CLASS IMPACT: Brayden Platt Commits to Oregon
Oregon generated some important momentum on the recruiting trail Monday evening when the Ducks landed a commitment from 2024 Yelm (Wash.) linebacker Brayden Platt.
We're breaking down this commitment from every angle to get you up to speed on what the Ducks are getting in their newest verbal pledge.
Recruiting Impact
It had been a bit quiet on the trail for the Ducks since they flipped elite cornerback Dakoda Fields from USC last month, so the Ducks get a nice little boost in the rankings and on the national scene with this addition.
Oregon continues to raid the state of Washington for its top players, picking right up where they left off in 2022 and 2023 after signing Josh Conerly Jr. (Nation's No. 1 OT) and Jayden Limar (Nation's No. 18 RB), respectively.
The Ducks also get a little bit of revenge on the Sooners, who flipped 5-star safety Peyton Bowen after he pledged to the Ducks during the early signing period.
From a number's standpoint, Oregon's 2024 class is now up to 23 verbal commitments, which means spots are getting tight and the coaches will very selective with who they add moving forward. The Ducks are likely finished at linebacker this cycle and the only player I see them continuing to push for at the position is Justin Williams, who's committed to Georgia.
Oregon's been lacking quality depth at linebacker, and this is another great job by the staff of identifying and filling needs on its roster, as Platt joins Dylan Williams and Kamar Mothudi in Brian Michalowski's initial linebacker haul with the Ducks since coming over from Oregon State.
Evaluation
When you turn on the tape, the most evident trait you see from Platt is explosiveness. Whether he's playing linebacker or running back, this is a guy who flat out gets after it.
He doesn't shy away from contact, exploding through players that attempt to block him and driving ballcarriers into the turf with violent intentions.
Platt is remarkably quick for his size at 6'2", 240-pounds and he also has a great top-gear, as evidenced by his ability to outrun defenses on long touchdown runs. His lateral quickness and ability to play sideline-to-sideline are some of what makes him such a valuable addition for Dan Lanning, as the Duck linebackers struggled in pass coverage throughout the 2022 season.
He's got solid straight-line speed, which carries over into great closing speed, as he chases down the ball carrier and quarterback to minimize explosive plays. Platt is a willing tackler and easily one of my favorite commitments for Oregon this cycle.
He's a "freak" athlete if I've ever seen one and will fit in perfectly to what the Ducks want to do defensively.
Outlook at Oregon
Platt might have the most college-ready frame of Oregon's linebacker commits this cycle, but Kamar Mothudi isn't far behind him at 6'3", 230 pounds.
As much as I like Platt's game, it's not a secret he isn't playing the same level of competition as other commitments in Dan Lanning's cycle. That's not to take away from what he's able to do on the field, it's just worth a mention when you're evaluating any prospect.
I think there will be plenty of opportunities for Platt to see early playing time upon arriving in Eugene and becoming a full-time starter at some point by his sophomore or junior season.