To make sense of Oregon’s recruiting landscape over the coming weeks and months, WFOD will be rolling out its 2020 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: 85/85
Scholarship seniors on current roster: 18
Estimated available scholarships for the 2020 class: 18
*Star rating based on 247 Sports’ Composite Rankings*
Quarterback:
**No change since last week**
Max. number expected to take: 2
Current commits:
(4*) Jay Butterfield – 6’6″, 202 lbs. – Brentwood (Calif.) Liberty
Current targets:
(4*) CJ Stroud – 6’3″, 194 lbs. – Rancho Cucamonga (Calif.) – Probability/Trending: HIGH/UP
Ranked as one of the top quarterback prospects in the country for the 2020 class, Butterfield verbally committed to the Ducks in May and hasn’t wavered since. The Ducks may not be done at the position, however. Recently, Oregon extended an offer to Stroud, a player who has enjoyed a meteoric rise up the national recruiting rankings after winning Elite 11 MVP over the summer.
Running back:
**No change since last week**
Max. number expected to take: 1
Current commits:
(3*) Trey Benson – 6’0″, 209 lbs. – Greenville (Miss.) St. Joseph
The Ducks are all but done at running back for the 2020 cycle, as Benson was a player that Oregon running backs coach Jim Mastro had his sights set on early. He’s set to join a stacked stable of running backs that could run six deep by the time he arrives on campus.
Wide receiver:
**No change since last week**
Max. number expected to take: 4
Current commits:
(4*) Kris Hutson – 5’11”, 175 lbs. – Bellflower (Calif.) St. John Bosco
(4*) Johnny Wilson – 6’6″, 224 lbs. – Calabasas (Calif.)
Current targets:
(4*) Traeshon Holden (**ALABAMA COMMIT**) – 6’3″, 195 lbs. – Harbor City (Calif.) Narbonne – Probability/Trending: MEDIUM/UP
(4*) Logan Loya – 6’0″, 185 lbs. – Bellflower (Calif.) St. John Bosco – Probability/Trending: MEDIUM/IDLE
(3*) Brenden Rice – 6’2″, 204 lbs. – Chandler (Ariz.) Hamilton – Probability/Trending: LOW/IDLE
(4*) Gary Bryant – 5’11”, 164 lbs. – Corona (Calif.) Centennial – Probability/Trending: LOW/IDLE
Wilson and Hutson comprise a strong foundation for what the Ducks hope to accomplish at the wide receiver position during the 2020 cycle. Not only are both players four-star recruits, but both are two of the best skilled position talents on the West Coast. Expect each player to contend for playing time as freshmen. Who rounds out this group with Wilson and Hutson is another question. Rice appeared to be the best bet a few months ago, though it appears both sides have moved on to a degree since the spring ended. Smart money is on Holden and/or Loya to make the call for the Ducks sometime this fall, though it would be a stretch to call Oregon the favorite for either right now. Bryant seems to be a long shot to end up in green and yellow at this time.
Tight end:
**No change since last week**
Max. number expected to take: 2
Current commits:
(3*) Seth Figgins – 6’7″, 225 lbs. – Eugene (Ore.) Sheldon
Current targets:
(4*) D.J. Rogers – 6’3″, 230 lbs. – Sammamish (Wash.) Eastside Catholic – Probability/Trending: MEDIUM/IDLE
Tight end, like running back, is a position that is well stocked for the Ducks both in the present and the immediate future. Figgins was the first player to get the ball rolling for the Ducks in 2020 when he announced his commitment to Oregon in October of 2018. Though he was sidelined with an injury for all of last year, Figgins looks to make the most of his senior season, which will be played in Eugene following a move from southern California. If Oregon is motivated to add another tight end to their recruiting class, Rogers feels like the most likely bet.
Offensive line:
**No change since last week**
Max. number expected to take: 6
Current commits:
(3*) Faaope Laloulu – 6’7″, 390 lbs. – Honolulu (Hawaii) Farrington
(3*) Marcus Harper – 6’4″, 290 lbs. – Chicago (Ill.) Simeon
(4*) Jonathan Denis – 6’3″, 279 lbs. – Homestead (Fla.) South Dade
(3*) Jaylan Jeffers – 6’6″, 260 lbs. – Scottsdale (Ariz.) Saguaro
(N/A) T.J. Bass – 6’5″, 330 lbs. – Deming (Wash.) Mt. Baker via Oroville (Calif.) Butte College
Current targets:
(3*) Levi Rogers – 6’5″, 270 lbs. – Woodinville (Wash.) – Probability/Trending: MEDIUM/IDLE
(3*) Alex Harrison – 6’4″, 310 lbs. – Bountiful (Utah) Viewmont – Probability/Trending: LOW/DOWN
Ducks head coach Mario Cristobal and offensive line coach Alex Mirabal have put in serious work on the recruiting trail this cycle, landing verbal commitments from five prospects along the offensive trenches. With Oregon set to lose six seniors at the end of the 2019 season, the influx of incoming talent should help fill any gaps in terms of depth. The work in the offensive trenches may not be totally complete, however, as Harrison and Rogers remain in contention for a spot in this class. Whether either player is added may depend on if there’s any attrition from the current group of offensive line commits.
