Room at the inn is filling up quickly, as Ducks head coach Mario Cristobal more or less has his 2021 recruiting class sitting in wet cement with roughly two months between now and the early signing period in December; a timeline that, to this point, has yet to be impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

On Monday, however, Cristobal and his staff admitted one more member to the nation’s third-ranked recruiting class, as Salt Lake City (Utah) Kearns three-star prospect Jeffrey Bassa made the call for the Ducks.

QUAAACK @Bassa_21 #TakeFlight21 pic.twitter.com/Y5Ri9rXpY2

— DuckSportsAuthority (@DSArivals) October 13, 2020

Ranked as the nation’s 64th-best safety, per 247Sports’ Composite Rankings, Bassa is the fifth defensive back to commit the Ducks this cycle, joining fellow three-star prospects Jadarrius Perkins and Darren Barkins, and four-star prospects Jaylin Davies and Daymon David. Bassa is also the third recruit that Oregon has plucked from the state of Utah during the 2021 cycle, as he combines with four-star offensive linemen Jackson Light and Kingsley Suamataia in planting a green and yellow flag in the Beehive State.

After garnering 14 offers from programs scattered throughout the West, Bassa ultimately chose the Ducks from a final group that featured the hometown Utah Utes, as well as Oklahoma State.

Below we take a closer look at Bassa’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:

• A little mechanical athletically: Bassa is certainly an impact player at the high school level, but we are curious as to how seamlessly he makes the transition to college athletically, particularly at the safety position. Bassa’s movements on the field aren’t as fluid and instinctual in comparison to players the Ducks have recently recruited at safety, leaving us to wonder if defensive back is actually his true calling.
• Lacks natural ball skills: This isn’t as big of a deal at the prep level where Bassa can rather easily take advantage of his superior size and athleticism against the competition he faces in Utah. However, if he is to thrive at safety at Oregon, he’ll need to showcase cleaner ball skills and more consistency as a playmaker in coverage.
• Somewhat of a tweener: Is Bassa really a safety? Currently listed at 6-foot-3 and 200 pounds, he would appear to be the ideal size to play safety at the next level, but given his mature build, not-quite top-tier athleticism, and comfort level making plays at and behind the line of scrimmage, it begs the question as to whether Bassa might be better suited as an outside linebacker in two to three years time.

Notable strengths:

• Dynamic player with the ball in his hands: Though Bassa might not be the most natural football player we’ve seen, he certainly knows what to do with the ball in his hands. On tape, he proves himself to be a dangerous weapon on offense, the return game, and even as a defender when intercepting passes. He’s a player who has a knack for making plays.
• Versatile defender: While we do have some questions as to where Bassa will eventually play, he’ll be playing for a coach in Andy Avalos who has an eye for raw talent and knows how to put players in positions to succeed. Bassa’s ability to play both in the box as an extra run defender, or drop into coverage and run stride for stride with receivers, makes him a versatile chess piece defensively.
• Plays with speed and physicality: You can’t knock the hard-nosed nature of Bassa’s game. He’s an explosive athlete who doesn’t shy away from contact and playing a physical brand of football. In short, he should fit right in with the types of players the Ducks have signed in recent recruiting cycles.

Overall outlook:

The Oregon coaching staff has placed a strong emphasis on defensive back over the last couple of recruiting classes, with Bassa serving as the latest example of those efforts. And from the Ducks’ perspective, it makes sense, especially considering the number of defensive backs that Avalos typically deploys throughout the course of a game. In Bassa, the Ducks have landed a strong, versatile, and raw athlete that could provide the Oregon defense with tremendous flexibility in the years to come.

The questions about his natural football instincts and overall athleticism are valid, but this isn’t to discount the potential that Bassa has. Given his impressive frame and youth, it’s completely conceivable that given a year or two to develop and come into his own, Bassa could emerge as one of the more impactful players on this defense. Fans expecting that to happen right away, however, could be disappointed.

Furthermore, the opportunities for early playing time could be limited depending on how many players return to the Duck defense in 2021. With the NCAA essentially granting all fall and winter athletes a free year of eligibility due to COVID-19, it’s well within the realm of possibility to see every player in the Oregon secondary return, which figures to only delay Bassa’s ability to make an instant impact. Boundary safety appears to be Bassa’s future position, but don’t be surprised to see him move up to outside linebacker if his body ends up taking him in that direction.

Top Photo: Salt Lake City (Utah) Kearns DB Jeffrey Bassa (247Sports)