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: 80/85
Scholarship seniors on current roster: 17
Estimated available scholarships for the 2020 class: 22
*Star rating based on 247 Sports’ Composite Rankings*
Quarterback:
- Added Robby Ashford to the target list
- Hornsby’s probability to Oregon has moved from MEDIUM to LOW. His trending designation has moved from UP to DOWN.
Max. number expected to take: 2
Current commits:
(4*) Jay Butterfield – 6’6″, 202 lbs. – Brentwood (Calif.) Liberty
Current targets:
(4*) Robby Ashford – 6’2″, 204 lbs. – Hoover (Ala.) – Probability/Trending: MEDIUM/IDLE
(4*) Malik Hornsby – 6’2″, 175 lbs. – Missouri City (Texas) Fort Bend Marshall – Probability/Trending: LOW/DOWN
(4*) CJ Stroud – 6’3″, 194 lbs. – Rancho Cucamonga (Calif.) – Probability/Trending: LOW/DOWN
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. In August, 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. Hornsby is another quarterback who received an offer from Oregon earlier in the recruiting cycle, and the Ducks could be an emerging player for the dual-threat star should his recruitment linger into February. The same could be said for Ashford, who took a surprise last minute official visit to Eugene this past weekend.
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 will likely run five deep before he even arrives on campus.
Wide receiver:
**No change since last week**
Max. number expected to take: 3
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*) Gary Bryant– 5’11”, 164 lbs. – Corona (Calif.) Centennial – Probability/Trending: LOW/DOWN
(3*) Jeremiah Hunter (**CAL COMMIT**) – 6’2″, 178 lbs. – Fresno (Calif.) Central East – Probability/Trending: LOW/DOWN
(4*) Jermaine Burton (**LSU COMMIT**) – 6’1″, 190 lbs. – Calabasas (Calif.) – Probability/Trending: LOW/DOWN
For the time being, Wilson and Hutson appear to be strong additions to the Ducks’ 2020 recruiting class at wide receiver. Not only are both players four-star recruits, but both are two of the best skilled position talents on the West Coast. If their commitments hold, expect each player to contend for playing time as freshmen. If, however, is the operative word, as Wilson in particular may be a player who is on “de-commitment” watch as flirtations with Arizona State have reportedly increased in recent weeks. Should Wilson flip, the question becomes, “Who finishes out this class out wide?” The recruiting landscape at wide receiver may have changed a bit after the Ducks added USC transfer Devon Williams to the roster back in September. Formerly a four-star recruit and the no. 6 ranked wide receiver in the 2018 class, the addition of Williams could conveniently offset any signing day defections.
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:
(3*) Jack Yary – 6’7″, 249 lbs. – Murrieta (Calif.) Murrieta Valley – Probability/Trending: LOW/DOWN
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 during the 2020 cycle when he announced his commitment to Oregon in October of 2018. Figgins’ status in this class is in limbo, however, as he will reportedly delay signing until February. This will be one of the more intriguing developments to watch as the 2020 cycle winds down.
Offensive line:
- Removed Alex Harrison from the target list following his commitment to Utah
Max. number expected to take: 5
Current commits:
(3*) Faaope Laloulu – 6’7″, 390 lbs. – Honolulu (Hawaii) Farrington
(3*) Marcus Harper – 6’4″, 290 lbs. – Chicago (Ill.) Homewood-Flossmoor
(4*) Jonathan Denis – 6’3″, 279 lbs. – Homestead (Fla.) South Dade
(3*) Jaylan Jeffers – 6’6″, 260 lbs. – Scottsdale (Ariz.) Saguaro
(3*) T.J. Bass – 6’5″, 330 lbs. – Oroville (Calif.) Butte College via Deming (Wash.) Mt. Baker
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 will be counted upon to fill any gaps in terms of depth.
