With the Ducks looking to put together a strong finish on the recruiting trail for 2020, head coach Mario Cristobal and his staff are simultaneously looking to spark an impressive start to their 2021 class.

Currently, the Ducks have long-standing verbal commitments from four-star prospects Seven McGee and Anthony Beavers and three-star offensive lineman Jackson Light, but perhaps their most buzzworthy addition to the 2021 class came Saturday when Cristobal and company received a commitment from Lebanon (Ore.) four-star linebacker Keith Brown.

Commited Go Ducks🦆 pic.twitter.com/tqbDsF0KHK

— Keith Brown (@KeithBrown2121) December 1, 2019

Long considered to be a strong Oregon lean, Brown removed all doubt following Oregon’s 24-10 win over Oregon State in the Civil War. Ranked as the top prospect in the state of Oregon and the no. 1 inside linebacker in the country per 247Sports’ Composite Rankings, Brown chose the Ducks over a growing list of offers that included Michigan, Tennessee, USC, and Washington.

With his commitment, the Ducks now boast the nation’s ninth-ranked recruiting class for the 2021 cycle.

Below we take a closer look at Brown’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:

• Lacks explosiveness: Compared to other top flight prospects at linebacker in the 2021 class, Brown doesn’t quite demonstrate the quick twitch and explosiveness you’d expect of a player rated as a high four-star prospect. Once he gets moving, he can be a tough player to slow down, but the initial burst leaves a little to be desired.
• Not an elite athlete: While Brown clearly stands out amongst his peers at the 5A level in the state of Oregon, we have questions as to how he’ll make the leap athletically when he reaches the collegiate level. Somewhat stiff through the hips and lacking in terms of his lateral quickness, Brown could face a steep learning curve as he adjusts to the speed and athleticism of FBS-caliber competition.

Notable strengths:

• Shows good pursuit, nose for the ball: One of the things that really stands out about Brown is they way he constantly pursues the football. While Brown may have some perceived limitations athletically, he pursues ball carriers like a magnet and is not often denied when it comes to finding himself in the middle of the action. Has a knack for being timely, always pouncing on loose balls and getting his hands on passes.
• Strong, physical tackler: Something you can’t deny Brown is his physicality. There’s nothing soft about Brown’s game when he is able to square up a ball carrier and bring him to the ground. His willingness to be a physical presence in the middle of defense permeates toughness on that side of the ball.
• College-ready body: At 6-foot-1 and 220 pounds, Brown has the physical stature of a player who could be ready to contribute early in his career should he continue developing. It will be interesting to see what Brown’s ceiling is once he hits Aaron Feld’s offseason training program.

Overall outlook:

There’s no doubt Brown has the ability to play at the FBS level, and in time, he should emerge as a regular contributor for the Ducks on defense. However, those expecting Brown to be a day one difference maker should temper those expectations a bit. For one, Brown is a 2021 prospect, which means he has another full year to go before he can even sign an official letter of intent with Oregon. That makes projecting his development an educated guess at best with so much time between now and when Brown will actually arrive on campus. His physicality and mature-build for a high schooler are two things that stand out, which could give him a leg up when he eventually gets to Eugene. We do have questions about his lack of overall explosiveness and athleticism, but those concerns can be curbed with an impressive offseason on the spring and summer camp circuit. In the end, this is a good addition for the Ducks that helps reinforce that recruiting the best talent in the state of Oregon is a priority for this staff. Brown seems to project best at inside linebacker where he’ll eventually compete for playing time among a group that will prospectively feature names like Isaac Slade-Matautia, MJ Cunningham, Ge’mon Eaford, Jackson LaDuke, and Noah Sewell.

Top Photo: Lebanon (Ore.) LB Keith Brown (pictured left) with 2020 Oregon commit Noah Sewell and Oregon linebackers coach Ken Wilson. (Keith Brown/Twitter)