It’s only March, but you can already feel the momentum building for Oregon head coach Mario Cristobal and the Ducks on the recruiting trail during the 2022 recruiting cycle.

A little over a week ago, Oregon landed a surprise verbal commitment from four-star defensive back Landon Hullaby, putting the Ducks on pace to sign players from the state of Texas in back-to-back recruiting cycles. On Tuesday, Duck fans who follow recruiting were treated to another surprise commitment, as Perkinston (Miss.) Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College offensive lineman Percy Lewis announced on Twitter his commitment to Oregon.

Blessed and thankful to say that I am committed to the University of Oregon‼️@OLCoachGeorge @CoachWoodiel @coach_cristobal @CoachMirabal pic.twitter.com/jvd8sKIeN6

— Percy Lewis (@percylewis14) March 2, 2021

Lewis’ verbal commitment gives the Ducks five total players in their current 2022 recruiting class, as he joins four-star prospects Emar’rion Winston, Andre Dollar, Gracen Halton, and the aforementioned Hullaby. An unranked recruit by 247Sports’ Composite rankings at the time of his announcement, Lewis is the first offensive lineman to commit to the Ducks during the 2022 recruiting cycle. A native of Sallis, Mississippi, Lewis is also on track to be the third Mississippi native to sign with Oregon in the last three recruiting cycles, joining Trey Benson (2020) and Isaiah Brevard (2021).

With only four other offers to date from Auburn, Southern Miss, Syracuse, and South Alabama, don’t be surprised to see Lewis’ recruitment hit another gear as more and more programs, particularly in SEC and ACC country, begin to take notice of this local talent.

Below we take a closer look at Lewis’ 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:

• Could his size be used against him?: Even though Lewis has a superior size and strength advantage over the majority of the competition he’ll face on the football field, there are legitimate concerns that he is perhaps too big. The competition he’ll face at the FBS level will be a major step up from what he currently faces in JUCO, particularly from a speed perspective. Working on his body to increase athleticism and quickness will need to be a focal point for him as he transitions.
• Raw fundamentally: Lewis is the quintessential hunk of clay. A standout on the defensive side of the ball in high school, Lewis is a recent full-time convert to offense and is clearly a prospect who is still rounding into form. From a technical standpoint, Lewis has a ways to go before he’ll be ready to contribute on Saturdays, but the natural gifts are in place for him to be a star if he can master the finer points of offensive line play.

Notable strengths:

• Astounding size: You simply cannot teach the incredible size that Lewis possesses. At 6-foot-8 and 360 pounds, Lewis is a mammoth athlete who is capable of over-powering opponents due to sheer size alone. Should the fundamentals fall into place, Lewis has the physical tools to emerge as the kind of blindside protector that you would build in a Madden create-a-player mode.
• Heavy-handed: As you might expect, with great physical size comes great physical power, and Lewis has that in spades. He’s the type of “heavy-handed” offensive lineman that Mario Cristobal covets, demonstrating the ability to wipe out defenders with forceful hands at the point of attack.
• Sudden athlete for his size: For a player of his size and stature, Lewis really is an impressive athlete. He flashes good feet and decent lateral quickness with the skills to redirect and stay in the action once he’s handled his primary key. Lots of athletic potential to tap into.

Overall outlook:

While there’s no denying the mind-blowing nature of Percy Lewis’ physical gifts, the JUCO prospect is without a doubt the definition of a project. On film, Lewis flashes dominant traits for JUCO powerhouse Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College, but it’s clear that he’s a raw prospect who is only beginning to scratch the surface of what he could be capable of down the line.

Grasping the fundamentals on the field and dedicating himself to the weight room and a legitimate nutrition program off the field could do wonders for a player with Lewis’ natural skills. However, anyone who expects Lewis to step foot on campus and instantly unseat anyone on the current roster heading into the 2022 season either has oversized expectations for the player, and/or a shortsighted view of the competition and work that’s ahead of him.

Look for Lewis to slot in as a tackle on either side when he ultimately arrives in Eugene, as he’ll be on the shortlist for most intriguing players to watch within the program as his collegiate career unfolds.

Top Photo: Perkinston (Miss.) Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College OL Percy Lewis — pictured far right. (Sun Herald)