Dan Lanning Details Plan for Kingston Lopa After Signing With Oregon

You don't find too many 6-foot-5, defensive backs, which is part of what makes him the one of the more intriguing players in Oregon's 2024 class.

Oregon signed more than 25 recruits during the early signing period last week and put a bow on the highest rated class in program history.

One of the more intriguing players in the group is Kingston Lopa, a 6-foot-5, 190-pound defensive back from Sacramento (Calif.) Grant Union High School.

Sacramento to Eugene.@LopaKingston is officially a Duck!#GoDucks x #NSD24

— Oregon Football (@oregonfootball) December 20, 2023

But Lopa wasn't always destined to be a Duck. In fact, he was committed to Jedd Fisch and the Arizona for three months and initially chose the Wildcats from his 18 total reported scholarship offers. 

After reopening his recruitment in April, he also considered schools like Tennessee and Washington before ultimately landing on Oregon. 

If you just look at Lopa's frame, you can see why he has the potential to be special. There aren't many 6-foot-5 defensive backs at the Power 5 level, and there was some chatter that he might even play some linebacker at the college level. 

During his national signing day press conference, head coach Dan Lanning provided some clarity for how Lopa's talents will play into the big picture for the Ducks upon his arrival.

"I think Kingston has some position versatility and most of our guys, you know we train at multiple positions," Lanning told reporters in Eugene. "But we see him as a safety hybrid, he can also play STAR for us. 

"He has some elite wide receiver film as well, so I think there's a lot of things that Kingston can do. At the end of the day, what you know is that you're getting a winning football player."

On paper the Ducks have a more pressing need at safety heading into 2024, but they've gotten creative with tall defensive backs before.

Just look at Bryan Addison. He also stands at a towering 6'5", and actually started his Oregon career as a wide receiver before moving to the defensive secondary, where he thrived in 2022. He's since elected to enter the transfer portal and finish his college career back home at UCLA.

As for Lopa, he clearly has a lot of skill on offense and the numbers back that up. In the last two seasons he caught 88 total passes for 1,700 yards and 33 touchdowns (according to MaxPreps).

If we're just looking at the 2024 recruiting class, Junior Adams and the Ducks aren't hurting for wide receiver talent. They signed Dillon Gresham and Jack Ressler, while also flipping All-Americans Ryan Pellum and Jeremiah McClellan from USC and Ohio State respectively. 

Across his junior and senior seasons Lopa racked up 101 total tackles, 5 interceptions and 4.5 sacks (according to MaxPreps).

After producing at a high level on both sides of the ball, the Sacramento native will add impressive talent to a safety room that will also welcome Forney (Tex.) Adidas All-American Aaron Flowers for the 2024 season. 

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