Defensive linemen:
**No change since last week**
Max. number expected to take: 4
Current commits:
(3*) Jake Shipley – 6’4″, 269 lbs. – Indio (Calif.) Shadow Hills
(3*) Maceal Afaese – 6’5″, 260 lbs. – Kapolei (Hawaii)
Current targets:
(3*) Bradyn Swinson – 6’3″, 230 lbs. – Douglasville (Ga.) Chapel Hill – Probability/Trending: MEDIUM/UP
(N/A) Quay Evans – 6’3″, 278 lbs. – Chester (S.C.) – Probability/Trending: MEDIUM/IDLE
(4*) Xavier Carlton – 6’7″, 262 lbs. – Draper (Utah) Juan Diego Catholic – Probability/Trending: MEDIUM/IDLE
(4*) Jason Harris – 6’7″, 220 lbs. – Gilbert (Ariz.) Higley – Probability/Trending: MEDIUM/IDLE
(4*) Omari Thomas – 6’5″, 299 lbs. – Memphis (Tenn.) Briarcrest Christian – Probability/Trending: LOW/UP
(3*) Kenean Caldwell (**KANSAS COMMIT**) – 6’3″, 336 lbs. – Oak Grove (La.) – Probability/Trending: LOW/IDLE
(4*) Jayson Jones (**ALABAMA COMMIT**) – 6’7″, 340 lbs. – Calera (Ala.) – Probability/Trending: LOW/IDLE
(4*) Tyler Baron – 6’5″, 252 lbs. – Knoxville (Tenn.) Knoxville Catholic – Probability/Trending: LOW/IDLE
After reeling in a massive defensive line haul during the 2019 recruiting cycle, it would be somewhat of a surprise to see Oregon replicate those efforts in 2020. Yet, that doesn’t mean they won’t be active in their pursuit of defensive line talent between now and the December and February signing periods. With Shipley and Afaese already in the fold, expect the Ducks to sign no more than four defensive linemen total. Who helps finish out this class is a bit of a coin flip, as Oregon isn’t a clear-cut favorite for any of the current targets.
Linebacker:
**No change since last week**
Max. number expected to take: 5
Current commits:
(3*) Peter Latu – 6’4″, 225 lbs. – Spanaway (Wash.) Bethel
(4*) Jaden Navarrette – 6’3″, 235 lbs. – Norco (Calif.)
(3*) Jackson LaDuke – 6’3″, 220 lbs. – Sparks (Nev.) Spanish Springs
Current targets:
(5*) Noah Sewell – 6’2″, 266 lbs. – Orem (Utah) – Probability/Trending: HIGH/IDLE
(5*) Sav’ell Smalls – 6’3″, 230 lbs. – Burien (Wash.) Kennedy Catholic – Probability/Trending: MEDIUM/UP
(5*) Justin Flowe – 6’2″, 225 lbs. – Upland (Calif.) – Probability/Trending: LOW/IDLE
Of all the positions the Ducks could address between now and the end of the 2020 recruiting cycle, linebacker is one that could pay the most dividends. Oregon has already done well with solid verbal commitments from Latu, Navarrette, and LaDuke, but the ultimate upside for this unit could be sky-scraping. As of now, the Ducks are the odds-on favorite for Sewell, who’s the younger brother of Penei, and are in a strong position for Smalls, who lists Oregon, Washington State, and Washington as the West Coast considerations in his top six. Flowe is the biggest long shot, though the Ducks do have a place in the SoCal product’s top four, which also includes Clemson, Georgia, and Miami (Fla.).
Defensive back:
**No change since last week**
Max. number expected to take: 5
Current commits:
(4*) Avantae Williams – 5’11”, 170 lbs. – DeLand (Fla.)
(4*) Luke Hill – 5’11”, 180 lbs. – Baltimore (Md.) St. Frances Academy
(4*) Myles Slusher – 6’0″, 181 lbs. – Broken Arrow (Okla.)
(3*) Jared “JJ” Greenfield – 6’0″, 180 lbs. – Harbor City (Calif.) Narbonne
Current targets:
(N/A) Bennett Williams – 6’0″, 195 lbs. – San Mateo (Calif.) College of San Mateo via Illinois via Mountain View (Calif.) St. Francis – Probability/Trending: HIGH/UP
(4*) Elijhah Badger – 6’1″, 185 lbs. – Folsom (Calif.) – Probability/Trending: HIGH/UP
(5*) Kelee Ringo – 6’2″, 205 lbs. – Scottsdale (Ariz.) Saguaro – Probability/Trending: LOW/IDLE
(4*) Henry Gray – 6’0″, 172 lbs. – Miami (Fla.) Miami Central – Probability/Trending: LOW/IDLE
(4*) Ayden Hector – 6’0″, 198 lbs. – Sammamish (Wash.) Eastside Catholic – Probability/Trending: LOW/IDLE
Perhaps the most impressive display of recruiting prowess during the 2020 cycle has come courtesy of Oregon cornerbacks coach Donte Williams, who currently has four highly-touted defensive backs committed to this year’s class. However, it may ultimately be the source of great frustration for Duck coaches and fans alike, as the verbal commitments from Avantae Williams and Myles Slusher, specifically, feel the most tenuous at this moment. Of the uncommitted prospects the Ducks are pursuing, Badger and latest target list addition Bennett Williams appear to be the most likely targets to pop. Badger has been believed to be a heavy Oregon lean for months, though the Ducks have yet to gain the commitment. Williams is a former freshman All-American at Illinois who was dismissed from the Illini program following a suspension for a violation team rules last October. After picking up an Oregon offer recently, Williams now becomes a real threat to be the next commitment to the Ducks’ 2020 class.