The 2021 class can’t technically put pen to paper on a prospective letter of intent for another two years, but that certainly doesn’t stop the likes of Oregon head coach Mario Cristobal and his staff from putting the full court press on some of the top prospects in California for the 2021 recruiting cycle.

The fruits of their labor were reaped Monday afternoon, as Harbor City (Calif.) Narbonne athlete Anthony Beavers announced his verbal commitment to Oregon.

Dreams Do Come True…… Happy Birthday Lil Bro😁 pic.twitter.com/QhdLjsNVAj

— DreamChaser🏁🏁 (@BeaversAnthony) April 15, 2019

After starring at Junipero Serra High School in Gardena last season, the four-star recruit and the nation’s 12th-ranked athlete per 247Sports made the decision to transfer to Narbonne High this past winter. He joins fellow 2021 Oregon commit Seven McGee and four-star offensive line signee Jonah Tauanu’u as the most recent Narbonne products to commit to the Ducks.

Projected to play linebacker or safety at the next level, Beavers commits to Oregon after receiving scholarship offers from the likes of Florida, Florida State, and LSU.

Below we take a closer look at Beavers’ 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:

• Still rounding into form as an athlete: With a wide-ranging set of athletic gifts, Beavers is a player without a truly defined position on the defensive side of the ball. As he continues to mature that will likely change, but for now, Beavers is still somewhat raw and will need to continue applying himself in order maximize his god-given abilities.
• Needs to show more as a playmaker: As a sophomore on a talented Serra team last season, Beavers was as steady and reliable a performer as any junior or senior on the roster. However, his abilities as a playmaker/disruptor don’t really shine through on tape. Beavers still has two full seasons of high school football left to play, so there’s plenty of time for plays to be made, but it’s not necessarily an element of his game that reveals itself in an emphatic way.

Notable strengths:

• Versatile: With experience playing both safety and linebacker at the high school level, Beavers is a player who could fit in seamlessly at a multitude of positions on defense. His well-rounded athletic skill-set will be what makes him a valuable addition to Oregon’s defense under defensive coordinator Andy Avalos.
• Strong tackler: Despite his youth and relative inexperience, Beavers already demonstrates impressive proficiency as a tackler. Listed at 6-foot-2 and 195 pounds, Beavers’ body could go any number of directions as he continues to round into form physically, but one thing that should remain constant is his ability to bring down ball carriers.
• Comfortable playing space: Part of what makes Beavers such a versatile piece to any defense is his apparent comfort playing in space. Given his athleticism, Beavers is capable of not just holding his own, but also making impactful plays against a variety of different skilled position players. It’s an emerging strength for Beavers, but one that should continue serving him well as he looks to make the transition to college.

Overall outlook:

Though Beavers has bounced between safety and linebacker over the first two years of his high school career, in our eyes, he’s a player that ultimately seems destined to make his hay in college at the linebacker position. This runs somewhat counter to what Oregon has in mind, as the Oregon coaching staff currently views him as a safety in their defense. In many ways he reminds us as a more athletic version of Troy Dye when Dye was roughly the same age, as both players possess plus athleticism and the versatility to potentially star at a handful of positions on defense. Also, like Dye, Beavers has the look of a player who could develop into a tackling machine once he adds bulk and strength to his athletic frame. Two years remain before Beavers can make his commitment to Oregon official, so taking this pledge with a grain or two of salt is well advised for Duck fans. However, regardless of timing, it’s never a bad thing to have a player of Beavers’ caliber make a verbal commitment to your program, and until further notice, Beavers combines with fellow Narbonne product Seven McGee to give the Ducks two tremendous cornerstone recruits for their 2021 class.