Defensive linemen:
**No change since last week**
Max. number expected to take: 5
Current commits:
(3*) Jake Shipley – 6’4″, 269 lbs. – Indio (Calif.) Shadow Hills
(3*) Maceal Afaese – 6’5″, 260 lbs. – Kapolei (Hawaii)
(3*) Bradyn Swinson – 6’4″, 245 lbs. – Douglasville (Ga.) Chapel Hill
(3*) Jaylen Smith – 6’4″, 280 lbs. – Ahoskie (N.C.) Hertford County
Current targets:
(3*) Julius Coates – 6’6″, 270 lbs. – Scooba (Miss.) East Mississippi Community College via Rockford (Ill.) Guilford – Probability/Trending: LOW/DOWN
(3*) Deandre Butler– 6’5″, 280 lbs. – Independence (Kan.) Independence Community College via Covington (Ga.) Newton – Probability/Trending: LOW/DOWN
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, Afaese, Swinson, and now Jaylen Smith in the fold, expect the Ducks to sign no more than five defensive linemen total.
Linebacker:
- Flowe’s probability to Oregon has moved from MEDIUM to HIGH. His trending designation has moved from IDLE to UP.
Max. number expected to take: 4
Current commits:
(4*) Jaden Navarrette – 6’3″, 235 lbs. – Norco (Calif.)
(3*) Jackson LaDuke – 6’3″, 220 lbs. – Sparks (Nev.) Spanish Springs
(5*) Noah Sewell – 6’2″, 266 lbs. – Orem (Utah)
Current targets:
(5*) Justin Flowe – 6’2″, 225 lbs. – Upland (Calif.) – Probability/Trending: HIGH/UP
(3*) Muelu Iosefa (**CAL COMMIT**) – 6’3″, 212 lbs. – Mililani (Hawaii) – Probability/Trending: MEDIUM/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 had already done well with solid verbal commitments from Navarrette and LaDuke, but a week before Thanksgiving, the Ducks landed perhaps the crown jewel of their 2020 class in five-star prospect Noah Sewell. However, as the early signing period draws nears, Flowe is the one to watch. With days to go before recruits can officially sign with a school, the battle for Flowe is believed to have centered on Oregon and USC. The Trojans received the final official visit for Flowe this past weekend, setting up a few anxious days for both fan bases leading up to his announcement on Wednesday.
Defensive back:
- Removed Avantae Williams from the list of current commits
- Ringo’s trending designation has moved from UP to IDLE
- Manning’s trending designation has moved from UP to IDLE
- Badger’s probability to Oregon has moved from LOW to MEDIUM. His trending designation has moved from DOWN to UP.
Max. number expected to take: 7
Current commits:
(3*) Peter Latu – 6’4″, 225 lbs. – Spanaway (Wash.) Bethel
(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
(3*) Bennett Williams – 6’0″, 195 lbs. – San Mateo (Calif.) College of San Mateo via Illinois via Mountain View (Calif.) St. Francis
Current targets:
(4*) Elijhah Badger – 6’1″, 185 lbs. – Folsom (Calif.) – Probability/Trending: MEDIUM/UP
(5*) Kelee Ringo – 6’2″, 205 lbs. – Scottsdale (Ariz.) Saguaro – Probability/Trending: MEDIUM/IDLE
(4*) Dontae Manning – 6’0″, 185 lbs. – Kansas City (Mo.) Raytown – Probability/Trending: MEDIUM/IDLE
(4*) Dwight McGlothern – 6’2″, 180 lbs. – Spring (Texas) Klein Oak – Probability/Trending: LOW/DOWN
Perhaps the most impressive display of recruiting prowess during the 2020 cycle has come courtesy of Oregon cornerbacks coach Donte Williams, who currently has five highly-touted defensive backs committed to this year’s class. Of the uncommitted prospects the Ducks are pursuing, Kelee Ringo and Dontae Manning are the two biggest fish waiting to be reeled in. Ringo was an official visitor to Eugene for the Colorado game, as Oregon hopes to overtake Georgia as the frontrunner for the highly touted prospect. Manning was in Eugene for his official visit for the Ducks’ game vs. Arizona, and is similarly believed to be a current lean to Georgia.
Top Photo: Hoover (Ala.) QB Robby Ashford (247Sports)