Just days after losing arguably its top recruiter to Pac-12 South division foe USC, the Oregon Ducks may see one of the longest standing members of its 2021 recruiting class follow former cornerbacks coach Donte Williams to the Land of Troy.
On Wednesday afternoon, Harbor City (Calif.) Narbonne four-star defensive back Anthony Beavers announced he was re-opening his recruitment and considering all potential suitors after speculation surrounding a potential de-commitment from Oregon intensified once it was officially announced that Williams – Beavers’ primary recruiter while at Oregon – was headed to Los Angeles to join the Trojan coaching staff.
As of Today, My Recruitment Is Wide Open – Anthony Beavers JR💯
— DreamChaser🏁🏁 (@BeaversAnthony) February 12, 2020
Listed at an even 6-feet and 195 pounds, Beavers, in addition to being one of the longest-tenured Oregon commitments, ranked as one of the highest-rated recruits that had been committed to the Ducks’ 2021 class. Expected to star at safety or linebacker upon his arrival in Eugene, Beavers was also part of a strong contingent of SoCal recruits that had already pledged to the Ducks this cycle, joining fellow four-star prospects Seven McGee, Kyron Ware-Hudson, and Josh Simmons.
With Beavers’ decision to de-commit from Oregon, the Ducks’ 2021 recruiting class slips from no. 8 nationally to no. 9, per 247Sports’ Composite Team Rankings. He is the second 2021 prospect to de-commit from Oregon’s 2021 recruiting class, joining McGee, who briefly de-committed from the Ducks in 2018 before re-committing to the program a few months later.
Below, WFOD analyzes Beavers’ de-commitment and how it impacts the Ducks.
The glass half-empty look:
For the pessimists within the Oregon fan base, Beavers’ de-commitment is the energy source needed to fuel any argument that Oregon’s recruiting grip in Southern California is slipping. And in truth, it’s not an entirely silly take. Sooner or later, USC was going regain their pulse on the recruiting trail, and with Donte Williams now officially part of the staff, it’s a near certainty that the Trojans won’t be finishing anywhere near 10th in the Pac-12 recruiting rankings for a second straight year. Duck fans who follow recruiting might argue that Beavers was wavering on his commitment to Oregon for weeks prior to Williams’ departure, but it’s no coincidence that Beavers went forward with making his decision official in large part because the man who was recruiting him to Eugene is now coaching for the school that is quite literally in Beavers’ backyard. And while Beavers has not yet given a commitment to the Trojans, it’s reasonable to surmise that USC is likely sitting in pole position for one of the top-rated talents in the region. Like it or not, this could be the first indication that things are returning to a new, yet all too familiar normal, with the Ducks finishing as the bridesmaid in head-to-head recruiting battles with the Trojans.
The glass half-full look:
It’s difficult to positively spin a high-profile de-commitment that comes on the heels of losing a valuable assistant coach, but the reality is, it’s very early in the recruiting cycle and all manner of things can happen between now and when 2021 prospects can put pen to paper next December. While Williams is now an adversary on the recruiting trail, and Beavers’ de-commitment is a proper reflection of that new reality for Oregon, the Trojans have some work to do before effectively changing the narrative surrounding the program under the direction of head coach Clay Helton. The Ducks are still the present-day standard bearer in the conference, and with Mario Cristobal at the helm, you can expect Oregon to be just as, if not more aggressive in their pursuit of top talent out West, even as they work to fill Williams’ void on staff. As it relates to Beavers, some have questioned whether he has a clearly defined position as he transitions to the next level. In our evaluation, Beavers lacks the explosiveness and athleticism to be a bona fide game-changer from the safety position, but also lacks the size and strength to be an every down linebacker. Time will tell, but at this stage, this is a loss that Oregon should be able to sustain with relatively little (or perhaps no) drop-off with 10 months remaining in the ’21 cycle.
Who are Oregon’s remaining options at safety this recruiting cycle?
The answer to this question is still being formulated. While the Ducks are out a safety for the time being, there are a plethora of quality options with the bulk of the 2021 recruiting cycle still waiting to be played out. Some early names to keep an eye on are four-star recruit Jaylen Reed and three-star prospect Jaylin Smith, though there will undoubtedly be other names that emerge. It’s also possible that with the limited number scholarships that the Ducks are expected to have at their disposal in this cycle, that they de-prioritize the position altogether. After all, Oregon has quality depth at the position in the immediate future with guys like Verone McKinley, Bennett Williams, Jamal Hill, Steve Stephens, Trikweze Bridges, and JJ Greenfield all capable of filling in at safety.
Top Photo: Harbor City (Calif.) Narbonne DB Anthony Beavers (247Sports)