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: 84/85
Scholarship seniors on current roster:
Estimated available scholarships for the 2020 class: 1
*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
(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 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:
**No change since last week**
Max. number expected to take: 1
Current commits:
(3*) Trey Benson – 6’1″, 204 lbs. – Greenville (Miss.) St. Joseph
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.
Wide receiver:
**No change since last week**
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: MEDIUM/UP
(4*) Leonard Manuel (**FLORIDA COMMIT**) – 6’4″, 200 lbs. – Fort Lauderdale (Fla.) Stranahan – Probability/Trending: LOW/IDLE
(3*) Kris Abrams-Draine – 6’1″, 170 lbs. – Spanish Fort (Ala.) – Probability/Trending: LOW/IDLE
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 received an official visit from Wideman this past weekend, 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. In addition to the Seminoles, Tennessee and FAU are the other schools to keep an eye on in his recruitment between now and the start of the late signing period in February. Manuel and Abrams-Draine are two other names to be mindful of between now and the February signing period.
Tight end:
**No change since last week**
Max. number expected to take: 2
Current targets:
**No known targets at this time**
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.
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 – 6’3″, 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:
- Jones’ trending designation has moved from IDLE to UP
- Removed Deandre Butler from the target list following his commitment to Auburn
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/UP
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 continue to be active in their pursuit of defensive line talent between now and the 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 took take an official visit to Eugene this past weekend.
Linebacker:
**No change since last week**
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 the 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:
**No change since last week**
Max. number expected to take: 4
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
(5*) Dontae Manning – 6’0″, 185 lbs. – Kansas City (Mo.) Raytown
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 four commitments from highly-touted defensive backs during the early signing period. Manning, the most recent addition to the Ducks’ 2020 class, headlines this group. After an official visit to Eugene for the Ducks’ game vs. Arizona, the five-star prospect made his commitment to Ducks during the Under Armour All-America Game. With Manning’s commitment, the Ducks are likely finished at defensive back in the 2020 class.
Top Photo: Calera (Ala.) DL Jayson Jones (247Sports)