Kamar Mothudi Reflects on Recruitment, Why He Picked Oregon

The Ducks added an athletic and physical linebacker to their class last month.

2024 Los Alamitos linebacker Kamar Mothudi is one of the best athletes out West. 

The 6-foot-3, 230-pound backer saw a surge of schools come in with scholarship offers late in his recruitment, but he landed on Oregon when he announced his commitment to Dan Lanning and the Ducks last month.

Why he chose to play his college ball in Eugene came down to the relationships he built during his process.

"Family and the after football aspect," Mothudi told Ducks Digest. "I know Oregon 100% will take care of me after I'm done playing football, which is a big thing because eventually the game stops. I got (Rashad) Wadood up there, it's really family. It's a lot of love. That was important as well."

As is the case with a majority of recruitments, Mothudi's wasn't one without drama. Long after the Ducks solidified themselves as the clear leaders, Mel Tucker and the Michigan State Spartans gave him something to think about. 

The bruising backer reflected on when he knew he was going to be a Duck.

"I felt like it was right on the OV (June 23), but I really didn't make the final call until the day before," he said of the day before his commitment. "Michigan State, they kind of muddied the water a bit."

So what did Michigan State do to muddy the waters?

"I didn't go (in) with any expectations for the visit," Mothudi reflected. "I went and they shattered them, they blew 'em away. They took care of me. They made it clear that I was a priority. They made it clear how I fit in their defense. Their coaching pedigree was very similar to Oregon, how good their coaches are. When I was really looking at it it was really just location."

Oregon didn't make some grand gesture or NIL offer to set themselves apart. They just kept being Oregon.

"Just kind of kept doing what they were already doing," he said. "What had them in first or had them ahead. Checking in on me, making my family feel very comfortable and secure. 

"I brought my grandma on the OV and she was taken care of. That was a big thing for me. The little things. They were already doing it but they kept doing it. Consistency is key."

The versatile Mothudi built linebackers up and down Oregon's coaching staff.

"Coach (Dan) Lanning, that's my guy. I love talking to him. It doesn't even have to be about football it can just be about life. Coach Tosh (Lupoi) I love him--super energetic coach I can't wait to be coached by him. Coach B-Mike (Bryan Michalowski), that's really my guy whether it's watching film or just eating with him, he's a cool dude."

Mothudi will help solidify Oregon's linebacker corps alongside Long Beach (Calif.) Poly standout Dylan Williams. Fate would have it that his decision also came down to Oregon and Michigan State--but the two were never explicitly a package deal.

"It's kind of funny how it fell. He was already on Oregon before I was. I had gotten close with him and he had talked about it but it didn't register until I got up there. And then I'm like 'whoa this is the place and he was like yeah it's the place.'

"But then we both went to Michigan State and we were both like 'oh that might be the place.' We definitely talked to each other about how we were feeling about different schools and whatnot."

Now that he's in the fold, Oregon's newest defensive pledge hopes a couple other talented recruits will end up choosing the Ducks in their recruitments. 

"Definitely some of my Cali bros. Aydin (Breland) at Mater Dei. Brandon Baker. Definitely looking to try to get those two for sure. Solomon Williams the edge, I've talked to him a little. I'm trying to get him."

Now that his recruitment is wrapped up, he's happy he can just focus on his craft.

"Relieved," he said of how he's feeling. "I'm just ready to work, finish this season out and get up there." 

Mothudi plans to enroll at Oregon after playing in the 2024 Adidas All-American bowl in San Antonio.