Ducks Digest

Elijah Rushing Locks in Oregon Spring Visit

Rushing is the top defensive line target for Dan Lanning and Tosh Lupoi in the 2024 class.

Max Torres

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Oregon is pursuing some big names on the recruiting trail and there may not be a one on defense than Elijah Rushing. 

Rushing is a five-star edge rusher from Tucson (Ariz.) Salpointe Catholic that has reeled in nearly 40 offers. He stands at 6'6", weighs 242 pounds and is the No. 2 recruit in the state behind five-star quarterback Dylan Raiola. 

He spoke with Ducks Digest about the latest in his recruitment, which includes a recent trip to Miami.

"That trip went really well," Rushing said. "It was a great experience to learn from Coach (Jason) Taylor, a hall of fame D-end."

When Rushing looks at his calendar there's only one visit on the horizon and it's a return trip to Eugene.

"We're coming out to Oregon for the spring game," he said.

The Arizona standout hears from the Ducks every week and said Tosh Lupoi is his lead recruiter.

"Definitely his mentality," Rushing said about what makes Lupoi special. "That's the biggest thing that me and him talk about. He knows what it takes be at the next level. He coached up there. He coached Myles Garrett. He knows what it takes."

Rushing is the type of talent the Ducks have desperately needed on the edge and he knows that he'd be well-positioned for success in Eugene and that Oregon offers him something special.

"I would say being in the defense, be in a place where my position group thrives," he said on what stands out about Oregon. "Coach Tosh and Coach Lanning, them being hand in hand in developing my position. That's something that's unique when I look at them, how they've separated themselves from the pack."

Oregon has prioritized Arizona on the recruiting trail and Rushing has built relationships with a few of the Ducks' 2023 signees.

"I've been talking with A'mauri Washington. He's been my main player pipeline over there. He's just been telling me this is the place for me," Rushing said. "My'Keil (Gardner) and A'mauri, we all went on a visit up to Oregon to see that Washington game. He was just like 'You saw all the guys who are committed here, who are over here now. We were all together, you saw what that was like now let's go fulfill that and make something special.' "

Which schools are recruiting the five-star edge rusher the hardest these days?

"Oregon, Notre Dame, Michigan, Miami, Ohio State, Arizona."

Rushing is still figuring out his official visits but he has a timeline for making his commitment.

"I'm releasing a top five by the end of the spring, sometime around May, end of May," he said. "I'm taking my OV's over the summer and then committing the last week of summer going into the season."

Relationships are among the things he's valuing most in his recruitment.

"Relationships and development. That's the biggest thing that this comes down to. Relationships and development and then the right fit."

Film

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Max Torres
MAX TORRES

Max Torres is the publisher and lead editor of Ducks Digest. He's covered the Oregon football and recruiting beats for four years. He's based out of Long Beach, CA and travels around Southern California and the country covering top high school football prospects.

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