Oregon’s 2021 recruiting class is unequivocally one of the nation’s best, but with just a handful of open spots remaining and roughly three months to go before the start of the early signing period, Ducks head coach Mario Cristobal has diverted more and more of he and his staff’s attention towards addressing the 2022 class.

On Tuesday, Cristobal and company received an early return on those efforts, as Mustang (Okla.) four-star tight end Andre Dollar announced his verbal commitment to Oregon. He joins Portland (Ore.) Central Catholic linebacker and fellow four-star prospect Emar’rion Winston as the second recruit to commit to the Ducks’ 2022 recruiting class.

100% a part of Coach Cristobal’s family and The Oregon Ducks! 💚💛 #ScoDucks @coach_cristobal @oregonfootball pic.twitter.com/1DLkBhxZOE

— Andre Dollar (@AndreDollar9) September 15, 2020

Ranked as fifth-best prospect in the state of Oklahoma in the 2022 class, Dollar has seen his list of scholarship offers balloon over the last several months, reeling in over 20 from top programs such as Nebraska, Michigan, Michigan State, and Penn State. In the end, Dollar chose the Ducks over the ‘Huskers after being wowed on an unofficial visit to Eugene earlier this spring before the COVID-19 pandemic utterly disrupted the recruiting calendar.

Below we take a closer look at Dollar’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:

• Developing frame: The talent is there, but you can just tell by watching Dollar’s sophomore year film that he’s an athlete who is still growing into his body. We’ll be curious to see what kind of strides he’s made physically since that season, but regardless, he’s a player who will likely require some maturation time.
• Lacks explosiveness: Dollar’s upside is clear, but in addition to being a player who must mature physically, he’s an athlete that lacks explosiveness, at least in comparison to some of the tight ends who Oregon has successfully recruited in recent cycles. He can certainly still be an effective player, but he’s not necessarily a stretch-the-field, “wow” athlete.

Notable strengths:

• Good after the catch: Though he may not be the most fast-twitch athlete you’ll find, Dollar is an effective weapon after the catch. He turns into a downhill runner with the ball in his hands and has enough speed to run away from defenders if he hits the open field.
• Plays with toughness: Dollar might still be growing into his 6-foot-6, 230-pound frame, but he plays with a ruggedness that will endear him to Cristobal and the offensive staff. The willingness and physicality he demonstrates as a blocker could be Dollar’s express ticket to early playing time.
• Can make plays in traffic: Walking hand-in-hand with Dollar’s rugged demeanor on the field is the Mustang (Okla.) native’s knack for making plays over the middle the field and often in traffic. With the size he possesses, Dollar is a quality target who can be an effective chain-mover and redzone threat for this offense.

Overall outlook:

The 2022 class is set to be a major focal point for Cristobal and the Ducks over the next few months, particularly with space filling up quickly in the 2021 class and no football being played by the Pac-12 this fall. Dollar’s verbal commitment is an initial sign of that, as the Ducks look to continue keeping the tight end position well stocked for years to come.

Dollar’s physical development between now and when he eventually arrives on campus in Eugene will be particularly interesting to watch, as there’s no questioning the frame and long-term potential that he possess. The only question is, how quickly can Dollar get there? Fortunately for Dollar, it’s unlikely he’ll have to assume a major role on day one.

Not only are Spencer Webb and Cam McCormick still expected to be on the roster by the time Dollar enters the program, but they’re expected to be joined by an exciting young crop of tight ends in Patrick Herbert, Moliki Matavao, and Terrance Ferguson. Dollar may have to wait his turn to eventually earn a regular contributing role, but it may be exactly what the 12th-best tight end in the 2022 class needs in order to be ready to hit the ground running in 2023 or 2024.

Top Photo: Mustang (Okla.) TE Andre Dollar (247Sports)