Few programs across the country have risen as quickly and as emphatically up the national recruiting rankings as Oregon has over the past several weeks. Beginning with a verbal commitment from three-star defensive end/outside linebacker Terrell Tilmon on May 1, the Ducks have picked up nine commitments from highly-touted prospects since.

That number increased to ten Thursday evening, as Littleton (Colo.) Heritage four-star tight end Terrance Ferguson announced his verbal commitment to Oregon.

HE’S HEADING TO OREGON!!@Heritagefootbal TE Terrance Ferguson (@Tf3four) announced his commitment to @oregonfootball LIVE on our air with @ArielleOrsuto

STORY: https://t.co/tJqSfOP47X#9sports #copreps @duckscrootin @AndrewNemec @DuckSports @MattPrehm @KwadeSays @DSArivals pic.twitter.com/v6Fpr4kaGf

— 9NEWS Prep Sports (@9Preps) June 25, 2020

In Ferguson, the Ducks have added a second tight end to their blossoming 2021 recruiting class, joining fellow four-star prospect Moliki Matavao to give Oregon two of the top tight end prospects from the Pac-12 footprint this cycle. Ferguson is also the third prospect from the state of Colorado to commit to the Ducks in the last four recruiting cycles, combining with Adrian Jackson in 2018 and Isaac Townsend in 2019.

As the 15th member of the Ducks’ 2021 recruiting class, Ferguson chose Oregon from a final group that also included Auburn, Tennessee, USC, and Wisconsin. His pledge gives the Ducks the nation’s sixth-ranked recruiting class per 247Sports’ Composite Team Rankings, and inches Oregon within decimal points of wrestling away the top spot in the conference from USC.

Below we take a closer look at Ferguson’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:

• Lacks experience lining up in-line: Ferguson’s skill-set is something we have yet to see a Cristobal-led team fully exploit. Unlike many of the tight ends currently on the Oregon roster, much of Ferguson’s impact at the prep level comes when he’s detached from the line of scrimmage opposed to lined up in-line. How he adapts to the Ducks’ underlying physical approach on offense with be something to watch.
• Still developing as a blocker: The tools are certainly in place for Ferguson to be an effective blocker, but it’s still an area of his game that requires some polish. He shows real potential on film, though it’s not a skill he prolifically demonstrates given he serves as the focal point of his high school team’s offense.

Notable strengths:

• Enormous catch radius: If you’re seeking a tight end in the 2021 class that is capable of injecting serious life into your passing game, it’s difficult to find a better prospect than Ferguson. Strong enough to box out and shield defenders away from his body, Ferguson also demonstrates great athleticism and skill with his massive catch radius. He’s a player who possesses the ability to locate and catch the football regardless of where it’s thrown in his vicinity.
• Good speed: Though it’s hard to call Ferguson an explosive athlete, there’s no debating the fact that he instantly becomes a weapon with the ball in his hands and open real estate to work with. With enough speed to get behind the defense and wreak havoc, Ferguson is a big-play threat from almost anywhere.
• Versatile offensive weapon: Featured as a tight end, wide receiver, running back, and even quarterback at times in his high school offense, Ferguson has shown himself to be a player with tremendous potential as a dynamic offensive weapon at the next level. Even without the ball, his ability to draw attention from opposing defenses makes him a valuable addition to virtually any offense.

Overall outlook:

Between the verbal commitments of Ferguson and Moliki Matavao, Mario Cristobal and the Ducks have effectively cornered the market when it comes to reeling in the best tight end talent out West in 2021. Though neither fits the mold as the plodding, in-line presence that has largely come to define the tight end position early under Cristobal, perhaps this signals a philosophical shift in the way the Ducks plan to use their tight ends moving forward. In any event, the addition of Ferguson is a major one for an offense that is set to receive a serious shot in the arm with the commitments they’ve received thus far.

Like Matavao, Ferguson offers the Ducks another big time pass catching option with the versatility to line up anywhere and threaten a defense in myriad ways. The biggest difference between these two players, however, may be Ferguson’s aptitude as a blocker. While he’s still relatively raw from this standpoint, he’s a little more thickly built and seems to be more of a natural when it comes to operating as a blocker.

The composition of the tight end depth chart should be extraordinarily deep by the time the 2021 season rolls around, as the Ducks are currently projected to have both Ferguson and Matavao on the roster alongside veterans Spencer Webb, Cam McCormick, Patrick Herbert, and DJ Johnson. Given this depth, it would come as no surprise to see Ferguson use his redshirt his first year on campus in order to get acclimated both physically and mentally. However, expect him to be a player who challenges for serious playing time once the logjam ahead of him begins to clear.

Top Photo: Littleton (Colo.) Heritage TE Terrance Ferguson (247Sports.com)