Though the Ducks have been slowed in their ability to take the field this fall, it certainly hasn’t impacted the fervor with which head coach Mario Cristobal and the Oregon coaching staff have pursued the remaining prospects on their 2021 recruiting board.

Less than a week after picking up a verbal commitment from three-star linebacker Jabril McNeill, Oregon added another name to their already outstanding 2021 recruiting class in Reisterstown (Md.) Franklin four-star defensive back Daymon David.

I Appreciate My War Scars Show Me I Came From Nothing… #Committed pic.twitter.com/jkuY7sPZvM

— SCOOP ♛ (@DaymonDavid_) September 18, 2020

Ranked as the no. 12 safety in the country per 247Sports’ Composite rankings, David is the fourth defensive back to join the Ducks’ 2021 class, combining with fellow four-star cornerback Jaylin Davies, three-star cornerback Darren Barkins, and three-star JUCO product Jadarrius Perkins. David may also prove to be the initial link in a burgeoning Maryland to Oregon recruiting pipeline, as Oregon remains in hot pursuit for four-star wide receiver Dont’e Thornton from Baltimore.

David’s recruitment has grown to a gentle boil in recent months, as the Ducks were one of the the last programs to extend an offer to him. Prior to that, David had compiled 22 offers from schools such as Arkansas, Miami (Fla.), Michigan State, and Oklahoma, ultimately choosing Oregon from a final grouping that also included Michigan and Boston College. His commitment solidifies Oregon (for the time being) with the nation’s third-ranked recruiting class, according to 247Sports’ Composite Team Rankings.

Below we take a closer look at David’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 frame: Listed at 6-foot-1 and 178 pounds, David is a slightly built safety who has strides to make when it comes to filling out his frame. He’s a player with an impressive array of athletic tools, but in order to hold up against top flight collegiate competition on a weekly basis, he’ll likely need to tack on at least 10 to 15 more pounds.
• Need to see more in coverage: As mentioned, David’s athletic gifts are obvious after spending some time reviewing his film. However, for as fluid and reactive as he is, there isn’t much on film that speaks to his ability to be a key figure in coverage. Demonstrating those skills on a more consistent basis would alleviate some questions regarding this area of his game.

Notable strengths:

• Great playmaking instincts: If there’s one word that appropriately summarizes David’s game, it’s “excitement.” Though he isn’t necessarily the physical specimen of some of his peers in the 2021 class, David is a highly instinctual player with a penchant for big plays. His ability to impact the game from virtually anywhere on the field is a rare quality to find in a player his age, and is somewhat reminiscent of Ducks defensive back Jevon Holland.
• Plays with fearlessness, physicality: To go along with tremendous playmaking instincts, David is also a player who plays with reckless abandon. Unafraid to throw his body around, David is a strong tackler who flies to the football. This is a mentality that will serve him well as he looks to earn playing time early in his Oregon career.
• Versatile: Any concerns about whether David can fit into a specific scheme feel somewhat unfounded considering what he demonstrates on film. Whether he’s the extra defender in the box or the last line of defense in the secondary, David possesses a diverse range of skills that has made him one of the more undervalued safety prospects in the country.

Overall outlook:

Replacing Jevon Holland will be an unenviable task for whoever ultimately assumes that role, but in Daymon David, the Ducks have landed a player who exhibits many of the same on-field qualities that Holland did at a similar stage in his development. Though COVID-19 has made the evaluation process that much more difficult for coaching staffs across the country, it appears the Oregon coaching staff has found a diamond in the rough with David, a prospect who only in recent months has seen his recruiting profile skyrocket.

In our opinion, David’s well-rounded skill-set makes him one of the more intriguing players to join the Ducks’ scintillating 2021 recruiting class, as Oregon defensive coordinator Andy Avalos will have no shortage of options when it comes to finding inventive ways to take advantage of David’s impressive athletic ability. Size is a valid concern early in his development, but if allowed time to physically mature and come into his own, David could easily be a player who emerges as a linchpin in the Oregon secondary.

Should players the likes of Nick Pickett and Brady Breeze be around in the fall of 2021, it’s likely that David will see the field sparingly, if at all, as a true freshman. If not, the opportunity is there for David to potentially vie for defensive snaps his first year on campus. Regardless, his development will be something to closely monitor, as David strikes us as the kind of unheralded prospect who finds his way onto the field a little quicker than most people expect.

Top Photo: Reisterstown (Md.) Franklin DB Daymon David (247Sports.com)