 lbs. – Deerfield Beach (Fla.)
Current targets:
(4*) Kristian Williams (**MINNESOTA COMMIT**) – 6’3″, 297 lbs. – Memphis (Tenn.) Southwind – Probability/Trending: MEDIUM/IDLE
(N/A) Sam Okuayinonu – 6’3″, 270 lbs. – Lowell (Mass.) via Virginia (Minn.) Mesabi Range College – Probability/Trending: MEDIUM/DOWN
(4*) Nathan Pickering (**MISSISSIPPI STATE**) – 6’4″, 286 lbs. – Seminary (Miss.) – Probability/Trending: LOW/IDLE
(5*) Ishmael Sopsher – 6’4″, 334 lbs. – Amite (La.) – Probability/Trending: LOW/IDLE
(3*) Smith Vilbert – 6’7″, 250 lbs. – Montvale (N.J.) St. Joseph Regional – Probability/Trending: LOW/DOWN
Defensive line continues to be a primary point of emphasis for the Ducks even despite the monumental commitment from Kayvon Thibodeaux. Ware-Hudson, Poti, and Dorlus are great foundational pieces to boot, but the Ducks would like to add at least one more defensive lineman to round out this group. Sopsher, like Thibodeaux, would be a program changing recruit but is thought to be a long shot for the Ducks even after officially visiting Eugene. Alabama and LSU are the two clear-cut favorites for the five-star prospect at this time. Meanwhile, Minnesota verbal commit Kristian Williams and Mississippi State verbal commit Nathan Pickering are the newest additions to the Big Board and are expected to take official visits to Eugene in January.
Linebacker:
- Removed Ralen Goforth from the list following his commitment to USC
- Removed Caleb Johnson from the list following his commitment to Texas
- Removed Laiatu Latu from the list following his commitment to Washington
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
(3*) Dru Mathis – 6’3″, 240 lbs. – Ventura (Calif.) Buena via Moorpark (Calif.) Moorpark College
Current targets:
(4*) Daniel Heimuli – 6’2″, 225 lbs. – Menlo Park (Calif.) Menlo-Atherton – Probability/Trending: MEDIUM/IDLE
(4*) Henry To’oto’o – 6’2″, 210 lbs. – Concord (Calif.) De La Salle – Probability/Trending: LOW/DOWN
Funa and Eaford are the Ducks’ four-star recruits 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. Keep an eye on any potential developments that take place with Heimuli. Oregon was listed as a finalist for the Bay Area product, who is also considering Alabama, Utah, Washington, and UCLA and will decide in February.
Defensive back:
- Removed Jeremiah Criddell from the list following his commitment to Oklahoma
- Removed Quandre Mosely from the list following his commitment to Kentucky
- Removed Connor Grieco from the list following his commitment to Boston College
- Steele’s probability to Oregon has moved from MEDIUM to LOW. His trending designation has been moved from UP to DOWN.
- Elam’s trending designation has moved from IDLE to UP
- Added Christian Williams to the target list
- Added DJ James to the target list
- Added Dequan Watts to the target list
- Added Martin Emerson to the target list
- Added Jamal Hill to the target list
Max. number expected to take: 6
Current commits:
(4*) Mykael Wright – 5’11”, 180 lbs. – Lancaster (Calif.) Antelope Valley
(3*) Trikweze Bridges – 6’3″, 175 lbs. – Lanett (Ala.)
Current targets:
(3*) DJ James (**MISSISSIPPI STATE COMMIT**) – 6’0″, 170 lbs. – Spanish Fort (Ala.) – Probability/Trending: MEDIUM/IDLE
(3*) Tarik Luckett (**COLORADO COMMIT**) – 6’3″, 184 lbs. – San Juan Capistrano (Calif.) JSerra Catholic – Probability/Trending: MEDIUM/IDLE
(4*) Kaiir Elam – 6’1″, 182 lbs. – North Palm Beach (Fla.) The Benjamin School – Probability/Trending: LOW/UP
(4*) Christian Williams (**ALABAMA COMMIT**) – 6’1″, 182 lbs. – Daphne (Ala.) – Probability/Trending: LOW/IDLE
(3*) Jamal Hill – 6’2″, 195 lbs. – Morrow (Ga.) – Probability/Trending: LOW/IDLE
(3*) Martin Emerson (**MISSISSIPPI STATE COMMIT**) – 6’2″, 185 lbs. – Pensacola (Fla.) Pine Forest – Probability/Trending: LOW/IDLE
(3*) Dequan Watts – 6’2″, 165 lbs. – Atlanta (Ga.) Maynard Jackson – Probability/Trending: LOW/IDLE
(4*) Chris Steele – 6’2″, 187 lbs. – Bellflower (Calif.) St. John Bosco – Probability/Trending: LOW/DOWN
Defensive back has been a major position of need for the Ducks entering the 2019 cycle, and as it stands right now, it still remains that way following the de-commitments of Jeremiah Criddell and Elijah Blades. Chris Steele de-committed from USC in October but is believed to be a strong Florida lean at this time. Luckett, who the Ducks offered earlier this spring, is a prospect who could see attention from Oregon ramp up as the early signing period nears. Williams, James, Watts, Emerson, and Hill are the latest additions to the Big Board. Williams – an Alabama verbal commit – and James – a Mississippi State verbal commit – are expected to officially visit Eugene in Janaury.
Kicker:
Max. number expected to take: 1
Current commits:
(3*) Camden Lewis – 6’0″, 185 lbs. – Cornelius (N.C.) William Amos Hough
The Ducks landed Lewis following his de-commitment from Minnesota and official visit to Eugene this past weekend. He figures to be the only specialist the Ducks add to their 2019 recruiting class.