For many Duck fans, last Saturday’s spring game was supposed to be an event that yielded a head-spinning number of commitments over the course of the weekend.

Those hopes went somewhat unfulfilled, as Oregon head coach Mario Cristobal and his crack staff of elite recruiters only netted a pair of four-star commitments from Jaden Navarrette and Kris Hutson during the weekend itself. However, the residual effects of that monstrous recruiting weekend may only now be coming to fruition, as Cristobal and company learned Friday that another high profile recruit is plotting his course to Eugene in the form of Baltimore (Md.) St. Frances Academy four-star cornerback Luke Hill.

 

Committed! pic.twitter.com/DgMhmTwUTf

— Luke Hill (@2flavorzz) April 27, 2019

With 22 offers to his name, Hill turned down advances from some of the nation’s top programs in Alabama, Clemson, and Michigan in order head west for Oregon. With his commitment, Hill joins fellow four-star prospect Avantae Williams as the second defensive back to commit to the Ducks’ 2020 recruiting class, which now ranks 16th nationally per 247Sports’ Composite Team Rankings.

Below we take a closer look at Hill’s 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 speed: Hill is undoubtedly one of the nation’s top cornerback prospects, but his overall speed isn’t what separates him from his peers. He’s a player who can get taken advantage of by quicker, more explosive athletes.
• May love the big hit too much: Physicality is one of Hill’s strong suits, but it can be a trait that can play to his detriment at times. On occasion, Hill will shy away from wrapping up completely, electing to go for the crushing hit instead. This is something he’ll get away with less often while in college.

Notable strengths:

• Physical in coverage: What’s not to like about a physical corner? Hill excels in this area and can be a difficult matchup, particularly for smaller, less physical receivers who line up across from him. Nothing comes easy for pass catchers who are forced to go head-to-head with Hill.
• Top notch cover skills: Hill combines physical strength in one-on-one matchups with terrific cover skills, making him one of the more complete cornerbacks in the 2020 class. His ability to stick to receivers and turn and find the ball while in flight is outstanding.
• Quality length: At 5-foot-11, Hill possesses decent height for a corner, but it’s his wingspan that allows him to play bigger than he really is. He has a real knack for tipping balls away and frustrating receivers, in general, thanks to his length.

Overall outlook:

After signing a pair of highly-touted cornerback prospects in Mykael Wright and DJ James during the 2019 recruiting cycle, Oregon cornerbacks coach Donte Williams has done it again by helping the Ducks land a verbal commitment from one of the nation’s top players at the position in Luke Hill. With Hill now part of the fold, the future for the Ducks at cornerback appears brighter than ever before. The D.C. native’s strength, physicality, and quality skills in coverage provides Oregon with yet another big time athlete to help combat the pass happy offenses typically found in the Pac-12 Conference. Distance should remain a concern for Duck fans, as the attention Hill receives from the region’s blue blood programs only figures to intensify between now and when Hill can sign his letter of intent. However, if Hill’s commitment sticks, the Ducks figure to be stacked at corner for the foreseeable future. By the time Hill makes his way to Eugene, both Thomas Graham and Deommodore Lenoir are expected to be entering their senior seasons, while Wright, James, and Verone McKinley will each be sophomores at worst. Whether it’s recruits in their backyard or 3,000 miles away, the Oregon coaching staff continues to demonstrate that they can attract the nation’s best football talent, and Hill is proof positive of that prowess.