The incredible defensive bounty that was inked by Oregon head coach Mario Cristobal during the early signing period a few weeks ago just got a little more bountiful Thursday when Kansas City (Mo.) Raytown four-star cornerback Dontae Manning announced his commitment to the Ducks during the fourth quarter of the Under Armour All-American Game in Orlando.

† 𝒯𝒽𝒶𝓃𝓀 𝓎𝑜𝓊 𝒢𝒪𝒟 𝒻𝑜𝓇 𝓉𝒽𝒾𝓈 † pic.twitter.com/yOl9rRdh0r

— ².⁰ MANNING (@dontaemanning_8) January 3, 2020

Though Manning publicly announced his decision Thursday, the nation’s no. 6-ranked corner had already signed with Oregon during the early signing period but chose to keep his decision private so that he could announce during the game itself. His decision to head to Eugene is a significant one for the Ducks, who add Manning to a star-studded group of defensive signees in the 2020 class that is spearheaded by five-star linebackers Justin Flowe and Noah Sewell. In fact, Manning could very well be a player who earns a fifth star between now and when the final recruiting rankings are set, which would give the Ducks three five-star prospects, the most they’ve had in any one recruiting class.

With his commitment, Manning elevates Oregon’s 2020 recruiting class to no. 12 nationally per 247Sports’ Composite Rankings. He joins four-star cornerback Luke Hill and three-star prospects JJ Greenfield and Bennett Williams as the fourth defensive back in what is now the top recruiting class in the Pac-12.

Manning chose the Ducks after receiving a total of 24 offers from programs such as Georgia, Oklahoma, LSU, Notre Dame, and Michigan.

Below we take a closer look at Manning’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:

• Slender build: Listed at an even 6-feet and 185 pounds, Manning possess ideal size for a top flight corner though he shades more to the lean side when evaluating him on tape. His sleek, slender build should only mature with time, but it’s safe to say he will require a little more development physically before being totally unleashed as a true freshman.
• Doesn’t showcase elite ball skills on film: Everything about Manning suggests that he has the potential to be a future lockdown corner at the next level, but there isn’t a ton on film that suggests he’s a major difference maker when the ball is in the air. It’s safe to assume that most teams at the high school level probably avoided even looking in Manning’s direction in passing situations, but with little demonstrated ability on film, he will need to prove that he possesses the kind of dynamic ball skills that make him a true five-star caliber talent.

Notable strengths:

• Physical and fearless: Though he may appear thin, Manning plays with an edge and willingness to be physical that sets him apart from most corners at the prep level. He’ll need to refine his tackling technique, but he has the guts you look for in a player with as much god-given ability as he possesses.
• An electric athlete: Put the ball in his hands and something good is bound to happen. Often deployed as a Wildcat quarterback for his Raytown High School team, Manning is pure electricity with the football and is as explosive and dynamic as any defensive back in this class.
• Great recovery, closing speed: On film, it appears as if Dontae Manning was constructed purely from quick twitch muscle fiber. His initial quickness and burst from a dead stop is impressive enough, but he has the reflexes and body control to adjust to the receiver mid-route, not to mention the speed to make up ground or close in to deny the receiver the ball.

Overall outlook:

In many ways, Dontae Manning reminds us of 2019 Oregon signee Mykael Wright. Both are tremendous athletes who flash enormous ability as not only potential future shutdown corners, but also as dynamic options in the return game. Manning’s speed and suddenness is what is particularly eye-catching when you watch him on film, and it’s easy to see why he’s considered a borderline five-star prospect when you watch him fly around the football field. The question now is how quickly does he actually find his way onto the field at Oregon. The answer to that question likely hinges heavily on whether Thomas Graham and/or Deommodore Lenoir return for their senior seasons in Eugene. Both players submitted for assessments from the NFL College Advisory Committee and both are reportedly enrolled for winter term at Oregon, but that doesn’t officially indicate that either player is indeed expecting to return to Eugene next fall. If both players leave, Manning likely becomes an instant candidate for a starting job at corner alongside Wright, DJ James, Trikweze Bridges, and fellow incoming freshman Luke Hill. If one or both return to school, Manning’s chances of earning significant playing time likely take a considerable hit, though his talent is such that it would not at all be a surprise to see him a carve a role out for himself in some capacity. Regardless, the addition of Manning is a dramatic one for the Ducks that caps off a 2020 recruiting class that was dominated by the signing of some of the nation’s premier defensive talent (see also: Justin Flowe, Noah Sewell) this cycle.

Top Photo: Kansas City (Mo.) Raytown CB Dontae Manning (247Sports)