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 list of current commits
- Removed CJ Stroud from the target list following his commitment to Ohio State
- Removed Malik Hornsby from the target list due to lack of interest
Max. number expected to take: 2
Current commits:
(4*) Jay Butterfield – 6’6″, 202 lbs. – Brentwood (Calif.) Liberty
(4*) Robby Ashford – 6’2″, 204 lbs. – Hoover (Ala.)
Ranked as one of the top quarterback prospects in the country for the 2020 class, Butterfield verbally committed to the Ducks in May and never wavered. He is joined in the Ducks’ 2020 class by Ashford, a former verbal commit to Ole Miss, who took a late official visit to Eugene the weekend immediately preceding the start of the early signing period. Both will look to compete for the starting job next season with unproven veterans Tyler Shough and Cale Millen.
Running back:
- Added Henry Parrish to the target list
Max. number expected to take: 2
Current commits:
(3*) Trey Benson – 6’1″, 204 lbs. – Greenville (Miss.) St. Joseph
Current targets:
(4*) Henry Parrish – 5’10”, 183 lbs. – Miami (Fla.) Columbus – Probability/Trending: LOW/IDLE
The Ducks are believed to be 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. However, one player to keep an eye on between now and February is four-star prospect Henry Parrish from Miami. Though the Ducks are loaded at running back for the foreseeable future, they may be in the mix to host Parrish for an official visit sometime in January.
Wide receiver:
- Removed Johnny Wilson from the commit list following his commitment to Arizona State
- Removed Jeremiah Hunter from the target list due to lack of interest
- Removed Jermaine Burton from the target list due to lack of interest
- Added Malachi Wideman to the target list
Max. number expected to take: 2
Current commits:
(4*) Kris Hutson – 5’11”, 175 lbs. – Bellflower (Calif.) St. John Bosco
Current targets:
(4*) Malachi Wideman (**FLORIDA STATE COMMIT**) – 6’4″, 180 lbs. – Sarasota (Fla.) Venice – Probability/Trending: LOW/IDLE
(4*) Gary Bryant – 5’11”, 164 lbs. – Corona (Calif.) Centennial – Probability/Trending: LOW/DOWN
Following the expected flip from Oregon to Arizona State by four-star prospect Johnny Wilson during the early signing period, Hutson is the lone wide receiver addition to the Ducks’ 2020 recruiting class – for now. The Ducks are reportedly in the mix to land an official visit in January from Wideman, who is currently verbally committed to Florida State, but has not yet signed with the program following the hire of new head coach Mike Norvell. Auburn is the other school to keep an eye on in his recruitment between now and the late signing period in February.
Tight end:
- Removed Seth Figgins from the commit list after not signing with Oregon during the early signing period
Max. number expected to take: 2
Current targets:
(3*) Jack Yary – 6’7″, 249 lbs. – Murrieta (Calif.) Murrieta Valley – Probability/Trending: LOW/DOWN
If there is one position where it appears the Ducks will be left wanting, it’s at tight end. After holding a commitment from three-star prospect Seth Figgins for over a year, Figgins failed to sign with Oregon during the early signing period and has since moved back to Southern California after originally relocating to Eugene prior to the start of the football season. As a result, he is no longer expected to sign with Oregon once the signing period opens back up in February. The known remaining options are sparse at best. Yary could be a player the Ducks make a push for between now and February, but it appears that USC, UCLA, and Washington solidly comprise his top three as of the publish date of this article.
Offensive line:
- Added Marcus Henderson to the target list
Max. number expected to take: 6
Current commits:
(3*) Faaope Laloulu – 6’7″, 390 lbs. – Honolulu (Hawaii) Farrington
(3*) Marcus Harper – 6’3″, 302 lbs. – Chicago (Ill.) Homewood-Flossmoor
(4*) Jonathan Denis – 6’3″, 279 lbs. – Homestead (Fla.) South Dade
(3*) Jaylan Jeffers – 6’5″, 261 lbs. – Scottsdale (Ariz.) Saguaro
(3*) T.J. Bass – 6’5″, 334 lbs. – Oroville (Calif.) Butte College via Deming (Wash.) Mt. Baker
Current targets:
(4*) Marcus Henderson – 6’5″, 300 lbs. – Memphis (Tenn.) University School – Probability/Trending: LOW/IDLE
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. Keep tabs on Henderson, who could take an official visit to Eugene before the start of the February signing period.
