THE LATEST: Oregon a Contender for Trey McNutt

The Ducks made a great impression on the Cleveland defensive back during his first trip to Eugene.

Oregon, like every school in college football, is anxiously awaiting the end of the recruiting dead period as the month of March looms.

But there's still plenty to talk about with many of the elite recruits they hosted for their two Junior Days in January and February. 

2025 Cleveland (Ohio) Shaker Heights defensive back Trey McNutt was quick to take his first trip out to Eugene after landing an offer and it didn't disappoint.

Among his biggest highlights was his time spent with Rashad Wadood, an up-and-coming defensive back coach and recruiter on Dan Lanning's staff.

"Being with Coach Wadood. I like him a lot," McNutt said. "He's a good coach, great coach. And also the campus, the facilities is crazy. I'd never been out there, but just seeing it and seeing the campus, it was crazy. I know they're getting a new indoor and all that. It's gonna be amazing."

Wadood is just one Oregon coach he's hit it off with, as Lanning has expressed he's a top priority for the Ducks in 2025.

"Coach Wadood he's been hitting my phone every day," he said." Just building more and more relationship with me. And Coach Dan (Lanning), he set the tone for Oregon and he let me know that they're going for a national championship and that the program is going up and they want me. He let me know that I'm at the top of their board and him being a defensive coach is pretty cool."

2025 Cleveland (Ohio) Shaker Heights defensive back Trey McNutt poses with Rashad Wadood inside Autzen Stadium :: Trey McNutt/Oregon Athletics

Trey McNutt has 35 reported scholarship offers including Georgia, Ohio State and Oklahoma among others :: Trey McNutt/Oregon Athletics

I asked McNutt what stands out most about Oregon and his answer might surprise you.

"Definitely that it's different. It's far away from home. And just in general they're on the uprise. Oregon and their program they're on the uprise and their coaching staff, it's a good coaching staff."

The 6-foot, 185-pound defensive back has 34 other scholarship offers on the table, but the Ducks certainly make a strong case. 

"I definitely like Oregon a lot. I'm gonna be back down," McNutt said. "I'm gonna get my Mom down there to see it. I'm gonna keep building a relationship with the coaches."

As he looks ahead to the end of the dead period, there are a number of visits he'd like to take, and USC will get the first trip in early March.

"I'll be at USC first and then I have other trips planned but I have to look at the schedule," the Ohio product said. "I'm gonna get out to USC, Tennessee---I'm gonna get back down to Oregon and just really trying to get to as many as I can."

With new offers coming from Oregon, Miami and Missouri in the new year, where is he at with the recruiting process?

"I would say that now is the time when I can kind of start looking at dwindling down schools a little bit, but still getting to these new schools and all that. Still traveling the world. I've been taking my process slow recently and just enjoying it."

McNutt is one of the most versatile athletes in the country and roams all over the secondary. His versatility has garnered the attention of the elite in college football, as one program has even mentioned the possibility of him playing wide receiver at the next level.

"I'm recruited as a DB in general mostly," he said. "I know Georgia has hit me up about receiver. But mostly on defense, defensive side of the ball corner, nickel and safety."

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