Defensive linemen:
- Removed Julius Coates from the target list following his commitment to Arkansas
- Added Jayson Jones to the target list
Max. number expected to take: 5
Current commits:
(3*) Jake Shipley – 6’5″, 271 lbs. – Indio (Calif.) Shadow Hills
(3*) Maceal Afaese – 6’5″, 257 lbs. – Kapolei (Hawaii)
(3*) Bradyn Swinson – 6’4″, 257 lbs. – Douglasville (Ga.) Chapel Hill
(3*) Jaylen Smith – 6’5″, 266 lbs. – Ahoskie (N.C.) Hertford County
Current targets:
(4*) Jayson Jones (**ALABAMA COMMIT**) – 6’7″, 340 lbs. – Calera (Ala.) – Probability/Trending: MEDIUM/IDLE
(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, the Ducks have come close to duplicating those efforts in 2020. Yet, that doesn’t mean they won’t be active in their pursuit of defensive line talent between now and February signing period. With Shipley, Afaese, Swinson, and Smith in the fold, expect the Ducks to sign no more than five defensive linemen total. Jones, an Alabama verbal commit who has not yet signed with the Tide, may be the best bet to wind up a Duck of the remaining known targets along the defensive line. He is expected to take an official visit to Eugene sometime in January.
Linebacker:
- Added Justin Flowe to the list of current commits
- Removed Muelu Iosefa from the target list due to lack of interest
Max. number expected to take: 4
Current commits:
(4*) Jaden Navarrette – 6’3″, 223 lbs. – Norco (Calif.)
(3*) Jackson LaDuke – 6’2″, 217 lbs. – Sparks (Nev.) Spanish Springs
(5*) Noah Sewell – 6’2″, 266 lbs. – Orem (Utah)
(5*) Justin Flowe – 6’2″, 226 lbs. – Upland (Calif.)
No college football program nationally can trump the thrilling finish that the Ducks had when it comes to rounding out their linebacker class in 2020. Oregon had already done quite well with solid verbal commitments from Jaden Navarrette, Jackson LaDuke, and five-star prospect Noah Sewell. However, as the early signing period came and went, Oregon was able to make another tremendous addition to this class with signing of five-star prospect Justin Flowe. The Ducks are now finished at linebacker for the 2020 cycle, and for the second year in a row, have landed the top overall prospect in the state of California.
Defensive back:
- Removed Peter Latu from the commit list after not signing with Oregon during the early signing period
- Removed Myles Slusher from the commit list following his commitment to Arkansas
- Badger’s probability to Oregon has moved from MEDIUM to LOW. His trending designation has moved from UP to DOWN.
- Manning’s probability to Oregon has moved from MEDIUM to HIGH. His trending designation has moved from IDLE to UP.
Max. number expected to take: 5
Current commits:
(4*) Luke Hill – 5’11”, 180 lbs. – Baltimore (Md.) St. Frances Academy
(3*) JJ Greenfield – 5’11”, 177 lbs. – Harbor City (Calif.) Narbonne
(3*) Bennett Williams – 6’0″, 200 lbs. – San Mateo (Calif.) College of San Mateo via Illinois via Mountain View (Calif.) St. Francis
Current targets:
(4*) Dontae Manning – 6’0″, 185 lbs. – Kansas City (Mo.) Raytown – Probability/Trending: HIGH/UP
(5*) Kelee Ringo – 6’2″, 205 lbs. – Scottsdale (Ariz.) Saguaro – Probability/Trending: MEDIUM/IDLE
(4*) Elijhah Badger – 6’1″, 185 lbs. – Folsom (Calif.) – Probability/Trending: LOW/DOWN
(4*) Dwight McGlothern – 6’2″, 180 lbs. – Spring (Texas) Klein Oak – Probability/Trending: LOW/DOWN
Arguably the most impressive display of recruiting prowess during the 2020 cycle has come courtesy of Oregon cornerbacks coach Donte Williams, who helped land the Ducks three commitments from highly-touted defensive backs during the early signing period. 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 currently believed to be an Oregon lean.
Top Photo: Kansas City (Mo.) Raytown CB Dontae Manning (left) with Oregon cornerbacks coach Donte Williams (Dontae Manning/Twitter)